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~
River Cruises in Northern France ~
Paris
- Rouen
See
Paris and explore the lush Normandy countryside.
Cruise
the Seine River into picturesque Normandy on an elegant 140-passenger river
boat. This
8 day/7 night river cruise is an exciting blend of cosmopolitan Paris, quaint
French villages and the verdant region of Normandy. It starts in Paris with a
sightseeing tour of some of the most famous sites around this beautiful city:
Notre Dame cathedral, the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower, etc. Next, you cruise
north to Normandy and choose between a visit of Auvers sur Oise, Vincent Van Gogh's
resting place, or Napoleon and Josephine's imperial Chateau de Malmaison. Your
next choice is a guided visit of Claude Monet's colorful gardens, lily pond and
Japanese bridge in Giverny or a tour to the beautiful Chateau de Bizy. On to Joan
of Arc's historic Rouen, for an excursion to the Normandy WWII landing beaches
or a fascinating "Taste of Normandy." Then cruise back to Les Andelys,
with a visit of the Chateau Gaillard, built by England's King Richard the Lionheart
in 1196, plus free time to explore this quaint medieval town. The cruise ends
in Paris 
TYPICAL
ITINERARY
(actual program may vary) B
= Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner Day
1 - Tuesday: Paris (embarkation). Welcome
to beautiful Paris, the "City of Light," where romance is in the air.
This afternoon, board your river cruise ship and meet your crew at a welcome reception.
D Day
2 - Wednesday: Paris. Paris is an open air museum. Today's city sightseeing
shows you magnificent Notre Dame cathedral, the Louvre Museum with its famous
glass pyramid, a stark contrast to its classical architecture, the Arc de Triomphe,
the Opéra, the neo-classical Madeleine church, the Champs Elysées
and the Eiffel Tower. Enjoy the sites and take in the parisian atmosphere BLD Day
3 - Thursday: Paris, Conflans.
After breakfast, enjoy a relaxing morning on the sky deck as the cruise ship glides
gently down the river, through suburban Paris. This afternoon, dock at Conflans
and make your choice of one of the following: Either join a guided excursion to
Auvers sur Oise, the quaint little town where Vincent Van Gogh lived for a few
months and tragically ended his days, OR to Napoleon and Josephine's Chateau de
Malmaison just outside Paris. Malmaison, a large country estate, was purchased
by Josephine in 1799 while her husband was on his campaign of Egypt. Her goal
was to make the grounds of the castle "the most beautiful garden in all of
Europe." BLD Day
4 - Friday: Vernon.
This morning, choose between a guided visit of Claude Monet's house and beautiful
gardens in Giverny OR a visit of Chateau de Bizy with its magnificent courtyard.
Then, spend some time taking a stroll around this delightful town on your own
before your ship departs for Rouen. BLD Day
5 - Saturday: Rouen. Rouen
is the capital of Upper Normandy and an important commercial center. It is famous
mostly because of Joan of Arc who was sent to prison there and burned at the stake
by the British in the marketplace, in 1431. Enjoy the guided walking tour through
the medieval quarter with its half-timbered houses and the famous Gros Horloge,
a sophisticated astronomical clock dating back to the 16th century. The nearby
splendid gothic cathedral was once the tallest building in the world and the subject
of a long series of studies by Claude Monet. Explore at your own leisure this
afternoon, or join an optional excursion to the picture-perfect coastal town of
Honfleur or to the busy port city of Le Havre with its contemporary architecture.
BLD Day
6 - Sunday: Rouen. Today,
choose between an excursion to the WWII D-day beaches of Normandy with historical
sites such as Omaha Beach, Pointe du Hoc and the American Cemetery in Coleville,
OR enjoy a "Taste of Normandy" for a more in-depth look at this picturesque
and agricultural region (with such world-renowned names as Camembert cheese and
Calvados apple brandy). BLD Day
7 - Monday: Les Andelys. One
of the most dramatic sights along the Seine is the imposing Chateau Gaillard at
Les Andelys. Built by England's King Richard the Lionheart in 1196, the château
is a masterpiece of medieval military architecture. Explore on your own and enjoy
your last day in this delightful small town. BLD Day
8 - Tuesday: Paris (disembarkation).
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning (Please note! Departure flights
should not leave before 8 am). B This
itinerary is subject to change without notice.
In the event of water level problems or any other issues of a technical nature,
it may be necessary to operate the itinerary by motor coach or to alter the program. Special
Theme Cruise (Oct 30, 2012): This exciting art-focused cruise is the ideal
way to explore scenic northern France. In Paris, a local expert guides you through
Musée d'Orsay to see its incredible collection of masterpieces. Explore
the Château d'Auvers for a voyage to the heart of the paintings by Cezanne,
Van Gogh, and Monet. Marvel at Rouen's lovely cathedral to discover what made
this a favorite subject for Monet. Also visit the Musée des Beaux-Arts
André Malraux in Le Havre, admire works by artists at Montmartre's Place
du Tertre, and attend special onboard art lectures from a local art expert. [top] OPTIONAL
EXCURSIONS
Please
note! The following list of excursions is an example of the various possible
options. The availability of these tours is subject to sufficient participation,
weather conditions, seasonal suitability, group interests, etc. The approximate
value listed (in euros) gives a general idea of what you can expect to pay, but
the final price may vary. This list may change at any time. Mona
Lisa's Smile and the Louvre Museum. Le
Louvre is a very large museum. The 35,000 works of art inside include such famous
master pieces as the Mona Lisa, the Winged Victory of Samothrace, the Venus de
Milo. Our local expert will bring them to life as we have a look at the most important
pieces of the various collections. Approximate value: €48 per person An
Evening at the Moulin Rouge. The
Moulin Rouge is the epitome of French cabaret. Enjoy a dinner at the Moulin Rouge
before you admire the colorful show "Féerie" featuring more than
100 artists and dancers, and more than 1000 costumes. Approximate value: €159
per person The
Artists' Quarter in Montmartre.
Join our local expert on a short walking tour of the narrow lanes and squares
around the Sacré Coeur church. Admire a spectacular view over the roofs
of the City of Light. Listen to the stories, and admire the artwork of the artists
at Place du Tertre where some of the French impressionists started their careers.
Approximate value: €41 per person The
Eiffel Tower. Start
your encounter with Paris with a visit to its most famous land. Your local expert
will accompany you up to the second floor, where you will enjoy a breathtaking
view of Paris and all its famous buildings - the Military Academy, the Louvre,
the Arc de Triomphe, Montmartre's Sacre Coeur, Notre Dame, etc. Approximate value:
€29 per person Visit
to Honfleur (from Rouen).
The estuary of the Seine River has fascinated many artists, painters, writers
and musicians over the centuries: William Turner, Johan Bartold Jongkind, Gustave
Courbet, Claude Monet, Charles Baudelaire and Erik Satie, just to name a few.
Honfleur is a quaint medieval town with an old town hall, the former Salt Halls,
St. Catherine's church and the old marina which invite visitors for a leisurely
stroll or a stop at a local cafe to enjoy the atmosphere of this picturesque location.
Our local experts will guide you through the secrets of this very special jewel
of Normandy. Approximate value: €49 per person
[top]
Highlights
- Guided
sightseeing in Paris
- Choice
of guided excursions to Auvers sur Oise or Chateau de Malmaison
- Choice
of guided excursions to Giverny or Bizy Castle
- Guided
sightseeing in Rouen
- Choice
of excursions to D-day landing beaches or "A Taste of Normandy"
- Château
Gaillard in Les Andelys
Included - Meals
as specified
- Shore
excursions with local guides
- Headsets
for shore excursions
- Complimentary
Wi-Fi access
- Coffee
self-serve beverage station
- Premium
L'Occitane bath amenities
- Full
buffet breakfast with sparkling wine
- Made-to-order
egg station at breakfast
- Complimentary
soft drinks with lunch
- Four-course
dinners with open seating
- Choice
of appetizers, soups and salads
- Nightly
option of entree, dessert or cheese
- Complimentary
regional wines at dinner
- Free
soft drinks or beer with dinner
- Non-smoking
interior
- English-speaking
crew
- Onboard
lectures, activities and nightly entertainment
- Room
service available
Not
Included - Crew
gratuities (suggested 115-120 euros per passenger)
- Personal
expenses
- Other
items not specifically listed under "Included" above
River
Boat Features - Number
of Decks: 3 + sun deck
- Sky
deck with lounge chairs, shade system and whirlpool
- Number
of Categories: 5
- Maximum
Passengers: 140
- Staterooms:
68 (size: 172 sf)
- Suites:
2 (size: 258 sf)
- Panoramic
windows throughout the cruise ship
- French
balconies in the suites and categories A, B and P
- Fitness
center and hair salon
- Large
bathrooms and showers with glass doors
- Flatscreen
satellite TV with movie channels
- Elevator
[top]
2012
Dates & Prices (in US$) Prices
are per person double occupancy in category E on the Indigo deck. Departures from
the US are one day earlier. Cruise
Start Date | Price | | Mar
27, Apr 3 | $1,549 | Apr
10 | $2,349 | Apr
17 | $1,549 | Apr
24 | $1,549 | | May
1, 8 | $2,819 | May
15, 22, 29
Jun 5, 12, 19
| $2,919 | Jun
26
Jul 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
Aug 7, 14, 21
| $2,699 | | Aug
28 | $2,899 | | Sep
4, 11, 18 | $3,019 | Sep
25 | $2,899 | Oct
2 | $2,819 | Oct
9 | $2,699 | | Oct
16 | $2,599 | | Oct
23 | $2,499 | | Oct
30 (Art Theme) | $2,299 |
Port
Charges: Add $105 per person. Airfare: Contact
us for prices.
To
upgrade to a higher category, add the following amounts per person: Suite | $1,299 | Category
P | $699 | | Category
A | $599 | | Category
B | $549 |
Specials
Book
by February 28, 2012, and receive $600 off per couple on cruise+air or $300 off
per couple on cruise only.
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