Impressions of the Seine & Paris

Board your ship in Paris for your Impressions of the Seine & Paris cruise. (D)

Experience the “City of Light” from a unique perspective when you board a modern river boat at the Port de la Bourdonnais, located on the banks of the Seine River near the Eiffel Tower. With exterior seating and viewing platforms, your one-hour cruise will be a dream come true as you glide along the river and underneath Paris's ornate bridges. From the boat, you will take in panoramic views of the city's iconic buildings and monuments, including the Musee d'Orsay and the Notre Dame Cathedral. Alternatively, pedal through this romantic city on a guided bike tour. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• Bateaux Parisiens OR Paris bike tour

Enjoy your morning in Mantes-La-Jolie, a historic center where French creatives produced musical instruments and visual art. Alternatively, go on a city tour during which you may see some of Mantes-La-Jolie's beautiful religious structures, like the Gothic Notre Dame de Mantes, followed by a unique visit to a local bee farm. Or visit the distinctive Château d'Anet, an elegant Renaissance château built in the 16th century by King Henri II for his mistress, Diane de Poiters.

In the afternoon, enjoy the beautiful views as you sail to La Roche-Guyon. Here, you can experience the world through your taste buds with a tasting tour, during which you will get a chance to try the region's famous cider and cheese at a local farm. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• City tour with bee farm visit OR Château d'Anet
• Scenic cruising
• Farm Visit with cider and cheese tasting

Experience the colorful splendor of Claude Monet's magnificent gardens at his former home in Giverny, admiring the water lilies, Japanese bridges and graceful willow trees immortalized in his paintings. For a more active adventure, pedal through Giverny on a guided bike tour.

Or journey to the beautiful Gardens d'Acquigny, boasting waterfalls, bridges, canals and a wide variety of trees and plant life. As part of your excursion, you will also venture within the borders of Vexin Francais Regional Nature Park to Château de la Roche-Guyon, a castle built against a cliff perched above the Seine that encompasses several centuries of architectural styles, with the ruins of its medieval tower dominating the village beneath it. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• Monet's home and gardens in Giverny OR Giverny bike tour OR Château d'Acquigny Garden Tour & Château de la Roche-Guyon

Spend the morning enjoying medieval Rouen with a choice of several excursions. Join a walking tour past the imposing Notre Dame Cathedral, painted numerous times by Monet, and see the square where Joan of Arc was martyred, as well as the Medieval Quarter and Great Clock.

Alternatively, delve into the once “haunted” Château de Bonnemare, a 16th-century medieval castle housing a historic cider press, a kitchen rotisserie inspired by the designs of Leonardo da Vinci, and the inspiration for a tragic love poem written by Marie de France. Or go on the “Tastes of Normandy” tour, where you'll be treated to the delicious flavors of the region, including chocolate, macaron, Norman cheese and cider.

For a more active excursion, ride through Rouen's history-filled streets by bicycle to discover sites like the ossuary of Saint-Maclou, the grand Gothic Rouen Cathedral, and the idyllic trails along the city's moat and through its parks before concluding your peaceful ride back to the ship. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• Medieval Rouen walking tour OR Guided Bike tour OR Tastes of Normandy OR Legends of Château de Bonnemare
• Scenic cruising

Visit Bayeux, with a medieval city center and the world-renowned Bayeux Tapestry, which depicts the 1066 Norman invasion of England, followed by a visit to Caen, where one of the top sites is the Château de Caen, an 11th-century castle built by William the Conqueror. Or instead, admire the 30-acre Harcourt Arboretum, with its nearly 3,000 trees, as well as the palatial Château du Champ de Bataille and the commune of Le Bec-Hellouin, known for its 11th-century abbey.

Then immerse yourself in the enchanting history of Château d'Ételan, the first Italian Renaissance Château built in France in 1494, where you may see a wonderful chapel with original wall paintings and the guard house dating back to 1350 in an amazing landscape. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• Full-day Bayeux & Caen tours OR Full-Day Harcourt Arboretum, Château du Champ de Bataille and Le Bec Hellouin OR Château Etelan Visit

There are several different choices of excursions, both during the morning and afternoon, depending on your interests. You can choose between an excursion to the seaside town of Honfleur, renowned for its picturesque harbor, and for being an inspirational site for Impressionist painters. You can also choose a full-day excursion to see the historic Normandy Beaches, where you may visit such sites as the cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, Omaha Beach, the artillery battery at Longues-sur-Mer and the village of Arromanches, where the remains of the floating harbor used during the WWII landings can be seen.

In the afternoon, for guests who have not joined the full-day excursion to the Normandy Beaches, you have the choice of a city tour of the UNESCO-designated Le Havre or a bike tour through Le Havre. (B/L/D)

*Not combinable with other tours on this day.

Excursions:

• Half-day Honfleur excursion OR Full-day Normandy Beaches*
• Le Havre city tour OR Le Havre bike tour

Disembark your ship in Le Havre and prepare for your return flight home. (B)