7 Night Impressions of the Seine and Paris Cruise from Paris

Board your ship in Paris for your Impressions of the Seine & Paris cruise. (D)

Enjoy some of the most famous Parisian sights during your panoramic tour. You will be guided through the charming Latin Quarter, home to the world-famous Sorbonne University, and through the stunning 400-year-old Luxembourg Gardens, created by King Henry IV's widow, Marie de' Medici. Afterward, travel through Paris and see such sights as the Champs-Elysees with its cinemas, sidewalk cafes, and luxury specialty shops; the Arc de Triomphe; and the Eiffel Tower. (B,L,D)

Watch the scenery go by as you sail to Mantes-la-Jolie, a historic center where French creatives produced musical instruments and visual art. Experience the world through your taste buds and join a tasting tour during which you'll get a chance to try the region's famous apple-based calvados, cider, and cheese. Alternatively, go on a city tour during which you may see some of Mantes-la-Jolie's beautiful religious structures, like the Gothic Notre Dame de Mantes, followed by a unique visit to a local bee farm. Or visit the distinctive Chateau d'Anet, an elegant Renaissance chateau built in the 16th century by King Henri II for his mistress, Diane de Poitiers. (B,L,D)

Take in the scenery on a scenic cruise before disembarking the ship to experience the colorful splendor of Claude Monet's magnificent gardens at his former home in Giverny, admiring the water lilies, Japanese bridges, and graceful willow trees immortalized in his paintings. For a more active adventure, pedal through Vernon on a guided bike tour. Alternatively, take a walking tour of Monet's home and garden, exploring the grounds of Giverny with plenty of time to smell the roses. Or journey to Chateau de La Roche-Guyon, a picturesque Renaissance-style castle, as well as the beautiful Acquigny Gardens, boasting waterfalls, bridges, canals, and a wide variety of trees and plant life. (B,L,D)

Spend the morning enjoying medieval Rouen with a choice of several excursions. Join a walking tour past the imposing Notre Dame Cathedral, painted numerous times by Monet, and see the square where Joan of Arc was martyred, as well as the Medieval Quarter and Great Clock. Alternatively, delve into the once "haunted" Chateau de Bonnemare, a 16th-century medieval castle housing a historic cider press, a kitchen rotisserie inspired by the designs of Leonardo da Vinci, and the inspiration for a tragic love poem written by Marie de France. Or go on the "Tastes of Normandy" tour, where you'll be treated to the delicious flavors of the region, including chocolate, macaron, Norman cheese, and cider. Later in the day, cruise through Rouen's history-filled streets by bicycle to discover sites like the ossuary of Saint-Maclou, the grand Gothic Rouen Cathedral, and the idyllic trails along the city's moat and through its parks before concluding your peaceful ride back to the ship. (B,L,D)

In Caudebec-en-Caux you can visit MuseoSeine, a museum focusing on the history of the Seine River. Then immerse yourself in the enchanting history of Chateau d'Etelan, the first Italian Renaissance Chateau built in France in 1494, where you may see a wonderful chapel with original wall paintings and the guard house dating back to 1350 in an amazing landscape. From Le Havre, visit Bayeux, with a medieval city center and the world-renowned Bayeux Tapestry, which depicts the 1066 Norman invasion of England, followed by a visit to Caen, where one of the top sites is the Chateau de Caen, an 11th-century castle built by William the Conqueror. Or instead, admire the 30-acre Harcourt Arboretum, with its nearly 3,000 trees, as well as the palatial Chateau du Champ de Bataille and the commune of Le Bec-Hellouin, known for its 11th-century abbey. (B,L,D)

There are several different choices of excursions, both during the morning and afternoon, depending on your interests. You can choose between an excursion to the seaside town of Honfleur, renowned for its picturesque harbor, and for being an inspirational site for Impressionist painters. You can also choose a full-day excursion to see the historic Normandy Beaches, where you may visit such sites as the cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, Omaha Beach, the artillery battery at Longues-sur-Mer, and the village of Arromanches, where the remains of the floating harbor used during the WWII landings can be seen. In the afternoon, you have the choice of a city tour of the UNESCO World Heritage-designated Le Havre, an architectural tour of Le Havre's modernist postwar reconstruction, or a bike tour through Le Havre. (B,L,D)

Disembark your ship in Le Havre and prepare for your return flight home. (B)