Paris and Normandy River Cruise with Uniworld

Arrive in Paris and – if an arrival transfer is included in your cruise package – meet your Uniworld representative at Charles de Gaulle Airport for a transfer to your city centre hotel. If travelling from the UK by Eurostar, or if transfers are not included, make your own way to the hotel, check in, and enjoy your first taste of the City of Light.

From here, it’s a short stroll to the Arc de Triomphe, where you can climb to the top for far-reaching city views, or wander along the Champs-Élysées, perhaps the world’s most famous avenue. This evening, join your fellow guests for a welcome briefing, then head out for dinner armed with recommendations from your local host. 

Stay: Hotel Napolean or similar

This morning’s guided walk traces Paris’s love affair with the arts. First to the opulent Palais Garnier, a 19th-century opera house famed for its grand staircase, rich gilding, and Chagall-painted ceiling. Stroll along Haussmann’s broad boulevards towards the elegant arches and manicured gardens of Palais-Royal, a former royal residence now framed by galleries and cafes. Continue to La Comédie-Francaise, France’s storied state theatre also known as the ‘House of Molière’, before looping back to your hotel via the National Library and Paris Bourse.

Occasionally, the Palais Garnier will be unavailable and replaced by a visit to the Musee d’Orsay or a walking tour of La Marais district. The afternoon is yours to explore at your own pace. 

Stay: Hotel Napolean or similar

Enjoy another morning at leisure in Paris. You might like to visit one of the city’s world-class galleries, such as the Louvre or Musée d’Orsay, head up the Eiffel Tower, or browse the designer boutiques and cafes of the Champs-Élysées.

This afternoon, you’ll be transferred to the quayside to board S.S. Joie de Vivre, an intimate river cruiser styled as a floating Parisian boutique hotel, with handcrafted furnishings and art-filled salons. Settle into your river-view stateroom or suite before your first dinner in La Restaurante Pigalle, where classic French dishes take their cue from the day’s destination. Then step out on deck to watch Paris slip by as you sail along the storied Seine.  

Today’s visits showcase the natural beauty of northern France. First to La Roche-Guyon, the only village in the Paris region certified among the ‘most beautiful villages in France’. Spend the morning exploring the historic Château de la Roche-Guyon, from its hilltop keep to the elegant 18th-century palace and formal gardens below. Or, weather permitting, join a guided hike through the village and surrounding countryside.

Later, dock in the characterful town of Vernon, often captured on canvas by Claude Monet. Visit Monet’s house and gardens in nearby Giverny by coach or on a guided bike tour, wandering among the famous water lily ponds and colourful gardens that inspired his masterpieces. This evening, enjoy a Captain’s welcome reception and dinner aboard S.S. Joie de Vivre. 

Cruise into Rouen, Normandy’s vibrant capital. One of the oldest cities in France, Rouen has an exceptional heritage, with Cathédrale Notre-Dame, the Aître Saint-Maclou, Gros-Horloge and the Parlement de Normandie among the Gothic and Renaissance architecture in its medieval quarter. Learn how figures such as Claude Monet, Joan of Arc and Gustave Flaubert helped shape the city’s character on a guided walking tour. Alternatively, enjoy a taste of Normandy with a visit to a sustainable family farm to sample camembert paired with apple cider, two regional specialities.

This evening, stroll through Rouen’s lamplit streets before taking your seat for a private concert in the magnificent cathedral, where choral and organ music fills the vast Gothic nave to magical effect. 

Dock in Caudebec-en-Caux, a serene riverside town known for its beauty, heritage, and authentic charm. From here, a scenic drive through rolling Calvados countryside brings you to Honfleur, a beautiful harbour town on the southern banks of the Seine Estuary.

Discover why Honfleur is known as a ‘city of painters’ on a guided walk, beginning at Vieux Bassin, a former smugglers’ harbour whose picture-postcard quays have long inspired artists including Monet. Continue through narrow streets lined with tipsy-looking half-timbered houses, tall, elegant mansions and the boat-shaped wooden church of Sainte-Catherine.

Shuttles back to the ship run throughout the afternoon, so you can stay in Honfleur, perhaps visiting a gallery or museum, stroll around Caudebec-en-Caux, or relax back on board.

After docking back in Rouen, set out for an emotional full-day day visit to the historic Normandy beaches, site of the D-Day landings in June 1944. You’ll have three ways to experience this pivotal moment in history. Choose to focus on the American story, visiting Utah beach, the Airborne Museum, and the American Cemetery, before a private memorial ceremony on Omaha beach. Alternatively, explore the British and Commonwealth involvement at Arromanches, where you can see the remnants of two artificial Mulberry harbours, followed by a private service. Or learn about the Canadian contribution at Juno Beach Centre, combining time in the exhibits with a shoreline walk and a private remembrance of Canadian casualties. You may also opt to spend another day exploring Rouen at your own pace. 

Step back in time to the Golden Age of France with a visit to the extravagant Palace of Versailles. A masterpiece of opulence, this UNESCO World Heritage Site began life as a hunting lodge before being transformed into a grand château, becoming the principal residence of French kings between 1682 and 1789.

Immerse yourselves in the world of the French Court on a guided tour of its dazzling interiors, including the richly decorated Hall of Mirrors, with its glittering chandeliers and gilded detailing. As a Uniworld guest, you’ll enjoy privileged access to the King’s Private Apartments, an intimate suite usually closed to independent visitors, where your guide will share stories of royal ritual and intrigue.

Back on board, toast your adventures at a Captain’s farewell reception and dinner. 

Today, S.S. Joie de Vivre returns to her Paris dock, but there’s still a full day to explore the City of Light with a choice of curated excursions. If this is your first time in Paris, join a guided tour of its most cherished sights, from the Louvre and the glass-roofed Grand Palais to the Luxembourg Gardens and the Champs de Mars, with a classic view of the Eiffel Tower.

Alternatively, discover the bohemian side of Paris on a walking tour of the Latin Quarter. Travel by Métro like a local, then wander the narrow streets around the Sorbonne, where artists, writers, philosophers, and students once gathered in cafes and bookshops, ending with a view of the legendary Notre-Dame. 

After a leisurely morning and a final breakfast, it’s time to disembark. If you’re not quite ready to leave, speak to us about extending your holiday in France.