Compare Paris & Normandy (Wine Themed) by AMA Waterways vs Paris and Versailles by Eskapas
Compare details and see what other travelers are saying.
| Trip |
3.5 | Average
|
5 | Excellent
|
| Duration | 10 days | 5 days |
| Price From | $ 3,959 | $ 1,190 |
| Price Per Day | $ 396 | $ 238 |
| Highlights |
|
|
| Trip Style | River cruise | Group tour |
| Lodging Level | Premium | Standard |
| Physical Level |
|
|
| Travel Themes |
|
|
| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
|
|
| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Internal airfare and ground transport included |
| Activities |
|
|
| Meals Included |
8 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches and 6 Dinners |
|
| Description |
Begin your journey through northern France in Paris, the “City of Light,” where you will embark your cruise. Visit the village of Giverny, where Monet lived for 43 years. Explore Honfleur, a charming French harbor town made famous from artist’s paintings. Stroll through Rouen, the historic capital of Normandy, followed by an unforgettable excursion to the famous Normandy beaches. Visit the charming town of Les Andelys home of the impressive Château Gaillard. Conclude your journey with the Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées and the Louvre in the magical city of Paris. |
A city that simply oozes romance – the original city of love! Paris is the city of a thousand walks and is as close to perfection as is possible for a fabulous city break holiday. Paris’ monument-lined boulevards, museums, nightlife, its romantic Seine river, colorful lives, classical bistros, boutiques and much more. Paris is one of the world’s best places for food and drink. Our selection of 3*** city centered hotels and guided visits of iconic areas such as Versailles Palace, Louvre Museum, Eiffel Tower, Seine Cruise etc. during this full 5 days visited journey will make your trip unforgettable. Paris can be anything you want, but as a romantic city break it is just unmissable. In fact, for business or pleasure, Paris is a city beyond compare. “Once seen, never forgotten” Join our small group tour in Paris |
Day 1: Paris, France – Embarkation
Meals: Dinner
Arrive in Paris and embark on your luxurious ship. Meet your fellow passengers at the Welcome Aboard Wine Toast. The ship cruises overnight.
Day 2: Vernon
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
This morning, enjoy an onboard wine lecture and tasting as you cruise along the Seine to the provincial town of Vernon. You will visit the nearby Chateau de Bizy, once referred to as “the Versailles of Normandy. The chateau features a majestic courtyard, beautiful furnishings and a charming park embellished with fountains, waterfalls, and water jets, all of which evoke the Baroque splendor of the 18th century. Your visit will include a tour of the salons, tasting of Normandy Apple Cider and some delicious Norman cheeses. We moor overnight in Vernon.
Day 3: Vernon-Caudebec
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
After a scenic morning cruise on the Seine, arrive in Caudebec. You will have a choice of two different tours. The first option is to visit the village of Honfleur, located on the southern bank of the Seine across from Le Havre. This historic port, with its picturesque houses with slate-covered facades, was a favorite subject of artists such as Courbet, Boudin and Monet. Honfleur’s 15th-cenutury Sainte-Catherine church, with its detached bell tower, is the largest wooden church in France. Alternatively, you may visit the Fécamp Monastery for a tasting of Bénédictine, an herbal brandy-based liqueur created by the monks in the 16th century. Today, the beverage continues to be made by a private company on the grounds of the abbey. The ship moors in Caudebec overnight.
Day 4: Caudebec– Normandy Beaches
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Today, you will have the choice of three different excursions. “D-Day Remembered” is a full day excursion tracing the events of June 6th 1944. The first excursion is to the US sector. Stops include the village of Arromanches, with free time to visit the museums before visiting St.Laurent-sur-Mer; the US Cemetery at Omaha Beach; and the Ranger monument at Pointe du Hoc before returning to the ship in Rouen. If you prefer, you may tour the British and Canadian sectors where you will visit Arromanches, with free time to visit the museums before visiting the Juno Beach Centre, and an excursion is the Pegasus Monument in Ranville. As an alternative to the “D-Day Remembered” excursions, opt for the “Taste of Normandy” excursion, which includes a tour to a Calvados distillery and a tasting of Normandy’s famous cider and the apple brandy Calvados.
Day 5: Rouen
Enjoy a morning walk through this medieval city and see the imposing Notre Dame Cathedral, painted numerous times by Monet, and the square where Joan of Arc was martyred. This afternoon, enjoy some free time to explore Rouen on your own. Tonight, join your fellow guests on board for a sumptuous Chaîne Des Rôtisseurs Dinner with wine pairing.
Day 6: Rouen - Les Andelys
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Admire the view as you cruise from Rouen towards Les Andelys this morning and enjoy an onboard wine lecture and tasting. Once you’ve arrived in Les Andelys, an afternoon stroll on the riverside offers beautiful views of the Seine Valley, centuries-old half-timbered houses and the ruins of Chateau-Gaillard perched above the town. The once-massive stronghold of Richard the Lionhearted was completed in 1198, and consisted of three different enclosures divided by dry moats. More active guests may wish to hike up the hill to tour the ruins of this historic castle. Your ship departs tonight for Paris. This evening, mingle with your fellow guests on board at the Captain’s Gala Dinner.
Day 7: Paris
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
The morning is yours to enjoy however you wish, perhaps to visit one of Paris’ most spectacular museums – the Musee du Vin. Later this afternoon, you will also enjoy a special Champagne tasting. The ship moors overnight in Paris.
Day 8: Paris – Disembarkation
Meals: Breakfast
After disembarkation this morning, guests with a Paris extension will have a panoramic tour of this historic and beautiful city. Enjoy some free time to explore the city and have lunch on your own, then rejoin the group for a visit to the Wine Museum of Paris. In the museum's dense limestone cellars, you will learn the history of French winemaking techniques and sample wine from the museum's own vineyard in the South of France. After touring the museum, you will transfer to your hotel.
Day 9: Paris
Meals: Breakfast
Today is yours to enjoy as a free day in the “City of Lights,” where a multitude of landmarks, museums, cafes and shops beckon. If you wish, join one of several optional tours that are also available.
Day 10: Depart Paris
Meals: Breakfast
Your river cruise vacation comes to an end as you prepare for your homeward flight.
Day 1: Arrive in Paris, France
Arrival to Paris, “Bienvenue a Paris”, meet and greet and transfer to your city centered hotel in Paris.
Overnight: Paris Meals: N/A
Day 2: Paris Highlights
Spend a day exploring Paris in a very unusual way. This excursion on foot and riverboat will show you the highlights of Paris: visit the Louvre Museum and the Eiffel Tower with our professional guide.
After breakfast, meet with our guide in the center of Paris at 08:15 am. (Arc de Triumph of the Carrousel facing the Louvre pyramid)
He/she will take you straight to the famous Louvre Museum, through this must-see museum and tell you about the main artworks: the Venus of Milo statue representing the goddess Aphrodite, the impressive painting of The Wedding at Cana the Coronation of Napoleon illustrating the emperor’s crowning in the Notre-Dame Cathedral, and Leonardo da Vinci’s famous Mona Lisa which is the most visited work in the Museum.
After your tour of the Louvre Museum which takes about 2.30 hours, your guide will take you to the riverbank, before the Pont du Carrousel, to board a Batobus boat. This short cruise will show you Paris from a different angle. You will see some of the superb bridges over the Seine and Paris monuments along the banks. The boat moors at the Quai de la Bourdonnais at the foot of the Trocadéro, right opposite the Iron Lady
You will have time then for lunch on your own before going up to the Eiffel Tower
Your guide will let you disembark to go to the iconic monument of Paris. He/she will lead you up to the second floor where the secrets of the Eiffel Tower will be revealed. After hearing remarkable commentaries, you can enjoy the beautiful panorama of Paris and see the top Parisian landmarks. Keep on visiting the Tower on the second level and get down to the first one to experience the incredible glass floor.
The services of our professional guide will end on the second level of the Eiffel Tower and you will have free time at leisure (End approx 04:30 pm)
Day 3: Paris – Versailles
After breakfast, randez-vous at 08:15 am.
Departure from the center of Paris to the Palace of Versailles. Make the most of the 45-minute journey by luxury air-conditioned coach and listen to your guide’s introduction to the history of the palace.
The Palace of Versailles covers an area of over 721,000 square feet and has more than 700 rooms.
Follow your guide straight to the front of the line to see the palaces most beautiful rooms: the Kings Grand Apartments, with seven rooms each dedicated to a different god (Apollo, Mars, Mercy, Venus, etc.) and the Queens Grand Apartments, mirroring those of the king, including the Coronation Room and the Queens Bedroom, once occupied by Marie Antoinette, among others. Also, admire the spectacular Hall of Mirrors, a unique room in which guests were received and impressed, designed by the famous architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart. Almost 240 feet-long, it was created to dazzle visitors to the Sun King, Louis XIV; it is lit by 17 windows and some 350 mirrors, and overlooks the palace’s breath-taking gardens, the second part of your visit.</span></div>
Return to Paris at 12:30 pm
After noon free time at leisure
Overnight: Paris Meals: Breakfast</span></div>
Please note:
We strongly advise against high-heeled shoes (parquet flooring in the rooms and cobblestones in the courtyard)
Strollers are not permitted inside the palace
Access to the palace is challenging for those with reduced mobility
Photography without flash is permitted inside the palace
The skip-the-line access is subject to the Versailles Palace procedures: The Vigipirate plan, the security control or an unforeseen crowd can slow down the entrance.
Day 4: Paris
Breakfast and free day at leisure. Overnight: Paris Meals: Breakfast
Optional Tours:
Disneyland® Paris: 1 Day 2 Parks with round trip transport:
1 entrance ticket 1 day / 2 Parks
We begin our day by crossing Paris as far as the Porte de Bercy to join the A4 motorway leading to Disneyland ® Paris. (average journey : 1 hour). Our driver will leave you at the group parking area close to the park entrances. Take advantage of a nice day with your family at Disneyland ® Paris. Both adults and children will enjoy discovering the magic world of Disneyland Paris. You will be able to enter both parks:
Disneyland ® Park: Magic world where you will meet all the Disney characters who live in an endless fairy tale.
Walt Disney Studios ® Park: Go behind the scenes of the movies, cartoons and tv shows.
The group will re-join the coach at the same spot at the end of the day at 7.15 PM
Come back to Paris around 08.00 PM. Departure at 7.00 PM in winter 200€ per person Children Mont Saint-Michel Tour with lunch: (Only Friday – 14 Hour Experience) An exceptional day at Mont-Saint-Michel in the company of a professional guide. Discover the history and the riches of this Wonder of the West; through the enthusiastic commentary of our guide. 250€ per person
Loire Valley Castles: (Only Mondays - 13 Hours) Come and live an exceptional day in the heart of the Loire Valley in France. You will visit the Chateau de Chenonceau and the Chateau de Chambord with our guide, two of the greatest castles of the Loire Valley. This dive into French history will be completed by a visit to the Clos Lucé castle, the emblematic place of the famous Leonardo da Vinci. Take a seat in an air-conditioned vehicle, departure from the center of Paris at 7:15 am! 250€ per person
Normandy D-Day Beaches: (Only Saturdays - 13 Hours) Enjoy a full day excursion from Paris to the D-Day Beaches in Normandy in the company of an official guide, who will bring these historic sites to life. 250€ per person.
Day 5: Paris Departure
After breakfast, free time until your flight time. Transfer to the airport and end of ou services.
Au Revoir!
