ms Mistral

MS Mistral cruises through Provence and Burgundy, the renowned wine regions of southeastern France. The ship operates roundtrip itineraries from Lyon, as well as one-way voyages between Chalon (on the Saone River in Burgundy) and Martigues (on the Rhone River in Provence, approximately 30 km / 20 mi northwest of Marseille). The CroisiEurope riverboat Mistral sails on both the Rhone and Saone rivers in France, alongside her fleetmates Camargue and Van Gogh.

Itineraries

The 7-day cruisetour visits Lyon, Arles, and Avignon, with shore excursions to Burgundy’s vineyards and the Camargue Nature Reserve. Prices in September 2020 started from EUR 1028 per person (approximately USD 1220), based on double occupancy.

The voyage begins in Beaujolais, Lyon’s winegrowing region, where the ship docks in Macon. A bus excursion takes guests to “Hameau du Vin,” a wine museum village, before sailing to Lyon, where the Saone meets the Rhone. The cruise continues to Tournon-sur-Rhone (Tain l’Hermitage), then through the Ardeche Gorges Natural Reserve—often called France’s “Grand Canyon.” On the way to Avignon, Mistral passes the Rhone River’s largest lock system, followed by stops in Arles and Avignon, the former papal city. The voyage concludes in Martigues near Marseille on the Mediterranean coast.

Following the COVID-19 travel restrictions, in 2020 CroisiEurope scheduled Mistral’s cruises for August 21–27, September 2–8 and 23–29, and October 5–11. The ship also operated a reverse route (Martigues to Chalon) from October 11–17. Both directions were priced from EUR 1028 per person, with fares inclusive of all shore excursions, onboard meals, and bar drinks.

Cabins

The vessel has 79 passenger cabins (each measuring 118 ft² / 11 m²) in three categories, including 2 single and 4 triple cabins. Main Deck staterooms (45 doubles, 4 triples, 1 single) feature riverview windows (non-opening). Upper Deck cabins (27 doubles) have large picture windows (also non-opening). Each cabin includes a private bathroom (with toilet, sink, and shower), wardrobe/closet, satellite TV, radio, phone (internal use only), hairdryer, personal safe, and individually controlled air conditioning.

Shipboard Facilities

MS Mistral’s onboard facilities include a lounge with a dance floor and bar, the Mistral Restaurant (dining room), a sundeck with shaded seating, loungers, and deckchairs, a gift shop, a library, and complimentary Wi-Fi Internet access.

The Mistral’s Rhone–Saone itineraries explore southeastern France’s Burgundy and Provence wine regions. Guests enjoy CroisiEurope’s gourmet dining options, themed tours, and food-and-wine tastings that highlight local French cuisine and wines along the route. CroisiEurope also operates the Saone–Rhone riverboats Camargue and Van Gogh, as well as the hotel barges Anne-Marie and Jeanine.

MS Mistral cruise fares are per person, based on double occupancy. These rates are indicative of CroisiEurope’s standard pricing and may vary depending on travel agency promotions, group bookings, special offers, or last-minute deals. CroisiEurope’s France cruises include all beverages (coffee, tea, juices, soft drinks, wine, and beer at lunch and dinner). However, shore excursions are optional and available at an additional cost.

The Mistral cruise ship sails on the Rhone and Saone rivers through Burgundy and Provence, the renowned wine regions of southeastern France. Itineraries include roundtrips from Lyon or one-way voyages between Chalon and Martigues.

Other CroisiEurope vessels operating on the Saone and Rhone rivers include MS Camargue, MS Van Gogh, and the Anne-Marie barge.

CroisiEurope is a family-owned cruise company based in Strasbourg, France. Founded in 1976, this premium line manages every aspect of its operations—from ship design and construction to onboard cuisine and hospitality services. Today, CroisiEurope ranks among the largest river cruise operators in Europe.

CroisiEurope’s river cruise fares include soft drinks and alcoholic beverages (wine and beer served with lunch and dinner year-round). During Europe’s high season (April through October), the company also offers packages with unlimited drinks. However, unlike most river cruise lines, CroisiEurope charges extra for shore excursions.

Note: You can explore CruiseMapper’s complete list of river cruise ships and riverboats in the “Itinerary” section of our River Cruises hub, where all companies and their fleets are listed.