7 Night Paris and the Heart of Normandy Cruise from Paris

Embark your ship and settle into your stateroom. Long a hub of French culture and cuisine, Paris is one of the most romantic destinations in the world. Over the centuries, Parisian culture has been built on the wings of inspiration. Music, film, architecture, literature, dance, and the visual arts all have their brilliant place in the museums, theaters, bookstores, and remarkably preserved buildings of this magnificent city. At the center of it all is the Champs-Elysees. With its inviting riverside promenade, graceful bridges, and splendid views of all things Parisian, from the Eiffel Tower to the Louvre Museum. Ground transfers are included with Viking Air purchase.

One of the most pleasurable activities in Paris is whiling away the time in one of the city's outdoor cafes. Whether you are sipping a cafe au lait or a kir royal, there is no better way to feel like a Parisian. The hub of social and culinary life, cafes have been part of the city's fabric since the 1600s. During the 20th century, literary and artistic figures-such as Ernest Hemingway, Colette, and Pablo Picasso-famously met over drinks to share their works and ideas. Today, thousands of cafes line the pavements and squares to connect with France's culture and history.

The picturesque village of La Roche-Guyon lies within the verdant Vexin Francais Regional Nature Park, bound between the meandering Seine River and a striking wall of white chalk. This idyllic setting is home to a number of historic monuments, including a 15th-century church dedicated to St. Samson; a 16th-century salt store; a public fountain presented to the village in 1742; and the town hall, inaugurated in 1847. The beguiling 12th-century Chateau de La Roche-Guyon, however, is undoubtedly the village's most emblematic landmark, once capturing the attention of poet Victor Hugo, impressionist Claude Monet, and composer Joseph Kosma, among many others. The castle and its breathtaking surroundings still mesmerize all who visit it.

Vernon is a charming provincial town. Its cobblestone streets are reminiscent of the Middle Ages, and some of its half-timbered houses feature magnificent wooden carvings. The town was founded by the Viking Rollo in the 9th century, where an island in the Seine made for easy crossings. Because of its importance as a transit point between Paris and Rouen, the town was well fortified and frequently besieged. Ruins of its old medieval bridge still linger on the Seine's right bank. The remains of La Chateau des Tourelles are the last surviving witness to that era. Please note: Monet gardens are not available before April 1 or after November 1; a visit to the village of Auvers-sur-Oise, favored by van Gogh and other artists, will be substituted.

The Seine meanders through the mellow vistas of Normandy. As it makes its sleepy and serpentine way to the English Channel, it winds along for 240 miles from Paris, more than doubling the distance of a crow's flight. As you sail, fertile fields unfurl toward groves of apple orchards, sources of the region's famed calvados apple brandy. Norman cows graze the grassy meadows that help produce creamy Brie and Camembert. You will also gaze upon picturesque villages and historic abbeys on these bucolic banks.

Founded by Romans, Rouen is situated amid chalk cliffs along the Seine. The Norman capital boasts many pleasures, from the 700 charming half-timbered houses of the Old Town to the glorious Rouen Cathedral, which so captivated Claude Monet that he painted it many times in varying light. Until the 17th century, Rouen was the second-largest city in France. Today, it is the country's fourth-largest port. The city is perhaps best known as the site of Joan of Arc's last stand; the patron saint of France was tried and condemned here for heresy and burned at the stake in 1431.

History focused its sights along the coast of Normandy, France-notably Omaha, Juno, and Gold Beaches-on the early morning of June 6, 1944, as American, Canadian, and British troops made landfall in their first European incursion during World War II. The entire operation was termed Operation Overlord, the code name for the invasion of Normandy. The remains of the concrete structures and steel causeway of Mulberry Harbor, built by the British, can still be seen on the beach near the village of Arromanches. The Arromanches Debarkment D-Day Museum presents animated 3D scale models to help visitors grasp this exceptional harbor and its contribution to the battle-considered perhaps the single greatest innovation that ensured victory for the Allies.

Les Andelys is best known for its imposing castle overlooking the city, the Chateau Gaillard. Built in 1196 by Richard the Lionheart, the castle and the village's strategic location bolstered the importance of Les Andelys throughout the Middle Ages. The town also gained notice for its Saint Clotilde Miraculous Spring, where the wife of the first Frankish king, Clovis, turned well water into wine to serve the builders of her Benedictine monastery. Europe's devout, upon hearing of the act, flocked here on pilgrimages until the end of the 19th century.

Long a hub of French culture, cuisine, and architectural splendor, Paris is one of the most romantic destinations in the world. Over the centuries, Parisian culture has been built on the wings of inspiration. Music, film, architecture, literature, dance, and the visual arts all have their brilliant place in the museums, theaters, bookstores, and remarkably preserved buildings of this magnificent city. At the center of it all is the Champs-Elysees. With its inviting riverside promenade, 37 graceful bridges and splendid views of all things Parisian, from the Eiffel Tower to the Louvre Museum, it is France's most beautiful boulevard.

Life in Paris revolves around the Seine River, with 37 bridges crossing the river, each telling a story. Perhaps none are so extravagant as the Pont Alexandre III, a graceful span named for the Russian tsar who signed the Franco-Russian Alliance in 1892. Downriver, the five-arched Pont d'Iena is beloved for its scenic location linking the Eiffel Tower to the Trocadero district. The Pont des Arts, set between the Louvre and the Institut de France, was famed for its thousands of padlocks, attached by couples to the railing grates as a sign of their devotion to each other.

During World War II, occupied Paris became the center for the Free French resistance movement. Unlike other French cities that were targets of Allied bombing raids, Paris escaped major damage and its many iconic landmarks, such as the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, survived the war intact and can still be enjoyed today. Liberation came just two months after the D-Day landings in Normandy, when divisions of the French tanks and US infantry entered the city on August 26, 1944, culminating with an exuberant march, led by Gen. Charles de Gaulle, down the Champs-Elysees. After breakfast, disembark your ship and journey home. Ground transfers are included with Viking Air purchase.