My husband and I have done quite a few river cruises at this point, and we’ve sailed multiple times on the Danube, Rhine and Seine, so I was very excited to try a new river on our most recent trip — the Rhone.
Where the Danube is all about big Imperial cities like Vienna and Budapest, the Rhine is fairytale castles and history, and the Seine combines the bucket-list experiences of Paris and Normandy, the Rhone is a deeper dive into wine and terroir.
About the Provence & Burgundy Route
Our northbound Rhone itinerary took us from the sun-soaked Mediterranean, through the medieval towns of Arles and Avignon, to the foodie city of Lyon. Along the way, we sailed right through two of the most celebrated wine regions in France – Provence and Burgundy.
What we quickly discovered is that unlike some of the other rivers, the Rhone is not about checking “must-see” sites off a list – it’s about settling into a rhythm.
We sailed past vineyards and olive groves, we strolled through narrow streets in charming villages, we sipped amazing wines, we shopped open-air markets, and we shared some fabulous meals.
It was immersive, and relaxing, and felt more like a vacation than some of the other river cruises we’ve done.
Pre-Cruise in Nice, France
We started our trip with a couple of nights on our own in Nice, which I would highly recommend!
It was a great opportunity to soak up some sunshine (which turned out to be in short supply during the cruise itself) and explore the coast. We did a lovely, guided daytrip to Eze and Monaco, we climbed the Colline du Chateau for panoramic views over Nice, we did some shopping at the Cours Saleya market, and we found some great local restaurants.
From Nice, it was an easy 2 ½ hour private transfer to Arles, where we boarded the ship. If you wanted to do your pre-cruise stay closer to Arles, you could also choose Marseille or Aix-en-Provence instead. But we absolutely loved Nice and would love to go back there in the future.
What Can You Expect From a Uniworld River Cruise Ship?
Uniworld’s SS Catherine, like all of their ships, is a work of art in and of itself.
It feels like a boutique hotel, with elaborately-decorated common areas, and plush cabins. Ours had a full wall of windows that slid open, with a screen that slid down, so we could enjoy the fresh air as we sailed along. It also had a heated floor in the surprisingly spacious bathroom.
Onboard, there was the usual main restaurant and lounge, an open-air sundeck on top, and a small gym. But this ship also had an indoor pool, a second bar/lounge with an outdoor terrace, and a guest laundry room with three sets of self-service machines – a very nice convenience!
Like most river cruises, the ship holds about 150 people. Onboard programming includes some light entertainment in the evenings, and an occasional lecture/talk in the afternoon, but the real star is the cuisine. Breakfast and lunch are buffet, but the dinners are multi-course experiences, paired with local wines. And the very knowledgeable sommelier gave a quick briefing every day during the cocktail hour to tell us about the wines she would be featuring that evening.
Shore Excursions – Tours Along the River
In every port, there was an assortment of included tours, ranging from guided walks to hikes and wine tastings. You could also sign up for special excursions (at an added cost). These included things like visiting celebrated wineries, doing a hands-on cooking class, or having lunch with a noble family at their chateau. We did not do any of the special tours, because this was the tail end of a three-week stay in France. And we were happy to just relax and go with the flow. But, I think if I did this itinerary again, I probably would try one or two of those.
We did really enjoy the tours that we did, though. We visited the Papal Palace in Avignon. And tasted wine and chocolates in Tain-L’Hermitage. We learned to play pétanque, and spent an afternoon in the cozy wine town of Beaune. And we got just enough of a taste of Lyon that we know we need to go back there for a longer stay.
Taking A River Cruise in March?
The only downside to this March sailing (the first departure of the 2026 season) was the weather. Most days were gray, windy, and chilly, and we had a few rain showers. If we were to do this again, we’d sail later in the season when we could really enjoy the region at its best.
Final Verdict
Overall, this was a fabulous experience. I loved the ship, and the itinerary, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. But I’d add time in Lyon, and sail in May or June rather than March.
And I would highly recommend a Burgundy/Provence river cruise to anyone who wants to savor French culture and cuisine!