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France: Paris and Normandy (The Seine) - European River Cruise Routes
Here is a typical itinerary for a river cruise on the Seine in Northern France, in this case on the Cézanne with Uniworld in 2005. Most of these cruises last around 7-9 days, and can be combined with a southern France cruise of a similar length. Viking also do northern France cruises, using the Viking Seine, and they seem to be the only one of the larger operators doing the Northern circuit in 2006.
When you check out the different tour aggregators' or agents' websites, you'll notice that many of them use the same copy, this is usually because they're taking it direct from the riverboat operator's brochure. In fact, I've noticed that even the different operators have very much the same information, so to some extent it's a case of read one, read 'em all (links are to our photo gallery):
Day 1 Sat Paris
Arrive in Paris and transfer to your luxurious floating hotel, docked near the city centre, making it easy to explore Paris on your own. This evening, meet your fellow travellers at a welcome onboard dinner.
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Day 2 Sun Paris
This morning, join our guided tour of Paris. See all the famous sights including the colorful Latin Quarter, the Louvre Museum, the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Elysées. This afternoon is at leisure.
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Day 3 Mon Paris – Vernon
This morning is free to shop, explore further or visit the famous Louvre Museum. At lunch time, set sail down the Seine through the picturesque French countryside, arriving at the charming provincial town of Vernon, where we overnight.
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Day 4 Tue Giverny – Les Andelys
This morning, head for Giverny, home to Claude Monet’s beloved residence. Visit the restored home and studio of this famous impressionist painter, and wander through the spectacular gardens that have inspired many of its most famous paintings. Wander around the famous lily ponds, and across the famous Japanese bridge. Rejoin the ship in time for lunch and continue cruising down the Seine to the small village of Les Andelys. Here, visit the imposing and dramatic ruins of Château Gaillard, built in the 12th century by Richard the Lionheart, when he was Duke of Normandy (note: the castle is only accessible by foot). |
Day 5 Wed Caudebec en Caux – Jumiéges
This morning, sail into the small town of Caudebec and visit the 15th century Gothic Cathedral in Caudebec, and then continue to the Benedictine Abbey of Jumiéges and the Church of St Peter, arguably the most beautiful ruins in France. The abbey dates back to the Carolingian Period with early example of early Norman architecture from the 10th century. Today, the majestic twin towers of this romantic ruin still stand a proud 170 feet tall. At lunchtime, continue cruising downstream towards the Atlantic Coast for an overnight in Le Havre. |
Day 6 Thu Honfleur
Often referred to as the birthplace of Impressionism, the charming market town of Honfleur is also known as the most picturesque port in France. This morning, local guides will lead an interesting walk through the streets including a visit to the town’s unusual 16th century wooden church built in the shape of a ship. After lunch on board, head north for an excursion through Upper Normandy. Drive along the beautiful Alabaster Coast, renown for its spectacular cliffs, to the fashionable resort of Etretat. On to Fécamp, home to the impressive Trinity Monastery, a treasure trove of stained glass, altarpieces, tombs, carved screens, and the tabernacle containing the famous relics of the Christ’s Precious Blood. You then visit the extravagant Benedictine Palace, where the famous Benedictine liquor is made. Learn the secret recipe on a visit to the distillery, and taste this mix of 27 plants and spices gathered from the four corners of the world. Return to the ship in time for dinner. |
Day 7 Fri Rouen
This morning, follow in the footsteps of Joan of Arc on a walking tour of Old Rouen. View the Cathedral of Notre Dame with its gargoyles, towers and famous clock, and follow the narrow winding streets past the law courts to the old market square where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake. The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure in this charming city. |
Day 9 Sat Rouen
With fond memories of your cruise through Normandy, transfer to the airport for your flight home. |
As you can see, the descriptions are a bit florid, but they give a pretty fair idea of the kind of experiences you can expect.
OUR ADVICE: concentrate on the ship you want to travel on and the route you want to travel, rather than the tour aggregator (of course, there's also price!). Be sure to check out our "Things to watch for" page too!
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