There are an infinite number of ways to experience Paris, but if you’ve also got an interest in World War II history or the Impressionist Painters, then a river cruise between Paris and Normandy is a great way to see this part of France.
All the major river cruise lines have ships on this stretch of the Seine River. Just about all of them are one-week cruises, but they all offer trip add-ons so you can make this into an 11 or 14-day exploration of France.
When we were planning our own Paris to Normandy river cruise, my first thought was “I’m pretty sure on a previous trip to France I drove the length of this river cruise in a couple of hours”. This is the perfect illustration of how little you move on river ships, and how focused they are on shore activities.
It is only 200 kilometers (or 120 miles) between Paris and Le Havre on the Atlantic Coast where the Seine River terminates. To spend a week travelling this stretch of France really allows you to immerse yourself in Normandy.
On this trip, we were aboard Uniworld’s Joie de Vivre. Uniworld is billed as the Boutique Hotels of river cruising, and this is reflected on their ships. Each Uniworld ship is designed and decorated to reflect the region it sails through. Whether on the ship, or ashore, there was no question we were in France.
If you want to see our video blogs of the Uniworld Joie de Vivre, or the ports of call on the Seine River, here’s a link to that playlist on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA1r3eOMaDVEP9ouRrZGrhocmhYp7EUPW
What we like about this trip:
- Paris is easy to get to. There are lots of direct flights from major US gateways to Paris.
- Variety. There is something for everyone on this cruise: The urban experience as well as the art and history of Paris; the French countryside in Normandy; Monet’s Gardens for the art fans; Normandy Beaches for the WW2 history enthusiasts.
- It’s France. There is a reason this is one of the most visited countries in the world.
When to go:
- Paris to Normandy cruises are available from March through December.
- Any month of travel in northern Europe involves trade-offs. We went the first week in April, and enjoyed the fact there are relatively few tourists there at this time of year. However, it was not warm. We were lucky with the weather (it was never below freezing), but sweaters and jackets were definitely required.
- July, August, and the first half of September all have reliably warm weather, but it is also very crowded in Europe.
- October through December have fewer tourists, but the daylight hours are greatly reduced (remember that Paris is north of Montreal (in terms of latitude), so the days are short in November and December).
- Christmas Markets do exist in France, but not to the same degree that we see them in Germany.
Who it appeals to:
- If you’re travelling with others who value different things, this trip is a good compromise. There are three main focus areas for this cruise:
- WW2 History: The Normandy Beaches are tremendously moving to visit. Most river cruises only include one (long) day at the landing beaches, so for the WW2 history enthusiast, it may not be enough. There are five landing beaches, and normally your visit off a river ship will include a visit to ONE of those beaches, as well as the American Cemetery.
- Impressionist Art: Just about all these river cruises include a visit to Monet’s house and gardens.
- Paris urban experience: Most of the river cruises include a night or two in Paris. There are also trip add-ons to add more nights in Paris to truly experience this unique city.
- We typically don’t see families with children on these cruises, but rather those in the 40 -75 age group with an interest in one of the above things.
- Most often a Paris to Normandy cruise is part of a larger experience in France or Western Europe.
Insider tip:
Check to see if your river ship docks right in Paris or at Le Pecq. Our ship was docked at Le Quai de Javel, right next to a Metro Station downtown, so for the two nights we were in Paris, we had a beautiful view of the Eifel Tower and were able to walk right off the ship and into the city. Some river ships dock at Le Pecq, which works just fine if you’re there just for the river cruise, but the location is about 20 kilometres from downtown Paris.
Alternatives:
Maybe you’ve already done this cruise or are looking for a similar option elsewhere. Here are some ideas:
- Mississippi River Cruise. It is difficult to equate European history with American history, but the history of the Mississippi River IS the history of the United States. If you want something closer to home, this is worth investigating.
- French Polynesia. If you’re looking for a French experience, then remember that Tahiti is warmer, and closer (if you live in the Western half of the country).
- Military History at Home. Military History enthusiasts don’t have to go to Europe. We have a 9-day “land-cruise” package from Washington, DC to Philadelphia that includes visits to museums and landmarks of significance from the American Revolution, and the Civil War.
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I look forward to hearing from you.
Sue Bradley
Sue Bradley
