Paris always sizzles while Normandy beckons with its stunning coastline, incredible food and artistic beauty. Monet’s Gardens and the charming harbor town of Honfleur, will inspire you the same way as they inspired the great Impressionists. For inspiration of a different kind, travel the “Routes des Abbayes,” visiting some of the most magnificent monasteries, and to the unforgettable beaches of Normandy where Allied forces landed during WWII’s D-Day invasion. Relive the grandeur of royalty at Château de Bizy, once referred to as “the Versailles of Normandy,” and taste your way through Northern France, sampling local wines, apple cider, Calvados, pommeau and French cheeses for an authentic epicurean adventure.
See the best of Paris during a 2-night stay before embarking on your Paris & Normandy river cruise. Paris always sizzles while Normandy beckons with its stunning coastline, incredible food and artistic beauty. Monet’s Gardens and the charming harbor town of Honfleur will inspire you the same way as they inspired the great Impressionists. For inspiration of a different kind, travel the “Routes des Abbayes,” visiting some of the most magnificent monasteries, and to the unforgettable beaches of Normandy where Allied forces landed during WWII’s D-Day invasion. Relive the grandeur of royalty at Château de Bizy, once referred to as “the Versailles of Normandy,” and taste your way through Northern France, sampling local wines, apple cider, Calvados, pommeau and French cheeses for an authentic epicurean adventure.
Paris & Normandy (Wine Cruise)
At A Glance
On our river cruises, you will enjoy an extensive lineup of included tours. In many cases, you will have a choice of excursions, such as standard tours, bike tours, hikes and Special Interest Tours. We always include a large variety of activities so that you can choose how you want to explore. No matter your preference, your days will be full of discovery and wonder.
Board the ship in Paris for your Paris & Normandy cruise. (D)
| Day 2 | Les Andelys | Château Gaillard |
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Uncover the history of Château Gaillard, the former stronghold of Richard the Lionheart, situated on the chalk cliffs high above the Seine, on a morning tour. Or, if you prefer a more active adventure, you can hike there from the banks of the Seine, admiring the scenic views along the way. For those who wish to explore the area on two wheels, join a guided bike tour through the charming town of Les Andelys. After your adventures, set sail along the meandering Seine for a scenic cruise. (B,L,D)
| Day 3 | Le Havre | Honfleur excursion |
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| | OR Full-day Honfleur & Pays d'Auge |
|
| Le Havre | OR Le Havre city tour |
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There are several different choices of excursions, both during the morning and afternoon, depending on your interests. You can choose between an excursion to the seaside town of Honfleur, renowned for its picturesque harbor, and for being an inspirational site for Impressionist painters; or enjoy a full-day excursion that includes Honfleur and the delicious Pays d’Auge region of Normandy, where apple cider, Calvados and pommeau outrank French wine. During the afternoon, be led on a guided tour of the Fécamp Monastery, with its unusual half-Gothic, half-Renaissance appearance, and later taste Bénédictine, a subtle blend of 27 plants and spices selected by the Master Herbalist. Alternatively, join a city tour or bike tour through the UNESCO-designated Le Havre. (B,L,D)
| Day 4 | Le Havre | Full-day Normandy US Landing Beaches |
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| | OR Full-day Normandy British and Canadian Landing Beaches |
|
| Caudebec-en-Caux | OR Route des Abbayes |
|
Experience the Normandy region with one of three tours. For those wishing to go to the American sector of the historic Normandy Beaches, you will visit the cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, Omaha Beach, the artillery battery at Longues-sur-Mer and the village of Arromanches, where the remains of the floating harbor used during the WWII landings can be seen. If you prefer, you can tour the Gold and Juno beaches in the British and Canadian sectors, where you will visit Ranville Cemetery, Pegasus Bridge, the Canadian cemetery at Beny-sur-Mer, the WWII museum in Courseulle and, finally, Arromanches. If you wish to experience a different kind of inspiration in Caudebec-en-Caux in the afternoon, the Romanesque Normandy Abbey Route will take you to one of the magnificent historic abbeys of the region. Or you can journey back in time with the interactive exhibits and vessels at the Seine Museum. (B,L,D)
| Day 5 | Rouen | Medieval Rouen walking tour |
|
Spend the morning enjoying medieval Rouen with a choice of several excursions. Join a walking tour and see the square where Joan of Arc was martyred, as well as the Medieval Quarter and Great Clock. You also have the choice of a bike tour through Rouen. In the afternoon, explore Lyons-la-Forêt, built on the site of a former fortress and featuring remarkable centuries-old architecture, or go on the “Tastes of Normandy” tour, where you’ll be treated to the delicious flavors of the region, including chocolate, macaron, Norman cheese and cider. (B,L,D)
| Day 6 | Vernon | Scenic cruising |
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| | Monet’s home and gardens in Giverny* |
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| | OR Château de Bizy tour and cider tasting* |
|
Enjoy scenic cruising around Vernon before disembarking the ship for your excursion. Enjoy scenic cruising around Vernon before disembarking the ship for your excursion. You will have a choice of three excursions, depending on your interests. Visit Claude Monet’s home and gardens in Giverny. Art lovers will immediately recognize images immortalized in Monet’s most beloved paintings—such as water lilies, Japanese bridges and graceful willow trees. Wander around his famous gardens and home where he lived for more than four decades. Or visit the regal 18th-century Château de Bizy, inspired by the opulence of Versailles. Enjoy an escorted tour of the palace and gardens and be treated to a cider tasting. If you prefer a more active adventure, go on a guided bike tour, taking in the beautiful French countryside. (B,L,D)
*PLEASE NOTE:Monet’s Gardens may be closed; therefore, an alternative tour will operate instead.
| Day 7 | Paris | “City of Light” tour |
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| | OR Artist’s walk of Auvers-sur-Oise |
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| | Musée du Vin and champagne tasting |
|
Enjoy some of Paris’ most famous sights during your panoramic tour. You will be guided through the charming Latin Quarter, home to the world-famous Sorbonne University, and through the stunning 400-year-old Luxembourg Gardens, created by King Henry IV’s widow, Marie de’ Medici. Or travel to Auberge Ravoux in the heart of Auvers-sur-Oise, the last home of artist Vincent van Gogh. His spirit still lingers in his former attic rooms at the Ravoux Inn. The mere 70 days Van Gogh spent in Auvers-sur-Oise were astonishingly prolific as he painted more than 70 works here before his death. In the afternoon, take in the beautiful sites of Paris on your way to the Musee du Vin, Paris’s famous wine museum, which is located in the heart of the city not far from the Eiffel Tower. Explore the permanent collection, which contains more than 2,200 items that pay tribute to generations of winemakers, cellar masters, oenologists and coopers. Alternatively, cycle along the Seine River and travel along the hidden passages of Paris. (B,L,D)
Bid farewell to Paris and prepare for your flight home. (B)
Check into your Paris hotel for the beginning of your Paris & Normandy land program.
| Day 2 | Paris | “Hidden Paris” and Atelier des Lumières tour |
|
Discover some of the lesser-known treasures of Paris on your guided tour. Setting the world stage for art, fashion, gastronomy, culture and much more, the “City of Light” has a story to tell at every corner. Afterwards, explore the Atelier-Lumières, Paris’s “Workshop of Lights,” a uniquely immersive digital art experience. You will be treated to an unforgettable colorful multimedia exhibition, utilizing 140 video projectors and a state-of-the-art sound system of famed artists’ works. (B)
| Day 3 | Paris | Montmartre tour |
|
After checking out of your hotel, 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. For easy access to Montmartre, hop aboard the funicular railroad that ascends the hill. Montmartre’s most recognizable landmark is the Basilica du Sacré-Coeur, constructed from 1876 to 1912. The white dome of this Roman Catholic basilica sits at the highest point in the city. You’ll then board the ship in Paris for your Paris & Normandy cruise. (B,D)
| Day 4 | Les Andelys | Château Gaillard |
|
Uncover the history of Château Gaillard, the former stronghold of Richard the Lionheart, situated on the chalk cliffs high above the Seine, on a morning tour. Or, if you prefer a more active adventure, you can hike there from the banks of the Seine, admiring the scenic views along the way. For those who wish to explore the area on two wheels, join a guided bike tour through the charming town of Les Andelys. After your adventures, set sail along the meandering Seine for a scenic cruise. (B,L,D)
| Day 5 | Le Havre | Honfleur excursion |
|
| | OR Full-day Honfleur & Pays d'Auge |
|
| Le Havre | OR Le Havre city tour |
|
There are several different choices of excursions, both during the morning and afternoon, depending on your interests. You can choose between an excursion to the seaside town of Honfleur, renowned for its picturesque harbor, and for being an inspirational site for Impressionist painters; or enjoy a full-day excursion that includes Honfleur and the delicious Pays d’Auge region of Normandy, where apple cider, Calvados and pommeau outrank French wine. During the afternoon, be led on a guided tour of the Fécamp Monastery, with its unusual half-Gothic, half-Renaissance appearance, and later taste Bénédictine, a subtle blend of 27 plants and spices selected by the Master Herbalist. Alternatively, join a city tour or bike tour through the UNESCO-designated Le Havre. (B,L,D)
| Day 6 | Le Havre | Full-day Normandy US Landing Beaches |
|
| | OR Full-day Normandy British and Canadian Landing Beaches |
|
| Caudebec-en-Caux | OR Route des Abbayes |
|
Experience the Normandy region with one of three tours. For those wishing to go to the American sector of the historic Normandy Beaches, you will visit the cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, Omaha Beach, the artillery battery at Longues-sur-Mer and the village of Arromanches, where the remains of the floating harbor used during the WWII landings can be seen. If you prefer, you can tour the Gold and Juno beaches in the British and Canadian sectors, where you will visit Ranville Cemetery, Pegasus Bridge, the Canadian cemetery at Beny-sur-Mer, the WWII museum in Courseulle and, finally, Arromanches. If you wish to experience a different kind of inspiration in Caudebec-en-Caux in the afternoon, the Romanesque Normandy Abbey Route will take you to one of the magnificent historic abbeys of the region. Or you can journey back in time with the interactive exhibits and vessels at the Seine Museum. (B,L,D)
| Day 7 | Rouen | Medieval Rouen walking tour |
|
Spend the morning enjoying medieval Rouen with a choice of several excursions. Join a walking tour and see the square where Joan of Arc was martyred, as well as the Medieval Quarter and Great Clock. You also have the choice of a bike tour through Rouen. In the afternoon, explore Lyons-la-Forêt, built on the site of a former fortress and featuring remarkable centuries-old architecture, or go on the “Tastes of Normandy” tour, where you’ll be treated to the delicious flavors of the region, including chocolate, macaron, Norman cheese and cider. (B,L,D)
| Day 8 | Vernon | Scenic cruising |
|
| | Monet’s home and gardens in Giverny* |
|
| | OR Château de Bizy tour and cider tasting* |
|
Enjoy scenic cruising around Vernon before disembarking the ship for your excursion. Enjoy scenic cruising around Vernon before disembarking the ship for your excursion. You will have a choice of three excursions, depending on your interests. Visit Claude Monet’s home and gardens in Giverny. Art lovers will immediately recognize images immortalized in Monet’s most beloved paintings—such as water lilies, Japanese bridges and graceful willow trees. Wander around his famous gardens and home where he lived for more than four decades. Or visit the regal 18th-century Château de Bizy, inspired by the opulence of Versailles. Enjoy an escorted tour of the palace and gardens and be treated to a cider tasting. If you prefer a more active adventure, go on a guided bike tour, taking in the beautiful French countryside. (B,L,D)
*PLEASE NOTE:Monet’s Gardens may be closed; therefore, an alternative tour will operate instead.
| Day 9 | Paris | “City of Light” tour |
|
| | OR Artist’s walk of Auvers-sur-Oise |
|
| | Musée du Vin and champagne tasting |
|
Enjoy some of Paris’ most famous sights during your panoramic tour. You will be guided through the charming Latin Quarter, home to the world-famous Sorbonne University, and through the stunning 400-year-old Luxembourg Gardens, created by King Henry IV’s widow, Marie de’ Medici. Or travel to Auberge Ravoux in the heart of Auvers-sur-Oise, the last home of artist Vincent van Gogh. His spirit still lingers in his former attic rooms at the Ravoux Inn. The mere 70 days Van Gogh spent in Auvers-sur-Oise were astonishingly prolific as he painted more than 70 works here before his death. In the afternoon, take in the beautiful sites of Paris on your way to the Musee du Vin, Paris’s famous wine museum, which is located in the heart of the city not far from the Eiffel Tower. Explore the permanent collection, which contains more than 2,200 items that pay tribute to generations of winemakers, cellar masters, oenologists and coopers. Alternatively, cycle along the Seine River and travel along the hidden passages of Paris. (B,L,D)
| Day 10 | Paris | DISEMBARKATION |
|
Bid farewell to Paris and prepare for your flight home. (B)