Itinerary
- Day 1
Paris
You'll arrive in Paris and have the whole day to explore on your own schedule. Walk around and take in the Eiffel Tower, stroll along the Seine River, and check out the Champs-Élysées whenever it suits you. There's no fixed plan here, so you can move at your own pace and see what interests you most.
Optional Activities
- Explore the Eiffel Tower area
- Walk along the Seine River
- Stroll the Champs-Élysées
- Discover Paris landmarks independently
Landmarks Eiffel Tower Seine River Champs-Élysées 
- Day 2
Paris
After breakfast, you'll choose between guided options to explore Paris. One option takes you on a coach tour through the city, visiting the Seine, Palais Garnier, the Louvre, and Les Invalides. The other is a walking tour through Montmartre, where you'll wander the historic artist district with its cobblestone streets and see the local vineyard. Pick whichever appeals to you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Paris - Coach tour through City of Light including Seine River, Palais Garnier, Louvre, and Les Invalides
- Secrets of Montmartre - Walking tour of the artist district including cobblestone streets, historic sites, Montmartre Vineyard
Landmarks Palais Garnier Louvre Les Invalides Montmartre Montmartre Vineyard Seine River - Day 3
Paris to Seine River
Start the morning exploring Paris at your own pace, then head to board the Scenic Gem river cruise. After you board, the crew will welcome you as you settle in and begin cruising along the Seine River. This is where your river journey officially begins.
Included Activities
- Transfer to Scenic Gem
- Welcome aboard Scenic Gem cruise ship
Optional Activities
- Explore Paris independently before transfer
Landmarks Seine River - Day 4
Les Andelys
You'll cruise gently along the Seine and arrive in Les Andelys after lunch. This Norman town has well-preserved historic houses worth walking through. In the afternoon, pick what interests you most: a guided tour of Château Gaillard, a local cider farm visit, or the Renaissance Château Gaillon. Most people spend a couple hours exploring before heading back to the ship.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Cruise on the Seine to Les Andelys
Optional Activities
- Hike to Château Gaillard with Medieval-themed walking tour exploring the ruins of King Richard the Lionheart's castle
- Guided tour of Les Andelys with local guide visiting Château Gaillard
- Visit to local cider farm to see production process and taste Normandy cider
- Tour of Renaissance-era Château Gaillon (16th-century château, one of the earliest Renaissance-style châteaux in France)
Landmarks Château Gaillard Château Gaillon Château d'Acquigny - Day 5
Rouen
You'll dock in Rouen, Normandy's capital with over 2,000 years of history behind it. Pick from morning excursions like a city tour of the cathedral district and Medieval alleys, a Viking history tour with a guide in period dress, or a photography walk. Later this evening, attend an interactive WWI lecture about trench warfare and what life was like for soldiers on the Western Front.
- Meals
- Dinner (Evening lecture included with dinner)
Included Activities
- Evening WWI Lecture - 'Day in the life of a Tommy' including interactive experience, equipment handling, weapons demonstration, and period ration tasting
Optional Activities
- Rouen city tour - Guided tour including cathedral district, old marketplace, Saint-Maclou Quarter, Medieval alleys, Joan of Arc history, plus free time
- Guided tour of Rouen with Rollo the Viking - Learn about Viking raiders and Medieval past with authentically dressed guide, includes free time
- Photography discovery - Learn digital portrait techniques with local photographer using Rouen as landscape
Landmarks Rouen Cathedral Saint-Maclou Quarter Joan of Arc Memorial 
- Day 6
Rouen
You have a full day in Rouen with several directions you can take. There's the Monet connection and the cathedral that inspired his famous paintings if art history appeals to you. If military history interests you instead, the Somme Battlefields tour covers the region's significant WWI past. Or you can do a guided tour of medieval Bayeux and its architecture. Each option takes most of the day, so you'll want to pick one.
Optional Activities
- Claude Monet and the Colors of Rouen guided tour exploring Rouen Cathedral and medieval streets with visits to Musée des Beaux-Arts
- Full-day excursion to Somme Battlefields including Newfoundland Memorial Park, Australian National Memorial (Sir John Monash Centre), Franco-Australian Museum, Lochnagar Crater
- Full-day excursion to Somme Battlefields including Thiepval with visits to Australian National Memorial, Franco-Australian Museum, Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Thiepval Memorial, and Lochnagar Crater
- Guided tour of Bayeux including Notre Dame Cathedral of Bayeux with free time to explore the town
Landmarks Rouen Cathedral Musée des Beaux-Arts Australian National Memorial (Sir John Monash Centre) Franco-Australian Museum Newfoundland Memorial Park Lochnagar Crater Caterpillar Valley Cemetery Thiepval Memorial to the Missing Notre Dame Cathedral of Bayeux - Day 7
Honfleur
The ship heads west to Honfleur, a colourful port city on the English Channel that's considered the birthplace of Impressionism. You'll get a guided walking tour of the Inner Harbour, the Church of Sainte-Catherine, and the Garden of Personalities, then have free time to wander the cobbled streets, half-timbered houses, restaurants, and art galleries. That evening, there's an engaging lecture about Operation Fortitude and what daily life was like during the D-Day campaign.
- Meals
- Dinner (Evening dinner with lecture about Operation Fortitude and D-Day)
Included Activities
- Guided walking tour of Honfleur including Inner Harbour, Church of Sainte-Catherine, and Garden of Personalities
- Evening lecture about Operation Fortitude and D-Day campaign daily life in Honfleur
Optional Activities
- Explore Honfleur harbour and cobbled streets independently during free time
Landmarks Honfleur Inner Harbour Church of Sainte-Catherine Garden of Personalities - Day 8
Honfleur
You'll spend the full day in and around Honfleur, which has a lot of WWII history tied to it. Multiple excursions focus on the Normandy Beaches landings from different angles, or you can skip that and do a guided tour of medieval Bayeux instead. The location gives you options depending on what historical period or perspective interests you most.
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Normandy Beaches including Utah Beach, Sainte-Mère-Église, Normandy American Cemetery and Visitor Centre, and Omaha Beach Memorial (US history focused)
- Excursion to Normandy Beaches including Bayeux War Cemetery, Museum of the Battle of Normandy, Landing Museum at Arromanches, British Normandy Memorial, Pegasus Bridge & Museum, and Ranville War Cemetery (UK history focused)
- Excursion to Normandy Beaches including Abbey d'Ardenne, Juno Beach Centre, Bény-sur-Mer Canadian Cemetery, and Pegasus Bridge & Museum (Canadian history focused)
- Guided tour of Bayeux including Notre Dame Cathedral of Bayeux with free time to explore the town
Landmarks Utah Beach Sainte-Mère-Église Normandy American Cemetery and Visitor Centre Omaha Beach Memorial Bayeux War Cemetery Museum of the Battle of Normandy Landing Museum at Arromanches British Normandy Memorial Pegasus Bridge & Museum Ranville War Cemetery Abbey d'Ardenne Juno Beach Centre Bény-sur-Mer Canadian Cemetery Merville Battery Site and Museum Notre Dame Cathedral of Bayeux - Day 9
Honfleur to Caudebec-en-Caux
The ship heads inland early this morning to Caudebec-en-Caux, a riverside town sitting on a bend of the Seine. You've got several activities to choose from: an e-bike tour to Villequier with a stop at the Victor Hugo Museum, a coach trip to the coastal town of Fécamp to see the Bénédictine Palace, a walking tour about French Resistance stories, or an Abbey Road excursion along the Seine. Pick one or two depending on your energy and interests.
Included Activities
- Cruise on the Seine from Honfleur to Caudebec-en-Caux
Optional Activities
- E-bike cycling tour to Villequier with visit to Victor Hugo Museum (flat eight-kilometre route each way along the banks of the River Seine)
- Coach transfer to Fécamp with guided tour of Bénédictine Palace (19th-century architectural masterpiece) and tasting of Bénédictine liquor
- Walking tour - Tales of the French Resistance learning stories of resistance fighters during Nazi Occupation of France during World War II
- Abbey Road guided tour exploring grand abbeys on the banks of the River Seine and Normandy's spiritual and economic history since the Middle Ages
Landmarks Notre Dame Caudebec-en-Caux Villequier Victor Hugo Museum Seine Museum Bénédictine Palace - Day 10
Vernon to La Roche-Guyon
You'll arrive in Vernon, a historic border town with plenty of heritage to discover. In the morning, choose between a guided tour of Monet's House and Garden in nearby Giverny with its Japanese water garden and lily ponds, or a self-guided bike ride there. After exploring, there's an optional painting class available on board. Later this afternoon the ship cruises to La Roche-Guyon for an exclusive evening experience: you'll walk to Château de La Roche-Guyon built into a chalk hillside, tour the manicured gardens, and enjoy drinks and a classical concert.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner with Scenic Enrich experience including classical concert)
Included Activities
- Scenic Enrich experience: Walk to Château de La Roche-Guyon
- Scenic Enrich experience: Tour manicured orchard and vegetable gardens
- Scenic Enrich experience: Admire decorative walls, ceilings and tapestries at Château
- Scenic Enrich experience: Welcome drink and classical concert featuring French composers
Optional Activities
- Monet's House and Garden - Guided tour of Giverny visiting founder of Impressionism's home, Japanese-inspired water garden with lilies, plus free time to explore
- Self-guided cycle from Vernon to Giverny - Bike tour approximately 5km each way, option to visit Monet's House and Garden or explore charming town before returning
- On board painting class - Create a masterpiece inspired by the gardens
Landmarks Monet's House and Garden Giverny Château de La Roche-Guyon - Day 11
Conflans-Saint-Honorine
You'll wake up in Conflans-Saint-Honorine, a Medieval town where the Seine and Oise rivers meet. A castle built by monks in the 9th century to protect relics of Saint Honorine made this a pilgrimage site for over 700 years. Wander the quiet streets, riverside pathways, and historic churches. Pick from morning excursions: visit Auvers-Sur-Oise where Van Gogh painted his final masterpieces including his rented attic room, tour Château de Chantilly (or Versailles if that's closed), visit the Inland Water Transport Museum, or explore Château de Malmaison, Napoleon and Josephine's former home. In the afternoon, you'll cruise back to Paris.
Optional Activities
- Visit to Auvers-Sur-Oise - Travel to village where Van Gogh painted final masterpieces, see landmarks immortalized in his works, visit Notre Dame de l'Assomption church, entry to Van Gogh's rented attic room (empty since 1890), plus free time
- Château de Chantilly - Guided tour of magnificent castle built by Henri d'Orléans with fine art collections, gardens, and free time to explore (Note: Chantilly Castle closed Tuesdays - replaced with Versailles Palace and Garden)
- Musée de la Batellerie (inland water transport museum) - Active tour visiting museum in Conflans, learning about water transport and barge history
- Château de Malmaison - Tour historic residence of Napoleon Bonaparte and Josephine de Beauharnais featuring neoclassical architecture, landscaped gardens, and museum with Napoleonic era furniture, artwork and personal items
Landmarks Conflans-Saint-Honorine Auvers-Sur-Oise Notre Dame de l'Assomption Van Gogh's Room Château de Chantilly Palace of Versailles Musée de la Batellerie Château de Malmaison - Day 12
Paris
Back in Paris, you have the day to explore this iconic city however you like. If it's your first time, hit the bucket-list items like the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame. If you've been before, head to the trendy Marais District or Opera Garnier. Alternatively, take a tour to an elegant château outside the city. The afternoon is free, so you can enjoy café culture on the Champs-Élysées, visit the Eiffel Tower, explore Montmartre and Moulin Rouge, or just relax on board the ship.
Optional Activities
- Trendy Marais with a local Parisian - Guided walking tour of Marais district exploring culture, history, architecture, arts scene and fashion
- Highlights of Paris city tour - Coach tour with local guide seeing Eiffel Tower, Champs-Élysées, Arc de Triomphe, Concorde Square, and Notre Dame Cathedral (reopened after 2019 fire)
- Opera Garnier - Tour ornately decorated rooms, grand staircases, glistening chandeliers, and learn about building commissioned by Emperor Napoleon III
- Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte - Coach to château one hour from Paris, credited as founding French formal garden and inspiration for Versailles with stunning symmetrical gardens
- Eiffel Tower visit
- Explore Champs-Élysées
- Montmartre and Moulin Rouge exploration
Landmarks Eiffel Tower Notre Dame Cathedral Marais District Opera Garnier Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte Champs-Élysées Arc de Triomphe Concorde Square Montmartre Moulin Rouge - Day 13
Paris
Your tour concludes this morning after breakfast. You'll disembark with great memories from your journey through France. From there, you'll transfer to Paris airport or the train station to head out on your next adventure.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Breakfast
- Disembarkation from Scenic Gem
- Transfer to Paris airport or train station
