Avalon Waterways is offering a $900 discount for bookings made by 9MAR for its special Chef Umberto cruise through Southern France. The one week cruise aboard Poetry II is now priced from $3,994.

The river cruise departs 12MAY from Lyon, France’s culinary capital. During the week of leisurely sailing, guests will visit much-loved towns such as Avignon and Arles, one-time home of painter Vincent van Gogh.

At each port of call there will be a host of included shore excursions, from a guided hike through a Nature Reserve to a painting workshop in Arles. And lots of food-and-drink themed options too: passengers may find themselves at a cooking class in Lyon, crafting their own chocolate bar in the Valrhona Chocolate Factory, enjoying a wine-tasting in a cave, visiting an oyster farm in the Camargue or taking a guided e-bike ride through Tavel, home of rosé wine.

Experiences also include two cooking demonstrations hosted on board by Chef Umberto, who has opened successful restaurants in Vancouver and Whistler; written five best-selling cookbooks; and opened a cooking school in Tuscany, Italy, where he was born.

This special departure is regularly priced from $4,894 (including port taxes, excluding airfare). Airfare is available from every city across Canada.

Travel agents can visit www.agentlingo.ca for more information.