Paris & Normandy

Selected departures from March to October 2023

Pricing based on departure date: 26 March 2023

A journey steeped in wonder.

Cruise from Paris through Normandy’s countryside, uncovering its many charms: Richard the Lionheart’s Chateau Gaillard, the medieval capital of Rouen, Monet’s beloved home in Giverny and the famed Normandy beaches.

Normandy has been the setting for many battles over the centuries, including the D-Day invasion of WWII, and the Normandy Beaches mean different things to different people, so you’ll have a rare choice to visit several of its historic sites, including Omaha Beach.

Experience a different side of Northern France’s history with a tour of the majestic palace of Versailles, once home to Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.

See the best of Paris in one of three ways via the “Heart of Paris” cruise and city tour, an exclusive “Do as the Locals Do” tour or an exclusive guided “Let's Go” bike tour. There are plenty of opportunities to take part in more active experiences, such as golfing at Sainte-Mère-Église in Étretat, perched on the cliff high above the sea, making playing golf here a memorable experience and visual feast.

Inclusions

SHIPBOARD CREDIT

• $200 Shipboard credit per person

DINING

• All meals onboard, prepared using the finest and freshest ingredients
• 7 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 7 dinners
• Captain's Welcome and Farewell Receptions
• Welcome and Farewell Gala Dinners
• Unlimited beverages onboard, including fine wine, beer, spirits, specialty coffee and tea, soft drinks and mineral water

EXCURSIONS

• 6 days of excursions, including “Choice Is Yours” options, all fully hosted by English-speaking local experts
• Guided “Let's Go” and “Do as the Locals Do” programs
• State-of-the-art Quietvox portable audio-headset system on all excursions
• Use of bicycles and Nordic walking sticks

ACCOMMODATIONS

• 7-night cruise in a riverview stateroom on the alluring S.S. Joie de Vivre
• Lavishly appointed riverview staterooms and suites have handcrafted Savoir® Beds of England, high thread count 100% Egyptian cotton sheets and European duvets, and a menu of pillow options
• Free Internet and Wi-Fi access

EXPERIENCES

• 1 country: France
• 3 UNESCO World Heritage sites
• Services of an experienced Uniworld Cruise Manager
• All transfers on arrival and departure days
• Gratuities for onboard personnel (ship staff, crew, Cruise/Tour Manager) are included during the cruise/tour
• Captivating onboard local entertainment

Detailed Itinerary

DAY 1: Paris (Embark)

DAY 2: La Roche-Guyon, Vernon, Giverny

Today is a celebration of northern France’s natural beauty, with an excursion to a splendid château and gardens situated in an equally grand setting, plus a chance to immerse yourself in the very landscapes that inspired Impressionist master Claude Monet. Visit the hilltop Château de La Roche-Guyon, surrounded by beautiful gardens and offering sweeping views over the Seine. Later, you can visit the home and gardens of Claude Monet. Or take in the beautiful French countryside in a more invigorating way, with a guided bike ride from Vernon to Giverny.

Choice of "Let's Go" hike on the Crests trail or Monet’s gardens at Giverny or Château La Roche-Guyon or “Let's Go” bike ride from Vernon to Giverny

This evening, a special Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you.

DAY 3: Rouen

Walk in the footsteps of greatness in Normandy’s medieval capital, a city with a historic quarter that remains amazingly intact. From the cathedral Monet painted dozens of times to the cross marking the spot where Joan of Arc was martyred, Rouen is a treasure trove for the culturally curious. The roll call of famous people who lived or died in Rouen is long and varied—Richard the Lionheart, Joan of Arc, Gustave Flaubert and Claude Monet are among them.

Featured Excursion: Rouen walking tour, the Dukes of Normandy’s capital

DAY 4: Caudebec-en-Caux (Honfleur or Étretat)

Caudebec-en-Caux, a lovely little town on the right bank of the Seine Estuary, is your base for one of two very different excursions. You could drive through the beautiful Calvados countryside to Honfleur, a delightful seaside harbor and city of painters, or head to the windy cliffs of Étretat for a game of golf.

Choice of “Let's Go” golfing in Étretat or Honfleur walking tour

DAY 5: Rouen (Normandy Beaches)

There are moments when we travel that move us on an otherworldly level—experiences that stir a profound emotional connection. The Normandy beaches certainly have that effect. On your full-day outing, you’ll visit Normandy’s beaches, including Utah Beach and Ste-Mère-Église, with a choice to venture to either the American, British and Australian or Canadian beaches. After, you’ll go to the American cemetery and partake in a private ceremony at the Omaha Beach Memorial—a sentimental remembrance of Operation Overlord.

Choice of Normandy Beaches: highlights of Canadian sites or Normandy Beaches: highlights of American sites or Normandy Beaches: highlights of British & Australian sites

DAY 6: Mantes-la-Jolie (Versailles)

How did France’s rulers live over the centuries? Step into the private rooms of the Palace of Versailles, the lavish palace built by the Sun King, to find out.

Choice of Versailles Palace secret apartments or “Versailles Gardens and Queens Hamlet”

A special Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening.

DAY 7: Paris

Whether you’re a first-time visitor to the “City of Light” or you’ve been here many times before, there’s something for everyone today in Paris. Enjoy a panoramic overview of the city, join a local expert for a walk through two much-loved neighborhoods, or pedal your way along the Left Bank, a fresh and fun way to take in the sights.

Featured Excursion: “Heart of Paris” Seine River cruise

Choice of Paris city tour or “Do as the Locals Do” Île de la Cité and Latin Quarter or “Let's Go” Seine riverbanks bike ride

DAY 8: Paris (Disembark)

Paris, La Roche-Guyon, Vernon, Giverny, Rouen, Caudebec-en-Caux (Honfleur or Étretat), Rouen (Normandy Beaches), Mantes-la-Jolie (Versailles), Paris

All fares are displayed in Australian Dollars and pricing is per person based on twin share occupancy unless stated otherwise. Although all due care is taken to keep information as up-to-date as possible, pricing and availability are subject to change without notice: due to varying timing schedules of supplier automated update processes; currency fluctuations; fuel surcharges or government tax & fee changes and may not be guaranteed until paid in full. Gratuities may be an additional onboard charge depending on particular cruise line selected. Please ask your cruise consultant for any clarification of Terms & Conditions.