Seine River Cruise Itinerary
DAY 1 - PARIS
Check in from 6.00pm and settle into your cabin. Welcome cocktail and introduction to the crew. Dinner on board followed by a leisurely night-time cruise to see the sights of Paris (Water level permitting). Nothing is more romantic than the French capital at sunset, as the buildings and monuments light up one by one. Cruise through the night.
DAY 2 - LA ROCHE GUYON
After breakfast enjoy a morning of cruising. After lunch on board there is an optional tour to the Claude Monet Foundation in Giverny. Here in Normandy, this charmingly restored pink façade house with green shutters invites you to step back in time and explore the restored interior of Monet’s domain to admire the sunshine yellow dining room and cool blue living room, his extensive workshops and his lovingly restored gardens, the Flower Garden, the Water Garden and his famous Japanese Garden with the beautiful Japanese bridge all bathed in the unique light of the Seine Valley. Dinner on board with an evening at leisure. The ship will cruise through the night to Caudebec-en-Caux.
DAY 3 - CAUDEBEC-EN-CAUX
Breakfast on board this morning whilst enjoying views of the beautiful countryside with quaint villages nestling on the banks of the Seine, all protected by a backdrop of mountains. After breakfast enjoy a full day optional tour (lunch included) to discover the ‘Pays de Caux’ which begins with the lovely seaside village of Veules-les-Roses. The village seems suspended in time as the popular vacation spot it was in the 19th century.
Victor Hugo was just one of the many artists who fell in love with its unspoiled charm. The tour continues on to Dieppe, the first seaside resort in France. The walk along the shoreline is still as beautiful as it was centuries ago. The traditional fishing district is a place to enjoy the atmosphere. The tour also stops in the picturesque village of Varangeville-sur-Mer, perched upon majestic cliffs. Return on board for dinner and mooring overnight.
DAY 4 - CAUDEBEC-EN-CAUX - HONFLEUR
This morning is spent cruising to Hornfleur enjoying breakfast on board. After lunch join an optional excursion to Cabourg and the Cote Fleurie. In the 19th century, the Cote Fleurie became a well known haven for Parisians looking to escape the city for a touch of respite. The tour includes visiting the string of seaside resorts on this tour, including Trouville and Deauville. In Cabourg, the luxurious Grand Hotel overlooking the fine sand beach seems frozen in the belle epoque. Cabourg has seen some of the greatest French stars at its casino, including Edith Piaf, Gilbert Becaud and Charles Aznavour. Here whilst soaking up the surrounding atmosphere enjoy one of the famous madeleine cakes. Return to the ship for dinner on board with mooring overnight.
DAY 5 - HORNFLEUR
After breakfast there is an optional guided tour to visit the small medieval maritime town of great historical interest, Honfleur. Time has stood still for this small port with cobbled streets and narrow houses surrounding the Old Dock. With its picturesque streets and lovely harbor lined with cafes and resaurants, Hornfleur feels like a romantic painting which has come to life. Stroll through the older sections of the town to see the impressive salt warehouses and Saint Caherine's Church, the largest Wooden church in France. Return to the ship for lunch on board. This afternoon there are two optional tours available. The first is the 'Discover Normandy's cheese and apple products'.
The Pays d'Auge represents all the wonders Normandy has to offer in sights and tastes. The tour crosses the beautiful countryside and stops at a local cheesemaker in Livarot to taste the four regional cheeses,Pont-l'Eveque, Livarot, Neufchatel and Camembert. The tour also visits a cider manufacturer to taste the range of apple based libations the region is famous for. Spend free time unescorted at the last stop of this tour in the beautful village of Beuvron-en-Auge. Return to the ship for dinner on board and evening at leisure.
The second full day optional guided tour is to the beaches of the Normandy landings. Departure is by coach from the cruiser to Pointe du Hoc passing by Omaha Beach and Coleville sur Mer, the site of the American Cemetery, Gold Beach, Juno Beach and Sword Beach. Shortly after lunch arrive in the pleasant coastal town of Arromanches which is known as playing an integral part in the D-day landings on June 6th 1944. The tour is completed with a showing of the film ‘The Price of Liberty’. an experience that plunges visitors into 100 days of the European war as filmed by 'on-the-ground war correspondents at the time'. Return to the cruiser. Dinner on board and evening at leisure. The ship will cruise to Rouen overnight.
DAY 6 - ROUEN
Breakfast on board is followed by an optional guided tour 'Medieval Rouen and the Ossuary of Saint-Maclou' One of the oldest sites in Rouan the Ossuary of Saint-Maclou is full of history. This tour will take you back to the harrowing times of the plague and the destruction it caused across Europe. The medieval town of Rouen with cobbled streets, fabulous half timbered houses, former draper shops and magnificent architecture including the impressive Rouen cathedral which amongst its many highlights has a stained glass window containing an effigy of Richard the Lionheart. The modern church of St Joan of Arc was built on the site where she was burnt alive. Return to the ship for lunch and enjoy an afternoon of cruising. After dinner on board a Gala evening will delight the most discerning.
DAY 7 - PARIS
Before arrival in Paris, breakfast on board before disembarking at 9.00am and transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Please note: for reasons of navigational safety, the captain and crew of the boat may decide to modify the cruise itinerary, which is beyond Orbital Travel's control.
CRUISE MAP
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