Family Fun Along The Seine: Paris To Normandy
Our newest European river cruise is designed for families and explores everything francais! Spend seven amazing nights aboard our riverboat ms Sapphire exploring Paris, Monet's gardens, D-Day Beaches, Rouen, Versailles and more.
Explore all things francais along the River Seine on a remarkable family river cruise through northern France... walk through the gardens of Giverny, inspiration for many Claude Monet paintings... time travel along the beaches of Normandy for a deeper understanding of World War II and events that affected generations, past and present... and join us for a special visit to Musee du Louvre where you will have fun on a scavenger hunt that introduces you to world-famous art masterpieces, like the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo. Your cruise begins in Paris with either a guided walking tour or a guided bicycle ride along the Seine, and an art-filled scavenger hunt in Musee du Louvre. In artist Claude Monet's Giverny go inside his house and discover the inspiration for his garden paintings. Hike up to Chateau Gaillard of Richard the Lionheart fame in Les Andelys or take a walk in a village steeped in history and country charm. All generations of your family share poignant memories exploring the beaches of Normandy, touring the American Cemetery and visiting the D-Day Academy where a hands-on visit takes you back to the year 1944 and the D-Day Invasion. In Rouen you'll see historic sites immortalized by Joan of Arc, and take a 3-D tour of the city's Roman period. Your family goes inside Louis XIV's gilded palace Chateau de Versailles to see how the royals lived, then take a walk through the gardens or a bicycle tour including Marie Antoinette's farm.
Explore all things francais along the River Seine on a remarkable family river cruise through northern France... walk through the gardens of Giverny, inspiration for many Claude Monet paintings... time travel along the beaches of Normandy for a deeper understanding of World War II and events that affected generations, past and present... and join us for a special visit to Musee du Louvre where you will have fun on a scavenger hunt that introduces you to world-famous art masterpieces, like the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo. Your cruise begins in Paris with either a guided walking tour or a guided bicycle ride along the Seine, and an art-filled scavenger hunt in Musee du Louvre. In artist Claude Monet's Giverny go inside his house and discover the inspiration for his garden paintings. Hike up to Chateau Gaillard of Richard the Lionheart fame in Les Andelys or take a walk in a village steeped in history and country charm. All generations of your family share poignant memories exploring the beaches of Normandy, touring the American Cemetery and visiting the D-Day Academy where a hands-on visit takes you back to the year 1944 and the D-Day Invasion. In Rouen you'll see historic sites immortalized by Joan of Arc, and take a 3-D tour of the city's Roman period. Your family goes inside Louis XIV's gilded palace Chateau de Versailles to see how the royals lived, then take a walk through the gardens or a bicycle tour including Marie Antoinette's farm.
Traveling Well Includes:
Call (412) 331-2244 for more information or to book today! Mention code 17626580
- Tour Operator
- Tauck Tours
- Offer
- Offer valid through 12/31/2023
- Duration
- 8 Days
| Day | Destination | Description |
| Day 1 | Paris | Arrive Paris and embark ms Sapphire Tour begins: 4:00 PM, ms Sapphire. A transfer is included from Charles de Gaulle International Airport, and Gare du Nord and Gare du Lyon train stations to the ship. Tonight you'll meet your Tauck Director and your fellow family river cruisers at a welcome reception and dinner. Lodging: ms Sapphire Meals: D |
| Day 2 | Paris | A day in Paris The historic city of Paris is at your feet today, literally! Two sightseeing choices today - get an overview of its famous landmark sites on a guided walking tour, viewing the Arc de Triomphe and gargoyled Cathedrale Notre Dame de Paris (no inside visits on this walking tour). Or, if you wish, pedal along the Seine on a guided bicycle ride, passing by the Musee d'Orsay, the Tuileries Garden and the towering Eiffel Tower. And after lunch, you'll visit the world-famous Tower yourself! The rest of the day is free for you and your family to experience Paree as you please. Lodging: ms Sapphire Meals: B, L, D |
| Day 3 | Paris | Louvre scavenger hunt & cruise the River Seine Until King Louis XIV moved his household outside of Paris to the Chateau de Versailles in the 1700s, Musee du Louvre was a royal palace. But now it's an amazing treasure-filled museum - one of the largest and most-visited art museums in the world - and the perfect place for today's guided visit and a fun scavenger hunt. Follow clues to works of art renowned the world over, including Leonardo da Vinci's enigmatic Mona Lisa, whose mysterious smile has captivated imaginations for centuries. Following your morning at Musee du Louvre you'll enjoy some free time in Paris, then embark ms Sapphire mid-afternoon and begin your cruise along the River Seine. Lodging: ms Sapphire Meals: B, L, D |
| Day 4 | Giverny | Monet's Giverny & Les Andelys Traveling in France is a feast for the senses. In Paris you've already seen - and hunted for - some of the most famous art in the world at the Musee du Louvre. Today you'll hear a lot about the artist Claude Monet when you visit his pink house and painted gardens in Giverny. Dock in Les Andelys this afternoon for a choice of sightseeing - hike up to Chateau Gaillard and listen to stories about Richard the Lionheart, King of England, who built the fortified castle; or take a guided walking tour of the village of Les Andelys. Dinner is back onboard your riverboat as we head for Caudebec for a full day at Normandy's historic D-Day beaches. Lodging: ms Sapphire Meals: B, L, D |
| Day 5 | Normandy | WWII and Normandy You'll feel history all around you today as you learn about the heroes of Normandy's Allied Invasion of June 6, 1944 during up close exploration of D-Day beaches. Visit D-Day sites including Pont du Hoc and Omaha Beach, plus a poignant stop at the hallowed American Cemetery. Following lunch, the afternoon is spent exploring one of Europe's most unique museums, the D-Day Academy; here you'll have a hands-on opportunity to learn first-hand about World War II. You'll actually touch World War II artifacts, from weapons to wireless radios; put on a workable wireless headset as you climb aboard a Willys jeep or Dodge Command car for a ride between the apple trees; and sample rations that the troops ate while serving here. Drive to Caudebec late afternoon and return to the riverboat to set sail for Rouen. Lodging: ms Sapphire Meals: B, L, D |
| Day 6 | Rouen | Time traveling in Rouen Wake up in Rouen, the museum city of a hundred spires, this morning and walk off your riverboat right into the heart of history. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Rouen grew up along the Seine and was an important city for the Romans, Vikings and Normans as far back as the 3rd century! It became the capital of Normandy in the 10th century and many buildings remain from its heyday in the Middle Ages. William the Conqueror used to hold court here. Richard the Lionheart left his heart here and Joan of Arc was burned at the stake here. Explore the sites today on a guided tour that takes you to Rouen's Notre Dame Cathedral - painted by Claude Monet more than 30 times - Joan of Arc Square and the church where she died - you'll also embark on a photo scavenger hunt. Lodging: ms Sapphire Meals: B, L, D |
| Day 7 | Versailles | Chateau de Versailles... visit or guided bicycle ride Travel today to Louis XIV's ornate palace, the Chateau de Versailles, where you'll have a choice of a guided visit inside the palace or a guided bicycle ride. If you choose the palace visit, be sure to take a walk in the garden - it is just as impressive as the palace, covering 1,976 acres with some 200,000 trees, 50 fountains and 210,000+ flowers. And if you choose to explore by bicycle, you'll also visit Marie Antoinette's farm, created in the style of a miniature Norman village. Bid a fond au revoir to the River Seine at a farewell reception and dinner onboard ship tonight. Lodging: ms Sapphire Meals: B, L, D |
| Day 8 | Paris | Journey home Tour Ends: Paris. Disembark this morning in Paris. Transfers are included from the riverboat to Charles de Gaulle International Airport, and Gare du Nord and Gare du Lyon train stations; allow a minimum of three hours for your flight check-in. Lodging: Meals: B |
- Dates/Pricing
- Disclaimer
- * All prices are per person in U.S. dollars, based on double occupancy.
Itinerary Changes - Although not expected, Tauck reserves the right to alter the sequence of ports or omit or substitute scheduled ports or attractions at any time without prior notice.
