{"id":29707,"date":"2017-08-28T16:24:58","date_gmt":"2017-08-28T22:24:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/?p=29707"},"modified":"2017-10-24T09:40:03","modified_gmt":"2017-10-24T15:40:03","slug":"2018-price-comparisons-on-the-seine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/2017\/08\/2018-price-comparisons-on-the-seine\/","title":{"rendered":"2018 Price Comparisons On The Seine"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"amalyra-paris\"

AmaLyra arriving back in Paris after cruising the Seine. \u00a9 2017 Ralph Grizzle<\/p><\/div>\n

As\u00a0AmaWaterways’ 144-guest\u00a0AmaLyra made its way back into Paris earlier this month, I stood out on deck to take a beautiful sight. Ahead of me: the iconic Eiffel Tower and in front of it, a replica of the Statue of Liberty (the authentic one in New York was a gift to the United States from the people of France). The morning sky was cool and overcast, streaked with clouds that appeared like a curly white mane blowing in the wind. It felt good to be alive and in Paris on this early morning in the City of Light.<\/p>\n

As we approached the Quai de Grenelle<\/em>, where most Seine river cruisers tie up, I reflected on what had been a beautiful journey on one of France’s most storied rivers. Indeed, a cruise along the Seine is like no other.\u00a0Few river cruises, for example, are bookended by such an icon as the Eiffel Tower. Constructed as the entrance to the 1889 World’s Fair, the Eiffel Tower was illuminated on the evening that\u00a0we sailed from Paris. Like champagne being uncorked, the sparkling monument was the perfect toast to our week ahead.\u00a0As we all stood out on deck snapping photographs, I knew we were off for a week that none of us would soon forget.<\/p>\n

After leaving Paris, I awoke the next morning for AmaLyra\u2019s approach to Vernon. Once docked, I got on a bike and pedaled for just a few miles to reach Giverny.\u00a0 The gardens here were immortalized by the great impressionist artist Claude Monet, who lived here in a gorgeous two-story house overlooking his beloved gardens.\u00a0Monet’s gardens continues to inspire the artist in all who visit this beautiful floral paradise.<\/p>\n

\"eiffel

Eiffel Tower at night as we departed Paris. \u00a9 Chris Stanley<\/p><\/div>\n

Following the garden visit,\u00a0AmaWaterways had arranged a special event for us at Chateau Bizy, a former Royal Residence where we stepped inside for a taste of Normandy, learning about local cheeses, apple cakes and the\u00a0potent apple cider that is so well known in this region.<\/p>\n

\"apple

Apple cider, a staple of Normandy, both the potent and non-potent versions. \u00a9\u00a0Chris Stanley<\/p><\/div>\n

Our next stop was\u00a0Caudebec-en-Caux, situated 27 miles downriver from Rouen, and the stopping point for river cruise vessels that do not have the maritime authority to proceed to Honfleur.<\/p>\n

From\u00a0Caudebec-en-Caux, which derives its name from the\u00a0old Danish kaldr bekkr, <\/i>meaning\u00a0<\/i>cold stream, (remember, the Vikings – or Norseman – settled much of Normandy), cruise companies run a variety of excursions over a couple of days.\u00a0AmaLyra overnighted in\u00a0Caudebec-en-Caux, with excursions running over two days.<\/p>\n

I opted for the complimentary excursion to Honfleur, with its picturesque narrow houses encircling a colorful harbor. Honfleur is one of Normandy’s most beautiful towns. The harborside cafes were inviting and I wanted sit down to enjoy fresh seafood but I settled for a crepe topped with Nutella instead.<\/p>\n

\"Honfleur\"

Honfleur. \u00a9\u00a0Chris Stanley<\/p><\/div>\n

On the day that I visited Honfleur, others took the excursion to\u00a0F\u00e9camp.\u00a0 It was in F\u00e9camp\u00a0that, according to medieval legend, the trunk of a fig tree carrying the blood of Christ washed ashore, causing a fountain of blood to gush from the site.\u00a0F\u00e9camp became a pilgrimage site and home to the\u00a0Benedictine Palace, where guests sampled a special liqueur made from herbs and spices.<\/p>\n

The weather was stunning the next morning when we departed AmaLyra, still docked in\u00a0Caudebec-en-Caux, for full-day tours. Some visited the\u00a0D-Day Landing Beaches, where the Allied invasions of Normandy took place on June 6, 1944.\u00a0Thousands of courageous soldiers came ashore to begin the liberation of German-occupied France during World War II.<\/p>\n

\"D-Day

Landing Beaches. \u00a9\u00a0Chris Stanley<\/p><\/div>\n

Having been to the Landing Beaches, I opted to tour\u00a0Pays d’Auge<\/i>,\u00a0an area in Normandy straddling the departements<\/i> of Calvados and Orne, a region known for its beautiful countryside and quaint villages.\u00a0With more than 800 varieties of apples (yes, that\u2019s 8 zero zero), the countryside of Normandy sprouts with apple orchards and bucolic farms. The drive alone was pleasant enough. I enjoyed walking around charming villages with their Sunday markets and visiting Chateau du Breuil, where I learned about the distillation of Calvados, an apple brandy.<\/p>\n

Rouen was next, with its impressive cathedral and the sad square where the martyr Joan of Arc was burned at the stake. The city was lovely with its half-timbered houses and on a pedestrian street, a clock tower on one end and the Rouen Cathedral at the other end.<\/p>\n

\"AmaLyra

AmaLyra docked in Rouen. \u00a9 Ralph Grizzle<\/p><\/div>\n

AmaWaterways offered guided bike tours and hikes in Rouen. The morning hike took us up the hill of\u00a0Sainte Catherine for panorama of the city. In the afternoon, I joined a Gourmet Tour, where I learned how chocolate was made in a local shop. The tour continue to an off-the-beaten-tourist-trak restaurant\u00a0where I sampled other treats from Normandy .<\/p>\n

One last stop before proceeding to Paris. The transit upriver to Les Andelys was gorgeous, with sheer white cliffs lining the north side of the river, and the jewel that is Les Andelys ahead. Rainfall by the buckets, however, made touring a wet affair, despite the umbrellas. Still, it was worth the walk to visit the ruins of\u00a0Chateau Gaillard, perched high on a hill overlooking the Seine valley. The medieval castle was built by\u00a0Richard the Lionheart, King of England, and was said to have been his favorite residence. I could certainly see why.<\/p>\n

Back in Paris the next day,\u00a0AmaLyra offered a couple of tours.\u00a0The Covered Passages Excursion <\/b>visited the\u00a0areas around today\u2019s\u00a0Grands Boulevards. The many glass-roofed shopping galleries were created in the 19th<\/sup> century. Their purpose was to allow shoppers to take a shortcut or get shelter from the rain, with the chance to shop or dine.<\/p>\n

The District Marais Excursion allowed guests to feel medieval Paris. The area of Le Marais, with more pre-revolutionary buildings than any other area in Paris, is now a fashionable district with small shops, cafes and restaurants.<\/p>\n

Cruising roundtrip Paris along the beautiful Seine river is for those who appreciate the age of Impressionism, which lives on in Monet’s Gardens. The Seine is for those compelled to honor the soldiers who died on the sandy beaches that are today filled with tourists.<\/p>\n

The Normandy region is renown for its beauty, its palatable flavors, its gorgeous countryside and the D-Day Landing Beaches. Bookended by Paris, a cruise along the Seine speaks to the sublime pleasures of exploring a narrow ribbon of river that inspired a handful of French Impressionists and that continues to inspire Francophiles today.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Men at work in Rouen: Chris Stanley, left; Ralph Grizzle, right.<\/p><\/div>\n

2018 Cost Of Cruising The Seine<\/h3>\n

My list is by no means comprehensive, but it covers the major operators for English-speakers.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
<\/th>AmaWaterways<\/th>Avalon Waterways<\/th>CroisiEurope<\/th>Scenic<\/th>Tauck<\/th>Uniworld<\/th>Viking River Cruises<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Ship<\/td>AmaLyra<\/td>Tapestry II<\/td>Seine Princess<\/td>Gem<\/td>Sapphire<\/td>S.S. Joie De Vivre<\/td>Rinda<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Rate<\/td>$4,648<\/td>$4,498<\/td>$2,896<\/td>$8,290<\/td>$7,940<\/td>$6,199<\/td>$3,849<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sailing Date<\/td>June 28, 2018<\/td>June 23, 2018<\/td>June 27, 2018<\/td>June 27, 2018<\/td>June 20, 2018<\/td>June 24, 2018<\/td>June 27, 2018<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Number of days<\/td>8<\/td>8<\/td>8<\/td>11<\/td>10<\/td>8<\/td>8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cabin Category<\/td>Category A<\/td>Category A, B, P<\/td>Main Deck Suite<\/td>Balcony Suite P<\/td>Category 5<\/td>Category 1<\/td>Veranda B<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Square Footage<\/td>170<\/td>200<\/td>140<\/td>205<\/td>183<\/td>194<\/td>205<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Balcony<\/td>French<\/td>French<\/td>None<\/td>Step out<\/td>French<\/td>French<\/td>Step out<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Per diem\/per person<\/td>$581<\/td>$562<\/td>$362<\/td>$753<\/td>$790<\/td>$774<\/td>$481<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Port Charges<\/td>$168 ($21 per day) <\/td>$168 ($21 per day) <\/td>Included<\/td>Included<\/td>Included<\/td>Included<\/td>Included<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gratuities (on ship - non-compulsory)<\/td>$136 ($17 per day)<\/td><\/td>$90 ($11.25 per day) <\/td>Included<\/td>Included<\/td>Included<\/td>$127 ($15.87 per day)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gratuities (on shore - non-compulsory)<\/td>$20 ($2.50 per day<\/td>$20 ($2.50 per day<\/td>$20 ($2.50 per day<\/td>Included<\/td>Included<\/td>Included<\/td>$20 ($2.50 per day<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Beverages<\/td>$80 ($10 per day)<\/td>$80 ($10 per day)<\/td>Included<\/td>Included<\/td>Included<\/td>Included<\/td>$80 ($10 per day)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Laundry<\/td>$24 ($3 per day)<\/td>$24 ($3 per day)<\/td>n\/a<\/td>Included*<\/td>$24 ($3 per day)<\/td>Included*<\/td>$24 ($3 per day)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Optional Shore Excursions<\/td>all excursions included<\/td>all excursions included<\/td>all excursions included<\/td>all excursions included<\/td>all excursions included<\/td>all excursions included<\/td>$100 ($12.50 per day)*<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Incentive (links may have expired depending on end date of promotion)<\/td>n\/a<\/td>n\/a<\/td>none<\/td>Economy air for June, July and August 2018 sailings. Book by August 31, 2017. Pay in full by October 31, 2017, to save an additional $500 per couple on 8 to 10 day salings and $1,000 per couple on 11+ day sailings. Source: Scenic<\/td>n\/a<\/td>Economy air included for those who book by September 30, 2017. Pay in full by September 30, 2017 for an additional 10 percent discount. Source: Uniworld<\/td>Economy air from $797 per person for those who book before August 31, 2017 Source: Viking
\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Our Estimated Value of Incentive<\/td>$0<\/td>$0<\/td>$0<\/td>** $1,595 ($199 per day), plus $500 ($62 per day) for paying in full by incentive end date.<\/td>$0<\/td>** $1,595 ($199 per day), plus $620 ($77 per day) for paying in full by incentive end date.\t<\/td>** $797 ($99 per day)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
True Per Diem<\/strong><\/td>$634<\/strong><\/td>$598<\/strong><\/td>$375<\/strong><\/td>$492<\/strong><\/td>$793<\/strong><\/td>$498<\/strong><\/td>$426<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\nComparative summer 2018 pricing for Seine eight-day to 11-day river cruises in similar staterooms across operators on the Seine. I looked for staterooms of equivalent size and features, namely those with French balconies or step-out balconies. CroisiEurope's two ships on the Seine feature only 140-square-foot staterooms with fixed windows that open, which for some travelers, would suffice. Prices were obtained from cruise company websites and may not reflect current incentives. Additional charges were estimated in some cases, such as for laundry and beverages, and obtained from the cruise company websites. * Viking includes at least one shore excursion in each port of call, with optional excursions for a fee. ** To calculate the value of included roundtrip economy air, I used Viking's $1,595 per person published rate from select gateways in North America.<\/span>\n\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As\u00a0AmaWaterways’ 144-guest\u00a0AmaLyra made its way back into Paris earlier this month, I stood out on deck to take a beautiful sight. Ahead of me: the iconic Eiffel Tower and in front of it, a replica of the Statue of Liberty (the authentic one in New York was a gift to the United States from the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29708,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"full-width-content","footnotes":""},"categories":[78,6,570,85,171,22,369,25,24,459,41,368,519,1281,321,367,23,366,750,222,430,191,217,83,81,29,87],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29707"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29707"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29707\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29708"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29707"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29707"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29707"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}