| | | |
~
River Cruises in France ~
Paris
- Normandy
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. 
TYPICAL
RIVER CRUISE ITINERARY
(actual program may vary) B
= Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner Note:
Departures available on Sunday or Wednesday Day
1 - Sunday or Wednesday: 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 or Thursday: 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 the
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 or Friday: 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. (The Monet garden is not
available after October 31. For cruises in November and December, a visit to the
charming village of Auvers-sur-Oise, favored by Van Gogh and other artists, will
be substituted.) 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 or Saturday: 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 or Sunday: 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 or Monday: 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 or Tuesday: 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 or Wednesday: Paris
(B). Disembarkation after breakfast.
[top] 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 $70-85 per passenger)
- Personal
expenses
- Other
items not listed in "Included" above
Riverboat
Features - 75
staterooms/150 passengers/40 crew members
- Sun
deck with chairs and canopy
- Restaurant,
lounge and bar with panoramic windows
- Open
restaurant seating at tables of 4, 6, and 8 places
- Library/game
room and boutique
- All
outside cabins with river view
- Category
A and B cabins (154 sq. ft.) have large windows (3.6 ft x 7.3 ft) that open. Hotel-style
beds are 6.6 ft x 5.3 ft x 1.8 ft and can be separated into two twin beds. Underbed
storage for suitcases (13" high). Closet is 3.4 ft wide. Dresser plus desk
with chair.
- Category
C and D cabins (154 sq. ft.) have smaller fixed windows (3.1 ft x 4.7 ft). Hotel-style
beds are 6.6 ft x 5.3 ft x 1.5 ft and can be separated into two twin beds. Underbed
storage for suitcases (13" high). Closet is 3.4 ft wide. Dresser plus desk
with chair.
- Category
E cabins (120 sq. ft.) have small fixed windows (1.4 ft x 4.7 ft). There is a
sofa bed (6.2 ft x 2.6 ft) and a Pullman bed (5.6 ft x 2.6 ft) Closet is 2.2 ft
wide. Small desk with chair.
- Private
bathroom with shower
- Converter
in the bathroom outlet
- TV,
phone, safe and hairdryer
- Individual
climate control
[top] Cruise
Departure Dates and Prices (US$) 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 through February 29, 2012. Limited single pricing is available; contact
us for details. Roundtrip
air and transfer packages are available. Prices vary according to departure city.
If you prefer to book your own air, transfers to/from Paris airport may be purchased
separately for $60 per person each way. These transfers are available only on
cruise start and end dates. 2012
Cruise
Dates* | Stateroom
Category |
A |
B |
C |
D |
E | | Mar
21 | $2,556 | $2,356 | $2,156 | $2,056 | $1,556 | | Mar
25, 28 | $3,044 | SOLD
OUT | | Apr
1, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22 | $3,344 | SOLD
OUT | | Apr
25 | SOLD
OUT | $3,524 | SOLD
OUT | May
2
Jun 6, 13, 20, 24, 27 | $3,456 | $3,256 | $3,056 | $2,956 | $2,456 | May
6, 9, 13, 16, 20, 23, 30
| SOLD
OUT | $2,924 | | Jun
3, 10, 17 | $4,124 | $3,884 | $3,644 | $3,524 | $2,924 | Jul
4, 11, 15, 18, 22, 25
Aug 1, 5, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22, 29 | $3,256 | $3,056 | $2,856 | $2,756 | $2,256 | Jul
8
| SOLD
OUT | $3,404 | $3,284 | SOLD
OUT | Sep
2, 5, 12, 19, 26, 30
Oct 3
| $3,756 | $3,556 | $3,356 | $3,256 | $2,756 | Sep
9, 16
| | $4,244 | $4,004 | $3,884 | $3,284 | | Oct
7 | $4,124 | $3,884 | $3,644 | $3,524 | $2,924 | | Oct
10, 14 | $3,456 | $3,256 | $3,056 | $2,956 | $2,456 | | Oct
17, 21, 24, 28, 31 | $3,106 | $2,906 | $2,706 | $2,606 | $2,106 | | Nov
4 | $2,684 | SOLD
OUT | | Nov
7, 11 | $2,256 | $2,056 | $1,856 | $1,756 | $1,256 | Nov
18, 25
| $2,156 | $1,956 | $1,756 | $1,656 | $1,156 | | Dec
2, 9, 16, 23 | $2,256 | $2,056 | $1,856 | $1,756 | $1,256 |
*Air departure from USA or Canada one day earlier. Special:
Book any 2012 cruise by February 29, 2012, and receive $350 per person off roundtrip
airfare (March - October) or up to 1/2 off airfare (November - December).
  [top]
| | |
