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Compare Active & Discovery on the Seine (Southbound) by Avalon Waterways

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Duration 9 days
Price From $ 4,519
Price Per Day $ 502
Highlights
  • Welcome to France
  • Time at leisure in Paris; transfer to Le Havre; onboard welcome reception
  • Choice of Le Havre sightseeing, or visit to the Palais Bénédictine in Fécamp or guided bike tour
  • Choice of full day excursions to Normandy landing beaches, or “A Taste of Normandy” excursion
  • Choice of guided tour, see the Astronomical Clock and visit to the cathedral; time at leisure
  • In Les Andelys choice of guided tour, or hike to Château Gaillard or excursion to Lyons-la-Forêt; onboard crêpes and pastry demonstration; in Vernon choice of excursions to Giverny, or walking tour, or guided kayak tour
  • Choice of excursion to Auvers-sur-Oise, or excursion to Napoleon and Josephine’s Château de Malmaison, or demonstration of crem Chantilly in the Château Chantilly, or guided Maisons-Laffite e-biking tour
  • Choice of guided sightseeing or food tour or guided bike tour
  • With a delicious menu of culturally immersive experiences, an Avalon Active & Discovery cruise on the Seine serves up joie de vivre at every port
  • History meets happiness as you decide how to savor the castles, croissants, châteaux, and chèvre of fabulous France from Paris to Normandy
Trip Style River cruise
Lodging Level Standard
Physical Level
  • 1- Very easy
Travel Themes
  • Cultural
  • 50 plus
  • Small Ship Cruise
Countries Visited
Cities and Attractions
  • Giverny
  • Normandy
  • Paris
  • Rouen
Flights & Transport No
Activities
  • Culture
  • River cruise
Meals Included N/A
Description With a delicious menu of culturally immersive experiences, an Avalon Active & Discovery cruise on the Seine serves up joie de vivre at every port. History meets happiness as you decide how to savor the castles, croissants, châteaux, and chèvre of fabulous France from Paris to Normandy.

Our wide array of Classic, Discovery, and Active excursions puts you in the driver’s seat of your vacation – whether that’s a bicycle seat, canoe seat, or a front row seat at a culinary or cocktail workshop where you’ll learn hands-on how to master the delightful delicacies this gastronomic country is known for. This is your tour de France. No matter how you choose to journey through it, monumental discoveries and moving experiences await at every turn.


Move.
Enjoy a little get-up-and-go on your cruising vacation when you:

•Say “oui” and “whee” on a bicycle tour through the heart of Paris.
•Paddle a canoe past the timbered houses, 12th century castles and gothic church of charming Vernon.
•Hop on an E-bike for a leisurely tour of the impressive Château de Maisons-Lafitte.


And be moved.
Get off the beaten path and relish the world when you:

•Whip up sweet Chantilly cream with the culinary experts at the even sweeter Chantilly Castle.
•Stop and smell the roses as you stroll through the home and gardens of master impressionist Claude Monet.
•Shake it up at a Benedictine cocktail workshop at the palace where the world-famous liqueur is made.


Plus, Classic sightseeing is always available in every port along the way.

Activate your senses and discover a world of wonder in all-new, entirely “you” ways on your personal, passion-packed cruise along the Seine.
Itinerary: Active & Discovery on the Seine (Southbound)

Day 1: PARIS, FRANCE

Bienvenue en France!

Your day is free to explore the world’s most romantic city. Get acquainted with the City of Lights today with some shopping, strolling, or with a croissant and café au lait to watch the world go by amid the Parisian cityscape.

PARIS-CROISSANT.jpg

Day 2: PARIS–LE HAVRE (EMBARKATION)

Welcome to France! Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding.

Enjoy some free time in Paris today, before transfer to Le Havre and board your cruise on the Seine. Tonight, enjoy dinner on board and explore your Suite Ship®.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN LE HAVRE

(Breakfast,Dinner)

PARIS-SACRE-COEUR.jpg

Day 3: LE HAVRE

20th Century Architecture and White Cliffs of Normandy

Visit the Adventure Center for today’s activities with your Adventure Host.

ACTIVE Explore the city as only a local would: by bicycle. Cycle up to the quartier Saint François, OR:

DISCOVERY Travel to Fecamp to visit the Palais Benedectine where the world famous Benedectine liquor is made. Enjoy a short Self-Guided Tour followed by a cocktail workshop focused around the famous liquor, OR:

CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour to Le Havre and discover the modern architecture of its city center, rebuilt by Auguste Perret and part of the World Heritage of Humanity.

This afternoon, you may want to choose among the Guided Optional Excursions available

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO CAUDEBEC

(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

LE-HAVRE.jpg

Day 4: CAUDEBEC. EXCURSION TO NORMANDY

Heroic Bravery on Normandy Beaches and French Farming Traditions

DISCOVERY Join a ‘Day in Normandy’ tour with a Local Guide to trace the steps of William the Conqueror, King Henry IV, and Queen Marie de' Medici. Toast the day with a brandy tasting in Calvados, OR:

CLASSIC Join a Guided Visit to the WWII landing beaches of Normandy. Take a full-day tour of significant U.S. sites, including Omaha Beach, the Pointe du Hoc monument, and the American Cemetery, OR:

CLASSIC Take a full-day Guided Tour of the British and Canadian commemorative sites, including the British cemetery, Pegasus Memorial, the seaside town of Arromanches, the Juno Beach Center, and the Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery.

Later, enjoy live entertainment on board your ship while sailing to Rouen.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN ROUEN

(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

NORMANDY-OMAHA-BEACH.jpg

Day 5: ROUEN

The Cathedral of Notre-Dame, and a Heroine for France

CLASSIC Take a Guided Walking Tour of Rouen—home of the martyred Saint Joan of Arc—and see the medieval quarter with its 16th-century Astronomical Clock, and Notre-Dame Cathedral.

In the afternoon, you're free to explore the city on your own or to join one of our Optional Excursions.

Later, enjoy live entertainment on board your ship.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN ROUEN

(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

ROUEN.jpg

Day 6: LES ANDELYS

Serenity on the Seine’s Most Beautiful Riverbends

ACTIVE Join a Guided Hike up to the castle ruins of Château Gaillard—historic home of King Richard the Lionheart and a masterpiece of medieval military architecture, OR:

DISCOVERY Visit one of 'most beautiful villages of France' situated in a beautiful forested setting in Normandy. Afterwards discover the legends of the haunted Abbey de Mortemere, OR:

CLASSIC Take a Guided Walking Tour of Les Andelys—one of France’s most picturesque spots on the Seine. Visit the Saint Sauveur’s Church of Le Petit Andely.

DISCOVERY While sailing, enjoy a traditional French luncheon of authentic French crêpes, followed by a Pastry Demonstration.

VERNON

Monet’s Muses and Castle Courtyards

ACTIVE Spend a fun and active day kayaking. Join an expert guide and paddle your way through areas accessible only by water, OR:

DISCOVERY Take a Guided Tour of Giverny, home and inspiration of the master impressionist painter Claude Monet. Walk the grounds and see Monet’s charming residence, and the flower and water gardens captured in his masterpieces, OR:

CLASSIC Explore the picturesque town of Vernon with a leisurely Guided Tour through its marvelous medieval streets on the banks of the Seine River.

EVENING CRUISE TO CONFLANS

(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

LES-ANDELYS.jpg

Day 7: CONFLANS

Walk in the Footsteps of Van Gogh and Bonaparte

Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.

ACTIVE This Guided E-bike Tour will take you to the Château de Maisons-Lafitte where you will enjoy a special snack, OR:

DISCOVERY Travel to the Chantilly Castle on your own where the experts of the Confrérie des Chevaliers Fouetteurs de crème Chantilly will show you how to prepare your own Chantilly cream, OR:

CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour of Auvers-sur-Oise, and walk in the footsteps of Vincent van Gogh, who lived, worked, and is buried here. See the landscapes and village scenes captured in his paintings, OR:

CLASSIC Take a Guided tour of the opulent Château de Malmaison*—home of Napoléon Bonaparte and his wife Josephine.

You may join a Guided Optional Excursion to the Palace of Versailles—home to a succession of French kings.

This afternoon, cruise to Paris and in the evening enjoy live entertainment on board your ship.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PARIS

(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

*Château de Malmaison is closed the 1st Monday of each month.

CONFLANS.jpg

Day 8: PARIS

Cafés, Cathedrals, and Canvases—The City of Lights Truly Shines

ACTIVE Hop on a bike to explore Paris like a local on this enjoyable guided tour through its sights, mesmerizing history, and incredible ambiance, OR:

DISCOVERY Immerse yourself on our Food and Cultural Tour of Paris where you will find out why the French food and culinary tradition has been even added to the UNESCO heritage list, OR:

CLASSIC Join a Guided Sightseeing which will show you magnificent must-see sights.

Alternatively, stroll through Paris on your own or linger over wine in a literary café on the Left Bank.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PARIS

(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

PARIS-EIFEL-TOWER-BIKING.jpg

Day 9: PARIS (DISEMBARKATION)

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

(Breakfast)

PARIS-MACARONS.jpg

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