As I was finalizing the pre-cruise hotel and experiences for clients sailing the Seine from Paris to Normandy, I stopped what I was doing to reflect on my visit to Normandy several years ago. It’s a beautiful region with tons of history, including the D-Day beaches. I heartily recommend combining Paris and Normandy on a river cruise.
My clients will spend three nights in Paris at the art deco inspired boutique Hotel Baume located in Saint-Germain-des-Prés near the Luxembourg Gardens. Steps from the hotel is La Cave du Sénat, a lovely boutique wine shop, where I’ve arranged a private wine tasting with cheese and charcuterie in their charming wine cellar.
Day two is a half day private Paris Highlights tour. They’ll explore the meandering cobblestone streets and the stomping grounds of the 20th century’s celebrated authors on the Left Bank, stop by Notre-Dame cathedral and learn about impacts of the recent fire, then cross over to the Right Bank toward the Louvre. Next up is Opéra Garnier or Place Vendôme, home to some of the world’s most famous luxury brands. A hop on the metro will take them to see L’Arc de Triomphe with a discussion of its symbolism, then the Eiffel Tower, and finish at the Trocadéro.
Day three is 3-hour private tour of the Louvre designed to hit the highlights: Classical Antiquities, the grand galleries of Italian, French and other masters, and finally the Mona Lisa.
The Cruise
As I like to say, it’s not just the destination, but also how you travel through it. When it comes to cruising, I also say that it’s not what you pay to get on the ship, but what you pay to get off the ship. Uniworld’s luxury experience is inclusive of all food, beverages (including premium spirits and wines any time you want), 2-3 choices of included excursions each day, and gratuities.
Day 1: Embark and settle into your suite.
Day 2: Visit Chateau La Roche-Guyon (from cave dwelling to fortress to castle to palace – tons of history), Monet’s gardens at Giverny, or a bike ride from Vernon to Giverny.
Day 3: Rouen – Normandy’s medieval capital is well worth the walking tour. Richard the Lionheart, Joan of Arc, Gustave Flaubert, and Claude Monet are among those who lived or died here.
Day 4: Honfleur or Etretat – Visit the seaside harbor and city of painters or head to Etretat for golf.
Day 5: Rouen – Normandy Beaches – take your choice of British & Australian, Canadian, or American sites.
Day 6: Mantes-la-Jolie – Visit Versailles.
Day 7: Paris – Enjoy a panoramic city overview, a walking tour of two neighborhoods, or pedal your way along the Left Bank.
Uniworld’s floating boutique hotels offer you the luxury to travel leisurely on the Seine through northern France and unpack just once. Summer sailings offer the best pricing. Virtuoso amenity includes $200 per person onboard credit. If this is your year to explore the beauty and history of Paris and Normandy, then a river cruise is a wonderful travel choice.
Helen Jordan is the owner of Jordan Luxury Travel, an independent affiliate of Brownell Travel, a member of Virtuoso. She can be reached at 602-692-9379 or [email protected].
