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Overview

Combine “Paris & Normandy” with “Burgundy & Provence” for one grand cruise through France

From the bridges of Paris to the beaches of Normandy and the sunny landscapes of the Mediterranean, you will experience all of France in unsurpassed style and comfort. Sail north and explore world-famous Paris. Discover the charming towns of Honfleur and Giverny that inspired the Impressionists. See the beaches of Normandy where Allied forces landed during WWII’s D-Day Invasion and visit Rouen where Joan of Arc was martyred.

As you sail south through Burgundy and Provence from Chalon sur Saône to Arles, you will enjoy lively towns and gorgeous landscapes. Visit Lyon, the culinary capital of France. Walk through the streets of Arles, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the town immortalised by Van Gogh in over 300 of his paintings and drawings. And explore the well-preserved Medieval city of Avignon, with its spectacular Palace of the Popes. Grand France offers you the very best of France.

Who will enjoy this cruise:

Connoisseurs of everything French: their culinary masterpieces, their robust wines, the Eiffel Tower, quaint villages, ethereal landscapes and sun-baked vineyards, cathedrals and sites of historic greatness. Vive la France!

Itinerary

Day 1: Paris (embark)

Arrive at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport where you will be transferred to the ship. (D)

Day 2: Les Andelys, Rouen Featured Excursion: Walk to Château Gaillard

Les Andelys was of considerable strategic importance during the Middle Ages, prompting King Richard the Lionheart to build a fortified castle to protect the Duchy of Normandy from the French King Philip II in the 12th century. Your adventure takes you on a walk to the English king’s stronghold to admire the remains of the impressive Château Gaillard. In the afternoon, admire the Seine’s tranquil landscapes from the sun deck and become enchanted with the surrounding beauty of this lovely countryside. (BB, L, Captain’s Welcome Gala)

Day 3: Rouen (Normandy Beaches)

Featured Excursion: Full-day Normandy Beaches and Bayeux Tapestry Museum visit

Because of Normandy’s proximity to the sea, it has been the site of many conflicts and battles, including the famous D-Day Invasion by Allied forces during WWII. Before visiting the beaches of Normandy, you will be taken to Mulberry Harbor at Arromanches and then to Bayeux, where you can appreciate the Medieval depiction of the Battle of Hastings on a tapestry dating from the 11th century. You will stop at the Allied landing sites at Omaha Beach before visiting a haunting reminder of the Allied Forces’ hard fight for freedom—the American Cemetery at Colleville sur Mer. (BB, D)

Day 4: Rouen Featured Excursion: Walking tour of Rouen

Our visit to Rouen will take you to the stunning Gothic cathedral; the haunting Medieval quarter with its half-timbered, slate-tile roofs; and the Gros Horloge, a Renaissance clock tower that Arromanches, Normandy, France arches overhead. The walk ends at Vieux Marche, where Joan of Arc was punished for her defiance. Later in the evening, set sail for the white cliffs of Caudebec-en-Caux. (BB, L, D)

Day 5: Caudebec (Honfleur)

Featured Excursion: Honfleur visit

After crossing the majestic Normandy Bridge spanning the river delta, travel overland to Honfleur, a charming French harbor town recreated in numerous paintings by such artists as Gustave Courbet and Claude Monet. You will be taken on a guided walking tour from the former smuggler’s harbor of Vieux Bassin—the most frequently painted scene in Honfleur, where the fishing village backdrop is seemingly unchanged from over 500 years ago—through the pedestrian streets to St. Catherine’s Church. (BB, L, D)

Day 6: Vernon (Giverny)

Featured Excursion: Monet’s Giverny

Visit Monet’s home in his beloved village of Giverny, where he lived for 43 years, until his death in 1926. You will explore Monet’s house, furnished as it was when the leader of the Impressionist school lived here and still displaying his precious collection of Japanese engravings. Strolling through the gardens, you will see the familiar Japanese bridge and water garden shaded by the weeping willows that so inspired this master’s work. Watch the light play on the pond, which is covered with the water lilies reproduced in Monet’s numerous enchanting versions of The Nympheas (The Water Lilies). While sailing during the afternoon, you will understand why the Seine provides the perfect backdrop for a painter’s artistic expression. (BB, L, Captain’s Farewell Dinner)

Note: Giverny will be closed during the October 30 cruise departure. Instead of Giverny, guests will visit Versailles Palace.

Day 7: Paris

Featured Excursion: Paris city tour

You will begin your city tour with a drive up the grand boulevard Champs-Élysées and past the Arc de Triomphe. You will stop at the Champs de Mars for an opportunity to photograph the Eiffel Tower before continuing to Place Vendôme, Hôtel de Ville, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Latin Quarter. Then it’s on to Les Invalides, the Louvre courtyard, and Luxembourg Gardens, where you will see a slice of daily Parisian life—gentlemen playing boules and children sailing boats on the glassy pond—as well as view Bartholdi’s model for the Statue of Liberty. (BB, L, D)

Day 8: Paris (disembark), transfer Chalon sur Saône (embark)

Day 9: Lyon

Featured Excursion: Beaune, Hospices de Beaune

Located in the heart of Burgundy, Chalon sur Saône is an important center for France’s wine trade. From here, you will journey to nearby Beaune to visit the famous Hospices de Beaune, a charitable hospital founded by the Chancellor of Beaune in 1443. Marvel at the multicolored roofs of this architectural jewel, which has become one of the symbols of Burgundy. The Hospice monks were given some vineyards in the 15th century so they could make wine to auction in order to help support charities, and to this day, the tradition continues. (BB, L, Captain’s Welcome Dinner)

Day 10: Lyon

Featured Excursion: Lyon city tour

Lyon, France’s second-largest city after Paris, is the country’s lively and creative capital of gastronomy. Your tour starts with a drive to the Basilique Notre Dame de Fourvière, Lyon’s hallmark church, for a dramatic view of the town, which was built at the confluence of the Rhône and Saône rivers. From the motorcoach, you will view Terreaux Square, the Musée des Beaux-Arts, and the Opera House. During the afternoon, you will have leisure time to further explore this city on your own. (BB, L, D)

Day 11: Tournon, Tain l’Hermitage

Featured Excursion: Wine tasting and Tournon walking tour

Nestled among famous vineyards, the twin cities of Tournon/Tain l’Hermitage provide the perfect setting for those who are true connoisseurs of wine. Celebrate the region by indulging in some Côtes du Rhône mid-valley wines. Then cross the Marc Seguin suspension bridge and visit Tournon and its historic castle. (BB, L, D)

Day 12: Viviers, Avignon

Featured Excursion: Viviers walking tour and organ concert

Lovely Viviers, developed around its Romanesque cathedral, has retained much of its historic charm. Your tour of Viviers starts in Old Town with an introduction to the city. You will take the Rue Chévrerie to Porte Riquot, then climb Rue du Château to reach St. Vincent Cathedral, where you will enjoy an organ concert. Finally, you will walk through the Medieval streets of this delightful town on your way back to the ship. (BB, L, D)

Day 13: Avignon

Featured Excursion: Avignon walking tour and Palace of the Popes

Avignon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is full of history, culture, art, and life, and you will capture all of that on your walking tour of the “City of the Popes.” Your tour starts at the fortification walls and continues to Clocktower Square. In truly Provençal style, under the shadows of the sycamores, the colorful café terraces face the magnificent architecture of City Hall, the Opera Theatre, and the classic mansions. Next, it’s on to Popes’ Palace Square for an inside view of the maze of galleries, chambers, and chapels that make up the grand Palace of the Popes. During the afternoon, you will have leisure time to enjoy this magical city. (BB, L, D)

Day 14: Arles

Featured Excursion: Arles walking tour and open-air food market visit

Vincent van Gogh found inspiration in the charming town of Arles and you will, too. Inspired by the unique Provençal light, he spent a period of intense and impassioned work under these bright sunny skies. In fact, he produced more than 300 paintings and drawings in 15 months, including Starry Night. During your walking tour, discover Van Gogh’s Arles as well as a fascinating wealth of Romanesque monuments, such as the Roman Amphitheater and Constantine’s Roman baths. (BB, L, Captain’s Farewell Dinner)

Day 15: Arles (disembark), transfer to Marseille Airport

Disembark the ship in Arles and transfer to the airport for your return flight home (CB or BB)

Pricing Details Per Person

†Prices exclude additional port charges of $224 and are per person, cruise-only based on double occupancy. Other restrictions may apply

A limited number of singles are available for an additional supplement

To upgrade to a higher category, add per person the following prices below:

Suite $2,395

Category 1 $1,395

Category 2 $745

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