Seine River Cruises in France: Cruising Normandy

River Cruise: Paris - Normandy II

The romance of Paris and the beauty of Normandy

This 150-passenger riverboat cruise on the Seine River combines the magic of romantic Paris with the beauty and history of France’s Normandy countryside.

Enchanting orchards, lush pastures and crystal clear streams await you as you cruise through the scenic valley of the Seine River. You will experience history firsthand as you visit the Normandy Beaches, site of the famous World War II landings. Delight in the architecture of Rouen with its wonderful Gothic cathedral, and see where Joan of Arc was tried and executed. Spend time strolling through the exquisite gardens of Giverny, whose colorful landscape inspired French Impressionist painter Claude Monet. Walk the cobblestone streets of provincial Vernon and revel in the splendor of the world’s most romantic city: Paris.

Map: Paris-Normandy II River Cruise

TYPICAL RIVER CRUISE ITINERARY
(actual program may vary)

B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner

Day 1 - Sunday: Paris (D). Welcome to romantic Paris. After boarding the riverboat, take some free time to explore the city or join a group walk and orientation before dinner.

Day 2 - Monday: Paris (B, L, D). Enjoy a full day in Paris. After breakfast, enjoy a half-day panoramic tour of the city, passing by the Eiffel Tower, the Orsay Museum and Latin Quarter. Admire Notre Dame Cathedral and its intricate Gothic architecture. Continue the tour with a drive past the Louvre Museum and the Opera House and along the famous Champs Elysées. Return to the riverboat for lunch. During your afternoon free time, you may want to tour the Louvre, shop, or visit the artists’ district of Montmartre. Dinner is served on board.

Day 3 - Tuesday: Giverny and Vernon (B, L, D). After breakfast, take a short ride into the town of Giverny, where the famous Impressionist painter Claude Monet lived from 1883 until his death in 1926. Visit the beautiful gardens and lily ponds that surround the charming stone farmhouse where he lived and worked. Admire the water garden with its Japanese bridge, water lilies, wisteria and azaleas, which became some of Monet’s favorite subjects and were the inspiration for many of his masterpieces. After lunch, spend some time in the charming town of Vernon, just across the river. Stroll through the town and see the Maison du Temps Jadis (House of Past Times), Vernon’s oldest house, and the 11th-century Church of Notre Dame. Dinner on board the riverboat.

Day 4 - Wednesday: Rouen (B, L, D). Following a leisurely morning cruise and lunch, start the afternoon with a walking tour through the historic center of Rouen, capital of Normandy. This is where Joan of Arc was imprisoned, tried for heresy and burned at the stake in 1431. See the 14th-century courthouse where she was sentenced to death and visit Market Square where she was executed. Walk through the city center and see the old town, the Cathedral of Notre Dame - painted many times by Monet - and the famous Clock Tower. Enjoy some free time to visit a museum, go to a sidewalk cafe or do some shopping. Dinner on board the riverboat.

Day 5 - Thursday: Normandy Beaches (B, L, D). After breakfast, begin your full-day historic tour to the beaches of Normandy. Here, you will see World War II landmarks and monuments such as Pointe du Hoc, Omaha Beach, the American Military Cemetery and the Musée du Débarquement in Arromanches. On the way back to the riverboat, pass Gold Beach, Courseulles-sur-Mer and Juno Beach. Return to the riverboat for dinner and a late evening departure.

Day 6 - Friday: Les Andelys and Conflans (B, L, D). Arrive in the small town of Les Andelys, known for its imposing castle, Château Gaillard, built in 1196 by Richard the Lionhearted. Join a guided walk or explore this masterpiece of medieval architecture on your own. Return to the riverboat for lunch and afternoon cruise to Conflans, a hub for barge transportation along the Seine and its tributaries. Dinner on board.

Day 7 - Saturday: Conflans and Paris (B, L, D). After breakfast, take a walking tour along the cobbled streets of Conflans. Or you can join an optional tour of magnificent Versailles, Louis XIV's palace outside Paris. Return to the riverboat for lunch and afternoon cruising back to Paris. Dinner on board, followed by free time for your last evening in the City of Light.

Day 8 - Sunday: Paris (B). Disembarkation after breakfast.

On alternate weeks, cruise will be in the reverse direction. Actual port sequence and times may vary.

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Included:

7-night cruise with river-view cabin
All meals: 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners
Hot coffee and tea available all day
Daily tours with English-speaking guides (total 6 included)
Free shipwide wireless Internet

Available at Additional Cost

Roundtrip air from many US cities
Transfers to/from the river boat (included with air package)
Pre-cruise stay in Paris (3 nights)
Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages (corkage fee applies to alcohol not purchased on board the ship)
Telephone services, computer rental and laundry
Optional activities when available
Health and travel insurance

Not Included

Crew gratuities (suggested amount $70-85 per passenger)
Personal expenses
Other items not listed in "Included" above

Riverboat Features

75 staterooms/150 passengers/40 crew members
Sun deck with chairs and canopy
Restaurant, lounge and bar with panoramic windows
Open restaurant seating at tables of 4, 6, and 8 places
Library/game room and boutique
All outside cabins with river view
Category A and B cabins (154 sq. ft.) have large windows (3.6 ft x 7.3 ft) that open. Hotel-style beds are 6.6 ft x 5.3 ft x 1.8 ft and can be separated into two twin beds. Underbed storage for suitcases (13" high). Closet is 3.4 ft wide. Dresser plus desk with chair.
Category C and D cabins (154 sq. ft.) have smaller fixed windows (3.1 ft x 4.7 ft). Hotel-style beds are 6.6 ft x 5.3 ft x 1.5 ft and can be separated into two twin beds. Underbed storage for suitcases (13" high). Closet is 3.4 ft wide. Dresser plus desk with chair.
Category E cabins (120 sq. ft.) have small fixed windows (1.4 ft x 4.7 ft). There is a sofa bed (6.2 ft x 2.6 ft) and a Pullman bed (5.6 ft x 2.6 ft) Closet is 2.2 ft wide. Small desk with chair.
Private bathroom with shower
Converter in the bathroom outlet
TV, phone, safe and hairdryer
Individual climate control

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2010 Cruise Departure Dates and Prices (US$)

US dollar prices in the chart below are per person double occupancy, for the cruise only, and include port charges. They are valid for USA and Canadian residents only. Limited single pricing is available; contact us for details.

Roundtrip air and transfer packages are available starting at $1,095, including taxes and fees. If you prefer to book your own air, transfers to/from Paris airport may be purchased separately for $60 per person, per direction. These transfers are available only on cruise start and end dates.

Prices in red apply if paid in full at time of booking and expire July 30, 2010. These prices also include complimentary wine with dinner (2 glasses per person).

For May - August departures only: prices include special beverage package with unlimited fine regional wine and beer, unlimited alcoholic cocktails featuring standard house brands during the bar's operating hours, unlimited espresso, unlimited bottled mineral, still or sparkling water, and one bottle sparkling wine (per stateroom)

For Nov-Dec departures only: Up to half off airfare with Category A, B, or C.

Cruise Dates*	Stateroom Category
Cruise Dates*	A	B	C	D	E
Mar 21, 28	SOLD OUT
Apr	SOLD OUT
May - Jun	SOLD OUT
Jul - Aug	$6,199 $3,156	$5,799 $2,956	SOLD OUT	SOLD OUT	$4,199 $2,156
Sep 12 - Oct 10	SOLD OUT
Oct 17, 24, 31	SOLD OUT
Nov - Dec 19	$4,399 $2,256	$3,999 $2,056	$3,599 $1,856	$3,399 $1,756	$2,399 $1,256