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Paris, Normandy & the River Seine

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You are viewing the 2026 itinerary. Select your departure year
20252026
8 days From £2,299 per person
3.3 stars(9 reviews)
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Idyllic villages and historic towns are among the wonders that await in La Belle France on this brand-new river cruise holiday along the Seine

Mobility Rating 2

2026 Tour code: SFR26

About the tour

Eight days of unparalleled luxury aboard the MS Amadeus Diamond begin and end in the romantic City of Light, Paris. Cruise along the River Seine, where history, art and natural beauty converge to create an inspiring experience.

While sailing, discover the peaceful landscapes that inspired some of the world's greatest artists. Wander the picturesque town of Auvers-sur-Oise before cruising into Normandy's characterful cities like Rouen, Le Havre and Honfleur. Of course, no sailing along the Seine would be complete without pausing in Monet's Garden.

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Unforgettable Experiences

Feeling inspired by Auvers-sur-Oise, the painter’s village
Feeling inspired by Auvers-sur-Oise, the painter’s village
Step into this enchanting village for a guided tour that showcases weathered windmills atop rolling hills, the tranquil riverbanks and humble cottages that inspired Vincent van Gogh
Experiencing medieval treasures in Rouen
Experiencing medieval treasures in Rouen
Wander through the historic city of Rouen on a guided tour, visiting the Museum of Fine Arts with its collections from the Renaissance to the present, and Rouen Cathedral, which inspired Claude Monet.
Soaking up the art and history of Honfleur
Soaking up the art and history of Honfleur
Explore the charming streets and picturesque harbour of Honfleur, a port town whose blend of history, artistry and maritime splendours further inspired the brushstrokes of Monet.
Marvelling at the majestic Étretat Cliffs
Marvelling at the majestic Étretat Cliffs
Experience a true natural wonder, where waves crash against towering limestone arches and natural sculptures carved by centuries of erosion, creating a sense of awe.
Relishing the contrasts of Normandy
Relishing the contrasts of Normandy
Immerse yourself in the landmarks of this historic region on a full-day tour, complete with coastal vistas and charming countryside views, and visit the famous Château Gaillard and the peaceful Monet's Garden.
Discovering Paris or the opulent Palace of Versailles
Discovering Paris or the opulent Palace of Versailles
Admire Paris' celebrated monuments, museums and architecture on a guided tour of the French capital city or spend a morning exploring the impressive grounds of the Palace of Versailles.

What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 - To the French capital, where we board our opulent ship

Your holiday begins this afternoon as you arrive at London St Pancras and meet the Tour Manager and travel group. Joining the Eurostar service to Paris, we can enjoy the views as we cross into France.

As we arrive in Paris, a coach takes us to the riverside, where our ship, the MS Amadeus Diamond, await. We are welcomed with a drink, creating the perfect atmosphere for the start of our holiday. You could take your beverage to the sundeck and relax in anticipation of our upcoming Seine cruise or take some time to get acquainted with the ship's facilities.

After settling into our cabins this evening, we enjoy our first dinner together, complete with a drinks package, and begin cruising down the Seine toward Conflans St Honorine.

Includes
  • Dinner
Day 2 - Discovering van Gogh's inspiration in Auvers sur Oise

Waking up in Conflans St Honorine at the confluence of the rivers Oise and Seine, an inspirational excursion awaits this morning. After breakfast on the ship, we make our way to quaint Auvers-sur-Oise, a commune in France renowned for its scenic charm and artistic heritage. Narrow lanes with shuttered homes lead our tour through the tranquil landscapes that Vincent van Gogh's masterpieces have immortalised.

We return to the ship in time for lunch and then have a free afternoon to discover the timeless cottages, rustic windmills and verdant fields of Conflans St Honorine at leisure. These scenes inspired the works of renowned impressionist artists, such as Charles-François Daubigny, Paul Cézanne, Camille Pissarro and, of course, van Gogh, whose final resting place is here. Your explorations will quickly reveal why.

Back onboard later this afternoon, we end our day with dinner and drinks as we begin a gentle overnight cruise to Rouen.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 - A day in Rouen, the jewel of Normandy

Enjoy breakfast while overlooking the riverside scenery this morning as we approach Rouen, the former capital of Normandy. We step ashore here for a guided tour, which follows more of the Impressionists' footsteps.

This medieval city is home to the Museum of Fine Arts and a vast collection of Impressionist compositions. We visit Rouen Cathedral, which was depicted in oil by Claude Monet in a series of more than 30 paintings showing the building at different times of the day. We also experience the modern Church of Joan of Arc, with its magnificent 16th-century stained-glass windows.

Lunch is served on the ship, and you then have a free afternoon to continue exploring Rouen at your own pace. You might like to wander the streets and squares, lined with colourful old buildings, or seek out one of the city's many green spaces. Later this afternoon, we return to the ship for dinner, drinks and an evening cruise along the picturesque Seine Valley towards Le Havre.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 - Honfleur's artistry and the majestic Etretat Cliffs

The harbour of Le Havre is our convenient base for two excursions today. The first is a trip to the charming port town of Honfleur on the southern bank of the Seine Estuary. Honfleur is located on the historic port and marina - the 'Vieux Bassin' - and our tour this morning showcases its beauty, following in the footsteps of the Impressionist artists who took inspiration from the region.

After lunch on the ship, we enjoy a trip to the breathtaking Étretat Cliffs. Carved by centuries of wind and sea erosion, these limestone cliffs stand tall and are adorned with dramatic arches and towering needle-like formations. Their iconic beauty has inspired countless artists, including Claude Monet. While here, we also have time to marvel at panoramic views of the English Channel and the rugged coastline of northern France before returning to the ship this evening. We sit down to a five-course dinner and then enjoy music performances of French ballads from local chanson singers.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 - A step back in time amongst Normandy's legacy and beauty

An early breakfast is served onboard this morning ahead of our day of exploration, which uncovers the history of Normandy on a guided tour. Leaving the ship with a picnic lunch, we wander the narrow cobblestone streets flanked by ancient stone buildings and explore a blend of diverse traditions and historic landmarks. Particular points of interest include a harbour which played a pivotal role in the liberation of western Europe after D-Day, and the city of Arromanches, with its remnants of World War Two Mulberries, offering a poignant glimpse into history.

Instead of exploring, you can choose to unwind onboard as the ship sets sail for Caudebec en Caux. The route is beautiful and provides a chance to soak up the changing scenery.

Those who spend the day exploring Normandy rejoin the ship in Caudebec en Caux in time for dinner and drinks. Tonight, we experience another relaxing overnight cruise to Les Andeleys.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 - The ruins of Château Gaillard and Monet’s Garden

Docking in Les Andeleys as we have breakfast this morning, we enjoy a day of exploration at Château Gaillard. This medieval fortress was built by Richard the Lionheart in the 12th century. Discover its imposing ruins and enjoy panoramic views of the Seine River before we continue to Vernon, where we experience Monet's Garden. This area of nature and artistry is reminiscent of Impressionist canvases, with vivid hues bursting from flower beds and Japanese arched bridges framing ponds adorned with water lilies.

We rejoin the ship in Vernon and sit down to lunch as we begin the final leg of our sailing journey. Relax on the sun deck with a refreshing drink as we drift along the Seine, passing rolling countryside punctuated by quaint villages, rustic farmhouses and delightful river landscapes enroute to Paris. We enjoy dinner together this evening as the journey unfolds.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 - The city of Paris or the stately Palace of Versailles

We wake up in the French capital, our final port of call. You can stay onboard this morning to relax or visit the opulent Palace of Versailles, once home to French monarchs. Marvel at Versailles' grandeur while admiring its intricate architecture, magnificent artworks and ornate Hall of Mirrors, and then stroll through the meticulously landscaped gardens, embellished with fountains and sculptures.

Alternatively, you can join an optional tour of the City of Light, setting your sights on its most iconic landmarks, including the iconic Eiffel Tower. Our explorations also take us along Champs-Élysées - one of the world's most famous streets - and up Montmartre, the highest hill in northern Paris, to a well-preserved village that recalls the charms of centuries past.

Lunch is served onboard the ship, and then this afternoon is at leisure to immerse yourself in Parisian culture one sight, flavour and experience at a time. This evening is our final night aboard the MS Amadeus Diamond.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 - Homeward bound

After breakfast together, we bid farewell to our crew and disembark our ship for the final time in Paris to begin our journey home. A coach transfer takes us to the railway station, where we join the Eurostar service to London.

This Seine cruise has been one of great beauty, endless culture and remarkable locations. Having walked the quaint streets of Auvers-sur-Oise, explored the historic marvels of Rouen, and seen places like Honfleur's picturesque harbour, the Cliffs of Étretat, Château Gaillard's medieval splendour, and Monet's Garden, your holiday draws to a close as the Eurostar arrives in London this afternoon.

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Departure times

Travel timings in your Holiday Confirmation are provisional and are subject to change. We will confirm your travel times in your final itinerary around 10-14 days before your departure. Eurostar or Flight times will be confirmed to you approximately 30-50 days before departure.

Train

Eurostar

Ship

MS Amadeus Diamond

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Reviews

3.3 stars3.3 / 5 · 9 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (2)
  2. 4 stars
    (3)
  3. 3 stars
    (1)
  4. 2 stars
    (2)
  5. 1 star
    (1)

E fergusom

5 stars

Submitted 31/Jul

Enjoyable trip well organised- staff on board and Great Rail employees excellent- Food super and places we visited also- although the number (HUGE) of other tourists at Giverny and Versailles a shock- and sort of spoiled the attraction-

Collected by Trustpilot

B Bell

5 stars

Submitted 22/Jul

Excellent all round. Topclass service at every meal .Also general service on board. Will recommend to our contacts.

from Great Rail Journeys
Hi Mr Bell, Thank you for your review. I am delighted to read that you had such an excellent time on board the Amadeus Diamond and that the staff really went the extra mile for you. It is brilliant to see that you would recommend our Paris, Normandy, and the River Seine cruise! Best wishes, Richard
1 comment

Collected by Trustpilot

Trevor Weeden

4 stars

Submitted 21/Jul

Cabins are a lot smaller than the Great Rail cruise ships on the Rhine.

from Great Rail Journeys
Hi Trevor, Thank you for your review. We do charter a slightly different ship for our cruises down the Seine, the MS Amadeus Diamond and I do appreciate those cabins are slightly smaller than those on board the Amadeus Star. I do hope you enjoyed your holiday with us. Best wishes, Richard
1 comment

Collected by Trustpilot

J Richmond

4 stars

Submitted 17/Jul

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Collected by Trustpilot

John Coles

4 stars

Submitted 16/Jul

Overall, very good holiday. Only spoilt by choice of berthing places. One overnight especially in a derelict industrial area was unacceptable. Food absolutely first class.

from Great Rail Journeys
Hi John, Thank you for your review. I am very pleased to hear that you enjoyed your holiday overall, and that your dining experience lived up to your expectations. However, I understand your frustration at the choice of mooring point on one of the nights, I will relay this feedback to the relevant teams. Best wishes, Richard
1 comment

Collected by Trustpilot

Barrie King

3 stars

Submitted 16/Jul

Some parts were good, but my wife and 8 others got food poisoning so spoilt 3 days of the holiday and we missed 3 excursions. The Crew were very helpful as was the Great Rail staff. Awaiting further contact from GRJ.

from Great Rail Journeys
Hi Barrie, Thank you for your review. I am sorry to read that you suffered from food poisoning during the tour. If you would like to discuss this further, please send an email to XXX@XXX Best wishes, Richard
Hi Richard we filled in the relevant forms before we left the ship and along with the others Lucile was going to post them to the office on her return to UK.
2 comments

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River Cruise Holidays 2026

River Cruise Holidays 2026

Experience the magic of cruising along some of Europe’s most picturesque waterways. Glide serenely along the romantic Rhine, explore the blue Danube or meander through the enchanting Douro Valley. With our river cruises, you’ll drift through beautiful landscapes and historic towns.

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