Compare Paris & Chateau Experience by Great Value Vacations vs Cruise on the Marne Canal from Paris to Epernay (port-to-port cruise) by CroisiEurope

Day 1 Welcome to Paris!

Arrive in Paris and be transferred to your hotel.  Your first night in the City of Light begins. Pick out a cafe to try local pastries in the nearby shopping district, pick up a bottle of French wine, or wander through the streets of Paris, window shopping and preparing for your first full day.

Day 2 Paris

Indulge in a delightful Parisian breakfast, then spend the day sightseeing, using your included 48-hour Tootbus Hop-on//Hop-off Tour, including a Seine River cruise. As a fun introduction to the city, you can see all the highlights of Paris and hop off to explore at any point!

Day 3 Paris

Continue seeing the city using your Hop-on/Hop-off tour pass today! 

Walk through the manicured lawns and magnificent statues that adorn the Jardin du Luxembourg. Then, walk toward the River Seine and over one of the many beautiful bridges.

You can also wander through the Marais which is the best shopping neighborhood in Paris or visit Rue des Martyrs, which is the old market street lined with authentic cheese shops, bakeries and butcher shops. It maintains the balance with high-end chocolatiers, gourmet cafes and upscale boutiques.

Day 4 Paris - Chantilly

Pick up your car and drive to your chateau hotel in Chantilly. A commune in the valley of the Nonette in the northern region of France, it is surrounded by Chantilly Forest which has a very dense network of forest roads that are wonderful for walking. 

You could also visit many of the beautiful historic and architectural sites around the city. With the Foret de Chantilly, a once-royal hunting estate with gorgeous walking and riding trails and the Chateau de Chantilly, a storybook castle open for all to explore, Chantilly projects an almost wistful atmosphere.

Day 5 Chantilly

With so many riding trails, you might want to take a look at the historic Grandes Ecurises, or the Grand Stables which was built between 1719 and 1740 to house 240 horses and over 400 hounds. These stables now house the Musee Viviant du Cheval and showcases riding equipment and artwork.

Or you could take a leisurely stroll through the wondrous gardens of the Chateau de Chantilly. With extensive and exquisite grounds, a stunning castle, and a restaurant in the kitchens that serves local cuisine the old-fashioned way, Chateau de Chantilly has entertainment that could last all day. 

Day 6 Chantilly

Make sure to visit Chantilly's twice-weekly opan-air market, which is excellent for picking up picnic supplies and food. With such lush surroundings, a picnic overlooking a castle is almost a must.

If the days aren't quite right for a picnic, you could also visit local restaurants, many of which serve up local specialties with vintage atmospheres. 

Day 7 Depart Chantilly

Grab one last photo of the stunning castles and grounds, pick up your souvenirs, drop off your car rental and bid farewell as you catch your flight home.

Day 1 PARIS

Passengers are welcome to board our ship at 6:00 p.m. After comfortably settling into your cabins, we'll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail before dinner.

Day 2 PARIS - LAGNY-SUR-MARNE

We'll set out on an excursion through the major sites of the capital: the Place de la République, the main boulevards, the Opera, the Place de la Madeleine, Place Vendôme and the Louvre. Join us on an original walk along the prettiest covered arcades in Paris, allowing you to travel back through time and history around the Palais Royal. We'll return on board and start cruising towards Lagny-sur-Marne.

Day 3 LAGNY-SUR-MARNE - ISLES-LES-MELDEUSES - SAINT-JEAN-LESDEUX- JUMEAUX

This morning will be spent cruising to Isles-les-Meldeuses. This afternoon, join us on a tour of the charming town of Meaux, from the Cathedral to the Bishops' Palace, passing the Gallo-Roman ramparts and the magnificent Bossuet Garden, traditionally believed to be an early work of Le Nôtre. We'll discover and taste the Brie de Meaux cheese, hailed as "the King of Cheeses”. During this visit, the ship continues cruising to Saint-Jean-Les-Deux-Jumeaux where we will return on board.

Day 4 SAINT-JEAN-LES-DEUX-JUMEAUX - CHÂTEAU-THIERRY

This morning will be spent cruising, passing Champigny and Drachy, through the heart of the Seine-et-Marne countryside and its Champagne vines. In the afternoon, we'll arrive in Château-Thierry and set off for an excursion with an educational falconry performance (1). We'll get the chance to discover an art that has been classified as Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. Afterwards, we'll return on board.

Day 5 CHÂTEAU-THIERRY - DORMANS

We'll start sailing towards Dormans. This afternoon, join us on an excursion along the famous Champagne route. We'll start off with a guided tour of the village of Hautvillers. This picturesque village is located in the Montagne de Reims Regional Natural Park and is best explored on foot. We'll continue our visit to a prominent champagne house, with a tasting*.

Day 6 DORMANS - EPERNAY

This morning will be spent sailing towards Epernay. This afternoon, we'll set off by coach for our excursion to Reims, known as the "City of Coronations”. We'll take part in a guided tour of the historic center as well as a guided visit of the cathedral, which receives about one million visitors annually. We'll return on board. Tonight is our gala dinner and evening.

Day 7 EPERNAY - Paris(2)

Enjoy one last buffet breakfast on board before disembarking at 9:00 a.m. Possible transfer by coach to Paris(2). End of our services.