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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 (10 days - 9 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 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. 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 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 the D-Day Museum in Arromanches
OR the Bayeux Tapestry Museum. 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 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. 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. Later in the evening, set sail for the white cliffs of Caudebec-en-Caux.
BB, L, D Day
7 - Thursday: Caudebec-en-Caux (Honfleur). Featured
Excursion: Honfleur visit. After crossing the majestic Normandy Bridge spanning
the river delta, travel overland to Honfleur, a charming French harbor town recreated
in numerous paintings by such artists as Gustave Courbet and Claude Monet. You
will be taken on a guided walking tour from the former smuggler's 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 16, March 23 and October 26 cruise
departure dates. Instead, guests will visit the Versailles Palace. Day
9 - Saturday: Paris. Featured
Excursions: Choice of Montmartre 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. BB, L, D Please
note! The Paris city tour is offered 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
This
itinerary is subject to change without notice. Note:
The Jun 29 and Jul 13, 2012, departures have a special family program. Contact
us for details.
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Highlights
- Chateau
Gaillard in Les Andelys
- Landing
beaches of Normandy
- Bayeux'
225 ft-long 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 tour and 3 walking tours
Included -
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
- 10
shore excursions, fully hosted by English-speaking local guides
- State-of-the-art
portable audio headset system on all shore 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
on arrival (flights arriving between 5 am and 2 pm) and departure days (flights
departing between 7 am and 5 pm)
Not
Included - Optional
travel insurance
- Crew
gratuities (suggested 115-120 euros per passenger)
- 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$) Note:
Departures from North America on Thursday. Land portion of cruise-tour starts
in Paris on Friday. River cruise begins on Sunday evening and ends the following
Sunday morning. 2012
Start Dates | Tour
+ Cruise* | Port
Charges
Fuel Surchg | Airfare | Mar
16 | $2,999 | $126 | | Mar
23 | $3,049 | Mar
30 | $3,099 | Apr
6, 13 | $3,149 | Apr
20 | $3,349 | Apr
27
May 4, 11, 18, 25
Jun 1, 8, 15 | $3,549 | Jun
22, 29
Jul 6, 13, 20, 27
Aug 3, 10, 17
| $3,449 | | Aug
24 | $3,549 | | Aug
31, Sep 7, 14 | $3,749 | | Sep
21 | $3,649 | | Sep
28 | $3,549 | | Oct
5 | $3,449 | | Oct
12 | $3,349 | | Oct
19 | $3,249 | | Oct
26 | $3,149 |
*Prices
are 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 |
For
each passenger, add $5 document shipping fee plus port charges and fuel surcharge
as shown above. A
limited number of singles are available for an additional supplement. For
cruise only, subtract $600 per person. Specials
2012
early booking discounts: Contact
us for details - Book
and deposit by Feb 29, 2012, to save $300 per couple OR
- Pay
in full at time of reservation to save $800 per couple on cruise plus air package.
Selected departure dates; offer expires Feb 29, 2012.
- Single
supplement waived on selected departures (suites not included).
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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