S.S. Joie de Vivre

France

Indulgent from first to last

France is the quintessential destination for good reason. Whether you visit romantic Northern France, stunning Bordeaux, or charming Burgundy & Provence, you’ll find yourself enchanted by the best wines and cuisines the world has to offer. Come for the famous Château wineries of Bordeaux and cultural landmarks of Paris, then leave reminiscing about your stroll through Monet’s Giverny gardens and your kayak ride under the Pont du Gard.

Landmarks

Whether it be arts and culture, politics, philosophy, or science, France has found itself at the center of international conversation for centuries. You’ll find monuments to the country’s role in history everywhere you look: the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Normandy Beaches, Avignon’s Palace of the Popes, or the Médoc wine route, occupied by so many of the world’s greatest château wineries. The list goes on, so rest assured that there is a bucket list experience for every kind of traveller.

Cuisine

If you have a passion for great food, French cuisine will not disappoint. Regional differences abound, but at the core of French cooking is a passion for quality, local ingredients. It starts at small farms, of which there are many in the French countryside, where you might find flavorful herbs being grown or fresh milk being made into one of over 400 different varieties of cheeses. Then in the kitchens, it’s all about the craft: a perfectly roasted chicken, ultra-thin layers of pastry folded throughout with butter for a melt-in-your-mouth croissant, or a prime cut of brisket slowly braised for hours in a nice Burgundy red.

Wine

Widely considered the world’s best destination for wine, France is full of distinct wine regions, many of which are highly celebrated in their own rights. One of the finest of all: Bordeaux. Our Brilliant Bordeaux itinerary takes a deep dive into the wine culture here, giving guests endless opportunities to enjoy the artful red blends, sweet sauternes, and more produced here.

Burgundy has the highest number of unique AOC designations of any region in France, in large part due to the highly specific attention paid to the terroir of its vineyards. The most popular varietals grown here? Pinot noir and chardonnay.

While you’ll have no trouble finding truly excellent red and white wines produced from the syrah, cabernet sauvignon, and grenache (both noir and blanc) growing in the vineyards of Provence, another drink reigns supreme here. Ranging from bright pink to a subtle blush, rosé is as good as water in this region. During the warmer months, a chilled glass of rosé becomes the ultimate summer drink.

Landscapes

You’ll witness a range of idyllic landscapes on your French river cruise with Uniworld. Lush green valleys, thick forests, neatly manicured vineyards, and villages carved straight into rocky hilltops—picture-perfect scenes await around every river bend.

ALL-INCLUSIVE FAMILY RIVER CRUISES

Every Uniworld Generations cruise includes special programs, events and excursions designed specifically for your world travellers in training.