Sailing the Seine: Normandy and Paris

France has always known how to cast a spell. On this unforgettable river journey, you will glide through one of the most storied waterways in the world, watching centuries of history, art, and beauty unfold along its banks. From the chalk cliffs and half-timbered towns of Normandy to the sun-dappled lily pond that sparked a masterpiece, every day brings a new scene worth savoring.

This is more than a cruise. It is a chance to stand where history was made, to wander cobblestone lanes that artists have painted for generations, and to feel the unmistakable pull of northern France settle into your soul. You will visit the solemn shores of D-Day, wander the flower-filled paths of Monet's garden, and raise a glass to new friendships against the glittering backdrop of Paris at night.

By the time you sit down to your farewell dinner at the Moulin Rouge, you will carry something home that no suitcase can hold: the memory of nine days lived fully, in beautiful company, along the river that runs through the heart of France.

DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY

DAY 1 – PARIS: WELCOME ABOARD

Your adventure begins the moment you step aboard the MS Jane Austen, your home on the water for the week ahead. Moored along the Seine in the heart of Paris, your elegantly appointed cabin is ready and waiting, and the crew is on hand to help you settle in and feel at ease. As the afternoon light softens over the river, gather with your fellow travelers for a welcome dinner on board. Over good food and easy conversation, the friendships that will define this trip begin to take shape. Paris shimmers just beyond the windows, and the journey is only just beginning.

Meals: Dinner

Accommodations: MS Jane Austen

Please arrive by 3:00 PM local time to participate in all Day 1 activities.

DAY 2 – LES ANDELYS: CASTLES ON THE CLIFF

There is no better way to wake up in France than to pull back the curtain and find the countryside gliding softly past your window. This morning is yours to relax on board as the Seine carries you deeper into Normandy, through green valleys and quiet farmland that feel a world away from the bustle of Paris. After a leisurely lunch on board, you arrive in Les Andelys, where the dramatic ruins of Chateau Gaillard crown the limestone cliffs above the river. Built by Richard the Lionheart in the 12th century to defend his Norman lands, this fortress still commands the valley with unmistakable authority. The views from above are breathtaking, and the history beneath your feet is thousands of years deep.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations: MS Jane Austen

DAY 3 – ROUEN: GOTHIC GRANDEUR AND JOAN OF ARC

Rouen is one of Europe's great medieval cities, and today it opens itself to you completely. You will stand before the soaring Gothic cathedral that Claude Monet painted more than thirty times, watching how the morning light plays across its ancient stone facade exactly as he once did. Wander the beautifully tangled alleyways lined with antique shops and traditional restaurants, where the timber-framed buildings lean in close and the past feels remarkably present. At the Place du Vieux-Marche, pause to reflect at the site where Joan of Arc was martyred in 1431, a moment both sobering and deeply moving. This afternoon the ship cruises toward the charming town of Caudebec-en-Caux, and this evening a guitarist performs live French music on board as you sail beneath the Norman stars.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodations: MS Jane Austen

DAY 4 – NORMANDY: THE D-DAY BEACHES

Today is one of those days that stays with you long after you return home. You journey through Normandy's green countryside to Bayeux, with free time to explore its magnificent medieval cathedral and charming town center, before traveling to the coast to visit some of the most significant sites of the Second World War. At Pointe du Hoc, you will stand at the very edge of the cliff that Allied Rangers scaled under fire on June 6, 1944, the pockmarked landscape still bearing the scars of battle. The Omaha Beach Memorial honors the nearly 34,000 Allied forces who landed on this stretch of sand to begin the liberation of occupied Europe, and the weight of that sacrifice is felt in every quiet moment you spend there. At Longues-sur-Mer Battery, the massive German coastal artillery pieces still sit in their concrete bunkers, overlooking the Channel in eerie silence. The journey back to the ship passes Pegasus Bridge, with dinner yours to enjoy at your own pace this evening.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations: MS Jane Austen

DAY 5 – HONFLEUR: THE ARTIST'S HARBOR

Often called the most beautiful spot on the northern French coast, Honfleur is the kind of place that makes you reach for a paintbrush even if you have never held one. The old harbor is ringed by pastel-colored townhouses dating from the 16th to 18th centuries, their reflections rippling in the still water below, and local painters set up their easels along the quay just as Eugene Boudin and other Impressionist forerunners did before them. Wander the maze of streets filled with antique shops and artisan food sellers, breathe in the salt air, and let the beauty of this little port do what it has always done to visitors: slow you right down. Lunch today is yours to explore on your own, and Honfleur's seafood is not to be missed. In the afternoon, the ship begins its cruise back upstream, carrying you gently toward the next chapter.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodations: MS Jane Austen

Lunch on your own today in Honfleur.

DAY 6 – GIVERNY AND VERNON: MONET'S MASTERPIECE

Claude Monet called his garden at Giverny his most beautiful masterpiece, and the moment you step through its gates, you will understand why. The famous water garden, with its arched Japanese bridge, weeping willows, bamboo, and the lily pond that inspired one of the most beloved painting series in history, is so strikingly alive that it feels less like a garden and more like a living work of art. After the wonder of Giverny, you explore Vernon's charming medieval quarter before boarding the ship for the final cruise toward Paris. Tonight, the chef pulls out all the stops for the Chef's Dinner, a truly memorable occasion served in the elegant restaurant on board. It is the perfect way to celebrate everything you have shared this week.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Chef's Signature Dinner)

Accommodations: MS Jane Austen

DAY 7 – PARIS: THE CITY ON FOOT

Paris. You have arrived. This morning, join your guide for an active walking tour through the beating heart of the city, moving from the beautiful Place des Vosges past the Hotel de Ville and the newly restored Notre-Dame Cathedral, all the way to the Louvre and the sweeping Jardin des Tuileries. After lunch, the afternoon is entirely your own. Stroll the Champs-Elysees, browse the storied halls of Galeries Lafayette, or slip away to the Musee d'Orsay for an afternoon with the world's greatest Impressionist collection. This evening, settle in on board as an accordion player fills the ship with the famous melodies of France, and the city lights shimmer on the water outside.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations: MS Jane Austen

DAY 8 – PARIS: THE LOUVRE AND THE MOULIN ROUGE

After breakfast, you disembark your beloved riverboat and transfer to your boutique hotel near the Arc de Triomphe, your elegant Parisian base for the final night. This morning, step inside the Louvre Museum, one of the greatest treasure houses on earth, where the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, and thousands of years of human achievement wait around every corner. The afternoon is free for you to explore Paris as you please, whether that means wandering through the Tuileries Gardens, browsing the chic boutiques of the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore, or simply settling into a sidewalk cafe to watch Parisian life unfold at its unhurried pace. This evening, gather your travel companions for a spectacular farewell dinner and show at the legendary Moulin Rouge, where dazzling costumes, world-class dancers, and the iconic can-can send you off in unforgettable style.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner (Moulin Rouge Farewell Dinner)

Accommodations: Hidden Hotel or Equivalent

Please note: The Hidden Hotel or equivalent will be confirmed and updated prior to departure.

DAY 9 – PARIS: AU REVOIR

One last Parisian breakfast, one last look at the city that stole your heart. Your private transfer to Charles de Gaulle Airport departs this morning, carrying you home with a heart full of memories: medieval cathedrals and cliffside castles, the stillness of Monet's lily pond, the gravity of the D-Day beaches, the shimmer of Paris at night, and the warmth of the remarkable women who shared it all with you.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodations: None (Departure Day)