PARIS, GIVERNY, THE NORMAN ABBEYS, CÔTE FLEURIE, ROUEN & LES ANDELYS
Discover the spirit of the Seine River on this 7-night cruise aboard a beautiful boutique ship plus an extra night in Paris! You’ll have plenty of time to take in the “City of Lights” with a photo stop at the Eiffel Tower, a visit to the Arc de Triomphe, a walking tour of Montmartre, and an evening illumination cruise. Visit Giverny, home to Claude Monet where you can see the enchanting water lily pond that inspired so many of his paintings; and the Norman Abbeys Trail including Jumièges Abbey, the “most beautiful ruins in all of France” according to Victor Hugo. Explore Côte Fleurie from Deauville’s seaside to historic Breuil Castle turned prestigious Calvados distillery, take a walking tour of charming Honfleur, and explore Normandy’s cultural, historical, and gastronomical capital – Rouen! Cross Le Petit Andelys before visiting the lovely Château de Martainville where you can learn about 500 years of rural Normandy.
Did you know you can make this tour private? Find out about pricing and options
for groups of 10 or more travelers.
Itinerary at
a Glance
Tour Itinerary:
- 1 night in Paris
- 7-night cruise on the Seine
- Paris
- Vernon
- Duclair
- Honfleur
- Rouen
- Les Andelys
Tour Highlights
- Louvre Guided Visit
- Panoramic Guided Tour of Paris
- Claude Monet Foundation in Giverny
- The Norman Abbeys Trail
- Côte Fleurie Tour with Calvados (brandy) tasting
- Walking Tour of Rouen
- Wine & Cheese Tasting
- Chateau de Martainville
Your Tour Includes
- Optional round-trip airfare from the New York area (varies by departure) including taxes, fees & fuel surcharges
- 1 night at a Paris hotel
- 7-night cruise aboard the MS Renoir
- Ground transportation in an air-conditioned motor coach
- 21 meals: 8 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners
- Free-flowing wine, beer, soda, water, coffee/tea for lunch and dinner
- Comprehensive sightseeing tours including admission fees as indicated in the itinerary
- Professional English-speaking Cruise Manager and local English-speaking guides throughout
Max Group Size: 30 travelers
Activity Level: Recreational
Expect most included touring to require walking and standing periods up to 3 hours at a time (up to 2 times per day) on easy terrain with some light stairs. Learn More
Pacing Level: Leisurely
Expect half-day tours most days with a free day in most cities to explore independently. There are few to no early mornings and/or long travel days by bus (don’t worry—there are always comfort stops!), and you may expect to stay in most accommodations for 4+ nights. Learn More
No Additional Entry Requirements for U.S. Passport Holders
A valid passport is required for international tours. Currently, there are no additional entry requirements for U.S. passport holders, but this can change at any time. Before travel, both U.S. and non-U.S. passport holders should visit our Passports & Visas page to reconfirm entry requirements.
Travelers will encounter some uneven surfaces, stairs, steps, and significant slopes on the shore excursions.
For more detailed information about this tour and destination, visit
our Before You Depart section.
Passengers who purchase flights will depart 1 day before the tour starts and return on the same day as the tour ends.
For flight details, see Before You Depart.
Welcome to France! Upon arrival, continue to our hotel. The balance of the day is free to explore and dine at leisure.
Accommodations: Novotel Paris Centre Tour Eiffel or similar
This morning we can relax and sleep in or explore Paris independently. This afternoon, we'll see the world-class treasures of Paris' Louvre Museum. Here, we'll learn the stories behind the artistic masterpieces to enrich our experience. After our guided tour, we'll have free time to explore the museum before we continue to the port where we'll board our superior river cruise ship. After we check into our cabins and explore our floating hotel, there will be an information briefing followed by dinner.
Accommodations: MS Renoir
Meals: Dinner
After breakfast, we'll start our half-day tour of Paris. We'll drive down the famous Avenue des Champs-Élysées past the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre Museum, and the Cathédrale Notre Dame, plus a photo stop at the Eiffel Tower! At our last stop, we'll see all of Paris at our feet after a climb up the steps of the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur before exploring the artsy district of Montmartre on foot. Afterward, we can choose to stay in the city and explore independently or return to the ship for lunch. Tonight, delight in an "illumination" cruise along the Seine with magnificent views of Paris under the lights before we continue our cruise adventure.
Note: Our walk in Montmartre is physical and uphill.
Accommodations: , ,
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning our ship continues to cruise the Seine River. This afternoon, we'll disembark in Vernon and visit the small village of Giverny, home to world-renowned impressionist painter, Claude Monet. We'll stop at the Claude Monet Foundation where we'll see the enchanting garden with its Japanese bridge and the famous water lily pond that served as the inspiration for many of Monet's paintings.
Accommodations: Note: There are approximately 550 yards of walking on partly unpaved paths from the bus stop to the garden.
This afternoon's excursion takes us to the Norman Abbeys Trail after we disembark in Duclair. We'll begin with a visit to the Jumièges Abbey which was built in 645 when Christianity arrived in the region and was restored in the 11th century. The abbey became extremely well-known after Victor Hugo described it as the "most beautiful ruins in all of France." We'll also explore the cloisters and ruins of the Church of Saint Peter before seeing the Abbey of Saint Wandrille or Wandregisel (exterior only), a highly spiritual monument whose wonderful classical architecture of the abbey blends perfectly with the magnificence of its medieval heritage. Unlike Jumièges, a congregation of Benedictine monks settled in this abbey in 1931 and has remained to this day.
Accommodations: , ,
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning, we explore Côte Fleurie. In glamorous Deauville, we'll stroll along the famous floorboards built in 1923 so women could enjoy the seaside without spoiling their dresses. Next, we'll drive to the historic Breuil Castle surrounded by centenarian trees, which is now home to a prestigious distillery where we'll sample and learn how to make Calvados.
After lunch on our ship, we'll enjoy a guided walking tour of charming Honfleur, a small port that has kept the landmarks of its rich past. We'll see the Vieux Bassin, filled with narrow houses; Saint Catherine's Church, France's largest wooden church; the original 17th-century Salt Halls (Greniers à Sel), now used for exhibitions, and more; before we conclude at the beautiful Saint Léonard Church.
Accommodations: , ,
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We'll enjoy passing vistas as we sail this morning. After lunch, it's time to explore Rouen on a guided walking tour! Rouen is Normandy's cultural, historical, and gastronomical capital. Its exceptionally complex Notre Dame Cathedral is renowned for its juxtaposition of all the Gothic periods - especially on the facade, which Monet painted time and time again. We'll visit the marketplace where Joan of Arc was burned alive for heresy in 1431 and visit the Saint Joan of Arc Church. Located on the Old Market Place, this monument was built both in honor of the saint as well as the heroine celebrated by the French each May. Enjoy a wine and cheese tasting in the lounge before dinner and onboard entertainment!
Accommodations: , ,
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
As we cruise today, we'll Cross Le Petit Andelys and enjoy passing views of different villages along the Andelle before arriving at Château de Martainville. This château was built at the end of the 15th century by Jacques Le Pelletier and was later bought by the state and turned into a museum. During our visit, we'll learn about 500 years of rural Normandy history, see Norman clothing from work suits to headdresses to jewelry; and gain a glimpse into everyday life through objects like pottery, baskets, and more! We'll return to Rouen at the beginning of the evening and enjoy a farewell gala dinner aboard the ship.
Accommodations: , ,
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
As all good things must come to an end, after breakfast, we'll bid our crew goodbye and disembark. Travelers who purchased our air-inclusive package will transfer to the airport for our return flight to the US with a suitcase full of memories!
Meals: Breakfast
Book by Mar. 31, 2023 to get the best price.
Prices listed as “with flights” below include
round-trip airfare from one or more airports
in the USA.
Travelers may choose to purchase the tour only,
and arrange their own arrival in destination.
Please note this may change your tour start date.
* Departures designated as "Guaranteed" may be canceled or rescheduled only
under Extraordinary Circumstances, for example in situations deemed to be unsafe
or nonviable due to local conditions. See Terms
& Conditions for full details.
Rates are per person based on double occupancy.
Single supplement applies when not sharing a room. Select a
date above to see the rates for that specific departure.
For more information on this tour, please
contact us here
or call us during business hours (Mon-Fri, 9:00am - 5:30pm EST)
at 1.800.337.7773.
Reservations and Payments
Reservations can be made online or by phone
(1.800.337.7773)
and will be confirmed upon receipt of your non-refundable,
non-transferable deposit, which must be received at the
time of reservation.
Deposits are $300 per person.
Full payment is due 90 days prior to departure.
Space and prices subject to availability.
Please see the
smarTours Terms and Conditions for complete
booking information.
Featured Accommodations
61 quai de Grenelle
75015, Paris, France
Website
Embodying the "French chic" spirit, this 105-passenger ship's design emphasizes the elegant and graphic classicism inspired by the friendship between Coco Chanel and Auguste Renoir. Powder pink colors subtly alternate with dark grey tones which provide the ship with a warm atmosphere. Meals can be enjoyed at the restaurant on the upper deck featuring delicate cuisine and large bay windows. Comfortable sun loungers can be found on the sun deck with a large shaded area to relax and admire the passing countryside. The currency on board is the Euro and the electricity is 220V.
View Cabins and Deck Plans