Your exciting journey begins as you board your overnight flights to Europe.

Passengers are welcome to board our ship at 5:00 p.m. After comfortably settling into your cabins, we’ll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail before dinner. Then join us on the sun deck for beautiful views as we cruise through Paris “by night” (depending on the water level).

Panoramic Guided Tour of Paris (about 3.5 hours)
Departure by coach with a guide to discover the mythical sites of the capital. Since its foundation as Lutèce on the Ile de la Cité, two thousand years of history have seen ecclesiastics, sovereigns and heads of states leave their mark on the city, building churches, erecting monuments and palaces, creating prestigious museums and outlining sumptuous perspectives. Its distinguished couturiers, perfumers and jewelers have strongly built up Paris’s reputation for taste and elegance. A city of festivities, theaters and famous cabarets, Paris also glows from the sparkle and shine of its well-known revues. Our coach will take you past Bercy, the F. Mitterrand National Library, the Bastille, the Marais, the Latin Quarter, St Germain, the Louvre, the Pyramid, the Opéra Garnier, Place Vendôme, the Concorde, the Champs Elysées, the Arc de Triomphe, the Invalides, the Trocadéro and of course the famous Eiffel Tower. Return to the ship at Quai de Grenelle.

The morning will be spent cruising. In the afternoon depart on a tour of the Claude Monet Foundation in Giverny – the second most visited spot in Normandy after Mont Saint-Michel.

Visit the Claude Monet Foundation in Giverny (about 3.5 hours)
You will leave the boat by coach to travel to the home of Claude Monet. He lived in his Giverny home between 1830 and 1926. His passion for gardening and colors led him to conceive his flower garden as a true art piece. He even said: “It took a while for me to understand my waterlilies… I grew them without thinking of painting them… A landscape doesn’t sink in in one day… And all of a sudden the enchantments of my pond struck me. I took my palette. Since then, I’ve never had any other model.” You can still feel the atmosphere that once reigned in the master of Impressionism’s house when visiting it. You will discover the pink facade while penetrating the garden. Inside, the artist’s particular taste for warm tones will strike you, from the intensity of the blue he chose for his kitchen as well as his small living room, to the yellow walls and furniture in the dining room, where you will also be able to see his private collection of Japanese prints. We’ll be back on board in Vernon late afternoon. Enjoy an evening of entertainment as we start sailing towards Duclair.

This morning will be spent cruising while in the afternoon we will tour the Norman Abbey.

The Norman Abbeys Trail (about 4 hours)
The excursion begins with a visit of the Jumièges Abbey. Built in 654 when Christianity arrived in the region, and subsequently destroyed by the Vikings, the abbey was restored in the 11th century by their descendants. With the arrival of the Romantic period, the abbey became extremely well-known thanks to Victor Hugo who described it as the “most beautiful ruins in all of France”. During our visit we’ll also discover the cloisters and the ruins of the Church of Saint Peter before visiting the Abbey of Saint Wandrille or Wandregisel (exterior only), a highly spiritual monument founded in the same century. The wonderful classical architecture of this abbey blends with the magnificence of its mediaeval heritage in perfect harmony. Unlike Jumièges, a congregation of Benedictine monks settled in this abbey in 1931 and has remained to this day, bringing the community to a substantial number. We’ll return to the ship by coach and set sail towards Honfleur.

Today we will enjoy 2 half day tours starting with the Côte Fleurie complete with a Calvados tasting followed by an afternoon guided walking tour of Honfleur.

The Côte Fleurie (about 4 hours)
Departure by coach with your guide. First stop at Deauville, the most glamourous coastal French city, symbol of elegance, prestige and sophistication. Enjoy a stroll along the famous floorboards that were built in 1923 along the beach, allowing women to enjoy the seaside without spoiling their dresses. Pass by the casino (exterior view). Then continue by coach to the delightful setting of the Breuil castle. Located in a lush green setting at the center of the Pays d’Auge, this castle is one of the most beautiful examples of the architectural heritage of this region. Today, the Breuil castle is also home to a prestigious distillery where you will get the chance to discover the various steps to making Calvados before tasting it*. Return to the boat in Honfleur by coach. Lunch on board.

Guided Walking Tour of Honfleur (about 1.5 hours)
We’ll meet up with our guide and set off on our walking tour. Honfleur, the cradle of Impressionism, is located at the mouth of the Seine as it flows into the English Channel. Untouched by the passage of time, this small port has kept the landmarks of its rich past, making it today one of the most visited towns in France. We’ll begin our tour at the Vieux Bassin, one of the most charming sites in the city. The narrow houses squeezed against each other are quite a unique sight. Next, we’ll see Saint Catherine’s Church, the largest wooden church in France. It was listed as a historical monument in 1879 and has been the subject of scrupulous research by many archaeologists and historians. We’ll then head for the original 17th-century Salt Halls (Greniers à Sel), now used for exhibitions, conferences and concerts. Our tour will finish with a visit to Saint Léonard Church. Destroyed during the Hundred Years War, it was rebuilt at the end of the 15th and beginning of the 16th centuries-only to be partially burned down again during the Wars of Religion. We’ll return to our ship on foot.

Enjoy the passing vistas as we sail during the morning. After lunch, its time to explore Rouen!.

Guided Walking Tour of Rouen (about 2 hours)
We’ll leave on foot for a guided tour of Rouen. The historic center of the city and its famous cathedral are only a 5-minute walk from the ship. Stretched along the Seine, Rouen is Normandy’s cultural, historical, and gastronomical capital. The exceptionally complex Notre-Dame Cathedral is renowned for the juxtaposition of all the Gothic periods – especially on the facade, which Monet painted time and again, reflecting its glory in different lights. Destroyed during the Viking invasions in 841 and, partially, in 1944, by allied bombardments, the cathedral continues to be a perpetually evolving structure. We’ll then head to the market place where Joan of Arc was burned alive for heresy in 1431. The Gros-Horloge, or Great Clock, is one of the most emblematic monuments in the city. The Gothic belfry has housed the communal bells and clock of the city since its construction at the end of the 14th century. Finally, we’ll visit the Saint Joan of Arc Church. Located on the Old Market Place, this large monument’s construction ended in 1979 and was built both in honor of the Saint as well as the heroine celebrated by the French on the second Sunday in May. We’ll return to our ship on foot at the end of the afternoon. Tonight relax and enjoy the on board entertainment.

This morning will be spent cruising followed by a tour of the Château de Martainville.

Visit of the Chateau de Martainville (about 5 hours)
Departure by coach along with your host/hostess. We will cross Le Petit Andelys and pass by the St Sauveur Church (a 16th century church which still possesses a vintage organ). After 40 minutes’ travelling through different villages along the Andelle (river running through the valley), we’ll arrive at Château de Martainville. This château was built at the end of the 15th century by Jacques Le Pelletier, and bought by the State in 1906, then turned into a museum in 1961. In 2 hours, learn about 500 years of rural Normandy history. Travel through the heart of Norman traditions (work suits, headdresses, jewelry, weavings), relive the past through the objects of everyday life (copper pans, pottery, baskets…). Discover the largest collection of Upper Normandy furniture, the “Famous Norman Wardrobes”. Transfer back to Rouen at the beginning of the evening. Then prepare to enjoy our farewell gala dinner and evening!

Enjoy one last breakfast before bidding your crew goodbye and disembarking with a suitcase full of memories!