Honfleur to Paris (RSE) - 7 days	For further assistance call 1-800-526-8539
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Program dates: * NOT OFFERED IN 2018 *

Detailed Itinerary:

Day 1: Honfleur (Embarkation Day)

We board between 6:00pm and 7:00pm in Honfleur. After settling into our cabins we have a welcome drink in the lounge, in the company of the Captain and his crew. After dinner on board, the evening is free in Honfleur. We moor for the night.

Day 2: Honfluer - Caudebec-en-Caux

After breakfast on board, the morning is devoted to Honfleur – we have a guided visit of the town with its fishing port, picturesque alleys with old houses, salt lofts and Ste Catherine’s Church (15th to 16th century), which is the largest wooden church in France. We return on board for lunch before our afternoon programme:

Walkers’ Programme: We transfer by coach to Etretat for a walk along the Alabaster Coast where we have exceptional views. We take the GR21 route, where we discover the famous arches and cliffs and admire the emblem of Etretat, the famous Needle, immortalised so many times by artists. The cliffs of this part of the Alabaster Coast are particularly impressive. We return to Honfleur at the end of the afternoon. (Walk of 2 to 2½ hours, 8km (5miles) with a climb of around 250m)

Non-walkers’ Programme: the afternoon is devoted to a discovery tour of the Côte Fleurie (Floral Coast). We visit the fashionable twin resorts of Trouville and Deauville before heading for a distillery to taste the famous Calvados liquor. We return to the boat during the evening.

Dinner is on board this evening. We set sail again according to the tides.

Day 3: Caudebec-en-Caux - Rouen

After breakfast on board, our morning schedule is as follows:

Walkers’ Programme: a natural setting of forests, open country and protected countryside where the Seine coils and meanders, the Regional Nature Park of the Boucles de la Seine is a haven of green between Rouen and le Havre. We set off from Caudebec-en-Caux and take the Calidu route, following the GR 211 which offers us breathtaking panoramic views of Caudebec and the valley of Sainte Gertrude. We return to our cruiser along the banks of the Seine, along a path planted with ancient beech trees. Here we have the opportunity to see the picturesque Chapelle at Barre-y-va, famous for its roof shaped as an upturned boat hull, and which is named after the phenomenon once greatly feared by sailors – the Tidal Bore (originally called Barre). (Walk of 2½ hours, 8.5km (5½ miles) with a climb of around 250m).

Non-walkers’ Programme: we set off by coach for our guided visit to discover the Abbeys Road, beginning with the church at Caudebec en Caux which dates from the 15th century. We continue to Jumièges where we find the ruins of one of the most beautiful abbeys in all of France, and continue to the church of Saint Pierre, which is one of the finest examples of Norman architecture from the 10th century.

We return on board for lunch and set sail again for Rouen. Our journey takes us past many charming typical villages, nestling at the foot of steep cliffs. We arrive around 4.00pm in Rouen.

Walkers’ programme: guided visit of the town.

Dinner on board. We moor for the night in Rouen.

Day 4: Rouen - Vernon

After breakfast on board, the schedule is as follows:

Walkers’ Programme: after breakfast, we transfer by coach to Duclair, our starting point for our walk to Jumièges. The route along forest trails is particularly pleasant at this time of year and allows us to discover an area almost untouched by modern ways: here the River Seine is still crossed by small ferry boats, the little hamlets are all built of beautiful stone and, thanks to the microclimate created by the river, colourful cherry trees, apple trees, pear trees and plum trees blossom everywhere in the countryside in spring. We have a picnic lunch before returning by coach from Jumièges to Rouen. (Walk of 2½ hours, 10km (6 miles) with a climb of around 150m).

Non-walkers’ Programme: in the morning we have a guided visit of Rouen, ancient capital of Normandy. Here we discover the cathedral, the historic part of the town and the Place du Vieux Marché, where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake. We return on board for lunch.

Once back on board, we spend an afternoon cruising gently through the picturesque countryside towards Vernon, passing broad chalk cliffs so typical of the area. Tonight we are treated to a Gala Dinner and an evening of entertainment, on board. We moor for the night in Vernon.

Day 5: Vernon - Paris

We set sail early this morning and have breakfast as we cruise. Our first stop is at Mantes la Jolie, where we begin our guided trip to the Château de Malmaison. Bought in 1799 by Napoleon Bonaparte, this little château so dear to Josephine, became the seat of the Government, along with the Tuileries, from 1800 to 1802. It has been extended and embellished over the years but still retains a unique, seductive charm. We return on board at midday at Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, and have lunch as we sail. Our afternoon is spent cruising gently towards Paris, through ever-changing landscapes that announce our imminent arrival in the Big City. We pass the impressive, concrete and glass buildings of the futuristic quarters of La Défense and enjoy our dinner afloat, as we marvel at the illuminated capital, which looks particularly beautiful from the water. We moor for the night.

Day 6: Paris

After breakfast on board, our programme is as follows. We devote our entire day to visiting Paris, beginning with a half-day guided circuit, where we discover the city’s renowned sights and attractions, such as the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs Elysées. After lunch on board, the rest of the day is free for independent exploration of this fascinating city.

Walkers’ Programme: by taking the GR2 path, we are guaranteed to find all sorts of hidden treasures in this magnificent capital city. We set off from the boat at the Quai de Grenelles: passing by the gardens and the little port at the Bassin de l’Arsenal and crossing Bastille Square. We are sure to be charmed by the maze of alleys of the Marais, the beautiful mansions and town houses and the charming courtyards of the St Paul quarter which contrast with the garishly modern Pompidou Centre. We continue past Les Halles, the Louvre, the Tuileries gardens and others, before our walk leads us finally to the Place de la Concorde. Our return route takes us along the banks of the Seine: past the Alexandre II Bridge, the pedestrian Passerelle des Arts bridge, the barges at Conti Quay, the Île de la Cité and so on. We begin to recognise the Paris so admired and beloved of artists and travellers alike. (Walk of 2½ hours, 8km (5 miles), flat and level walk).

We return on board for dinner to our mooring at the Quai de Grenelles.

Day 7: Paris (Disembarkation Day)

After breakfast on board, we disembark around 9:00am. End of our journey.

Hiking Difficulty: Level 2

Level
The hikes that are proposed during this cruise are little half-day strolls (2 to 3 h walking), implying few changes in altitude (until 250 m). Along the hike, you get the chance to see and discover some natural or cultural areas which are on your cruise’s programme.

The durations stipulated in our programmes are given as a rough guide and do not take the breaks into consideration. No athlete’s training is necessary for these hikes, but you should be in good shape and rested to fully enjoy this cruise.

Backpack
It is essential to bring a backpack (max 30L) in which you can put what is necessary for a hike: sweater, raincoat, picnic, flask of water and solar protection.
It is important, for your comfort and pleasure during the hike, to choose a good backpack. You should take a good-sized and sturdy bag with padded braces and a strong and waterproof fabric. There will be no porterage.

Shoes
First of all, good shoes should not hurt you and should be comfortable. You should try your shoes and use them a little before leaving, it is important that you feel comfortable wearing them.
Without taking into consideration the difficulty of the hike, the sole should always be of a good quality that is to say that they should be well sewed and not slippery on a wet or damaged ground. You should prefer ankle boots with softened soles in order to avoid malleolus, back- and joints traumatisms.

Clothes
The equipment for a hike should necessarily include
• More or less warm underclothes depending on the planned hike
• Light quick-drying trousers
• Warm sweater or fleece jacket
• Cape for the rain or raincoat
• Hat or cap
• Thin gloves and a bonnet for the beginning and the end of the season

Equipment
Do not forget to bring:
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen cream
• Small personal first-aid kit (refer to following paragraph)
• Flask
• Toilet paper
• Folding knife
• Telescopic sticks for those who are used to use them

Pharmacy
Your guide will have a first-aid kit for each hike.
It is yet compulsory to bring a personal first-aid kit, different in according with the destination, which will at least include:
• Plastic strip
• “Twinfaces”
• Analgesic
• If necessary, mosquito lotion
• Eye drops
• Intestinal antiseptic…
… and your personal medicines if you undergo a treatment.

Advisements:

• A valid passport is required for travel.
• Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); responsibility for obtaining visas rests with the traveler.
• Please advise when booking if you wish to join the walking tour -OR- the traditional shore excursion.
• The itinerary of this cruise can be affected by the tide and the timetables of arriving at our stops may have to be modified.
• For reasons of navigation and passenger safety, the cruise operator and the Captain of the ship reserve the right to modify the itinerary of the cruise.