Avalon Poetry II

Sailing the Rhône on Avalon Poetry II

The Rhône is one of France’s great rivers, and Avalon Poetry II was built to follow it from start to finish. The 7-night one-way journeys connect Lyon and Arles — France’s Roman city at the river’s southern end — passing through places that would take weeks to reach by any other means: Avignon with its famous papal palace, the wine slopes of Tournon and Tain l’Hermitage, the quiet town of Viviers and the wetlands around Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône. Because the cruise is the middle of a longer trip — we book the flights, the hotel either side and the transfers, as one holiday — you can shape a wider French journey around it, arriving into Lyon and departing from Arles (or the reverse), with nothing left to arrange.

Where Avalon Poetry II sails

All sailings currently on offer are 7-night, one-way passages along the Rhône. The two directions run as follows:

• Arles to Lyon — departing Arles and travelling upriver, with calls typically including Avignon, Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône, Viviers and Tournon/Tain l’Hermitage before arriving in Lyon. This is a spring programme, with departures in March and May 2027, from A$4,411pp*.
• Lyon to Arles — departing Lyon and heading south through the Rhône valley, calling at Tournon/Tain l’Hermitage, Viviers, Avignon and Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône before arriving in Arles. Departures run in November 2026 and May 2027, from A$4,164pp*.

Note that calls_at lists the ports most sailings visit — not every departure is identical. Both routes cover the full length of the Rhône between Lyon and Arles, so the choice of direction often comes down to where you want to begin and end your wider French trip.

Cabins on Avalon Poetry II

Avalon Poetry II offers six cabin grades across two families — outside cabins and balcony cabins — so there is a grade to suit different budgets and preferences. The two outside cabin grades share a spacious three-door wardrobe with shelves and under-bed storage for easy unpacking, plus two windows that bring natural light and river views throughout the day. The four balcony grades step up to marble bathroom countertops and a six-person sitting area, with a wall-to-wall panoramic window and open-air balcony giving direct access to river views and fresh air. For every grade, its dimensions and full amenity list are on the Avalon Poetry II cabins and deck plans page.

Booking Avalon Poetry II with CruiseAway

Because every departure flies into France, the cruise naturally sits at the centre of a wider trip. CruiseAway’s DreamAway Packages bring the international flights, pre- and post-cruise hotels and all transfers onto the one booking, so you are not piecing together multiple bookings from multiple suppliers. Our cruise experts know these ships and fares in detail — which cabin grade suits a couple travelling together, which direction of the Rhône works best for a particular travel window — and the Best Price Guarantee means that if you find the same cruise cheaper elsewhere, we match it. Whatever you choose, we help you pick the cabin grade and fare inclusions that suit your circumstances, with the whole holiday on one booking.

The Avalon Waterways fleet

Avalon Waterways runs 14 river ships across Europe and South East Asia. They are grouped here by the river they sail:

• Rhône River, Europe — Avalon Poetry II (this ship)
• Danube River, Europe — Avalon Expression, Avalon Imagery II, Avalon Impression, Avalon Passion, Avalon Illumination, Avalon Visionary
• Rhine River, Europe — Avalon Tranquility II, Avalon Panorama, Avalon View, Avalon Vista
• France — Avalon Tapestry II, Avalon Artistry II
• South East Asia — Avalon Saigon

Questions about sailing the Rhône on Avalon Poetry II

Which direction of the Rhône should I choose — Lyon to Arles, or Arles to Lyon?

Both routes cover the same stretch of river and call at the same key towns; the difference is where you start and finish. Lyon to Arles puts France’s great gastronomic capital at the beginning and ends in the sun-baked heart of Provence, while Arles to Lyon reverses that arc. If you are planning a wider France trip, think about which city you want as your arrival point and which you want to linger in afterwards — our cruise experts can help you build the hotels and transfers around either choice.

When does Avalon Poetry II sail?

The sailings currently on offer run across a small seasonal window: Lyon to Arles departs in November 2026 and May 2027, while Arles to Lyon departs in March and May 2027. This is a spring and late-autumn programme rather than a year-round one, so if you have a particular travel window in mind it is worth checking availability early.

What are the calls along the way?

Most sailings on both routes call at Avignon, Viviers, Tournon/Tain l’Hermitage and Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône, in addition to the embarkation and disembarkation cities of Lyon and Arles. These are the ports most sailings visit — individual departures may vary slightly. Avignon’s medieval city walls and papal palace are a highlight for many guests; the twin towns of Tournon and Tain l’Hermitage sit at the heart of the northern Rhône wine country.

Can CruiseAway arrange my flights and hotels as well as the cruise?

Yes — this is exactly what our DreamAway Packages are built for. Because you are flying into France to join the ship, CruiseAway puts the international flights, any pre- or post-cruise hotel nights and all transfers onto one booking alongside the cruise itself. There is nothing separate to arrange, and our cruise experts handle the details.