The Enchanting 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 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, before we arrive in Sèvres, where we moor overnight. (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. This afternoon we visit the Maison Fournaise, once a meeting place of impressionists with time to discover the Museum. We continue cruising late afternoon to Conflans St Honorine, situated at the confluence of the Seine and Oise rivers, where we moor for the night.  (B,L,D)

Conflans St Honorine is considered the capital of France's inland waterways - the bank of the Seine is usually lined with barges. This morning we take a short walk through the open-air market to visit 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 Anacoluthe and cruise upstream to Auvers sur Oise, which was the inspiration for many artists, and where Vincent van Gogh spent his final few months. This afternoon we explore some of the sites and monuments related to the great artist. (B,L,D)

This morning we continue along the meandering River Oise,  on the way to Pont St Maxence and enjoy a tasting of some typical French wines as we admire the beautiful scenery.  We pass the charming town of L'Isle-Adam, with its traditional "guinguettes" - the open-air riverside dance halls so beautifully illustrated in Renoir's paintings and the hill-perched village of Saint-Leu, with its Benedictine abbey and cloister. On arrival in Pont St Maxence you will have the opportunity to visit 14th century Royal Abbey of Moncel, within walking distance from our moorings. (B,L,D)

This morning you can relax on board as we cruise to the historic town of Compiègne in picturesque Picardy. After lunch on board we have a guided walking tour of Compiègne, renowned for its historic 16th century town hall and the cloisters of St Corneille Abbey. Its extravagant château,  once a favoured residence of French royalty, is a magnificent example of French classical architecture. In the evening we enjoy a farewell gala dinner to mark our final night on board our ship. (B,L,D)

After breakfast we disembark Anacoluthe in Compiègne 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.