The Seine: Paris to Normandy

13 days
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River Cruise
Join us aboard this in-depth voyage from cosmopolitan Paris to the beaches of Normandy, and delve deeply into a region rich in history and culture. You’ll start by exploring Paris, the “City of Light,” witnessing monuments, cathedrals, and elegant avenues made famous in film and photographs. Next, you’ll embark on a Seine River Cruise through the heartland of...
From$3,395
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Overview

Trip type
River Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

    • Visit the World War II Peace Memorial Museum
    • Visit the famed Sacre Coeur Basilica, with its dramatic perch on the top of the Montmartre hill.
    • Enjoy cruising on Seine River
    • Explore the sleepy village of Les Andelys
    • Enjoy views of Chateau Gaillard, an imposing fortress from the era of Richard the Lionhearted
    • Visit Rouen's wonderful Gothic Notre Dame Cathedral
    • Visit the Benedictine Order Castle at Fecamp and savor a taste of the famous Benedictine liqueur
    • Visit the Battery at Longues Sur Mer

What's this trip about?

    Join us aboard this in-depth voyage from cosmopolitan Paris to the beaches of Normandy, and delve deeply into a region rich in history and culture. You’ll start by exploring Paris, the “City of Light,” witnessing monuments, cathedrals, and elegant avenues made famous in film and photographs. Next, you’ll embark on a Seine River Cruise through the heartland of France aboard our 120-passenger M/S Bizet, which was ranked #17 in Condé Nast Traveler’s “Top 40 River Cruise Ships in the World” 2014 Readers’ Poll. With its Sun Deck and all outside cabins, you’ll enjoy uninterrupted views of orchards and fertile pastures lining the banks of the Seine. You’ll disembark to visit Conflans, or “Van Gogh Country,” meet with a local family in Vernon during a Home-Hosted Visit, take a walking tour of Rouen (made famous by Joan of Arc), and more. Then you’ll arrive in Honfleur, where moving remembrances await you as journey to the beaches of Normandy, visit the World War II Peace Memorial Museum, and pause at the somber field that is the American Military Cemetery.

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeStandard Group - 25 + people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityParis
End CityFrance

Travel Themes

  • 50 plus
  • Cultural
  • National Parks
  • Nature & Wildlife

Destinations

  • Europe
  • France

Attractions

  • Arc de Triomphe
  • Eiffel Tower
  • Giverny
  • Notre Dame Cathedral
  • Palace of Versailles
  • Paris
  • Rouen

Activities

  • Cooking
  • Culture
  • Historic sightseeing
  • Nature
  • Photography
  • River cruise

Trip includes

    • Accommodations: 10 nights aboard Grand Circle’s M/S Bizet in an outside cabin and 1 night at the Novotel Convention & Wellness Roissy CDG or similar
    • 30 meals, including Captain’s Welcome and Farewell receptions and dinners: 11 breakfasts, 9 lunches, and 10 dinners (and beverages—including beer, wine, and soft drinks—during all onboard lunches and dinners)
    • 6 exclusive, included tours with personal headsets: Paris • Van Gogh country • Giverny • Rouen • Normandy beaches • Honfleur
    • Exclusive Discovery Series events: French cooking demonstration • French language lesson • Introduction to Impressionism presentation • Home-Hosted Visit • French gourmet tasting • Painting lesson • Cheese tasting • Caen Peace Memorial Museum
    • Airport transfers upon arrival and departure with the purchase of Grand Circle’s airfare
    • All port charges—a value of $165 per person
    • Gratuities for local guides and motorcoach drivers on your main trip
    • Baggage handling for 1 piece of luggage per person, including tips
    • 5% Frequent Traveler Credit toward your next Grand Circle trip—an average of $307

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Itinerary

Day 1: Depart U.S.

Depart today on your flight to Paris, France. Please refer to your individual air itinerary for exact departure and arrival times.

Day 2: Arrive Paris, France , Embark ship

Meals: Dinner

Accommodations: M/S Bizet

Arrive this morning or afternoon in Paris. You are met at the airport and transferred to your river ship. If you began your discoveries early with our optional pre-trip extension to Paris, France, or Loire Valley, ...

Day 3: Captain's Welcome Dinner

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, spend the morning exploring Paris, being introduced to both the city's classic highlights and more intimate neighborhoods. First, set off on a panoramic tour, witnessing the Eiffel Tower from different perspectiv...

Day 4: Paris • Conflans

Meals: Breakfast Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations: M/S Bizet

After breakfast, this morning, explore Montmartre, one of the most famous and lively of the city's 20 arrondissements (districts) on a walking tour. Spend some free time following your included wal...

Day 5: Conflans • Optional Path of Van Gogh tour • Impressionists discussion • French language lesson • Vernon

Meals: Breakfast Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations: M/S Bizet

After breakfast this morning, join your Program Director for a walking tour of Conflans. Then enjoy some free time for independent exploration, followed by an onboard lunch.

Or, join us on a...

Day 6: Vernon • Giverny • Les Andelys

Meals: Breakfast Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations: M/S Bizet

After breakfast, disembark for an excursion into the countryside to see the lovely landscapes that inspired Claude Monet. He first witnessed the village of Giverny while looking out a train window ...

Please note
: This tour is available on April through October departures only. On March and November departures, we offer a walking tour of Vernon instead.

This afternoon, take part in a walking tour of the sleepy village of Les Andelys, where you can relish views of Chateau Gail...

Day 7:  Les Andelys • Rouen

Meals: Breakfast Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations: M/S Bizet

Depart Les Andelys after breakfast this morning, enjoying lunch onboard as you sail.

This afternoon, disembark for a walking tour of Rouen, the capital of Normandy. This important French com...

Day 8: Rouen • Home-Hosted Visit

Meals: Breakfast Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations: M/S Bizet

This morning, join a local family for a sweet treat, as well as an opportunity to learn more about life in rural France, during an exclusive Discovery Series Home-Hosted Visit.

Afterward, th...

Day 9: Rouen • Caudebec • Cooking demonstration • French cheese tasting • Optional Cliffs of Etretat tour • Honfleur

Meals: Breakfast Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations: M/S Bizet

Enjoy a relaxing morning of river cruising during which you can partake in two onboard exclusive Discovery Series events. First, learn how to prepare a few of France's culinary delights as your shi...

Day 10: Honfleur • Normandy Beaches

Meals: Breakfast Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations: M/S Bizet

The D-Day landings, code-named “Operation Overlord,” were the largest military campaigns in recorded history with the beaches of Normandy bearing the brunt of the invasion. Beginning at 6:30 am on ...

Day 11: Honfleur • Optional Bayeux tour • Captain's Farewell Dinner

Meals included: Breakfast

Accommodations: Novotel Convention & Wellness Roissy CDG or similar

After breakfast, set off on a walking tour of this well-preserved port town of Honfleur, founded in the eleventh century. Situated on a Seine estuary opposi...

Day 12: Honfleur • Disembark ship • Caen Peace Memorial Museum • Roissy-Charles De Gaulle Airport area

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodations: Novotel Convention & Wellness Roissy CDG or similar

This morning, disembark your ship and transfer to the Peace Memorial Museum in Caen, a state-of-the-art facility that does an outstanding job of presenting the event...

Day 13: Return to U.S.

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight home. Or, begin your post-trip extension in London, England.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $3,395
Price per day$261
Last Updated: 8/10/2018

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Grand Circle Cruise Line.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Grand Circle Cruise Line Reviews & Ratings

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JT

Jul 2021

Grand Circle Cruise Line Company Reviewsby Grand Circle Cruise Line

Company has gone downhill

I am a 12 time traveler with Grand Circle and OAT. But maybe no more. They are impossible to reach by phone without waiting for hours. I even tired their emergenc...

C

Constance B.

Jan 2020

Grand Circle Cruise Line Company Reviewsby Grand Circle Cruise Line

A great trip, we really

A great trip, we really enjoyed it a lot.

W

Wayne D.

Dec 2019

Grand Circle Cruise Line Company Reviewsby Grand Circle Cruise Line

Considered the Best of the Best!,,,,

The Places covered by the trip were full of historical facts worthy of remembering till the last days of our lives!,,,, Our Travel Director, RENE BAUER , is super kn...

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Grand Circle Cruise Line

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Grand Circle Small Ship Cruises serves both our Grand Circle Travel and Overseas Adventure Tour (OAT) brands with an award-winning fleet known for exceptional value and high-quality experiences in Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America. Custom-designed according to our travelers’ specifications, our fleet includes 50+ small river and ocean-going ships that we own or privately charter.

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Grand Circle Foundation was established in 1992 as a means to give back to the world that had already given us so much. Since its inception, our Foundation has donated or pledged more than $50 million to educational, humanitarian, and cultural organizations worldwide.

 

Grand Circle Travel—Worldwide Discovery by Land & by Ship

 

Traveling with Grand Circle is about more than sightseeing. It’s about immersing yourself in other cultures, sharing the warm camaraderie of like-minded American travelers, and feeling comfortable, safe, and well-cared for every step of the way. It’s not simply a destination you’ll find, but a profound awareness of the life-changing joy of cultural connections, and we’ve been creating those connections for more than 50 years.

Explore by land

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Meet cogenial, like-minded friends

Our Program Director's share an insider's perspective

Meet local people where they live, work and play

Travel safe, confident, and carefree

Traveling for change: One village, one leader, one life at a time


Travel with the Leader in Worldwide Learning & Discovery

Bring your travel dreams to life: witness the breathtaking expanse of China from atop the Great Wall … visit centuries-old windmills in Holland, and meet those who call the iconic structures home … ride a donkey to the top of ancient isles in Santorini, Greece... Visions like these are everyday realities for Grand Circle travelers, thanks to the principles that ground every one of our vacations: value, choice, discovery, and careful pacing.

Our VALUE puts your travel dreams within reach

Grand Circle can help you realize your travel dreams for a lot less than you ever thought possible. That’s because each of our Small Ship Cruise Tours, River Cruise's, and Land Tours includes full-service accommodations, included tours, exclusive Discovery Series events, and so much more. And, because we work with our regional offices located throughout the world, we’ve been able to establish long-term relationships with many local vendors and hotels. Buying direct brings down our costs—and allows us to pass the savings on to you. And negotiating directly for hotel space also allows us to secure as many single room allotments as possible for our solo travelers. That way, we can also extend our great value to solo travelers, too! In fact, we offer the best value and benefits for solo travelers, guaranteed.

The CHOICE is yours

You’ll always have plenty of choices with Grand Circle. We offer you a breadth of awe-inspiring travel destinations—from Europe’s great, culture-laden capitals and the lush vineyards of French and German wine regions, to the scenic natural beauty of Chile's Lakes District and Australia's Great Barrier Reef. You’ll also enjoy more optional trip extensions—such as excursions to Phnom Penh & Angkor Wat, Cambodia or Prague, Czech Republic—enabling you to enhance your regional discovery and maximize the value of your already included airfare. You have plenty of choices within each vacation, too, enabling you to follow your own pace and tailor your experience to your own interests with our optional tours. And the free time we’ve woven into our itineraries gives you the opportunity for independent exploration. You can shop, linger at a sidewalk cafe, visit an art gallery or museum, or perhaps explore a cobbled street that caught your eye earlier in the day. You can do as much or as little as you want on Grand Circle vacation—the choice is yours.

DISCOVERIES that enrich and inspire

Wherever you travel with Grand Circle, you can always count on us to provide a rewarding, discovery-rich experience. With regional offices around the globe, we maintain a strong local presence in all the regions you’ll visit. Being a part of local communities means we offer the most illuminating cultural encounters and widest array of learning activities that reflect your destination. Participate in a discussion about life under communism in Eastern Europe. Try your hand at painting in Impressionism’s homeland. All these experiences, and others, have been designed to offer you a deeper understanding of the places you’ll visit—even as you have fun in the process. And because we know you’ll want to experience local life through the people who call your destination home, we’ve arranged for you to meet them where they live, work, and play. From Home-Hosted meals with local families and demonstrations by regional artisans, to touring a family-run winery or visiting a local school, we make sure you enjoy firsthand perspectives on everyday life, while forming connections you’ll never forget.

Well PACED—with an emphasis on comfort

Travel shouldn’t feel like a race from one site to the next. We know that you enjoy both visiting memorable locales and the chance to enjoy them at your own pace. We’ve planned itineraries that blend regional discovery with “down time,” during which you can explore as little or as much as you like—at your leisure. With well-located accommodations on land and conveniently situated docks for our small ships, you’ll be poised for discoveries of all kinds. While walking is our signature mode—allowing access to many of the most unmissable sites, we always balance any lengthy walking tours with plenty of time to refresh and rejuvenate. Plus, you can always rest assured that your safety and comfort are our top priority, with a resident Program Director along, and our local staff in a regional office nearby.

It's included with Grand Circle ...

  • Choose to purchase Grand Circle's airfare, and your airport transfers and government taxes, fees, and airline fuel surcharges are included. Or, make your own air arrangements
  • The services of expert, resident Program Directors who speak fluent English, as well as the native language
  • Accommodations at comfortable hotels and on private, Grand Circle-owned or chartered vessels
  • Most meals, including all meals during the cruise portions of our Grand Circle Cruise Line vacations
  • Guided sightseeing tours
  • Personal headsets on included and optional tours
  • Exclusive Discovery Series events
  • All internal transportation

And more

Now included for 2016

  • Gratuities for local guides and motorcoach drivers on all Grand Circle main trips, most optional tours, and most optional pre- and post-trip extensions
  • Beverages during lunch and dinner onboard Grand Circle Cruise Line ships, including beer, wine, and soft drinks
  • All port charges—a value of up to $250 per person
What they’re known for
Cruises to popular destinations for seniors wanting to travel at their own pace with optional excursions and plenty of free time.

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • International airfare
    • Passprt and visa fees
    • Personal expenses

Accommodation

,Novotel Convention & Wellness Roissy CDG Roissy, France The modern Novotel Convention & Wellness Roissy CDG is within close proximity to Charles de Gaulle Airport. Each of its 289 air-conditioned rooms features a satellite TV, Internet access, and a minibar. Guests can enjoy the hotel’s indoor heated pool, sauna, and fitness center. Ship:M/S Bizet
Ship & cabin information
M/S Bizet
M/S Bizet Our M/S Bizet ranked #17 in Condé Nast Traveler’s “Top 40 River Cruise Ships in the World” 2014 Readers’ Poll. Custom-built with our travelers’ needs in mind, your private river ship has a passenger capacity of just 120 with all outside cabins and an English-speaking staff. You’ll savor freshly prepared meals from the upper-level dining room. Plus, enjoy leisure time in the bar and lounge, library, and Sun Deck. Complimentary wireless Internet access is available in select common areas. Wireless Internet access is not available in cabins and connectivity is limited in certain locations on River Cruise itineraries. Your cabin features a flat-screen TV with CNN and movies, radio, direct-dial telephone, individual heating and air-conditioning controls, twin beds that convert to sofas, and private bath with shower and hair dryer.
Registry: Malta Width: 38 feet Length: 366 feet Passenger capacity: 120 Crew/Nationality: 33/International Entered Service: 2002 Decks: 3 Number of cabins: 60—all outside Elevator: Yes
Cancellation policy

Cancellation Charges for River Cruises and Small Ships:

Prior to departure and charge

121 days or more charges will be $300

120-90 days charges is 10% of selling price or $300—whichever is greater

89-60 days charges will be 40% of selling price

59-30 days charges will be 65% of selling price

29 days–departure is 100% of selling price

Cancellation Charges for Last Minute Bookings:

Last Minute Bookings are defined as any booking at or inside 45 days prior to departure. Space is limited and all arrangements—cabin selection, hotel rooms, air carriers and routing, etc.—are subject to availability. Flights are contingent on confirmation by the airline(s); additional fees from the airline(s) may apply. If flights can be confirmed without additional fees from the airline(s), you are subject to the standard cancellation charges for your trip. If flights incur additional fees from the airline(s), you will be offered the choice of either paying the additional fees or cancelling your reservation for a full refund of your Trip Price plus any cost you paid for the Travel Protection Plan. If flights cannot be confirmed, you will be offered an alternative departure date or trip. If we are not able to agree upon a suitable alternative, you will be entitled to cancel your reservation and receive a full refund of your Trip Price plus any cost you paid for the Travel Protection Plan.

  • If you are a no-show, if you cancel your trip after the departure date, or if you leave a trip already in progress, you will not receive any refund for any unused portion of your trip.
  • If you reserved a double room and are sharing with a friend or family member, and that person cancels prior to departure, you may be subject to additional single supplement and travel protection fees.
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included

11 Breakfasts, 9 Lunches and 10 DInners

Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Optional Activities

Extensions

Pre-trip: Paris, France - 3 nights from only $695

Pre-trip: Loire Valley, France - 4 nights from only $895

Post-trip: Brittany & Mont St. Michel, France - 3 nights from only $745

Post-trip: London, England - 4 nights from only $845

Optional Tours

Montmartre - Day 3 $85 per person

Versailles - Day 4 $90 per person

Abbey St. Wandrille - Day 8 $65 per person

Fecamp & the Cliffs of Etretat - Day 9 $65 per person

Bayeux - Day 11 $85 per person

Trip ID
grandc-TheSeiGra

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