by Guest Author
Last updated: 7:00 PM ET, Tue September 29, 2026
For advisors selling France, spring is one of the strongest windows to pitch the Rhône and Saône, where milder weather and a blooming countryside make this region well suited for scenic cruising. In Spring 2027, AmaWaterways is offering three distinct itineraries across the region, along with a new onboard experience and a set of fleet-wide enhancements.
Three Itineraries, One Distinctive Region
Colors of Provence, a 7-night cruise between Lyon and Arles, traces the region's dual legacy of art and wine, from Van Gogh's Arles to the Papal Palace in Avignon and vineyard-covered hills along the Rhône. Clients can expect truffles, local wines and regional cheeses alongside Roman ruins and hilltop villages, an itinerary built for travelers drawn equally to art history and a full glass of Côtes du Rhône.
Flavors of Burgundy moves north into Burgundy's wine country. This cruise connects Dijon, seat of the medieval Dukes of Burgundy, to Beaune's Hospices, with its distinctive mosaic-tiled roof, and an interactive cooperage workshop where guests learn the traditional craft of barrel-making firsthand. Along the way, tastings from the Côtes de Nuits, Chalonnaise and Mâconnais wine regions give clients a genuine sense of Burgundy's range, not just its most famous labels.
For clients who want to go even deeper into the region’s winemaking culture, Celebration of Wine cruise departures add a dedicated Wine Host on board, leading tastings, lectures and a pairing dinner.
For advisors selling to clients who want both regions in a single itinerary, Essence of Burgundy & Provence offers a 7-night journey combining Burgundy's wine country with Provence's art and landscape in one continuous route along the Saône and Rhône. The itinerary threads together the same highlights found across the other two cruises, Dijon's ducal history, Beaune's Hospices, Avignon's Papal Palace and Arles' ties to Van Gogh, into a single week for clients who don't want to choose between the two regions.
What Sets AmaWaterways Apart on These Itineraries
Advisors selling AmaWaterways' Rhône and Saône itineraries have several genuine points of distinction to lean on. Each day includes multiple onshore experiences to choose from, letting clients choose how they want to explore based on their interests and at a pace that suits their travel styles, whether that’s a gentle walking tour led by a local expert or a bike ride through the countryside.
Meals are built around regionally inspired, farm-to-ship cuisine, sourced from producers along the rivers, with a specialty dining experience at The Chef's Table restaurant included at no additional cost. Daily small-group fitness classes led by a Wellness Host are available to guests, and activities like their new hands-on lavender spray workshop round out the onboard experience. With an average of just 156 guests per ship, the onboard atmosphere stays personal enough that crew learn names and preferences within the first day or two.
AmaWaterways is also implementing fleet-wide onboard enhancements for advisors to highlight. A refreshed menu at The Chef's Table specialty restaurant offers regionally inspired dishes as part of this guest-favorite experience, while staterooms are being updated with plush bathrobes and in-room coffee makers, small touches that make a noticeable difference over a week on board. The complimentary wine selection has also expanded, with a wider range of locally sourced options now offered at both lunch and dinner, giving clients the opportunity to savor local flavors with every meal.
Why Spring 2027 Is Worth Booking Now
Spring departures on the Rhône and Saône are becoming increasingly popular, particularly for advisors whose clients are drawn to wine country before the summer crowds arrive. With three itineraries covering different combinations of Provence and Burgundy along with the array of onboard enhancements rolling out across the AmaWaterways fleet, this gives advisors a fresh, specific reason to reach out to clients already considering a France river cruise.
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