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Day 1: |
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Day 2: |
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Featured Excursions:
Seine Cruise |
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Arrive at the Charles de
Gaulle Airport in Paris and be greeted by a
representative who will escort you to the ship. In
the evening, take a boat cruise on the River Seine.
(D)
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Day 3: |
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Featured Excursions:
Paris City Tour |
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Optional Tours:
The World Famous Louvre |
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Onboard Highlights:
Captain's Welcome Dinner |
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We begin our Paris city
tour with a drive up the Champs Elysées and past the
Arc de Triomphe. We'll stop at the Eiffel Tower, and
then continue on to Notre Dame Cathedral, Latin
Quarter, Les Invalides, the Louvre courtyard and the
Luxembourg Gardens. (B, L, Captain's Welcome Dinner)
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Day 4: |
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Featured Excursions:
Auvers-sur-Oise Tour |
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Optional Tours:
Versailles |
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Auvers-sur-Oise was a
favorite spot for artists of the Impressionist
Period especially Vincent van Gogh. See many of
his famous canvases come to life. Auberge
Ravoux, the Church of Auvers sur Oise,
and the Wheat fields. (B, L, D)
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Day 5: |
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Featured Excursions:
Walking Tour of Rouen |
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Rouen is best known as
the site where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake
in 1431. In Rouen, you'll view the stunning
Romanesque cathedral painted so vividly by Monet,
the Medieval quarter, the Gros Horlage, and the
Vieux Marche site of Joan of Arc's punishment for
her defiance. (B, L, D)
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Day 6: |
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Featured Excursions:
Full-Day Normandy Beaches |
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Onboard Highlights:
Insightful Lectures |
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You'll spend the day at
the beaches of Normandy, site of the D-Day Invasion
by the Allied forces during World War II. The tour
includes Pegasus Bridge, the American Cemetery at
Colleville, the Landing Museum in Arromanches, the
Allied landing sites at Omaha, Juno and Gold
Beaches. (B, L, D)
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Day 7: |
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Featured Excursions:
Visit to Honfleur |
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Honfleur is a charming
French harbor town favored by artists such as
Courbet and Monet, who painted its fishing boats and
slate-covered houses. This walking tour takes you
from the former smuggler's harbor of Vieux Bassin
through the pedestrian streets, lined with artists
workshops. (B, L, D)
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Day 8: |
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Featured Excursions:
Monet's Giverny |
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Visit Monet's home in
his beloved village of Giverny. The unique light of
the area's Seine River Valley in Normandy kept Monet
in residence for 43 years. You'll explore Monet's
house and stroll the gardens, where you'll see the
familiar Japanese bridge and water lilies that so
inspired this artist's work. (B, L, Captain's
Farewell Dinner)
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Day 9: |
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This is a travel day
where you'll rejoin the ship in Châlon for the
second half of this fabulous Grand France tour. (B,
L, D)
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Day 10: |
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Featured Excursions:
Mâcon Walking Tour |
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Optional Tours:
Half-day trip to Beaune |
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On your guided tour,
you'll learn about the rich history of Mâcon and its
role in the wine trade. You'll see the Hospital of
the Charité, St. Pierre Church, and the Wooden
House, a charming half-timbered Renaissance house.
(B, L, D)
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Day 11: |
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Featured Excursions:
Lyon City Tour |
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We'll start our tour
with a drive to a good vantage point to see the
Basilique Notre Dame de Fourvière, Lyon's hallmark
church. From the bus, we'll view Terreaux Square,
the Fine Art Museum, and the Opera House. During the
afternoon, you'll have free time to explore France's
culinary capital. (B, L, D)
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Day 12: |
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Featured Excursions:
Wine Tasting and Tournon City Tour |
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Since this region is
known for its Côte du Rhône wines, you'll get to
enjoy them at a wine tasting at the Cellar Ferraton.
We'll then cross the beautifully-flowered Marc
Seguin Bridge for a tour of Tournon and its historic
castle. (B, L, D)
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Day 13: |
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Featured Excursions:
Viviers Walking Tour |
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Our tour in charming
Viviers starts in Old Town built around its
Romanesque cathedral, with facade and solitary tower
that still survives today. (B, L, D)
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Day 14: |
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Featured Excursions:
Walking Tour and Papal Palace |
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Optional Tours:
Luberon Villages |
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Your walking tour of
Avignon starts at Clocktower Square, with its cáfes,
shops and namesake clocktower. Next, it's on to
Pope's Palace Square for an inside visit of the
Palais des Papes. After visiting the palace museum,
we'll make our way up to Rocher des Doms, where
Avignon was first settled. (B, L, D)
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Day 15: |
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Featured Excursions:
Arles Walking Tour |
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Optional Tours:
Roman bridge and aqueduct at Pont du Gard
or village Uzes |
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Onboard Highlights:
Captain's Farewell Dinner |
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Our tour of this
friendly Mediterranean town, known for its unique
Provencal light starts with a walk downtown, then on
to the Roman Amphitheater. Our next stop will be St.
Trophime Cathedral, a Romanesque cathedral built in
the 12th century. After this, we'll visit the museum
Espace Van Gogh, and pass by Forum Square and
Constantine's Roman Baths. (B, L, Captain's Farewell
Dinner)
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Day 16: |
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Disembark the ship and
transfer to the airport in Marseille for your flight
home.
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