Itinerary
- Day 1
Paris
You'll arrive in Paris and have the whole day to explore on your own schedule. Walk around and take in the Eiffel Tower, stroll along the Seine River, and check out the Champs-Élysées whenever it suits you. There's no fixed plan here, so you can move at your own pace and see what interests you most.
Optional Activities
- Explore the Eiffel Tower area
- Walk along the Seine River
- Stroll the Champs-Élysées
- Discover Paris landmarks independently
Landmarks/POIs Eiffel Tower Seine River Champs-Élysées - Day 2
Paris
After breakfast, you'll choose between guided options to explore Paris. One option takes you on a coach tour through the city, visiting the Seine, Palais Garnier, the Louvre, and Les Invalides. The other is a walking tour through Montmartre, where you'll wander the historic artist district with its cobblestone streets and see the local vineyard. Pick whichever appeals to you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Paris - Coach tour through City of Light including Seine River, Palais Garnier, Louvre, and Les Invalides
- Secrets of Montmartre - Walking tour of the artist district including cobblestone streets, historic sites, Montmartre Vineyard
Landmarks/POIs Palais Garnier Louvre Les Invalides Montmartre Montmartre Vineyard Seine River - Day 3
Paris to Seine River
Start the morning exploring Paris at your own pace, then head to board the Scenic Gem river cruise. After you board, the crew will welcome you as you settle in and begin cruising along the Seine River. This is where your river journey officially begins.
Included Activities
- Transfer to Scenic Gem
- Welcome aboard Scenic Gem cruise ship
Optional Activities
- Explore Paris independently before transfer
Landmarks/POIs Seine River - Day 4
Les Andelys
The ship cruises gently along the Seine to Les Andelys, a waterside village that's been around for about 900 years. You'll arrive just after lunch and can explore the well-preserved Norman-era houses and buildings. Château Gaillard's impressive ruins overlook the town from above. Choose from several afternoon excursions: hike to the castle, take a town tour, visit a cider farm, or see the Renaissance Château Gaillon.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Cruise along the Seine to Les Andelys
- Explore Les Andelys village
Optional Activities
- Hike to Château Gaillard with 'Richard the Lionheart' - Medieval-themed walking tour
- Tour of Les Andelys with Château Gaillard
- Cider farm visit - See cider production process and taste Normandy cider
- Renaissance-era Château Gaillon - Explore 16th-century château
Landmarks/POIs Château Gaillard Château Gaillon Seine River - Day 5
Rouen
You'll dock in Rouen, Normandy's capital with over 2,000 years of history behind it. Pick from morning excursions like a city tour of the cathedral district and Medieval alleys, a Viking history tour with a guide in period dress, or a photography walk. Later this evening, attend an interactive WWI lecture about trench warfare and what life was like for soldiers on the Western Front.
- Meals
- Dinner (Evening lecture included with dinner)
Included Activities
- Evening WWI Lecture - 'Day in the life of a Tommy' including interactive experience, equipment handling, weapons demonstration, and period ration tasting
Optional Activities
- Rouen city tour - Guided tour including cathedral district, old marketplace, Saint-Maclou Quarter, Medieval alleys, Joan of Arc history, plus free time
- Guided tour of Rouen with Rollo the Viking - Learn about Viking raiders and Medieval past with authentically dressed guide, includes free time
- Photography discovery - Learn digital portrait techniques with local photographer using Rouen as landscape
Landmarks/POIs Rouen Cathedral Saint-Maclou Quarter Joan of Arc Memorial 
- Day 6
Rouen
You have the full day in Rouen to either dive into the region's military history or taste what Normandy has to offer culinarily. Take a gourmet food tour sampling local cheeses, cider, and calvados, or choose full-day battlefield excursions to the Somme, the Australian National Memorial, the Franco-Australian Museum, and either Newfoundland Memorial Park or Thiepval Memorial.
Optional Activities
- Tastes of Normandy - Visit local producers to taste soft cheeses, cider and calvados
- Excursion to the Somme Battlefields including Newfoundland Memorial Park - Full day tour visiting WWI Battle of the Somme sites, Australian National Memorial (Sir John Monash Centre), Franco-Australian Museum, Lochnagar Crater, and Newfoundland Memorial Park with visible shell holes and trenches
- Excursion to the Somme Battlefields Including Thiepval - Full day tour of Somme Battlefields, Australian National Memorial (Sir John Monash Centre), Franco-Australian Museum, Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Thiepval Memorial to the Missing, and Lochnagar Crater
Landmarks/POIs Somme Battlefields Sir John Monash Centre Franco-Australian Museum Lochnagar Crater Newfoundland Memorial Park Caterpillar Valley Cemetery Thiepval Memorial to the Missing - Day 7
Honfleur
The ship heads west to Honfleur, a colourful port city on the English Channel that's considered the birthplace of Impressionism. You'll get a guided walking tour of the Inner Harbour, the Church of Sainte-Catherine, and the Garden of Personalities, then have free time to wander the cobbled streets, half-timbered houses, restaurants, and art galleries. That evening, there's an engaging lecture about Operation Fortitude and what daily life was like during the D-Day campaign.
- Meals
- Dinner (Evening dinner with lecture about Operation Fortitude and D-Day)
Included Activities
- Guided walking tour of Honfleur including Inner Harbour, Church of Sainte-Catherine, and Garden of Personalities
- Evening lecture about Operation Fortitude and D-Day campaign daily life in Honfleur
Optional Activities
- Explore Honfleur harbour and cobbled streets independently during free time
Landmarks/POIs Honfleur Inner Harbour Church of Sainte-Catherine Garden of Personalities - Day 8
Honfleur
You'll have the full day in Honfleur to explore the region's important WWII role. Multiple excursions are available depending on your interests: a US-focused Normandy Beaches tour from Utah Beach to Omaha Beach Memorial, a UK-focused tour of Bayeux and the British Normandy Memorial, a Canadian-focused tour to Juno Beach Centre and the Canadian cemetery, or a Bayeux tour that covers different historical periods including Notre Dame Cathedral.
Optional Activities
- Excursion to the Normandy Beaches including Omaha Beach (US history focused) - Visit Utah Beach, Sainte-Mère-Église, Normandy American Cemetery and Visitor Centre, Omaha Beach Memorial
- Excursion to the Normandy Beaches including British Normandy Memorial (UK history focused) - Visit Bayeux, Bayeux War Cemetery, Museum of the Battle of Normandy, Landing Museum at Arromanches, British Normandy Memorial, Pegasus Bridge & Museum, Ranville War Cemetery
- Excursion to the Normandy Beaches including Juno Beach Centre (Canadian history focused) - Visit Abbey d'Ardenne, Juno Beach Centre, Bény-sur-Mer Canadian Cemetery, Pegasus Bridge & Museum
- Bayeux tour - Guided tour of Bayeux including Notre Dame Cathedral of Bayeux (11th-14th century Norman Romanesque and Gothic architecture) plus free time
Landmarks/POIs Utah Beach Sainte-Mère-Église Normandy American Cemetery Omaha Beach Bayeux Bayeux War Cemetery Museum of the Battle of Normandy Arromanches Landing Museum British Normandy Memorial Pegasus Bridge & Museum Ranville War Cemetery Abbey d'Ardenne Juno Beach Centre Bény-sur-Mer Canadian Cemetery Notre Dame Cathedral of Bayeux - Day 9
Caudebec-en-Caux
Early on, you'll cruise inland to Caudebec-en-Caux, a Medieval town on a curve of the Seine with handsome riverside homes and historic buildings like the ornate 15th-century Notre Dame. Choose from active and cultural options: an e-bike ride to Villequier with a Victor Hugo museum visit, a coach tour to the Bénédictine Palace in Fécamp with liquor tasting, a walking tour focused on French Resistance history, or an Abbey Road exploration of Medieval abbeys.
Optional Activities
- Cycle to Villequier with Victor Hugo Museum - E-bike tour along Seine banks on flat 8km each way route, visit museum dedicated to famous French poet, playwright and novelist
- Fécamp and Bénédictine Palace - Coach transfer to historic seaside town, guided tour of 19th-century Bénédictine Palace (famous for producing Bénédictine liquor with 27 plants and spices), tasting included
- Tales of the French Resistance - Walking tour learning stories of French Resistance fighters during Nazi Occupation with local heroism and daring mission accounts
- Normandy Abbey Road - Guided tour exploring Medieval spiritual heritage with grand abbeys on the banks of the River Seine
Landmarks/POIs Notre Dame Caudebec-en-Caux Villequier Victor Hugo Museum Fécamp Bénédictine Palace Seine River - Day 10
Vernon to La Roche-Guyon
You'll arrive in Vernon, a historic border town with plenty of heritage to discover. In the morning, choose between a guided tour of Monet's House and Garden in nearby Giverny with its Japanese water garden and lily ponds, or a self-guided bike ride there. After exploring, there's an optional painting class available on board. Later this afternoon the ship cruises to La Roche-Guyon for an exclusive evening experience: you'll walk to Château de La Roche-Guyon built into a chalk hillside, tour the manicured gardens, and enjoy drinks and a classical concert.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner with Scenic Enrich experience including classical concert)
Included Activities
- Scenic Enrich experience: Walk to Château de La Roche-Guyon
- Scenic Enrich experience: Tour manicured orchard and vegetable gardens
- Scenic Enrich experience: Admire decorative walls, ceilings and tapestries at Château
- Scenic Enrich experience: Welcome drink and classical concert featuring French composers
Optional Activities
- Monet's House and Garden - Guided tour of Giverny visiting founder of Impressionism's home, Japanese-inspired water garden with lilies, plus free time to explore
- Self-guided cycle from Vernon to Giverny - Bike tour approximately 5km each way, option to visit Monet's House and Garden or explore charming town before returning
- On board painting class - Create a masterpiece inspired by the gardens
Landmarks/POIs Monet's House and Garden Giverny Château de La Roche-Guyon - Day 11
Conflans-Saint-Honorine
You'll wake up in Conflans-Saint-Honorine, a Medieval town where the Seine and Oise rivers meet. A castle built by monks in the 9th century to protect relics of Saint Honorine made this a pilgrimage site for over 700 years. Wander the quiet streets, riverside pathways, and historic churches. Pick from morning excursions: visit Auvers-Sur-Oise where Van Gogh painted his final masterpieces including his rented attic room, tour Château de Chantilly (or Versailles if that's closed), visit the Inland Water Transport Museum, or explore Château de Malmaison, Napoleon and Josephine's former home. In the afternoon, you'll cruise back to Paris.
Optional Activities
- Visit to Auvers-Sur-Oise - Travel to village where Van Gogh painted final masterpieces, see landmarks immortalized in his works, visit Notre Dame de l'Assomption church, entry to Van Gogh's rented attic room (empty since 1890), plus free time
- Château de Chantilly - Guided tour of magnificent castle built by Henri d'Orléans with fine art collections, gardens, and free time to explore (Note: Chantilly Castle closed Tuesdays - replaced with Versailles Palace and Garden)
- Musée de la Batellerie (inland water transport museum) - Active tour visiting museum in Conflans, learning about water transport and barge history
- Château de Malmaison - Tour historic residence of Napoleon Bonaparte and Josephine de Beauharnais featuring neoclassical architecture, landscaped gardens, and museum with Napoleonic era furniture, artwork and personal items
Landmarks/POIs Conflans-Saint-Honorine Auvers-Sur-Oise Notre Dame de l'Assomption Van Gogh's Room Château de Chantilly Palace of Versailles Musée de la Batellerie Château de Malmaison - Day 12
Paris
Back in Paris, you have the day to explore this iconic city however you like. If it's your first time, hit the bucket-list items like the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame. If you've been before, head to the trendy Marais District or Opera Garnier. Alternatively, take a tour to an elegant château outside the city. The afternoon is free, so you can enjoy café culture on the Champs-Élysées, visit the Eiffel Tower, explore Montmartre and Moulin Rouge, or just relax on board the ship.
Optional Activities
- Trendy Marais with a local Parisian - Guided walking tour of Marais district exploring culture, history, architecture, arts scene and fashion
- Highlights of Paris city tour - Coach tour with local guide seeing Eiffel Tower, Champs-Élysées, Arc de Triomphe, Concorde Square, and Notre Dame Cathedral (reopened after 2019 fire)
- Opera Garnier - Tour ornately decorated rooms, grand staircases, glistening chandeliers, and learn about building commissioned by Emperor Napoleon III
- Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte - Coach to château one hour from Paris, credited as founding French formal garden and inspiration for Versailles with stunning symmetrical gardens
- Eiffel Tower visit
- Explore Champs-Élysées
- Montmartre and Moulin Rouge exploration
Landmarks/POIs Eiffel Tower Notre Dame Cathedral Marais District Opera Garnier Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte Champs-Élysées Arc de Triomphe Concorde Square Montmartre Moulin Rouge - Day 13
Paris
Your tour concludes this morning after breakfast. You'll disembark with great memories from your journey through France. From there, you'll transfer to Paris airport or the train station to head out on your next adventure.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Breakfast
- Disembarkation from Scenic Gem
- Transfer to Paris airport or train station
