Seine river cruise: from romantic Paris to picturesque Normandy [Part 1/2]

It’s been 20 years now since CroisiEurope has launched its first cruises on the Seine river, meeting with widespread enthusiasm among an ever-growing international clientele. Aboard its three comfortable 4 and 5 anchor-class ships, the MS Renoir, the MS Botticelli, and the MS Seine Princess, lucky passengers get to discover here the cream of the historical, artistic and architectural heritage of France.

Paris, Rouen and Honfleur are the main stopoffs of the dozen cruises (4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 days) we’ve designed here for you, depending on the theme* you’ll choose – along with variables following the verdurous and harmonious meanders of the river.

Paris, always. In daylight as well as at night, the French capital dazzles visitors with its large Haussmanian buildings, the picturesque Montmartre district, the outstanding world famous Avenue des Champs-Elysees, and the unique ‘love is in the air/je ne sais quoi’ vibe one can only feel all along the banks of the Seine...

Architects Le Vau and Mansart and gardener Lenôtre’s masterpiece the Château de Versailles, residence of French Kings Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI, is THE emblematic historic monument of the country. Its incredible size and the record crowds it attracts requires a pre-reservation before departure.

Rouen, the capital city of Normandy region, evokes the memory of King Richard the Lionhearted and Joan of Arc’s execution, who fought against the English army before ultimately being burnt alive at the stake in 1431. Its cathedral, its medieval districts and the iconic Place du Vieux-Marché are subjects of a captivating guided tour.

Starting from Rouen, a very nice excursion on the "Route of Norman abbeys" allows us to seize the beauty of Roman art, these treasures recounting more than ten centuries of history.

Honfleur and the Côte Fleurie white chalk cliffs, Deauville and its gorgeous villas, combine chic and charm on one of the most splendid coastlines of France, if not the world. Some will opt for the excursion to the Landing Beaches to remember this significant date of June 6, 1944.

Seine river cruise: from romantic Paris to picturesque Normandy [Part 2/2]