Join Our State as we explore the alluring city of Paris, the historic and scenic villages along the Seine, and encounter the sacredness, sacrifice, and ultimate victory of Normandy on our seven-night cruise aboard the Amadeus Diamond.
April 16 – 24, 2024
Package Includes:
- Round-trip airfare — Raleigh/Durham International Airport or Charlotte Douglas International Airport
- Seven-night cruise — outside cabin
- 20 meals: seven breakfasts, six lunches, seven dinners
- Regional wines and beer with dinners
- Welcome and farewell dinners
- Onboard entertainment: music and lectures
- Our State host and a tour/cruise manager
- Hotel and ship transfers, baggage handling
Itinerary Highlights:
- Paris city tour
- Monet’s House & Garden
- Historic Normandy tour — WWII D-Day landing beaches, including Omaha
- Arromanches Museum
- Auvers-sur-Oise tour with Château D’Auvers Museum
- Village of Van Gogh
- Étretat Tour — Normandy coast & village
- Conflans-Sainte-Honorine — Le Havre — Les Andelys
Itinerary:
April 16 – Depart USA for overnight flight to Paris
April 17 – Arrive in Paris
Meet your Premier World Discovery Tour Cruise Manager — Transfer to your ship
Board the MS Amadeus Diamond for your seven-night Seine River cruise
The 144-passenger MS Amadeus Diamond has been a highlight of the fleet since 2009, and is the new jewel of the French waterways after its complete renovation in 2019. Both the interior of the ship and the ship’s technology were upgraded. The Diamond travels exclusively along the Seine and allows guests to experience the charm of northern France in an unforgettable way. The extensive Restaurant and the Panorama Bar offer divine views of the passing riverscapes. The 60 staterooms and 12 suites are bright, modern, and provide a wonderful, private space to enjoy your river cruise. The attentive English-speaking onboard service staff will see to your comfort with typical European hospitality. The beauty of river cruising is that the most interesting destinations come to you. This Diamond charter features English-only onboard commentary with inclusive sightseeing excursions balanced with the choice to simply relax onboard during your leisure time or add sightseeing with optional excursions. The ship offers countless choices for your leisure time including a putting green, fitness studio, massage facilities, and quiet spaces to escape with a book.
Welcome drink & welcome dinner on board
Meals: D
Overnight: Amadeus Diamond
April 18 – Conflans
Morning Cruising – Arrive in Conflans
Conflans is only an hour or so from Paris, but things move much slower in this town. Visit the little town of Auvers-sur-Oise, an inspiration to many of the famous Impressionist masters including Cezanne, Pissarro, and Daubigny. The most famous of these artists is Vincent van Gogh, whose final resting place is located here. Visit Auberge Ravoux, where Van Gogh lived in a very simple and small room only lit by sky light. Inspired by the picturesque site with its inhabitants and surroundings, Van Gogh painted close to 80 canvases here.
Our State magazine wine & beer reception
Meals: B, L, S, D
Overnight: Amadeus Diamond
April 19 – Rouen
Enjoy a Rouen Walking Tour including a visit to the magnificent cathedral that inspired Claude Monet, and the modern Church of Joan of Arc with its magnificent 16th-century stained-glass windows. Rouen is known as Museum Town for its many museums, was important in the Roman era and Middle Ages, and features a cobblestoned pedestrian center with medieval half-timbered houses.
Morning – Rouen Walking Tour (Museum Town)
Afternoon – Explore Rouen on your own – Ship departs late afternoon
Meals: B, L, S, D
Overnight: Amadeus Diamond
April 20 – Le Havre
A UNESCO World Heritage Site and important port, Le Havre sits where the Seine River meets the English Channel. The harbor was destroyed in World War II and was rebuilt. Enjoy an Étretat Tour to explore the famous Normandy coastline featuring cliff-top paths for views of steep chalk rocks with impressive needle-like formations, which have inspired many well-known artists. Enjoy some leisure time in the attractive village of Étretat as well.
Morning – Étretat Tour (Walk along the Normandy coastline & scenic village)
Afternoon at Leisure or Optional Excursion to Honfleur
Meals: B, L, S, D
Overnight: Amadeus Diamond
April 21 – Le Havre – Caudebec-en-Caux
Discover Normandy on this full day tour featuring many historic landmarks. See Arromanches, the closest harbor linked with the liberation of Western Europe after D-Day. The staggeringly big concrete blocks remain from the Mulberry artificial harbor of the massive Allied operations. Visit Longues-sur-Mer with its artillery battery and the only German coastal defense battery classified as an historic monument on the D-Day landing beaches. Enjoy lunch in Bayeux and see the famous cathedral and fabulous historic center. Later visit Calvados and experience a brandy tasting at a traditional distillery.
Full Day Tour of Historic Normandy with Lunch (WWII D-Day Landing Beaches) including Omaha Beach and American Cemetery Colleville)
Meals: B, L, S, D
Overnight: Amadeus Diamond
April 22 – Les Andelys
This morning your vessel anchors in the quaint little town of Les Andelys in the shadow of Château Gaillard, the one-time home to Richard the Lionheart. Visit nearby Giverny, home to Impressionist Claude Monet. His gardens and home are the subject of many famous paintings which you will recognize. This afternoon relax on board to the passing Seine scenery and enjoy the ship amenities or join an optional excursion to Château de Malmaison.
Morning – Monet’s House & Garden
Optional Château de Malmaison
Gala Farewell Dinner on board
Meals: B, L, S, D
Overnight: Amadeus Diamond
April 23 – Paris
Paris, the “City of Light” is the world’s most visited capital. Enjoy a Paris City Tour to see the beloved landmarks that line the Seine, including the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre, and the Eiffel Tower. Also see the majestic Arc de Triomphe and ride along the Champs-Élysées. During your leisure afternoon wander the historic banks of the Seine which are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, or maybe join an optional excursion to the Palace of Versailles or Montmarte.
Morning – Paris City Tour
Afternoon at leisure to explore Paris or Montmarte (optional)
Final Dinner on board
Meals: B, L, S, D
Overnight: Amadeus Diamond
April 24 Paris – Flight Home
Transfer to the Paris Airport for your flight home
Meals: B
More Information about the Amadeus Diamond:
All Meals Included On Board
Three meals are served daily in the single seating, exquisite restaurant that features local and international specialties. All dinners are four courses and are served with included regional wines. While dining, you have splendid views of the passing scenic landscapes through large picture windows. Enjoy afternoon and/or late evening snacks in the lounge based on the daily schedule.
Comfortable, Well-appointed Staterooms
After boarding, unpack only once. All staterooms on board offer excellent river views and are bright, modern, and inviting, giving you a space of your own with all the amenities and pleasant touches of an upscale hotel. The Mozart and Strauss Decks feature suites and staterooms with French Balconies. Staterooms on the Haydn Deck have a fixed window. Each stateroom is fully equipped with comfortable and modern furnishings, including flat screen TV, individual heating/air conditioning controls, safe, phone, hair dryer, and a private bathroom with shower.
*Optional Two-Night London Post Cruise Extension
London Optional Extension Includes: Two Nights Hotel Accommodations – London, Eurostar Train from Paris to London, London City Tour, Two Meals (Two Breakfasts), Tour Manager, and Transfers to London Heathrow Airport.
Expenses: $925 per person (double occupancy) +$450 single supplement
Notes: London Extension must be booked at time of deposit. Due to group air policies outbound air could be different than the rest of group for London extension passengers. Based on a 20 passenger minimum.
Day 9/Paris – Eurostar Train – London Sightseeing
Board the Eurostar Train in Paris for the 2.5 hour rail experience to London. Upon arrival enjoy a panoramic London City Tour to see Kensington Palace, the Tower of London, Trafalgar Square, the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, and Buckingham Palace.
Meals: B (onboard ship)
Overnight: London
Day 10/London – Day at Leisure
Enjoy a day of leisure to explore London on your own. Maybe shop at famous Harrods, visit a museum, enjoy the theatre, or take in a meal at a local pub. An optional excursion will be available featuring Windsor Castle.
Meals: B
Overnight: London
Day 11/London – Transfer to Airport – Flights Home
Meals: B
Tour Rates:
Pricing starts at $5,145 per person based on double occupancy. The location of your selected stateroom determines price.
For reservations or more information:
Premiere World Discovery
Melissa Grant
(877) 953-8687, ext. 238 (Pacific Time)
mgrant@premierworlddiscovery.com
Additional Information:
What to expect on an Our State trip:
Traveling with a group of Our State readers is an enriching, enjoyable, and safe way to experience new cultures, people, and places. In addition to the informative narration from the tour director and local guides, an Our State host will be available to assist in making your trip successful.
We usually fly to our destination, then travel by a comfortable motor coach with anywhere from 35 to 50 people who appreciate learning about new regions. Your entire trip will be guided, planned, and arranged for your upmost enjoyment. Many activities are things you can only do because you are traveling with Our State. There is some free time built in for you to explore on your own.
You can also choose not to attend an activity if you prefer something different. Please let your tour director know if you are not coming on a scheduled day.
Many meals are included. Where you have meals on your own, suggestions will be provided.
Most of the motor coaches have restrooms but every effort will be made to make regular rest stops.
One of the best parts of traveling with Our State is that you will meet new people, many of whom you will already have much in common with since most travelers read the magazine. Many guests often develop friendships that go on long after the tour is finished. Our State trips are generally filled with dynamic and friendly people.
Physical requirements:
Our tours are physically active but not meant to be strenuous.
Please be aware you will be on your feet, walking and standing for much of the day, indoors and outdoors, in all weather conditions and terrains. There will also be extended time on the motor coach when we travel from place to place. If there are any mobility issues you will need to have an able-bodied traveling companion to accompany and assist you.
Most days are moderately paced with approximately two to three total miles of walking, possibly including some hills and stairs.
We regret that we’re unable to provide individual assistance to guests with walking difficulties or other personal needs. The responsibility of the Trip Director who accompanies your trip is to ensure that the larger group enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing individual assistance to any one guest. Guests requiring such individualized assistance must be accompanied by an able-bodied companion who can provide it.
If you have additional questions, please call Our State’s Travel Director Amy Wood Pasquini at 336-286-0600, or email apasquini@ourstate.com.
COVID-19 Travel Precautions – Update:
Effective January 1, 2023, Our State highly encourages, but no longer requires COVID-19 vaccinations or boosters for travelers on our domestic tours. This policy goes into effect for international travelers on April 30, 2023. We will keep all participants updated of any changes to these requirements.
