Arrive in Barcelona and check in to your hotel. (B)

Barcelona, the bustling capital of Catalonia, is an artist’s, architect’s, foodie’s, historian’s and culturist’s dream. Tour the cobblestoned lanes of the Gothic Quarter in the medieval city center and Las Ramblas. Visit Montjuïc Hill and see some imaginative architectural creations, highlights of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Works of Antoni Gaudi,” including La Sagrada Familia. (B)

Join an excursion to the mountain Montserrat, which is home to the Benedictine monastery of Santa Maria de Montserrat, located about 30 miles from Barcelona. Once there, you’ll ride a scenic funicular to the top of the mountain and experience an indescribable view of the Catalonia landscape. The monastery, officially founded in 1025, soon began to receive pilgrims and visitors who contributed to the spread of stories of miracles and wonders performed by the Virgin Mary. The whole of Montserrat is built around facilitating the worship of the Black Madonna in the Basilica. While here, you’ll see the famous Black Madonna sculpture, which sits at the back of the church, above the altar area. The stairway leading to the statue, plus the room and altar in which the statue sits are ornate, golden and pay tribute to the wonder that is the Virgin herself. (B)

Check out of the hotel and board the TGV high-speed train to Nîmes. See the highlights of this delightful town with one of the finest collections of Roman buildings in France before transferring via motorcoach to Arles, where you’ll board your luxury ship. (B,D)

Disembark the ship and enjoy tasting some local Lyon specialties before boarding your high-speed train to Paris and checking into your hotel. (B)

Enjoy taking in the signature sites of Paris, including the awe-inspiring Notre-Dame Cathedral, Arc de Triomphe and iconic Eiffel Tower. You’ll also stroll the Champs Élysées with its cinemas, sidewalk cafes and luxury specialty shops. (B)

Spend the day at your leisure exploring such landmarks as the Louvre museum with its famous glass pyramid, or sampling a fresh, flaky croissant at one of the city’s legendary cafes. In the evening, visit Montmartre, long known as the city’s premier artist's enclave. During the mid to late 1800s, artists also began calling Montmartre home. Pissarro and Jongkind were two of the first to live there, followed by other notable artists, including Edgar Degas, Henri Matisse, Toulouse-Lautrec, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Pablo Picasso. You’ll be taken on an evening illumination tour, discovering why Paris is renowned as the “City of Light.” (B)

Bid farewell to Paris and prepare for your flight home. (B)

Check into your Nice hotel for the beginning of your Colors of Provence pre-cruise land program.

Tour the scenic capital of the French Riviera, where tourism has been alive for three centuries. Founded by the Greeks and named after the Greek goddess of victory, Nice was once the premier spot for English aristocrats to spend their winter holidays—and is now a world-renowned, top-of-the-range holiday destination. Gaze at the azure waters of the Mediterranean and take in such sites as the distinctive Russian Orthodox cathedral, the opera house and the Prefecture Palace. (B)

Head to the hilltop town of Eze where you’ll enjoy a scenic walking tour along its charming cobblestone streets, as well as free time to sample the local fare for lunch. Later, explore intimate Monaco-Ville, known locally as “The Rock,” a sleepy yet picturesque medieval village with phenomenal views of the sea. Then take in the luxury and beauty of Monte Carlo, famous for its opulent casino and as the host of the annual Formula One Monaco Grand Prix. (B)

Check out of your Nice hotel and head to Aix-en-Provence, a charming commune just north of Marseille. Enjoy a tour of the city with its sidewalk cafes, many fountains and Old Town before embarking your ship in Arles for the beginning of your river cruise. (B,D)

Disembark the ship and enjoy tasting some local Lyon specialties before boarding your high-speed train to Paris and checking into your hotel. (B)

Enjoy taking in the signature sites of Paris, including the awe-inspiring Notre-Dame Cathedral, Arc de Triomphe and iconic Eiffel Tower. You’ll also stroll the Champs Élysées with its cinemas, sidewalk cafes and luxury specialty shops. (B)

Spend the day at your leisure exploring such landmarks as the Louvre museum with its famous glass pyramid, or sampling a fresh, flaky croissant at one of the city’s legendary cafes. In the evening, visit Montmartre, long known as the city’s premier artist's enclave. During the mid to late 1800s, artists also began calling Montmartre home. Pissarro and Jongkind were two of the first to live there, followed by other notable artists, including Edgar Degas, Henri Matisse, Toulouse-Lautrec, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Pablo Picasso. You’ll be taken on an evening illumination tour, discovering why Paris is renowned as the “City of Light.” (B)

Bid farewell to Paris and prepare for your flight home. (B)