Paris
Paris 09/16/2025
Tour begins: 4 PM. A transfer is included upon your arrival from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport or the Gare de Lyon, Charles de Gaulle, or Gare du Nord train stations to your riverboat on the Seine. Settle into your cabin and make yourself at home, then join us for cocktails, canapés, dinner, and entertainment at tonight's welcome reception aboard your ship. Bienvenue!,
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09/16/2025 |
09/16/2025 |
Paris
Paris 09/17/2025
Today begins with a Tauck Exclusive — a private pre-opening guided visit to the Musée du Louvre! A showcase of Impressionist paintings. The Louvre, housed in a former royal palace, astounds with an incomparable collection of some of the world's greatest art masterpieces — old masters, sculptures, and antiquities, including the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo. Following lunch, you'll have a choice of excursions for this afternoon; you may choose to embark on an orientation tour of the city's landmark sites including a stop at the tomb of Napoleon, or walking tours of the Marais district or the Islands of Paris; the remainder of the day is free for you to experience Paris as you wish. Your Tauck director can offer suggestions for sightseeing, people watching, art viewing, garden strolling and, of course, wining and dining.,
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09/17/2025 |
09/17/2025 |
Paris
Paris 09/18/2025
Château de Versailles is unequaled in its display of regal splendor and privilege. Louis XIV (the Sun King) built this "country home" to escape the confines of the Louvre and Paris in 1682, and made it large enough to house all of his courtiers and servants — it was eventually expanded to include 2,300 rooms; he also built the town of Versailles while he was at it. Prepare to be dazzled when your guide takes you inside the palatial estate to see opulently decorated rooms in the King's Apartments, including the superb Hall of Mirrors where the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, ending the First World War. If you wish, enjoy some free time or join your Tauck director for a tour of the chateau's gardens. The gardens are a monumental counterpart to the palace in design and décor, a showcase of magnificent bronze statues, patterned flower beds, lakes, fountains, and architectural gems, from a marble colonnade to two smaller palaces. Meet your riverboat and sail for Rouen, which is home to Joan of Arc memorial sites.,
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09/18/2025 |
09/18/2025 |
Versailles
Versailles 09/18/2025
Château de Versailles is unequaled in its display of regal splendor and privilege. Louis XIV (the Sun King) built this "country home" to escape the confines of the Louvre and Paris in 1682, and made it large enough to house all of his courtiers and servants — it was eventually expanded to include 2,300 rooms; he also built the town of Versailles while he was at it. Prepare to be dazzled when your guide takes you inside the palatial estate to see opulently decorated rooms in the King's Apartments, including the superb Hall of Mirrors where the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, ending the First World War. If you wish, enjoy some free time or join your Tauck director for a tour of the chateau's gardens. The gardens are a monumental counterpart to the palace in design and décor, a showcase of magnificent bronze statues, patterned flower beds, lakes, fountains, and architectural gems, from a marble colonnade to two smaller palaces. Meet your riverboat and sail for Rouen, which is home to Joan of Arc memorial sites.,
Optional Private Excursions
Avoid the crowds and hustle and bustle associated with a group activity. For a memorable trip ashore, we invite you to consider a private shore excursion. Enjoy the undivided attention of your own driver/guide and the flexibility of experiencing the aspects of the local culture that most interest you. Below are just some samples of the private shore excursions we can arrange for you. Let us personalize your experience!
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Versailles Gardens and Fountains - Full Day tour - 9h
This full-day trip allows the travelers to discover Versailles, you will follow the footsteps of the Sun King in the magnificent chateau that symbolized his power and during the afternoon discover its famous gardens and fountains.
9.00 am: Meet your English-speaking licensed guide-driver in the lobby of your hotel in Paris.
Go to Versailles where you will explore the Château de Versailles with its glittering Hall of Mirrors which was used by Louis XIV as a council room, and the gardens which where laid out by the great landscape artist, Le Nôtre, who managed to perfect the model of formal French gardens. The visit includes: the King’s State Apartments, the Trianon, vast mansion-style lodges where Louis XV and Louis XVI liked to work and retire from court life.
Home to hundreds when the King was in residence, this palace constitutes a veritable city of elegant private rooms and public reception halls, set in a splendid park with fountains, hidden gardens, and a lake for boating. Imagine life in the château as your guide opens doors allowing you to enter the lives of kings and queens. Imagine yourself among the courtiers in a banquet hall illuminated with candelabras reflected in the hall of mirrors.
Follow in the footsteps of King Louis the XIV. It is from here that the king radiated his power and where the destiny of Europe was decided over a century.
Versailles, a dream of elegance, taste and beauty, will open its doors and enable you to soak up the atmosphere that reigned during the days of Queen Marie-Antoinette, just as in Sophia Coppola’s famous film.
Enjoy lunch at leisure in a typical restaurant in Versailles suggested by your guide.
During the afternoon discover the famous Gardens & Fountains of the Chateau.
Take advantage of some free time to stroll through the French gardens surrounded by sculptures statues, busts, marble vases made from 1661 by teams of sculptors initially supervised by Charles Le Brun, the King's favorite painter.
In addition, you can wander around the groves and pools where the magnificent display of fountains show reveals the skill and artistry of three centuries of French Garden design and engineering.
The display is accompanied by music from one of the famous composers from the court of Louis XIV.
The Grand Musical Fountain Display, a sparkling and melodious promenade among the fountains and Bosquets of the Gardens of Versailles, has this year been set to music by the talents Lyriques, conducted by Christophe Rousset.
An exploration of an exceptional natural, artistic and musical heritage, the Fountain Display is based on an itinerary designed by Louis XIV himself.
Designed from the outset, 1966, as a festive occasion, the Fountains have become an essential experience for all who love gardens, the magical potential of water and music.
Free to decide their own route, visitors wander to and from through the Gardens of Versailles, between stunning open prospects and the intimacy of the bosquets (grove) providing green setting for unique works of art.
The gardens & fountains are adorned with hundreds of statues spread around some of the most beautiful your eyes will ever see.
6.00 pm: Return to your Hotel in Paris
Tour Duration: 9 hours.
Tour can operate: Any Day
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes.
Physical Activity Level: Moderate.
Included:
Deluxe minivan that can carry up to 6 passengers
Professional English-speaking guide-driver who will chauffeur you on your sightseeing-tour and is licensed to guide and accompany you on walking tours as well as into museums and monuments.
24-hour assistance available during your stay
All taxes
Not Included:
Entrance fees
Tips
Lunch or dinner
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09/18/2025 |
09/18/2025 |
Rouen
Rouen 09/19/2025
Enjoy informative insights about the history and sights you'll see today as we spend the morning cruising to Rouen. Victor Hugo called Rouen "the city of a hundred spires", and while the ravages of war destroyed many of the steepled buildings he was referring to, those that still stand today are rich with historical associations. A guided city tour this morning shows you the Gothic Cathédrale Notre-Dame, immortalized in close to 30 paintings by Impressionist artist Claude Monet, and the Place du Vieux Marché, site of Joan of Arc's untimely death when she was burnt at the stake. Normandy is lush with fertile landscapes that make its agricultural endeavors flourish and prosper. World-renowned Camembert cheese is produced here along with meat, poultry, and fruit products — local specialties that offer an authentic taste of the region. Enjoy the chef's signature dinner in the Compass Rose as your riverboat continues to Le Havre tonight.,
Optional Private Excursions
Avoid the crowds and hustle and bustle associated with a group activity. For a memorable trip ashore, we invite you to consider a private shore excursion. Enjoy the undivided attention of your own driver/guide and the flexibility of experiencing the aspects of the local culture that most interest you. Below are just some samples of the private shore excursions we can arrange for you. Let us personalize your experience!
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Le Havre: D-Day Beaches - 9 hours
The numerous monuments and memorials on the Normandy coastal area bear witness to the fierce fighting that took place here during and after the D-Day Landings of World War II. Your driver-guide meets you after you have departed your cruise ship and takes you on a full-day tour of the American Sector to visit some of the most important sites of this pivotal point in the war.
Your day starts on the famous coastline at Pointe du Hoc, which the US Rangers scaled, demonstrating a triumph of planning, training and execution by elite and well-led troops. Further eastwards along the coast is the sector known as Omaha Beach, also captured by invading American forces, and where you can examine several sites from both the German and US perspectives. You also hear about Operation Aquatint, a failed 1942 British Commando raid on the area. Your day ends with a poignant visit to the US Military Cemetery and Interpretation Centre at Colleville-sur-Mer, the final resting place of over 9300 US soldiers located on a bluff overlooking Omaha Beach. You are transferred back to your cruise ship from here.
Highlights:
- Visit Pointe du Hoc and Omaha Beach; two of the most significant D-Day sites
Tour Duration: 9 hours
Tour Can Operate: Morning
Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
Inclusions:
• Private transport by luxury car or minivan
• An expert local driver-guide for 9 hours
• Entrance fees to all sights and museums
• All taxes
Exclusions:
• All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
• Gratuities
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09/19/2025 |
09/19/2025 |
Paris/Normandy (Le Havre)
Paris/Normandy (Le Havre) 09/20/2025
From Le Havre on the English Channel coast, choose your sightseeing activity for the day; one option is a visit to Caen and the Caen Memorial, followed by a short drive to Bayeux and a visit to the Bayeux Museum; your other is a guided visit to Étretat — a village steeped in history and cultural treasures where agriculture and dairy products are mainstays and farms dot the countryside. Explore the beach resort town on a guided tour; sheer cliffs cut in a perfect arch protrude into the sea and then make your way to Honfleur for an orientation tour and lunch. The first Impressionist artists, including Claude Monet and Charles-François Daubigny, developed their painting style in Honfleur, one of the most charming fishing ports in Normandy. See a parade of Renaissance architecture and half-timbered houses along its cobbled streets as you discover for yourself why this colorful town was so beloved by artists. Back aboard ship, an interesting lecture about D-Day, one of the most somber dates in history, shares insights on the immortalized sites you will see tomorrow.,
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09/20/2025 |
09/20/2025 |
Caen-Ouistreham
Caen-Ouistreham 09/20/2025
From Le Havre on the English Channel coast, choose your sightseeing activity for the day; one option is a visit to Caen and the Caen Memorial, followed by a short drive to Bayeux and a visit to the Bayeux Museum; your other is a guided visit to Étretat — a village steeped in history and cultural treasures where agriculture and dairy products are mainstays and farms dot the countryside. Explore the beach resort town on a guided tour; sheer cliffs cut in a perfect arch protrude into the sea and then make your way to Honfleur for an orientation tour and lunch. The first Impressionist artists, including Claude Monet and Charles-François Daubigny, developed their painting style in Honfleur, one of the most charming fishing ports in Normandy. See a parade of Renaissance architecture and half-timbered houses along its cobbled streets as you discover for yourself why this colorful town was so beloved by artists. Back aboard ship, an interesting lecture about D-Day, one of the most somber dates in history, shares insights on the immortalized sites you will see tomorrow.,
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09/20/2025 |
09/20/2025 |
Bayeux
Bayeux 09/20/2025
From Le Havre on the English Channel coast, choose your sightseeing activity for the day; one option is a visit to Caen and the Caen Memorial, followed by a short drive to Bayeux and a visit to the Bayeux Museum; your other is a guided visit to Étretat — a village steeped in history and cultural treasures where agriculture and dairy products are mainstays and farms dot the countryside. Explore the beach resort town on a guided tour; sheer cliffs cut in a perfect arch protrude into the sea and then make your way to Honfleur for an orientation tour and lunch. The first Impressionist artists, including Claude Monet and Charles-François Daubigny, developed their painting style in Honfleur, one of the most charming fishing ports in Normandy. See a parade of Renaissance architecture and half-timbered houses along its cobbled streets as you discover for yourself why this colorful town was so beloved by artists. Back aboard ship, an interesting lecture about D-Day, one of the most somber dates in history, shares insights on the immortalized sites you will see tomorrow.,
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09/20/2025 |
09/20/2025 |
Paris/Normandy (Le Havre)
Paris/Normandy (Le Havre) 09/21/2025
For more than 70 years, the D-Day beaches along the Côte de Nacre have stood as poignant reminders of the historic Allied operation of June 6, 1944, when a massive armada of troops, with more than 5,000 ships and 13,000 aircraft, converged on the heavily fortified coastline to fight Nazi Germany. The wartime code names for the beaches along this 50-mile stretch still exist — Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, Sword — paying proud tribute to the heroism of the thousands of soldiers who lost their lives here. Our expert local guide shares insights during stops at Omaha Beach, bordered at each end by large rocky cliffs, and the American Cemetery, located on a bluff overlooking Omaha Beach, the eternal resting place for some 9,300 American World War II soldiers. Return to the riverboat to continue your cruise; enjoy evening cocktails before dining onboard as you wish.,
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09/21/2025 |
09/21/2025 |
D-Day Beaches
D-Day Beaches 09/21/2025
For more than 70 years, the D-Day beaches along the Côte de Nacre have stood as poignant reminders of the historic Allied operation of June 6, 1944, when a massive armada of troops, with more than 5,000 ships and 13,000 aircraft, converged on the heavily fortified coastline to fight Nazi Germany. The wartime code names for the beaches along this 50-mile stretch still exist — Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, Sword — paying proud tribute to the heroism of the thousands of soldiers who lost their lives here. Our expert local guide shares insights during stops at Omaha Beach, bordered at each end by large rocky cliffs, and the American Cemetery, located on a bluff overlooking Omaha Beach, the eternal resting place for some 9,300 American World War II soldiers. Return to the riverboat to continue your cruise; enjoy evening cocktails before dining onboard as you wish.,
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09/21/2025 |
09/21/2025 |
Caudebec-en-Caux
Caudebec-en-Caux 09/22/2025
After a morning walking tour of Caudebec and lunch aboard the riverboat, drive along country roads past churches and châteaux in various states of repair to visit Jumièges Abbey, once one of the great Benedictine abbeys of France. First built in 654, this wealthy limestone abbey grew to house 700 monks and 1,500 lay brothers in its first 50 years. Destruction came in waves when it was attacked by Viking raiders between 841 and 940, rebuilt in the 11th century, then razed again in a succession of French wars. Today it reigns unrivaled in a park-like setting that evokes memories of its former grandeur, giving measure to what Victor Hugo called "the most beautiful ruin in France". Tonight, you'll have the opportunity to experience "the good life" in Normandy when you enjoy a gala evening including a private reception, dinner, and music at the picturesque Château du Taillis.,
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09/22/2025 |
09/22/2025 |
Jumièges
Jumièges 09/22/2025
After a morning walking tour of Caudebec and lunch aboard the riverboat, drive along country roads past churches and châteaux in various states of repair to visit Jumièges Abbey, once one of the great Benedictine abbeys of France. First built in 654, this wealthy limestone abbey grew to house 700 monks and 1,500 lay brothers in its first 50 years. Destruction came in waves when it was attacked by Viking raiders between 841 and 940, rebuilt in the 11th century, then razed again in a succession of French wars. Today it reigns unrivaled in a park-like setting that evokes memories of its former grandeur, giving measure to what Victor Hugo called "the most beautiful ruin in France". Tonight, you'll have the opportunity to experience "the good life" in Normandy when you enjoy a gala evening including a private reception, dinner, and music at the picturesque Château du Taillis.,
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09/22/2025 |
09/22/2025 |
Chateau du Taillis
Chateau du Taillis 09/22/2025
After a morning walking tour of Caudebec and lunch aboard the riverboat, drive along country roads past churches and châteaux in various states of repair to visit Jumièges Abbey, once one of the great Benedictine abbeys of France. First built in 654, this wealthy limestone abbey grew to house 700 monks and 1,500 lay brothers in its first 50 years. Destruction came in waves when it was attacked by Viking raiders between 841 and 940, rebuilt in the 11th century, then razed again in a succession of French wars. Today it reigns unrivaled in a park-like setting that evokes memories of its former grandeur, giving measure to what Victor Hugo called "the most beautiful ruin in France". Tonight, you'll have the opportunity to experience "the good life" in Normandy when you enjoy a gala evening including a private reception, dinner, and music at the picturesque Château du Taillis.,
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09/22/2025 |
09/22/2025 |
Les Andelys
Les Andelys 09/23/2025
Château Gaillard is the crowning centerpiece of Les Andelys. Built in 1197 by the King of England, Richard the Lionheart, during a power play with the reigning King of France Phillip II, Château Gaillard was lauded as the strongest castle of its time. What remains today evokes images of how this medieval castle looked and operated at its height of power, with the riverside views affording you the same vantage point coveted by its royal inhabitants. Pommes, apples in English, play an important part in the history of Normandy, with apple orchards taking root in Roman times. While the first cider was said to have been distilled in 1553, before that the Norman apple was used in poultices, ointments, and cosmetics (hence the term "pommade"). With over two thousand varieties of apples, Normandy is naturally proud of its cider and of its Calvados — apple brandy, for which this region is also famous. Visit a local farm for a taste of both en route back to your riverboat. Cruise to Vernon for a late afternoon arrival.,
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09/23/2025 |
09/23/2025 |
Vernon (Giverny)
Vernon (Giverny) 09/23/2025
Château Gaillard is the crowning centerpiece of Les Andelys. Built in 1197 by the King of England, Richard the Lionheart, during a power play with the reigning King of France Phillip II, Château Gaillard was lauded as the strongest castle of its time. What remains today evokes images of how this medieval castle looked and operated at its height of power, with the riverside views affording you the same vantage point coveted by its royal inhabitants. Pommes, apples in English, play an important part in the history of Normandy, with apple orchards taking root in Roman times. While the first cider was said to have been distilled in 1553, before that the Norman apple was used in poultices, ointments, and cosmetics (hence the term "pommade"). With over two thousand varieties of apples, Normandy is naturally proud of its cider and of its Calvados — apple brandy, for which this region is also famous. Visit a local farm for a taste of both en route back to your riverboat. Cruise to Vernon for a late afternoon arrival.,
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09/23/2025 |
09/23/2025 |
Vernon (Giverny)
Vernon (Giverny) 09/24/2025
Giverny invites discovery today on a Tauck Exclusive early-opening visit that shows you painter Claude Monet's home as he lived it and painted it. His pink stucco house gives the impression that his family of 10 still lives there; its rooms showcase his private furnishings and his collection of Japanese prints adorn walls throughout. Outside, you'll find easels displaying works-in progress in his garden studios, including replicas of the immense water lily paintings that hang in Paris at the Musée de l'Orangerie, and the gardens that inspired them. You will have time to walk pathways bordered with nasturtiums, hollyhocks, hybrid lilies, or snapdragons, depending on the season's blooms, and go through the tunnel that leads to the Water Garden and the oft-painted Japanese Bridge. Later this morning, you'll have the opportunity to visit the Impressionism Museum followed by lunch aboard the ship. After an afternoon at leisure, join us tonight for a farewell reception and dinner.,
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09/24/2025 |
09/24/2025 |
Paris
Paris 09/25/2025
Tour ends in Paris. Fly home anytime. A transfer from your riverboat to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, Gare de Lyon Station, Charles de Gaulle Station, and Gare du Nord is available. Allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in.,
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09/25/2025 |
09/25/2025 |
