Essence of the Seine

Tour Begins: 4:00 PM. A transfer is included upon your arrival at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport or the Gare de Lyon, Charles de Gaulle, or Gare du Nord train stations to your riverboat on the Seine. Settle into your cabin and join fellow guests for a welcome reception, wine presentation, and dinner in Compass Rose to commence your 6-day journey through France in fall. Stay Five Nights: Tauck River Ship (D)

This morning, after cruising past villages and foliage-lined riverbanks, Rouen comes into view. Nicknamed the "city of a hundred spires," Normandy's historic capital enchants with bell towers, half-timbered houses, narrow cobbled lanes, and storied squares. On a locally guided walking tour, discover where medieval history and Gothic architecture reveal themselves at every turn – including the square where Joan of Arc was famously tried and martyred. When you see Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen this morning, you may recognize it from one of Claude Monet's 30-plus paintings of France's tallest cathedral.

Following your tour, enjoy a leisurely afternoon exploring the romantic historic center, free from summer's crowds and hushed in the crisp November air.

This evening, an elegant Tauck-exclusive experience awaits with a private tour, live music, and dinner at the 16th-century Château du Taillis – a Renaissance treasure renowned for its manicured grounds. (B/L/D)

This morning, arrive in Caudebec-en-Caux for a poignant visit to the beaches of Normandy. Led by a local expert, delve into the events, heroism, and sacrifices of June 6, 1944, and the Allied liberation of Western Europe. Visit Pointe du Hoc, where 225 U.S. Army Rangers scaled 100-foot cliffs to disable German weapons threatening Omaha and Utah Beaches. Walk Omaha Beach, one of the five D-Day landing sites, where history comes alive on the sand beneath your feet. Pause for lunch at nearby 18th-century Château La Chenevière, a graceful English-style country manor with French flair, before reflecting at the Normandy American Cemetery – the final resting place of more than 9,300 American troops.

This evening, join your fellow travelers for a cocktail reception and dinner in the Compass Rose. (B/L/D)

Your final day in Normandy leads you to Vernon after a leisurely morning cruise through the warm colors of the Seine. At this time of year, mornings often bring mist rising from the river and flocks of ducks and geese resting along the banks as they migrate south. Today, tour Château de Bizy, a mid-18th-century royal palace often nicknamed "Little Norman Versailles,"and once owned by relatives of King Louis XV and Napoleon. Step inside its elegant salons, parlors, and stables to glimpse aristocratic life in France. Spread across roughly 200 acres, its manicured lawns are adorned with statues and ornate fountains. Back onboard, Normandy's harvest season comes alive with a presentation on cider and calvados by a local farmer. From September through November, Norman farmers harvest more than 300,000 cider apples – making this the perfect time of year to savor it. Learn about the region's apple-rich culture and taste the soul of Normandy in a glass.

Later, embark on a sunset cruise toward Paris and enjoy the Chef's Signature Dinner in Compass Rose this evening. (B/L/D)

Artists, writers, and lovers alike have flocked to Paris for centuries – drawn to this city of love, where charming cafés energize the streets, the Eiffel Tower sparkles on the Seine, and elegant buildings are jeweled with wrought-iron balconies. With fewer crowds and November's golden glow, Paris feels both timeless and intimately yours. Today, choose how you wish to explore: take a guided coach tour around the City of Light, dressed in its autumn color palette, including a visit inside the opulent 19th-century opera house; or join a walking tour of Le Marais – a former marshland turned aristocratic haven – where cobblestone streets, stylish boutiques, and the graceful Place des Vosges, Paris's oldest square and once home to Victor Hugo, capture the city's timeless charm.

This afternoon, explore one of Paris' many world-class museums, where its artistic soul comes vividly to life.

Later, return to the riverboat for a farewell reception and dinner, followed by a French jazz performance by Cynthia Queenton. (B/L/D)

Tour Ends: Paris.

Disembark ship by 9:00 AM. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from your ship to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport and Gare de Lyon, Charles de Gaulle, or Gare du Nord train stations. Please allow 3 hours for international flight check-in. (B)