Seine River Cruise de Luxe

Experience an unforgettable beautiful cruise whose impressions could hardly be more varied: the metropolis of Paris, the magnificent gardens of Versailles, the medieval charm of Rouen, the picturesque coastal landscapes, and the lush green scenery of Normandy. On board the MS Renoir, your journey becomes a true luxury experience. The Seine – born in Burgundy, raised in Champagne, and matured in Normandy – seems to refuse to reach the sea. The word Seine comes from the Celtic term for curve, and the river does justice to this name during the leisurely journey towards the sea. The many winding curves of the Seine are the umbilical cord between Paris and the sea.

Day 1 | Arrival in Paris

Departure in the morning and drive to Paris. “Bonjour” in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. You will discover its beauty on another day. Boarding the MS Renoir in the evening and settling into your cabin. Meet the crew at the welcome reception and enjoy your first dinner in the restaurant. You have the opportunity to explore Paris on your own; your ship will remain overnight in Paris.

Day 2 | Paris – Poissy – Versailles – Vernon

In the morning, your ship says “cast off and goodbye Paris.” Slowly, the MS Renoir glides out of the city of love and docks in Poissy after lunch. You leave the ship and travel by coach to Versailles, where you have the opportunity to visit the gardens of the fairy-tale palace of Louis XIV. The UNESCO World Heritage-listed palace with its extensive parkland impresses with its opulence and size. Besides the proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor in 1871, the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 ended World War I. Back on board, your hotel ship leaves Poissy and heads towards Vernon, where it docks after dinner.

Day 3 | Vernon – Rouen

In the morning, your ship has left Vernon and your captain steers towards Rouen. The journey winds gently through varied landscapes, past castles and abbeys that are so typical of the historic Normandy. At the Amfreville lock, you leave the tide-independent part of the Seine, which from here on is subject to the laws of ebb and flow, pass Pont-de-l’Arche, and reach the “Gothic City” of Rouen after lunch. Here, a guided tour awaits you through the picturesque old town with over 700 half-timbered houses. The capital of Eastern Normandy is a true open-air museum of Gothic art. On the old marketplace, Jeanne d’Arc, the Maid of Orléans, was burned at the stake in 1431. Dinner on board and overnight stay.

Day 4 | Rouen – Honfleur

Early in the morning, your ship leaves Rouen, and soon the landscape changes. Behind Rouen, you can already feel the influence of the English Channel. Increasingly, ocean-going ships join the river vessels. Take a seat on the sun deck's loungers and let the ever-changing images wash over you. In the afternoon, the MS Renoir docks in Honfleur. You have the opportunity to stroll through the charming old quarter by the harbor basin, which has hardly changed since the 17th century. The houses were built on tiny plots and rise up to seven stories high, while the imposing church of Ste-Catherine looms over the scene. Built by the shipbuilders of the town in the 15th century, it resembles a double ship. Dinner on board.

Day 5 | Panoramic Tour “Étretat – Le Havre”

After breakfast on board, you will board your coach again and embark on a panoramic tour along the Atlantic. The coastal road leads to the popular seaside resort of Étretat, framed by eroded chalk cliffs. The steep cliffs “Aiguille” (the Needle) and the “Rock Arch” are extraordinary sights. Worth visiting are also the church of Notre Dame, which is divided into a Romanesque and a Gothic part, and the market halls, which today house various artisans. Afterwards, you continue to Le Havre, the largest city in Normandy. The city's location at the Seine estuary to the English Channel and the transatlantic port brought Le Havre a lively trade and a large passenger volume in the 19th century. Almost completely destroyed in World War II, architect Auguste Perret managed to breathe new life into the city during reconstruction. Thus, Le Havre is the only city whose modern architecture is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will return to the ship for lunch, and the MS Renoir will leave Honfleur heading for La Roche-Guyon. In the evening, a festive gala dinner awaits you in the ship's restaurant. Afterwards, you will gather for music and dancing in the lounge.

Day 6 | La Roche-Guyon – Giverny –

Mantes-la-Jolie – Paris

During breakfast, you will reach La Roche-Guyon. From here, you will start your journey by coach to Giverny. Here lies the probably most famous water lily pond in the world, as it served as a model for some of the most well-known Impressionist paintings. Giverny was the home of the painter Claude Monet, who made this region on the edge of Normandy world-famous with his paintings. You will have ample time to visit the colorful interior of the house, which houses Monet's collection of Japanese prints and ceramics. The beautifully renovated estate with its well-kept garden, the Japanese bridge, and the water lily pond, Monet's studio, and all that surrounds this place will enchant you. For lunch, you will return on board, and the MS Renoir will raise anchor one last time. Enjoy this final leg of the journey towards Paris from the sun deck.

Day 7 | Paris

This day is all about the French capital. After breakfast, you will board the waiting bus and set off for a city tour. The most famous sights, such as Place de la Concorde, Champs-Elysées, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Invalides, and many more are on your program. Paris has so much to offer that one can only catch a glimpse of the flair of this world city in a single day. You will be back on board in time for lunch. The afternoon is then yours for your own explorations. Perhaps you will visit one of the numerous museums, go shopping, or simply stroll along the banks of the Seine. The city of love certainly offers enough opportunities. Dinner on board.

Day 8 | Return Journey

One last heartfelt “Au revoir” after breakfast, and perhaps you will already dream of seeing each other again on the way home. Your coach is ready for the return journey.

(All time specifications are provisional and always subject to changes due to high or low water, altered lock times, and other unforeseen events.)

• Travel by modern coach
• Cruise as described
• 7x overnight stays in the booked
  cabin category
• 7x full board: buffet breakfast,
  lunch and dinner menu (starting with dinner on day 1 and ending with breakfast on day 8)
• Drink package on board: wine (8 open wines to choose from), beer, water,
  soft drinks and coffee specialties, bar drinks (excluding drinks from the
  exclusive menu)
• Welcome reception
• 1x gala dinner on board
• German-speaking guest service on board
• Onboard events
• All shore excursions and visits as specified
• All port and embarkation fees
• 1 travel guide "His" per cabin
• Audio system for all shore excursions

Single cabin on request

• Excursion to Versailles & Visit to the Gardens of Versailles
• City Tour of Rouen
• Excursion Panoramic Drive "Étretat – Le Havre"
• Excursion to Giverny with Visit to the House and Garden of Claude Monet
• City Tour of Paris

A ship commissioned in 1999 and completely redesigned in 2018 by the French shipping company CroisiEurope, 110 m long, accommodating around 100 passengers. Elegantly furnished are the lounge with bar and the restaurant. The air-conditioned cabins are all outside cabins and feature 2 beds, shower/WC, hairdryer, television, safe, and a large panoramic window. On the spacious sun deck, sun loungers are available, and onboard you have Wi-Fi.

including excursion and
beverage package