Paris to Normandy’s Landing Beaches 2012

Day 1 (Tue) Paris. Travel to Paris where you will be met and transferred to your cruise ship for seven nights. Before dinner, meet your crew at a welcome reception.

Day 2 (Wed) Paris. During your included sightseeing tour of Paris, see magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral, the unique Louvre Museum with its glass pyramid as a contrast to the Renaissance style architecture, the commemorative Arc de Triomphe, Opéra, Madeleine, Champs Elysées and the Eiffel Tower, a structural miracle of its age. The city is well known for its colourful nightlife, including some of the world’s most famous cabaret shows.

Day 3 (Thu) Paris – Conflans. After breakfast, enjoy a relaxing morning on the Sky Deck as your ship glides gently down the River Seine, passing through suburban Paris. This afternoon, dock at Conflans where you can either join our guided excursion to Auvers-Sur-Oise, the quaint little town where Vincent Van Gogh lived and died, or visit Napoleon and Josephine’s Château de Malmaison just outside Paris. Requiring extensive renovations, this large country estate was purchased by Josephine Bonaparte in 1799 while Napoleon was fighting in Egypt. It was her aim to make it 'the most beautiful and curious garden in Europe, a model of good cultivation'.

Day 4 (Fri) Vernon. This morning, choose between a guided visit of Claude Monet’s house and stunning gardens at Giverny or a visit to Bizy Castle with its magnificent courtyard. There’s still time to stroll through this delightful city on your own before your ship departs for Rouen. Relax on board this afternoon or take your pick of a number of optional excursions on offer.

Day 5 (Sat) Rouen. Rouen is the capital of Upper Normandy and an important commercial city, perhaps best known for its connection to Joan of Arc, who lived, was imprisoned and was later burned at the stake in the marketplace of this town in 1431. Enjoy the guided walk through the medieval quarter with its half-timbered, glazed-tile houses and the Gros Horloge, an intricate Astronomical Clock dating back to the 16th century. The splendid gothic cathedral was once the tallest building in the world and the subject of a series of Claude Monet’s paintings. The afternoon is free for you to explore on your own, or you can join an optional excursion to either the pretty coastal town of Honfleur or the busy port city of Le Havre with its contemporary architecture.

Day 6 (Sun) Rouen. Today, choose between an included excursion to the historic Normandy landing beaches, visiting some of the most poignant sights of World War II, or a ‘Taste of Normandy’ tour for a more in-depth look at this picturesque, mainly agricultural region. The most important produce include dairy, apples and grain. Camembert cheese is a speciality, as is Calvados, a strong apple brandy. Thoroughbred horses are also reared here.

Day 7 (Mon) Les Andelys. The most dramatic sight along the Seine is the imposing Château Gaillard at Les Andelys. Built by Richard the Lionheart in 1196, the château is truly a masterpiece of Middle Ages military architecture. Explore on your own and enjoy your last day in France in this delightful small town.

Day 8 (Tue) Paris. Disembark and transfer to the airport or station for your journey to the UK.