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~
River Cruises in France ~
Paris
- Honfleur
Explore
artistic and historical Normandy.
Discover Paris, the "City of Light"
Cruise
the meandering Seine River across northern France on an elegant 120-passenger
river boat (cruise-tour 10 days - 9 nights; cruise only 8 days - 7 nights). Enjoy
art, culture, the good life and the lush, verdant scenery of Normandy in northern
France. Visit the medieval city of Rouen and the picture-perfect harbor of Honfleur,
so lovingly depicted by the Impressionists. Walk the beaches of Normandy where
the allied forces landed during WWII's D-Day invasion, and see the site where
Joan of Arc was martyred. Experience Monet's home in his beloved village of Giverny,
where you will see the familiar Japanese bridge and lily pond that inspired his
great works of art. Spend time in one of the world's grandest cities, Paris, with
its iconic Eiffel Tower, famed Champs-Élysées and majestic Notre
Dame cathedral. 
TYPICAL
RIVER CRUISE-TOUR ITINERARY
(actual program may vary) BB
= Buffet Breakfast, CB = Continental Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner Day
1 - Friday: Paris. Arrival
at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport and transfer to your hotel. Day
2 - Saturday: Paris. Featured Excursion: Choice of a
panoramic Paris city tour by bus OR a walking tour.
The
panoramic tour begins with a drive up the Champs-Élysées, going
by the Arc de Triomphe before stopping at the Champs de Mars for an opportunity
to take pictures of the Eiffel Tower. Then on to Place Vendôme, Hôtel
de Ville, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Latin Quarter. Next is Les Invalides,
the Louvre courtyard, and the Luxembourg Gardens to witness a slice of daily Parisian
life - men playing boules and children sailing boats on the pond. OR
The “Heart of Paris” walking tour
takes you on an up-close exploration of one of Paris’
classiest neighborhoods. Stroll from the Opera House to the Comédie-Française
Theater and get a glance at the Palais Royal gardens. BB Day
3 - Sunday: Paris. Transfer
from your hotel to the riverboat and free time. BB, D (Cruise-only program: Arrival
at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport and transfer to your hotel. D only) Day
4- Monday: Les Andelys. Featured
Excursion: Walk to Château Gaillard. Les
Andelys was of considerable strategic importance during the Middle Ages, prompting
King Richard the Lionheart to build a fortified castle to protect the Duchy of
Normandy from the French King Philip II in the 12th century. Your adventure takes
you on a walk to the English king's stronghold to admire the remains of the impressive
château. In the afternoon, admire the Seine's tranquil landscapes from the
sun deck and enjoy the beauty of the surrounding countryside. BB, L, D (Captain's
Welcome Gala) Day
5- Tuesday: Rouen (Normandy Beaches).
Featured Excursion: Full-day Normandy Beaches plus choice of the D-Day Museum
in Arromanches OR the Bayeux Tapestry Museum OR Juno Beach and Canadian Center. Because
of Normandy's proximity to the sea, it has been the site of many conflicts and
battles, including the famous D-Day invasion by Allied forces during WWII. Before
visiting the beaches of Normandy, you will be taken to Mulberry Harbor at Arromanches.
There you can visit the D-Day museum OR see Juno Beach, where the 3rd Canadian
Infantry Division landed, and take in the exhibits at the Canadian Center OR you
can go on to Bayeux, where you can see the medieval depiction of the 1066 Battle
of Hastings on a tapestry dating from the 11th century. You will stop at the Allied
landing sites at Omaha Beach before visiting a haunting reminder of the Allied
Forces' hard fight for freedom - the American Cemetery at Colleville sur Mer.
BB, D Day
6 - Wednesday: Rouen.
Featured Excursion: Walking tour of Rouen OR "In the Steps of the Impressionist
Painters." Your
visit to Rouen will take you to the stunning Gothic cathedral; the haunting Medieval
quarter with its half-timbered, slate-tile roofs; and the Gros Horloge, a Renaissance
clock tower that arches overhead. The walk ends at the Vieux Marche, where Joan
of Arc was burned at the stake. OR
If you prefer, you can see the sights that inspired the Impressionists, followed
by a visit to the Museum of Fine Arts, which has the largest collection of Impressionist
paintings outside Paris. BB, L, D Day
7 - Thursday: Caudebec-en-Caux (Honfleur). Featured
Excursion: Honfleur walking tour. After crossing the majestic Normandy Bridge
spanning the river delta, travel through the Calvados countryside to Honfleur,
a charming French harbor town recreated in numerous paintings by such artists
as Gustave Courbet, Claude Monet and Eugene Boudin. You will be taken on a guided
walking tour from the former smugglers' harbor of Vieux Bassin - the most frequently
painted scene in Honfleur, where the fishing village backdrop is seemingly unchanged
from over 500 years ago - through the pedestrian streets to St. Catherine's Church.
BB, L, D Day
8 - Friday: Vernon (Giverny).
Featured Excursion: Monet's Giverny. Visit Monet's home in his beloved village
of Giverny, where he lived for 43 years, until his death in 1926. You will explore
Monet's house, furnished as it was when the leader of the Impressionist school
lived here and still displaying his precious collection of Japanese engravings.
Strolling through the gardens, you will see the familiar Japanese bridge and water
garden shaded by the weeping willows that so inspired this master's work. Watch
the light play on the pond, which is covered with the water lilies reproduced
in Monet's numerous enchanting versions of The Nympheas (The Water Lilies). While
sailing during the afternoon, you will understand why the Seine provides the perfect
backdrop for a painter's artistic expression. BB, L, D (Captain's Farewell Gala) Please
note! Giverny will be closed during the March 15, March 22 and October 25 cruise-tour
departure dates. Instead, guests will visit the Versailles Palace near Paris.
Day
9 - Saturday: Paris. Featured
Excursions: Choice of Montmartre artists' village OR the “Heart of Paris
- Ile de la Cite/Latin Quarter” walking tour. Climb
the hill of Montmartre surrounded by a labyrinth of narrow streets and crowned
by the Sacré Coeur Basilica. Take in the gorgeous views from this promontory
above the rooftops of Paris. Many artists have made this village their home, and
you will understand why as this area of Paris provides the perfect setting to
inspire. OR
Choose to take an intimate look at Parisian daily life with a “Heart of Paris”
walking tour of the Île de la Cité, the epicenter of Paris and home
of the famous Cathedral of Notre Dame. Stop by an open-air market to shop as the
Parisians do for regional delicacies. BB, L, D Please
note! The panoramic Paris city tour (see Day 2) is also offered today for cruise-only
passengers. Day
10- Sunday: Depart Paris. Disembark
the ship and transfer to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport for your flight home.
BB or CB
The
above itinerary and the vessel are subject to change without notice. Substitute
visits to other sites may occur during your cruise due to water level fluctuations
and other uncontrollable factors.
The
order of sightseeing and docking ports are subject to change according to port
authority assignments. Special
multigenerational family-friendly program including additional activities for
children: June 28, July 12 & July 26, 2013. Contact
us for details.
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Highlights
- Chateau
Gaillard in Les Andelys
- Landing
beaches of Normandy
- Bayeux
tapestry recounting the 1066 battle of Hastings
- Honfleur,
the "cradle of Impressionism"
- Medieval
Rouen
- Monet's
house, lily pond and Japanese bridge in Giverny
- Paris:
choose among panoramic bus tour and 3 walking tours
Included
in Cruise-Tour Program -
7-night cruise in a riverview stateroom
- 2
nights in Paris at the Radisson Blu Ambassador Hotel or similar
- All
meals onboard, prepared using the finest and freshest ingredients
- 9
breakfasts, 5 lunches, 7 dinners, including Captain's Welcome Gala and Farewell
Dinner
- Complimentary
fine European wines, choice of beer, and soft drinks during lunch and dinner onboard;
bottled water in your stateroom; and 24-hour coffee and tea bar
- Choose
from 12 excursions, fully hosted by English-speaking local guides
- State-of-the-art
portable audio headset system on all excursions
- Onboard
entertainment
- Signature
Lecture: "The Seine River in Impressionist Paintings"
- Exclusive
multigenerational family-friendly program during summer months
- An
experienced cruise manager and English-speaking staff
- Transfers
between CDG airport and downtown Paris on arrival (flights arriving between 5
am and 2:30 pm) and departure days (flights departing between 6 am and 6 pm)
Not
Included - Optional
travel insurance
- Crew
gratuities (suggested 16-18 Euros per passenger per day)
- Personal
expenses
- Other
items not specifically listed under "Included" above
River
Boat Features - The
lavishly appointed riverview staterooms have hotel-style beds, built-in closets,
hair dryer, safe, individual thermostat for air conditioning and heat, direct-dial
telephone, flat-screen TV, bottled water
- Category
1 staterooms and suites have French balconies; Category 2 and 3 staterooms have
large windows
- The
bathrooms have L'Occitane bath and body products, magnifying mirror, and bathrobes
- Beautiful
panoramic main lounge, full-service bar and dance floor, cozy library/game room
and elegant restaurant
- Sun
deck with chess and shuffleboard, fitness room, spa and boutique
- 24-hour
specialty coffee and tea bar
- 24-hour
reception service
- Free
Internet and WiFi access
- Remodeled
in 2011
- Length:
361 ft (110 m)
- Width:
37.5 ft (11.40 m)
- Number
of Decks: 2 + sun deck
- Number
of Stateroom Categories: 3 plus suites
- Maximum
Passengers: 120
- Staterooms:
56 (128 sq ft)
- Suites:
4 (256 sq ft)
- Currency
onboard: Euro
- No
elevator
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Dates
& Prices (in US$) Please
note! Cruise/tour (Paris land tour + river cruise) starts in Paris on Friday.
The river cruise itself begins on Sunday evening and ends the following Sunday
morning. 2013
- Cruise/tour
departures every Friday from March 15 to October 25 (leaving
the US one day earlier).
Prices range from $3,449 to $4,249
per
person, double occupancy, in category 3.To
upgrade to a higher category, add the following amounts per person: Suite | $1,495 | Category
1 | $800 | Category
2 | $400 |
Port
Charges: Add $140 per person. For cruise only, subtract $700 per person. Document
shipping to countries outside the US and Canada is available for an additional
fee. -
A limited number of singles are available for an additional supplement.
-
Airfare from USA or Canada: Contact
us for prices.
-
If you book your own air transportation, free transfers are available for flights
arriving between specified hours on the start and end days.
Specials
2013
discounts: - Book
and deposit by May 31, 2013, to save $300 per couple on the following departures:Jun
28, Jul 12, 26, Aug 2, 9, 23, Oct 18, 25
2014
discounts: Contact us for details Note:
Offers are subject to availability at time of reservation and are capacity controlled.
Other restrictions may apply. The cruise company reserves the right to withdraw
this offer at any time.
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