Later this month, my husband Bob and I will be boarding Uniworld’s Joie de Vivre for a one week river cruise, round trip from Paris to Normandy.
We don’t deny that this is a very fun part of our job, but we will be working just the same.
We’re going to try to post daily videos about our journey, and try to give some raw insight into both the cruise line and the itinerary.
With that introduction, I’d like to invite questions from any of you who are considering a Paris to Normandy Cruise and/or those who are contemplating travelling with Uniworld.
When we travel like this, it’s a risk that we look at things from the perspective of industry insiders, rather than how our clients might perceive things.
So we’d appreciate your feedback and questions ahead of time, to make sure we’re noticing the things that are most interesting to YOU, our valued clients.
Here’s a bit of info about the trip:
About Uniworld and the Joie de Vivre
Uniworld bills itself as the only Boutique River Cruise line. Their ships are designed to reflect a high end boutique hotel experience. Each ship is completely different. Uniworld also differentiates on service, with highest staff to guest ratio in the river cruise industry. The Joie de Vivre is one of Uniworld’s newest river ships – launched in 2017 – and holds 128 passengers.
About the Itinerary
When I first learned about river cruising, I was surprised that trips were offered on the Seine River between Paris and Normandy. Not because it’s not a spectacular part of France to explore, but because it’s really not very far between those two places. I remember exploring Europe as a backpacker, and was able to travel between the French Coast and Paris in just a couple of hours.
As it turns out, my memory hadn’t failed me. If you drive between Paris and Normandy it is only 160 kilometers, or just under 100 miles. So if you ever doubted that river cruises are about the destination itself more than the onboard experience, this should illustrate the point.
After we leave Paris, here’s where we’ll go:
- La-Roche-Guyon – Vernon Giverny: This is where Claude Monet is from, and his home and museum are a big attraction here.
- Rouen: This is the Capital of the Province of Normandy. It is also where Joan of Arc met her end, as well as many Allied soldiers in World War II.
- Cauldebec-en-Caux: This is a former commune, now a stop to visit the Abbey and the museum.
- Mantes la-Jolie and Versailles: The 12th Century Notre Dame, and the Palace of Versailles are also visited on this cruise.
Besides Uniworld, most of the other major river cruise lines also do this routing with similar itineraries.
If a Paris to Normandy river cruise AND/OR a Uniworld cruise is on your bucket list, then what information can we dig up for you while we’re there?
We’ll do our best to answer all your questions.
It’s easy to participate! Just leave a comment here: https://web.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/2330472760568558
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I look forward to hearing from you.
Sue Bradley
Sue Bradley
