If you’ve always wanted to see the best of France from the convenience of a river cruise ship, AmaWaterways has just the itinerary for you. Next year, the line is offering and 11-day Paris and Normandy itinerary that combines a seven-day river cruise with a two-night stay in the stunning city of Paris, France.
Departing between March and November of 2013, guests will sail aboard AmaWaterways’ elegant AmaLegro. With a length of 360 feet and the ability to carry just 148 guests, the AmaLegro is a spacious, comfortable ship on which to explore France’s legendary Seine River.
Beginning in Paris, guests are welcomed aboard the AmaLegro with a cocktail reception and dinner before setting sail in the evening for their first port along the Seine: Vernon.
After morning scenic cruising in Vernon, guests aboard the AmaLegro arrive in Giverny, famous for its association with renowned painter Claude Monet, who made his home here between 1883 and his death in 1926. You can still see the lush gardens at his house that inspired so many of his works of art.
Next, it’s off to Rouen for a two-day stay in this remarkable city that serves as a jumping off point for the historic Normandy Beaches, where the battle for victory on D-Day was waged. Guests can take part in a full-day excursion known as D-Day Remembered, which begins at Pegasus Bridge where the first bomber landed on French ground in advance of the sea invasion.
Then, drive the entire Normandy Beach Landing sites of Gold, June and Sword Beaches in the British and Canadian sector. The afternoon includes visits to the US landing sites of Omaha and Utah beaches.
Concluding the tour is a visit to the cemetery at St. Laurent where stark, white crosses were brought to popular culture after being featured in the 1998 film, Saving Private Ryan.
Your second day in Rouen includes the option to participating in two different, though equally fascinating, tours: a journey to nearby Honfleur; or Route des Abbeyes, a tour designed to showcase the many famous abbeys of the Normandy region.
Day calls in Les Andelys and Conflans prelude the return to, and subsequent two-day stay in, Paris. Dubbed the City of Light, there is no shortage of ways to spend your time in this charismatic city. Perhaps a visit to the Louvre is in order, or a trip to Versailles to walk the beautiful grounds and experience firsthand the breathtaking Hall of Mirrors where the Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919.
Along your entire journey, AmaWaterways makes it easy to enjoy the experience. Complimentary beer, wine and soft drinks are included with lunch and dinner, and many local culinary influences can be found on board, allowing guests to savour this region’s legendary contributions to food and wine.
If you value history, culinary excellence and superb natural beauty, AmaWaterways’ Paris and Normandy 2013 itinerary is bound to delight and enthrall.
For more information on AmaWaterways and this exciting itinerary, visit our detailed AmaWaterways Company and fleet overview here on River Cruise Advisor.
