MS Anne-Marie, 4 Night Christmas traditions and santons along the canals of Provence ex Aigues-Mortes, France to Avignon, France

Experience Christmas in Provence on a cruise. From Avignon to Aigues-Mortes, be enchanted by the magic of the provincial Christmas markets.

Day 1
Passengers are welcome to board our ship at 6:00 p.m. After comfortably settling into your cabins, we'll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail before dinner. Enjoy a "Christmas traditions”-themed evening.

Day 2
Included excursion: The International Satonniers Trade Show at the Cloître Saint-Trophime and the village of Le Paradou.(2)Our ship will cruise to Tarascon.Included excursion: Tour of the Château de Tarascon.Enjoy an evening of entertainment on board.

Day 3
This morning, we'll head to Le Paradou to visit a museum displaying more than 400 different santons (hand-painted nativity figurines traditional to the Provence region). La Petite Provence du Paradou is reputed to be one of the largest nativities in the world. We'll then return to Arles and visit the santon exhibition and tradeshow, displaying almost 300 years of this local tradition—from the very first models to the latest creations. After our visit, we'll return to the ship and cruise towards Tarascon. In the afternoon, we'll visit the Souleiado museum and its typical fabrics.

Day 4
We'll spend this morning cruising towards Avignon. In the afternoon, enjoy a guided tour of Avignon and the Papal Palace. We'll then head to the Halles market(1) to discover the regional holiday treats. After our tour, we'll return to the ship. Tonight is our festive gala dinner and evening.

Day 5
Enjoy one last buffet breakfast on board before disembarking at 9:00 a.m. End of our services.

A cruise aboard a canal barge promises a peaceful break where you take the time to discover “la douce France” in a different way. The MS Anne-Marie, a true cocoon of charm, sails on the French canals and offers its passengers an original and authentic experience. The MS Anne-Marie is a beautiful Premium canal barge, measuring 38,50 meters long and 5,07 meters wide. It can accommodate 22 passengers, in 11 cabins spread over two decks. The size of the cabins is 9 m2 (including a PRM cabin of 11 m2) offering amenities and providing guests with all the comforts they need during their stay. On board, everything has been taken care of down to the smallest detail and the 6 crew members guarantee a personalized service. The decoration is stylish with an elegant and intimate atmosphere. Located on the upper deck are the restaurant, which offers delicate cuisine in a refined setting, the lounge bar and a relaxation area with a jacuzzi. Comfortable sun loungers are provided on the sun deck, the ideal place to relax and admire the surrounding landscapes. A journey aboard the MS Anne-Marie promises an unforgettable getaway on the water.

CroisiEurope has a fleet of Prestige category boats with cabins, which ply the most beautiful rivers in Europe. Spacious and light, they offer a welcoming and refined setting. Accommodation capacity varies from 100 to 180 passengers depending on the boat's design. At the cutting edge of technology, their facilities offer comfort and safety.

Carefully maintained and partially renovated each year, the CroisiEurope fleet is largely made up of recently built vessels, less than five years old, all with Veritas certification. The leading European river tour operator, our company owes its international reputation to its seriousness, its dynamism, its sense of innovation and its recognised value for money of long standing.

Vessels are rated four-star and food is superb – as you’d expect on a French-owned cruise line, staffed by French chefs and with top French and German wines aboard. One cruise of the Rhone and Saone Rivers in France concentrates on gastronomy and traditional French cusine, visiting Collonges Abbey, renowned for its great French chef, Paul Bocuse.

CroisiEurope is a family-owned and operated firm, with brothers and sisters running different aspects of the company and keeping a close eye on all operations to ensure excellence.

River cruising offers much free fun. Wake in the morning and observe the passing riverside scenery through your cabin window – perhaps from your bed. Gaze upon village churches or a patchwork of fields sparkling in the morning sun.

CroisiEurope’s network traverses a phenomenal number of European rivers and waterways. They range from the Guadalquivir and Guadiana (flowing through Spain and Portugal respectively); the Douro in Portugal, the Po and Venice Lagoon in Italy; the Rhone in Provence, plus the Seine from Paris to the Normandy Coast. And there’s more: the Moselle, the Neckar, the Saar, the Oder, the Havel, the Baltic Sea, the Camarge, the Rhine, the Main and the mighty Danube; the Tisza and the Black Sea; the Belgian and Dutch waterways. Everything from tulip time in Holland to Christmas Markets in Germany.

Drinks included with on board meals: mineral water, house wine, beer, fruit juice, and tea or coffee.