b'ROUEN AN IMPRESSION OF THE SEINE YOUR ITINERARYDay 1 - London and ParisMeeting at London St Pancras, we travel on the Eurostar to Paris. We transfer to our ship, MS Renoir, which is docked just beneath the iconic Eiffel Tower. On Day 2, we enjoy a guided tour of Paris, renowned for its romantic atmosphere, chic boulevards lined with pavement cafs and boutiques, and world-famous sights. This is followed by some free time to lose yourself in the French capital. This evening, we set sail along the Seine, enjoying the illuminated attractions of Paris as we go.Day 3 - Giverny, Chteau de Malmaison or VersaillesWe start the day cruising to Giverny, during which time were treated to an expert talk on board; A Definition of Impressionism. Now PALACE AND PARK VERSAILLES synonymous with Monet, the artist saw the village of Giverny for the first time during a train journey in 1883 and decided that this was the spot he wanted to live and work in. With its instantly recognisable lily ponds, the gardens are the image of how they were when Monet first painted them, almost like stepping into one of his artworks, and the house still has the atmosphere of a creative retreat. Alternatively, you could visit Chteau de Malmaison, a stately home purchased by Napoleons first wife, Josphine de Beauharnais. Napoleon himself visited for a few days before his exile to Saint-Helena and we tour the preserved interiors, including the billiard room, the Salon Dor, the music room, home to a harp once played by Josephine, and Napoleans bedroom. On our 25th September departure, you could stop at the opulent Palace of Versailles. Former seat of the Royal family until the French Revolution, the gardens are equally as impressive as the palace. Featuring a web of manicured lawns, extravagant fountains and dramatic sculptures, much of the gardens are built around a series of lakes and canal waterways that feed MONETS GARDENS the mesmerising fountains in the centre of the park grounds. You also enjoy the awe-inspiring interior of this wonderful building on a guided tour. See the historically important Hall of Mirrors, where the Treaty of Versailles was signed. The grandeur of the palace is matched only by its rich history and importance throughout the ever-changing political climate of historic France. We rejoin the boat, enjoying a traditional French guinguette evening after dinner. Day 4 - Rouen Our destination today is Rouen, the former capital of Normandy, where we enjoy a guided tour that follows in the footsteps of the Impressionists themselves. This medieval city is the proud home of The Museum of Fine Arts and its impressive collection of Impressionist compositions. We make a visit to the gallery as well as taking in Rouen Cathedral, which was depicted in oil paint by Claude Monet. His series of over 30 paintings show the building at all different times of day, exploring the differing effects of chiaroscuro. Following an insightful few hours, we return to D-DAY LANDING BEACH our ship for dinner. Day 5 - The Route des AbbayesWe make our way to Duclair today, sailing through a landscape of steep cliffs and timeless villages, fleeting views of which helped inspire the Impressionist style itself. On arrival in Duclair, we taken an excursion along the Route des Abbayes, exploring the abbeys that line the path of the river by coach. Stretching between Rouen and Mont-Saint-Michel, this historic trail has seen religious orders being built here from the 5th century onwards; at one point, there were up to 120 sites of worship. Later, we continue upriver to Honfleur, where we moor for the night.Day 6 - Honfleur and the WWII landing beaches of D-DayThe charming port town of Honfleur is located on the southern bank of the Seine Estuary, in the Calvados region of France which is famous 84 THE SEINE RIVER'