Seine & Normandy River Cruises

Embark on a journey of revelation and reflection where rich history and scenic beauty await around every river bend. Cruise along the Seine past medieval towns, admire Monet’s Gardens at Giverny, and uncover WWI and WWII history with visits to the Somme battlefields and the beaches of Normandy.

Popular River Cruises View all

8 Days Paris to Paris

Operator: Viking River Cruises

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8 Days Paris to Paris

Operator: Avalon River Cruises

From 3,692
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11 Days Paris to Paris

Operator: Scenic

From 5,745
Save 2,304

8 Days Paris to Paris

Operator: A-ROSA River Cruises

From 1,829
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The Seine River

Map of the Seine River

Where does the Seine start & finish?

The Seine River originates in the Burgundy region of France, near the commune of Source-Seine. It flows northwest through Paris and eventually empties into the English Channel at Le Havre, covering a distance of about 777 Km's (483 miles).

Do cruises travel the length of the Seine?

River cruises on the Seine usually don't cover the entire length of the river, instead focusing on the stretch between Paris and Normandy where excursions to significant World War II sites like the D-Day landing beaches are included.

Impressionist's Muse

The Seine has inspired countless artists, most notably the Impressionists. Towns like Giverny, where Monet's famous garden is located, are popular stops on Seine river cruises.

Medieval Rouen

The capital of Normandy, Rouen, is known for its timber-framed houses and Gothic architecture, including the cathedral that inspired a series of paintings by Monet. Joan of Arc was also tried and executed here, adding another layer of historical interest.

Fancy a swim?

While the Seine is generally not suitable for swimming today it was once turned into a massive swimming pool for a brief period in the 18th century. In 1776, the French government built a structure known as "La Baignade," which allowed Parisians to swim in a section of the river enclosed by wooden planks.

Is the Seine flooding?

Locals have used the level of water reaching the Zouave statue on the Pont de l'Alma bridge in Paris as an unofficial gauge for flooding. When the water hits the statue's feet, the Seine is considered to be at flood level. During extreme floods, water has reached up to the statue's thighs or even higher.

Seine's River Cruise Operators View all

Viking
A Viking river cruise is the discerning traveller’s dream. Whether you choose to visit Egypt, Asia, Europe or the Mississippi, our itineraries are designed...more to immerse you in the history and culture of each destination. With us, you could be exploring a local food market with our head chef one day and experiencing an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of a world-famous museum the next. Our state-of-the-art ships take you right into the heart of each destination, and you won’t find any kids or ‘nickel and diming’ on board. In fact, our fares include everything you need - from meals, beverages and Wi-Fi to a culturally enriching shore excursion at every port of call. This unique combination of features has become affectionately known as ‘the Viking difference’. Viking has 70 award-winning river ships sailing all over the world, and we can’t wait to welcome you on board to discover the Viking difference for yourself.
Seine Rivers378
Budget:Premium
Known For:Scandinavian Design
Fleet Size:75
A-Rosa
A-Rosa's German heritage and in-depth destination knowledge enables us craft truly unique itineraries by blending must-see attractions with off-the-beaten-path...more local gems. With a vibrant blend of international guests, many of our passengers are from Germany and neighbouring countries, but we're seeing a growing number of travellers from around the world. A-Rosa is the perfect fit for independent travellers of all ages seeking a river cruise that offers choice and flexibility. Our guests appreciate a modern, casual atmosphere where they can do as much or as little as they please.
Seine Rivers31
Budget:Premium
Known For:German Heritage
Fleet Size:9
Tauck
Whether you're experiencing the Rhine or the Danube, the Douro, the Rhône, Seine, Maas or Moselle... the magic of Tauck's award-winning European river...more cruises goes far beyond the riverboat you're aboard or the landmarks you'll visit. It's in the intimate ambiance and personalized service... the places you'll discover off the beaten path... and in the uncommon access to local culture and exclusive destination driven experiences you can't get on your own, as you experience a true slice of European life and return home transformed.
Seine Rivers25
Budget:Luxury
Known For:Luxury Cruising
Fleet Size:9

Discover Must Do Experiences and Highlights

Impressionist Inspiration at Giverny

Impressionist Inspiration at Giverny

Home to Impressionist master Claude Monet for over 43 years, explore the estate and meander through Monet's garden at Giverny - a bucket list experience not to be missed.

Les Andelys

Les Andelys

Enjoy a taste of French provincial life with a stroll through the riverside town of Les Andelys, home to Château Gaillard, commissioned by Richard the Lionheart in the 12th century.

Rouen

Rouen

Discover the historic and artistic in Rouen. Home to the Church of Saint Joan of Arc and site of her martyrdom, the city also inspired many of Monet's artworks with its Gothic architecture.

WWII Landing Beaches at Normandy

WWII Landing Beaches at Normandy

Pay your respects to fallen WWII soldiers at the landing beaches of Normandy, and learn about American and Canadian war efforts when you visit nearby memorials and cemeteries.

Palace of Versailles

Palace of Versailles

After the delights of Paris, venture out to the magnificent Palace of Versailles. With its extravagant interiors and intricate gardens, you'll spend the day in awe at this UNESCO-listed site.

Latest Reviews What our clients are saying about their journeys along the Seine

Everything went smoothly! Great Trip     , NSW, Australia, Aug 2023
Global Journeys and Jemma handled our booking process well. We loved our Viking France’s Finest cruises. We made some new friends and found the staff excellent. Loved the onshore excursions particularly Monet's Garden, and all the walled medieval villages, especially Viviers night walk. Accommodation was lovely and cruising enjoying the view was perfect. ...read more The crew of the Heimdal were particularly outstanding.
Wonderful tour through the south of France   , Australia, Jul 2023
The cruise exceeded our expectations. Beautiful scenery and wonderful towns to explore. Would highly recommend Avalon cruises.
Excellent service with friendly staff and the best cruise director we have ever had Tony Jenkins. And thank you Global Journeys for an easy and hassle free booking. Will certainly book with you again.
River Cruising in France   , WA, Australia, Jun 2023
Have just completed France’s Finest and we had a wonderful time. The first part of the cruise from Paris was very interesting with Normandy and Monet’s Garden being the high lights. I was particularly impressed with the efficiency of the cruise directors on each journey who ensured that all of the transfers to the daily excursions operated smoothly ...read more and efficiently. A little disappointed with the food on the cruises as we expected more typically French cuisine. The optional excursion we took to Ponte du Garde was fabulous and reasonably priced. Another highlight was a trip to a winery where we were able to taste wine made in the Beaujolais region. Booking with Georgie from Global Journeys was easy and Georgie answers any questions with an immediate email or telephone response.
Traversing France by River with Viking     , VIC, Australia, Aug 2022
Firstly, we have travelled with Viking by their river ships and we have driven to the same areas that were on our itinerary. Travelling by river eliminates the parking hazards and the grind in getting to and finding your bearings.
The France’s Finest river cruise actually combines two different river experiences and we did meet two couples who were ...read more only doing one week. Vikings product is excellent in both the ship accommodation and service levels. This package includes your transfer from Paris to Lyon (or vice versa ) if you combine the two trips and was seamless. The travellers comprised of about 80 per cent from the US.

The included walking tours had excellent guides in general though one issue which could be common to many such cruise trips is there are a number of individuals whose mobility is restricted and it can be tedious walking in such groups. There was an attempt at one port walk to have a fast group but unfortunately the tour guide was the hold up. We didn’t bother to do the guided walk but chose to explore ourselves in a few destinations. We would advise arriving at least 2 days earlier if flying from Australia whether you start this tour in Paris or Lyon. We found a wonderful boutique Paris hotel which was close to the Eiffel Tower and a short walk to the Viking dock.

We found it easy also to use the airport train and metro to arrive at our hotel. COVID restrictions in general had been removed at the time of sailing. Viking staff all were required to wear masks. The only real COVID issue we faced was 3 weeks prior when our airline changed our flight schedule. We are thankful that we had booked our flights via Viking and together with Hannah from Global Journeys as we were able to resolve this significant problem. We were lucky that we had considerable flexibility to depart early as we are a retired couple. We have used the services of Global Journeys on previous bookings and would recommend the company. They were always ready to respond quickly to your queries.