Impressions of the Seine & Paris with St. Malo

Check into your Paris hotel and prepare for your pre-cruise land extension.

Discover some of the lesser-known treasures of Paris on your guided tour. Setting the world stage for art, fashion, gastronomy, culture and much more, the “City of Light” has a story to tell at every corner. Afterwards, explore the Atelier-Lumieres, Paris's “Workshop of Lights,” a uniquely immersive digital art experience. You will be treated to an unforgettable colorful multimedia exhibition, utilizing 140 video projectors and a state-of-the-art sound system, of famed artists' works. Past exhibitions have celebrated the art of Klimt and Van Gogh. (B)

Excursions:

• Hidden Paris tour and Atelier Lumieres

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

Excursions:

• Montmartre tour

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. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• Bateaux Parisiens tour

Watch the scenery go by as you sail to Mantes-La-Jolie, a historic center where French creatives produced musical instruments and visual art. Experience the world through your taste buds and join a tasting tour during which you'll get a chance to try the region's famous apple-based calvados, cider and cheese. 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. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

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

Take in the scenery on a scenic cruise before disembarking the ship to 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 Vernon on a guided bike tour.

Alternatively, take a walking tour of Monet's home and garden, exploring the grounds of Giverny with plenty of time to smell the roses. Or journey to Château 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:

• Scenic cruising
• Monet's home and gardens in Giverny OR Bike tour OR Active walk to Giverny 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.

Later in the day, cruise 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 Château de Bonnemare OR Tastes of Normandy
• Bike tour
• 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:

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

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, you have the choice of a city tour of the UNESCO-designated Le Havre or a bike tour through Le Havre. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

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

Disembark your ship in Le Havre and, en route to your St. Malo hotel, visit Fourgères in Brittany, known for its medieval fortress, which boasts 13 towers. Continue on to St. Malo, where you will check into your hotel. (B)

Excursions:

• Transfer to St. Malo with Fourgères visit

Explore the walled city of St. Malo, the history of which is steeped in piracy. Gaze at turquoise waters and such sites as the castle and its towers, the Fort National, partially built by famed military architect Vauban, and the cathedral of Saint-Vincent. You'll also venture to Dinard, with its Belle Èpoque villas and beaches, as well as to Dinan, one of Brittany's most beautiful and best preserved towns, known for its art galleries and crafts. (B)

Excursions:

• St. Malo, Dinard & Dinan tours

Discover the magical island monastery of Mont St. Michel, built by the same Italian architect who designed Fècamp Abbey in Normandy. Appearing as though out of a fairytale, Mont St. Michel served as the artistic inspiration for the Disney movie about Rapunzel, Tangled. (B)

Excursions:

• Mont St. Michel excursion

Depart St. Malo and transfer to Paris, where you will check into the Paris Airport Hotel. En route, visit Chartres Cathedral, an elaborate and beautifully-designed Roman Catholic church that serves as the seat of the Diocese of Chartres. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the cathedral is considered a masterpiece and the high point of French Gothic art. (B)

Excursions:

• Transfer to Paris Airport Hotel with a visit to Chartres Cathedral

Bid farewell to Paris as you prepare for your return flight home. (B)