Romance of the Seine Cruise 2012 

We depart St Pancras International by Eurostar for Paris. We leave the train and transfer by coach to St Mammes, a small town in the upper reaches of the Seine, where our floating hotel-barge, Anacoluthe, is waiting for us. A welcoming glass of Champagne awaits us when we board. From here until the end of the cruise, the pace of your holiday is set by you alone, you may wish to take part in our included group shore excursions, explore independently, or simply relax and admire the views from the sun deck as we meander along the river and savour the superb French cuisine and complimentary wines served on board. This evening we cruise towards Melun in the Seine Valley, where we moor overnight. (D)

This morning we transfer by coach to the nearby Château Vaux le Vicomte, a lavish 17th century Baroque palace with elegant gardens built by Fouquet. The Château was the model for the Palace of Versailles. We return to the ship in time for lunch, and this afternoon we cruise through six locks as we make our way to Paris. This is a great opportunity for you to simply relax on board and watch the world go by. After dinner on board, we enjoy a memorable cruise through the French capital, as it is illuminated at dusk. (B,L,D)

Today a short walk takes us to Sèvres, where we visit the fascinating Sèvres porcelain factory. Our visit allows us to see the production techniques and workshops, as well as examples of its earliest designs. After our visit, we return to Anacoluthe and cruise to Chatou, on the "Ile des Impressionistes", with its elegant mansions and interesting architecture. We moor here overnight opposite the Maison Fournaise, once the meeting place of the Impressionists, now a restaurant featuring a number of their great works - perhaps take the opportunity to see these paintings over a drink. (B,L,D)

We spend this morning cruising towards Conflans St Honorine, situated at the confluence of the Seine and Oise rivers. The town is considered the capital of France's inland waterways - the bank of the Seine is usually lined with barges. Here we enjoy a visit to the Inland Navigation Museum, which features a collection of fascinating art and many interesting artefacts relating to the town and its waterways. The museum is set on a hill overlooking the river, and offers a fantastic view of the valley and nearby port. We return to the Anacoluthe and spend the afternoon cruising to our mooring for the night, Poissy. Following dinner, you could perhaps take the opportunity to go for an after dinner stroll in the riverside park. (B,L,D)

This morning we arrive mid morning in historic Mantes. Today is market day, and our mooring is close by, so this is well worth a visit. Take in the tempting sights and smells of locally produced food and crafts. Following lunch on board we enjoy a walking tour which takes in the magnificent Gothic Notre Dame church, which resembles the great one of the same name in Paris. Its original stained glass windows date back to the 12th century and beautifully reflect the light of the Seine Valley. We moor overnight in Mantes. (B,L,D)

We cruise early this morning to Vernon, the gateway to Normandy, where we leave the ship for an excursion to Giverny, famous for being Claude Monet's home for over forty years. It is easy to see why this delightful location provided such inspiration for the painter as we discover the famous water lily ponds recreated in his famous work of art. Back on board the Anacoluthe we are treated to a cider tasting as we sail to Les Andelys. Tonight we enjoy a farewell gala dinner to mark our final night on board our ship, admiring the views at the foot of chalky white cliffs, overlooked by the imposing Château Gaillard. (B,L,D)

After breakfast we disembark Anacoluthe in Les Andelys and join a coach for the drive to central Paris and the start of our journey home. At Gare du Nord we board the Eurostar service back to London. (B)

E = Eurostar meal, B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
These meals, where shown, are included in the price of your holiday

Itineraries may be subject to change by the cruise operator and may be affected by tidal and general river conditions.