Paris & Normandy on the Seine River
(76 Reviews)
97% Recommended
Janetta Douglas
York, PA
Alaska Enthusiast
Nature in Alaska can be unpredictable, but if you are at the right place at the right time, it can be totally amazing. Picture yourself riding along on the only road in Denali National Park, and a wolf walks by your bus carrying ...
Nature in Alaska can be unpredictable, but if you are at the right place at the right time, it can be totally amazing. Picture yourself riding along on the only road in Denali National Park, and a wolf walks by your bus carrying a moose leg in it's mouth. Or imagine a cow moose stopping traffic while nursing her twin calves in the middle of the Denali Highway. How about the exhilaration of seeing a triple whale breech and a pod of whales bubble net feeding while on a whale watching excursion in Auke Bay, Alaska. Let me help you be in the right place at the right time to experience your "vacation of a lifetime" in Alaska.
River cruising is one of my favorite ways to travel. I really enjoy the relaxed pace of cruising on the rivers, and the small number of passengers on each vessel. On previous river cruises, I sailed on the Rhine and Danube rivers. This past summer, I escorted a group on the Seine River in France.
The itinerary began with a 2-night stay in Paris. This was my first visit to Paris. After hearing many people's opinions of Paris over the year, I wasn't sure what to expect. Actually, I was pleasantly surprised. The locals that I was able to interact with were very courteous and helpful. With so many landmarks in Paris, there was so much to do to occupy our 2-days. We were able to view some of the beautiful artwork inside the Louvre and see the city from the second level of the Eiffel Tower. Other sights included the Opera Garnier, Place Vendome, Champs-Elysees, Place de la Bastille, and the Arc de Triomphe.
The group boarded Scenic Cruises', Scenic Gem, for a 7-night cruise on the Seine River. Scenic Cruises offers all-inclusive cruising which includes all meals and beverages, services of a butler, shore excursions with English-speaking guides, complimentary Wi-Fi, replenished complimentary mini-bar, , and gratuities to all ship personnel.
While cruising on the Seine River, we were able to visit a different town each day. And with each town came "Freechoice" excursion options. Scenic generally offered 2-3 excursion options each day. Here is an overview of the Freechoice options in each town/port:
Conflans - charming medieval town:
* Discover the charms of Auvers-sur-Oise and see Vincent van Gogh's room.
* Visit Chantilly Castle for a guided tour of the remarkable chateau.
Rouen - historic capital of Normandy:
* Walking tour to see the historic Rouen Cathedral and famous sites of Joan of Arc, including Place du Vieux-Marche with a monument indicating where she was burned at the stake.
* Guided cycling tour along the Seine to the 19th century botanical gardens.
Honfleur / Normandy:
* Visit the Normandy region. See the now peaceful province which is very different than is was on June 6, 1944. Walk on Utah Beach, visit Normandy American Cemetery and see thousands of white crosses marking the graves of our military heroes. You can also see Omaha Beach from the cemetery.
* Explore picture-perfect Honfleur with its colorful fishing boats and historic houses.
Caudebec-en-Caux
* Travel to Fecamp to visit it's architectural centerpiece, the Benedictine Palace.
* Travel through picturesque landscapes that were once dotted with over 100 abbeys. Visit some of the abbeys that are still operating today.
* Visit the town of Lillebonne. It is said that William the Conqueror was in his castle at Lillebonne in 1066 when he decided to invade England. Enjoy a tasting of Calvados - a locally produced apple brandy.
Vernon
* Journey to Giverny to visit Monet's former residence and gardens.
* This evening, everyone is invited to attend a classical concert performed by the region's most reputable musicians at the Chateau de La Roche-Guyon.
Paris
* Shop with a Chef at a local food market and enjoy exquisite tastings
* Walk through trendy Marais District with a resident expert.
Evenings onboard the vessel are very laid back and relaxing, allowing time to reminisce about the day's adventures.
I have sailed on three of Europe's great rivers on three of the travel industry's wonderful cruise lines - Avalon Waterways, Viking River Cruises, and Scenic Cruises. If river cruising is on your bucket list, feel free to reach out to me to make it a reality.