Paris, Normandy and the Seine

8 Day River Cruise

France, Europe
20 Meals Included
8 Excursions
Easygoing Pace

Beginning in one of the world’s most beautiful cities, set sail from Paris along the serene Seine river for an eight day cruise, passing some of Normandy’s most stunning communes and picture-postcard sceneries. Along the way, a number of optional trips are on offer including a visit to Claude Monet’s elegant home, a fascinating tour of the landing beaches and a guided Parisian city walk.

Highlights

  • All-Inclusive Cruising - all meals and drinks included in the price
  • Witness the iconic wrought-iron spire of the Eiffel Tower
  • Enjoy a tour of Cote Fleurie to visit Chateau du Breuil and delight in a wine tasting
  • Discover the atmospheric medieval quarter of Rouen
  • Tour Claude Monet' house and gardens with a visit to the Claude Monet Foundation

Map Key

Train
Coach
Boat
Airplane
Walking
1
Number of nights

Itinerary

Day 1
UK to Paris

Dinner

Depart the UK on your scheduled flight to Paris. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your ship. Board your ship and enjoy a welcome cocktail. You will board your ship at 6pm. If your arrival is before this time, you will be transferred to the docking area where you are free to explore the city at your own pace until it is time to board your ship.

Day 2
Paris

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Explore the cultural city of Paris with a guided tour, taking in the highlights synonymous with romance and elegance. Enjoy the city’s timeless artistic treasures and architectural wonders, crowned by the iconic wrought-iron spire of the Eiffel Tower. Later on in the afternoon enjoy some free time to explore the city at your own pace.

Day 3
Paris to Vernon

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Today, enjoy a tour of the Claude Monet Foundation in Giverny, where the house and gardens of the prolific artist are preserved. Finish your day with an evening of on-board entertainment before you sail towards Honfluer.

Day 4
Honfleur

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Embark on a tour of Cote Fleurie, the aptly named “flowered coast” to visit the Chateau du Breuil. Complete your tour with wine tastings of the highly regards Calvados and Pommeau.

Day 5
Honfleur

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

This morning, enjoy some time at leisure in Honfluer. Or to honour the 80th anniversary, there is an optional excursion of visiting the Landing Beaches in this anniversary year. A full day Special Event that also included lunch. Due to the expected demand of this excursion, it is advisable to pre-book in advance of your departure. The cost of this added event is £139 per person. (this is available for 2024 departures only)

Day 6
Honfleur to Rouen

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

This morning will be spent cruising before you arrive in Rouen for a tour of this engaging city, where Joan of Arc met her death. The city boasts a lovingly restored medieval quarter and a Gothic cathedral.

Day 7
Rouen to Les Andelys

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Relax on board this morning whilst cruising, before leaving for a tour of the majestic Martainville Chateau. End the day with a gala dinner and evening of entertainment.

Day 8
Les Andelys to Paris to UK

Breakfast

After breakfast, disembark at 9am for your transfer to the airport and your return flight to the UK. If you have a late return flight, you may leave your luggage onboard the ship until 14.00pm and spend your time exploring the city until your return airport transfer.

View Full Itinerary

Your Cruise Ship

Ms Botticelli
7 nights
River Cruise, France
More details
MS Seine Princess
7 nights
River Cruise, France
More details

Important Information

The Captain and CroisiEurope reserve the right to alter/modify an itinerary at any time, should safety or external circumstances make this necessary, changes are also subject to tides. This also means that included excursions will alter/modify to match the cruise itinerary.

Some of the highlights may only be seen on optional excursions at an additional cost, or by exploring independently. Optional excursions can be booked onboard, however they are subject to availability and or minimum numbers.

Please note that the vessel used may vary depending on your departure date

If booking more than 12 weeks before departure a deposit of £295.00pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 12 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 12 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.

A visa is not required for your entry into France. Further advice should be sought from the applicable tourist authority for other nationalities and for general queries. We strongly advise you check your destinations' Tourist Board or Embassy for the most up-to-date guidelines regarding passport validity. It is your responsibility to check your passport validity. To enter France, your passport must: have a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date you arrive and have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave. Sources of information include; https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

Please note that final flight details will be confirmed on your e-ticket and final documentation which will be sent to you approximately 21 days before departure. Check in baggage is included with your flight. Weight restrictions will be finalized on your final documentation. Should you wish to take additional luggage you will need to pay extra at check-in. Check-in should be at least 3 hours before departure. If you wish to arrange Airport car parking or accommodation at preferential rates, we recommend you book this in advance with Holiday Extras on 0871 360 2000, quoting HX313.

IMPORTANT: A printed E-ticket is no longer required at check-in, all you need to do is present your passport to the staff at the desk and your boarding pass will be given to you. Please note that you should carry your invoice with flight details on it as you will need to show this at the airport.

We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras. To arrange your travel insurance with Holiday Extras, please call 0800 781 4237 and quote 'WK830' for preferential rates. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24-hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.

It is your responsibility to check any health and vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, http://travelhealthpro.org.uk/, www.hpa.org.uk, your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic.

This river cruise is accessible to most people with an average level of fitness and normal mobility. It involves getting on and off the cruise vessel managed by gangways and climbing stairs on all decks on board the vessel. On moderate days the level terrain on walking excursions are cobbled streets. This cruise is not suitable for anyone with walking difficulties.

The currency in France is the Euro. We recommend that you exchange your currency before you leave the UK, however cash machines are available in all the major cities to withdraw money in the local currency. It is important that you budget carefully and ensure you have the right form of currency before you arrive in the country

Credit cards are accepted on board ship and throughout all major cities

This cruise is All-Inclusive, so you will only need to take a little extra money with you to cover any premium drinks on board and souvenirs, drinks and snacks purchased when off the ship, as well as any optional excursions you wish to book. Optional excursions can be booked onboard, however they are subject to availability and or minimum numbers.

Tipping is at your discretion. There is an envelope in your cabin for these purpose that can be handed to reception at the end of your cruise.

The minimum number of travellers in your group will be 1. If we are not able to operate your departure date, then you may be asked to change to a different date and a full refund will be made available to you should this alternative not be suitable. Your cruise and excursions are not exclusive to Mercury Holidays and will be shared with other travellers.

In the unlikely event that your cruise does not operate, then you may be asked to change to a different date. A full refund will be made available,should the alternative dates offered be unsuitable insurance

An English-speaking Cruise Director will be on board your cruise to help with any queries that you may have. While on excursions included in your itinerary, you will be accompanied by an English-speaking local tour guide. When exploring locally during your leisure time you will not be accompanied by a tour guide.

Your accommodation is selected for convenience, location, comfort or character. Cruise accommodation is generally rated as a local 3, 4 or 5 star rating, to please note differences in facilities and quality do exist between the UK and Europe destinations.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily are taken onboard the ship. Tables seat 6 people, so you’ll be able to converse and socialise with new friends, whilst never feeling crowded together. Tea and coffee are available on-board the cruise vessel as well as unlimited soft drinks and alcoholic drinks, including a variety of wines and beer, both during meals and at the bar. (Premium brands are available at an extra cost).

Please contact Customer Experience for questions about other dietary requirements or allergy information. Vegan, vegetarian options are available, all meal requests need to be sent over to our suppliers before travel.

It is not recommended to drink the tap water, even in developed countries water may contain unfamiliar elements that can cause upset stomachs. In less developed countries water is not filtered in the same way.

It is advisable to dress up a little when dinners, cocktail parties and galas take place. This is without the need for gentlemen to wear a jacket and tie.

When visiting any places of worship, your knees and shoulders should be covered otherwise entry may be prohibited.

Please note there are no ironing facilities on board this vessel.

On your arrival in France you will be met just after the Customs office by a representative from our local transfer agent, CroisiEurope. The Mercury Holidays/ Croisieurope representative will show you to your transfer vehicle and escort, you to your cruise vessel. On embarking the ship, you will be greeted by the captain, crew and staff and treated to welcome cocktails.

Embarkation Time: 6pm

If your arrival is before this time, you will be transferred to the docking area where you will be able to leave your luggage. You are then free to explore the city at your own pace until it is time to board your ship.

Disembarkation Time: 9am

If your return flight is after 9am you will be able to leave your luggage onboard the ship (until 14:00pm) and spend your time exploring the city until your return airport transfer. Please note - from 9:00 am on day of disembarkation drinks will not be available in the lounge bar and there will be no other cruise services on board.

If you need to contact Croisieurope, during your stay the details are:

Amalia de Rodriguez - 003519 13 03 22 51

Torga - 00351 967 013 504