I've seen very little of France and this cruise offered important historical sites such as Arles and Avignon. I'd also never been on a riverboat cruise and I wanted to "test" it out.... and it passed, as I am likely to try another Avalon cruise in France and/or The Netherlands-Belgium cruise. I had spent several days in Paris on my own prior to going the group at the Carlton in Cannes, and I met a couple at my hotel in Paris who'd just been on an Avalon cruise and raved about it. The cabin was comfortable and, since I'm interested in "small-space" design, very efficiently and thoughtfully designed, with excellent storage. The excursions into the historical sites really made the trip for me, as I love history and art/architecture (I just wish the church of St Trophime in Arles had been accessible for viewing when I was there, but as a Sunday service was ongoing, it was not appropriate to go in and take pictures.) All the great Roman remains were just fantastic to view.... I recall studying some of them in college, especially Pont du Gard. I loved the small medieval towns we walked through, and the tour guides were very thorough in their commentary and answered questions as they came up

The food on the cruise was always great, with varied selections. As a non-drinker, there was only one time when I felt pressured for not ordering a drink in the lounge. The crew were always friendly and helpful. Some of the "sidebar" visits by regional locals were very informative, such as the cheese tasting (and the opportunity to get some great local mustards). The cruise director also made sure everyone knew what was going on and what to expect, and patiently answered all of our questions. She even made sure we made it onto our respective buses once we arrived at the train station in Paris, in order to get us to the hotel for our final stay in Paris.