A Portrait Of Majestic France on River Royale

Day One

Paris

Arrive at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, where you will be transferred to the ship.

Day Two

Vernon (Giverny), Les Andelys

FEATURED EXCURSIONS: Choice of Monet’s Giverny OR exclusive guided “Go Active” bike ride to Giverny and hike to Château Gaillard

Monet often painted the little riverside town of Vernon, your port of call, so you are likely to recognize scenes the master rendered in oils on your way to his home in Giverny. You have a choice as to how you wish to journey to his home where he lived and worked for more than 40 years—via a short bus ride or by bike. Once there, you’ll discover how Monet immortalized his home and gardens in his paintings. Later, cruise along the peaceful Seine to Les Andelys, where you may wish to hike up to Château Gaillard, Richard the Lionheart’s 12th-century stronghold, offering inspiring views of the Seine. Cap the day off at the festive Captain’s Welcome Reception and Gala dinner. Note: Giverny will be closed during the October 29 and November 5 cruise departure dates. Instead of Giverny, guests will visit the gardens of Versailles.

Day Three

Rouen

FEATURED EXCURSIONS: Choice of Rouen gourmet walking discovery tour OR exclusive guided “Go Active” golfing at Rouen’s Mont-Saint-Aignan

Victor Hugo called Rouen the city with a hundred bell towers—and easily the most famous is the one rising above Notre Dame Cathedral, which you’ll visit. You will also see the Renaissance clock tower and the bronze cross marking the site where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake. Your tour includes stops to sample some delicacies of Normandy, including white cider and Camembert. For a more active experience, you have a choice to go golfing at Rouen’s Mont-Saint- Aignan, just minutes from the city. This 18-hole course offers both veterans and beginners the chance to play in a beautiful setting surrounded by woods.

Day Four

Caudebec-en-Caux (Honfleur or Étretat)

FEATURED EXCURSIONS: Choice of Honfleur walking tour OR exclusive guided “Go Active” golfing in Étretat

Travel through bucolic Calvados countryside to Honfleur, an enchanting seaside town. You’ll soon discover why impressionist painters came to paint its inspiring scenery. For those who want to continue their French golf experience, you’ll want to go play at Golf d’Étretat, perched on the clifftops more than 150 ft. above the sea, making playing golf here both a memorable experience and visual feast.

Day Five

Rouen (Normandy Beaches)

FEATURED EXCURSIONS: Choice of Utah and Omaha beaches, Sainte-Mère-Église OR Juno Beach or Bayeux, and Arromanches and the American Cemetery

Normandy has been the setting for many battles over the centuries, including the D-Day invasion of WWll. You decide how you wish to experience it. For those wishing to visit the American airborne forces’ landing beaches, you’ll want to go to the historic Utah and Omaha beaches, along with Pointe du Hoc, one of the strategic strong points between the two beaches. You’ll also visit Sainte-Mère-Église, which became the first town in France to be liberated, and its airborne museum. If you prefer to go to the Canadian landing beaches, journey to Juno Beach, where the 3rd Canadian infantry division came ashore; you’ll see the exhibit at the Canadian Center. And for those who wish to see an astonishing millennium-old textile listed on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register, you’ll wish to travel to Bayeux to view the famous 11th-century tapestry depicting the Battle of Hastings. All groups will meet later in the day at the American Cemetery and Memorial honoring US soldiers. While here, you are welcome to participate in a special remembrance ceremony that includes a wreath laying, the American national anthem and a moment of silence.

Day Six

Mantes-la-Jolie (Versailles)

FEATURED EXCURSIONS: Choice of Palace of Versailles OR Château de Malmaison

Dock in Mantes-la-Jolie, gateway to either an excursion to Versailles or Château de Malmaison. Versailles set the standard for opulence, not just in the 17th century but for the succeeding centuries as well. Tour the royal apartments, which still look much as they did when Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette fled in 1789. Marvel at the magnificent Hall of Mirrors and walk through some of the fountain-filled gardens. Château de Malmaison, once home to Napoleon’s first empress, Josephine, is filled with Empire-style furnishings, thanks to the keen eye of young Josephine. Here the empress entertained in elegance and created gardens that were world famous in her day. Cap your royal day off with the festive Captain’s Farewell Reception and Gala Dinner.

Day Seven

Paris

FEATURED EXCURSIONS: Choice of “Heart of Paris” cruise and city tour OR exclusive “Do as the Locals Do” Île de la Cité and Latin Quarter walking tour OR exclusive guided “Go Active” Seine riverbank bike ride

Hemingway called Paris a moveable feast: Once you’ve experienced it, you will take it with you wherever you go. You have three choices for how you wish to experience the city. If you are experiencing Paris for the first time, you may wish to take a cruise along the Seine for an unforgettable look at the heart of Paris from the water and continue on a panoramic tour to see the City of Light’s most famous sights, with a stop at the beautiful Luxembourg Gardens. For those who wish to experience Paris as a true Parisian, join the “Do as the Locals Do” tour. Take the Métro to the Île de la Cité, the historic center of Paris, and the great cathedral of Notre Dame. An expert in the history and architecture of this magnificent cathedral is your guide as you explore both inside and out. After you’ve admired Notre Dame’s stained glass, flying buttresses and idiosyncratic gargoyles, cross the Archbishop’s Bridge to the Left Bank and the Latin Quarter. Wander through the narrow streets where for centuries artists, writers, philosophers and the Sorbonne’s students have lived and worked, argued politics, painted, sipped absinthe and lived the bohemian lifestyle for which the district is famous. And for those who prefer a more active exploration of the city, hop on a bicycle for a guided ride along the Seine.

Day Eight

Paris (disembark), transfer to Bordeaux via TGV high-speed train (embark)

Disembark the ship, transfer to Bordeaux via TGV high-speed train, and embark your next ship.

Day Nine

Cadillac, Bordeaux

FEATURED EXCURSIONS: Cadillac, châteaux and Sauternes vineyards with exclusive artisanal wine-pairing lunch at Château de Cazeneuve

You’re in for a treat as you embark on a fascinating study of Sauternes, the highly prized, golden-hued sweet wine that takes its name from the region. Visit one of the area’s finest estates for a wine tasting, and then be treated to a delectable wine-pairing lunch at Château de Cazeneuve, an 85-acre estate. Here, you’ll gather for a delectable wine-pairing lunch and learn how easy (and fun) it is to pair a sweet wine with a whole new variety of dishes. Extend your celebration into the evening with the Captain’s Welcome Reception and Gala Dinner. Note: Sailing on this stretch of the Garonne depends on the tides. If it is not possible to sail to Cadillac, you will be taken to your destination via motorcoach.

Day Ten

Cruising the Garonne River and Gironde Estuary, Pauillac

FEATURED EXCURSIONS: Choice of Médoc city tour with exclusive wine tasting OR exclusive guided “Go Active” vineyard bike ride with wine tasting

Sail the Garonne River and the Gironde Estuary before heading to Pauillac, gateway to the storied Médoc wine route and the prestigious “châteaux road.” You’ll have a panoramic tour of the heart of the celebrated Haut-Médoc wine-growing region and taste wines at one of its estates. If you wish for a more active exploration of the region, take a guided bicycle ride through Pauillac and the lush landscapes of historic estates that have seemingly remained unchanged for centuries. Do all those beautiful vineyards make you yearn to sample their fruit? Luckily, this adventure includes a stop at Château Lynch-Bages for a wine tasting.

Day Eleven

Blaye, Bourg-sur-Gironde, cruising the Dordogne River, Libourne

FEATURED EXCURSIONS: Scenic drive along the Route de la Corniche Fleurie with Blaye Fortress

Sail across the peaceful waters of the estuary, where fishing huts rise above grassy marshlands edged by limestone cliffs, as you make your way to the town of Blaye. A visual feast awaits you on a storied road named for the many flowers that line it, Route de la Corniche Fleurie, which wends its way through picturesque hamlets filled with old stone houses. Stop in the medieval walled village of Bourg-sur-Gironde, with a rich historic and architectural heritage, before heading back to Blaye, where you’ll be guided through the imposing 17th-century Blaye Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Day Twelve

Libourne (Saint-Émilion)

FEATURED EXCURSIONS: Saint-Émilion walking discovery tour with wine tasting

Hilltop Saint-Émilion offers both exceptional architecture and historic vineyards. The Romans were the first to plant grapes here, and this was the first vineyard region to be protected by UNESCO because of its history. Saint-Émilion is entered by way of one of the seven gates that are part of the original medieval fortifications. Inside the walls, discover steep, narrow cobblestone streets, stores brimming with wine and wine tools, and the extraordinary 12th-century Monolithic Church, carved into a cliff—only the tower is above ground; the rest of the church is subterranean. After touring Saint-Émilion, you’ll visit the cellars of a premier Grand Cru estate where you’ll taste some of the world’s most highly rated wines.

Day Thirteen

Libourne, cruising the Garonne River, Bordeaux

FEATURED EXCURSIONS: Libourne “Village Day” with farmers’ market, and exclusive “Bordeaux under the Stars” tour

How could you visit this rich agricultural land without delving into a farmers’ market? Libourne’s sprawling farmers’ market is a food lover’s paradise, with stands selling fresh produce, cheeses, charcuterie and more. Explore its bounty with a local expert and take a peek inside the workshops of talented local artisans. Cap the day off with the “Bordeaux under the Stars” tour via an open-top bus for a view of this extraordinarily beautiful city illuminated at night.

Day Fourteen

Bordeaux

FEATURED EXCURSIONS: Choice of exclusive “Do as the Locals Do” Bordeaux walking tour OR exclusive guided “Go Active” bike ride through the Bordeaux backstreets

How to spend your last day in Bordeaux? You have two exclusive opportunities to see this magnificent place, whose seamless blend of classical and neoclassical architecture led to its being designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. “Do as the Locals Do” as you stroll the most graceful streets with your local expert, including luxury food halls; local delicacies, such as canelés and chocolates; and popular wine bars. If you prefer a more active experience, join a guide for a bicycle ride through city. Celebrate your last evening onboard with the festive Captain’s Farewell Reception and Gala Dinner.

Day Fifteen

Bordeaux (disembark), transfer to the airport

Disembark the ship and transfer to Bordeaux–Mérignac International Airport for your flight home.