Le Havre

Hailed as the ‘City of Light’, Paris is a spectacle of never-ending attractions. Discover the city’s famous landmarks during a panoramic drive. Pass by the elegant Champs Elysées, the 164-feet-high Arc de Triomphe and Les Invalides. See the beautiful Place de l’Opera and the famous Pont Neuf en route to the Ile de la Cité. Your guide will point out many more fascinating highlights as you tour the world’s most romantic city.

Not only was Notre Dame Cathedral the inspiration for Victor Hugo’s story of the Hunchback of Notre Dame, but it is also one of the city’s most outstanding monuments. The building will be brought to life as your guide shows you the outstanding features of this magnificent Cathedral.

Gaze in wonder at the 990-foot-high Eiffel Tower, France’s most iconic landmark, built by Gustav Eiffel in 1889.

You’ll have some free time close to Notre Dame, to explore independently, grab a bite to eat or head to the shops.

Although it would be impossible to see all of Paris in a day, this tour provides an excellent overview of this chic capital in a limited time.

Take a drive through the heart of the Normandy countryside to the village of Le Breuil en Auge. Here, you’ll find the traditional distillery of Château du Breuil.

Enjoy a guided walking tour of the site, starting with the apple press and the traditional distillery with its bright copper stills. The fermented juice of fine Normandy apples is distilled twice, and then slowly aged in oak casks to produce the wonderful Calvados brandy.

You’ll be invited to a special tasting of famous Normandy products such as Calvados, Pommeau and Cider together with delicious Normandy cheeses: Camembert; Pont Leveque; and Livarot, served with classic French bread.

After the tasty delights of Château du Breuil, you can experience the charm of Honfleur: a tiny, perfectly preserved 13th century fishing village. Enjoy an introduction to the town, featuring cobbled streets lined with typical old timber framed houses. Honfleur is considered the birthplace of the impressionist and romantic art movement, and is brimming with many small shops and galleries displaying the paintings of this beautiful town by its talented artists.

A guided walking tour will help you discover the attractions of enchanting Honfleur. The heart of the village is the Old Dock; a unique little harbour, bordered by tall granite houses with colourful flowers tumbling from window boxes. Stroll through the delightful cobbled streets, lined with craft and souvenir shops, and typical French cafés and restaurants.

Due to its pretty setting, Honfleur has long attracted artists including Boudin, Monet and Sisley and even today artists capture beautiful scenes on canvas, which can be seen in the windows of the local galleries. As you stroll, your guide will point out the main sights and show you the interior of the Church of Sainte-Catherine, made entirely of wood.

Enjoy some free time to browse the shops for that perfect souvenir, explore at your own pace, or simply relax with a ‘café au lait’ and watch the world go by.

The drive from Le Havre to Honfleur takes you through the wonderful Normandy countryside and across the Tancarville Bridge. The return route will cross the new Normandy Bridge.

The Old Quarter is the most picturesque part of the city, and a gentle walk will reveal its ancient winding, cobbled streets and interesting landmarks. Hear fascinating insights into the city’s rich history and see the place where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in 1431. The most magnificent building of all is the Cathedral of Notre Dame, and you can appreciate the beauty of its architecture during a guided visit. Other gems include the Great Clock, the Palace of Justice and the beautifully decorated façade of the Church of St-Maclou.

You’ll have some free time in Rouen to seek out the specialties of Normandy, including the famous Rouen ceramics, in the smart shops around the city. Alternatively, you may like to explore the city’s ‘nooks and crannies’ at your own pace, or relax awhile in a typical French pavement café.

During your drive to Paris, English-speaking guides will distribute city maps and answer any questions you may have. You’ll disembark close to the Place de la Concorde on the Right Bank. The day is then yours to spend on your own, as you please. Perhaps visit the city landmarks, indulge in some retail therapy or simply relax in one of the many cafés.

Rejoin your coach at the predetermined time at Cours de la Reine, close to Place de la Concorde, for the return drive to Le Havre.

Enjoy a scenic drive from Le Havre to the village of Ranville, home to the British Cemetry. A total of 2,154 British soldiers are laid to rest here, following the capture of the village on the morning of D-Day.

Afterwards, you’ll continue to see Pegasus Bridge at Benouville. The original Bridge, built in 1933 was removed from the canal in 1993. It was the first bridge to be liberated in continental France and was stored on waste ground for six years. Today it is exhibited in the park of the ‘Memorial Pegasus’.

Located in the small village of Arromanches-les-bains, is the Museum of the Landing Day. The Museum commemorates the D-Day landings and, during your visit, you’ll see the history unfold. A short film will be shown depicting the monumental exploits and heroic sacrifices of Allied forces in ‘Operation Overlord’.

During your tour, you’ll also see The Battery of Longues, the German artillery battery which attacked the allied ships on the morning of 6th June 1944. Longues is the only coastal battery to have kept its guns, giving an impressive picture of what an Atlantic wall gun placement was really like.

A delicious local-style lunch will be served during your tour.

Giverny is internationally renowned for Claude Monet’s house. The world famous impressionist lived in this house from 1883 until his death in 1926. Between 1886 and 1890, a colony of painters joined him in order to take advantage of the ‘garden art’ form.

The first part of the visit will be to a part of the gardens where the arches of flowers are surrounded by amazing flower beds which provide a palette of varying colours from spring to autumn. Take time to wander through the various parts of the famous gardens which include weeping willows and the famous Japanese bridge. You will also see Wisterias, Azaleas, and the pond which inspired Monet in his work.

Continue inside the pink and green house standing at the top of the gardens. You’ll view the blue salon, bedroom, old studio, the yellow dining room with its delightful painted wooden furniture and the tiled kitchen. Reproductions of Monet’s works and his collection of 18th and 19th century Japanese prints can been seen in the different rooms. You will have free time to look around the gift shop which offers numerous reproductions of the painter’s work and souvenirs.

You’ll then have free time in the picturesque village of Giverny for lunch in the numerous restaurants and cafés.

Afterwards, there will be the opportunity of meeting up with your guide for a walking tour of Giverny village or to enjoy extra free time on your own for exploring and shopping independently before returning to the ship.