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, where the MS Renoir is ready for boarding. After settling into your cabin, you will meet the crew at the welcome reception and enjoy your first dinner on board. Meanwhile, the MS Renoir casts off for a small illuminated cruise (subject to water levels) on the Seine. Silently passing by the panoramic windows are the Eiffel Tower, the Grand Palais, the Orangerie, the Louvre, and the Notre-Dame Cathedral on the Ile-de-la-Cité. Let yourself be enchanted by the magical atmosphere and the sea of lights from the illuminated sights along the banks of the Seine.

Day 2 | Paris – Poissy – Versailles –

Vernon/La Roche-Guyon

In the morning, it’s “cast off and goodbye Paris.” The MS Renoir slowly glides out of the City of Love and docks in Poissy after lunch. From here, you will take a coach to Versailles, where you will visit the gardens of the fairytale palace of Louis XIV. The UNESCO World Heritage-listed palace with its extensive parkland impresses with its opulence and size. In addition to the proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor in 1871, the First World War ended in 1919 with the Treaty of Versailles. Back on board, your hotel ship leaves Poissy and heads towards Vernon/La Roche-Guyon, where it will dock after dinner.

Day 3 | Vernon/La Roche-Guyon – Rouen

In the morning, your ship has left Vernon/La Roche-Guyon again, and your captain steers towards Rouen. The journey winds leisurely 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 of the remarkable old town with over 700 half-timbered houses awaits you. 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 | Honfleur – Étretat – Le Havre

After breakfast, the morning is free for your own activities in Honfleur. Stroll through the 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 Sainte Catherine towers over the scene. Built by the ship carpenters of the city in the 15th century, it resembles a double ship. After lunch, your coach will take you on an excursion 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. Also worth a visit are the Notre-Dame church, which is divided into a Romanesque and a Gothic part, and the market halls, which today house various artisans. Afterwards, you will head to Le Havre, the largest city in Normandy. The city’s location at the mouth of the Seine 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 its reconstruction. Thus, Le Havre is the only city whose modern architecture is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dinner on board.

Day 5 | Honfleur

Breakfast and lunch on board. You can spend the day according to your individual plans in Honfleur. Stroll once more through the old harbor district, take a seat in one of the small cafés, or visit the impressive church of Ste-Catherine. The MS Renoir will weigh anchor again today and leave tide-dependent Honfleur towards La Roche-Guyon. In the evening, you are invited to a festive gala dinner in the ship’s restaurant, followed by music and dancing in the lounge.

Day 6 | La Roche-Guyon – Giverny – Paris

During breakfast, you will reach La Roche-Guyon. From here, you will start with the coach to Giverny. Here is 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 plenty of 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, and the MS Renoir will weigh anchor one last time. Enjoy this final leg of the journey towards Paris from the sun deck.

Day 7 | Paris

This day is dedicated to the French capital. After breakfast, your bus is ready 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 hardly grasp the flair of the world city in one day. For lunch, you will be back on board. The afternoon is free for you in Paris. Enjoy the city with a museum visit, shopping, or a walk along the Seine before dinner is served on board.

Day 8 | Departure

After breakfast, it’s “Au revoir,” the coach is ready for your journey home.

(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: breakfast buffet,
  lunch and dinner menu (starting with dinner on the 1st day and ending with breakfast on the last day)
• 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
• Tour guide for excursion
  "Versailles & visit to the gardens of Versailles"
• Tour guide for excursion
  "Étretat - Le Havre"
• City tour of Paris
• All port and embarkation fees
• 1 travel guide "Seine" 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 "Étretat – Le Havre"
• Excursion to Giverny with Visit to the House and Garden of Claude Monet
• City Tour of Paris

A ship launched in 1999 and completely redesigned in 2018 by the French shipping company CroisiEurope, 110 m long, accommodating about 100 passengers. Elegantly furnished are the lounge with bar and the restaurant. The air-conditioned cabins are all outside cabins and feature two beds, shower/WC, hairdryer, TV, and safe. All cabins on the upper deck are equipped with French balconies. The cabins on the main deck have large panoramic windows that cannot be opened. On the large sun deck, sun loungers are available, and onboard you have Wi-Fi.