Day 1 — Depart the U.S. for Paris, France

Depart the U.S. on your transatlantic flight to Paris, France.

Day 2 — Paris

Arrive at Charles de Gaulle International Airport and meet your Smithsonian Journeys Travel Director for the transfer to the MS Amadeus Diamond, docked along the River Seine. If you arrive early, transfer to a centrally located hotel in Paris where you can relax, enjoy refreshments, and leave your luggage in a secure area while you explore the city.  Board the ship in the afternoon, and gather for a welcome reception and dinner this evening. (R,D)

Day 3 — Versailles and Conflans-Sainte-Honorine

After breakfast on board, venture to the Palace of Versailles, a World Heritage site and principal residence of French royalty from 1682 until 1789. The palace is one of the finest achievements of art and architecture in the world. A guided visit will take you through the King’s Grand Apartment; the extraordinary Hall of Mirrors, more than 230 feet long with more than 350 mirrors; and the Queen’s Apartments. Time and weather permitting, there will be free time to stroll through the formal French gardens created by André Le Notre for Louis XIV. Return to the ship for lunch.

Join a guide for an afternoon walk through the medieval lanes of Conflans-Sainte-Honorine. Set at the confluence of the Seine and Oise rivers, the charming town has been considered the capital of France’s inland waterways for centuries. Return for dinner and a relaxing evening onboard as you sail for Rouen. (B,L,D)

Day 4 — Rouen

Today’s excursion begins with a tour of Jumièges Abbey, originally built in 654 when Christianity first arrived in the region. Destroyed by Viking invaders and rebuilt in the 11th century, the abbey was described by Victor Hugo as the most beautiful ruins in all of France. Next, explore the cloisters and ruins of the Church of Saint Peter before stopping to see the Abbey of Saint Wandrille, constructed in 649 and still a working Benedictine abbey today.

Return to Rouen for lunch on board followed by a walking tour. Dating back nearly 2000 years, Rouen’s storied past includes centuries of English rule following the Hundred Years’ War, the burning at the stake of Joan of Arc, and Allied bombing during World War II. View the landmark Gros Horloge, the city’s spectacular 14th-century astronomical clock; and visit the magnificent Cathedral of Notre Dame, whose facade was immortalized in Claude Monet’s famous Rouen Cathedral series. Relax on board this afternoon, taking in the scenery as the ship makes its way to the port city of Le Havre. (B,L,D)

Day 5 — Le Havre and the Normandy Coast

Set out for the charming village of Étretat, perched high above the English Channel on Normandy’s northern coast. View the impressive chalk cliffs and needle-like formations that rise from the sea—a popular subject for artists such as Gustav Courbet and Henri Matisse, as well as Monet. Following lunch on the ship, choose from several excursions this afternoon.  Spend time at a family-run cider farm, learning how calvados, pommeau, and pure juice are derived from Normandy’s famous apples, and enjoy a tasting in this picturesque spot. Or head to Le Havre for a guided tour of the stunning Musée Malraux of Modern Art (MUMA) and its renowned Impressionist collection. Alternatively, visit Deauville, a fashionable seaside resort since the 1800s, and stroll along the famous boardwalk, taking in the elegant villas and historic buildings along the beachfront.

All three excursions end with a tour of Honfleur, where the Seine meets the English Channel.  Follow cobblestoned streets past half-timbered houses and see Ste-Cathérine, the largest wooden church in France. During free time this afternoon, soak up the ambiance of this jewel-like harbor town, long an inspiration for artists, poets, and composers.  Return to Le Havre and gather on board for a talk by a local speaker on the history, culture, and people of Normandy. After dinner, enjoy an evening of French Chansons performed by local singers. (B,L,D)

Day 6 — Caen and the D-Day Beaches / Caudebec-en-Caux

Travel to Caen this morning for a visit to the Caen Memorial Museum, the world’s largest World War II museum, and tour evocative exhibitions that explore the causes and consequences of many wars. After lunch at the museum, continue to Arromanches, where the ruins of one of the Allied forces’ Mulberry harbors still lies on the beach. Trace the dramatic events of D-Day at the town’s Landings Museum, and continue to Omaha Beach, where American forces landed in a hail of German fire on June 6, 1944, suffering nearly 10,000 casualties. The Omaha Beach Memorial, a protected historic landmark, stands in silent homage to the fallen. Later, stroll among endless rows of white crosses and stars at the Normandy American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, where 9,386 American soldiers lie buried overlooking the shores where most gave their lives. Return to the ship late in the day and begin the voyage back to Paris. (B,L,D)

Day 7 — Les Andelys / Giverny / Vernon

Go ashore in the lovely town of Les Andelys and journey to Giverny to explore the home and gardens of Claude Monet, where the artist lived and painted for 43 years. On a tour of the house, designed by Monet and little changed since his death, view his studio-sitting room and apartments and admire his exceptional collection of Japanese prints. Meander through exquisite gardens, where the artist planned out striking interplays of light, color, texture, and reflection, even diverting a narrow arm of the River Epte to create his spectacular water garden with its Japanese bridge and water lilies. Continue towards Paris tonight. (B,L,D)

Day 8 — Paris

Awaken in the heart of Paris, and embark a local boat for a scenic cruise, plying the Seine past many of the city’s highlights, including the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, the Musee d’Orsay, and Notre Dame Cathedral. After five years of reconstruction following the devastating fire of April of 2019, the cathedral is scheduled to reopen at the very end of 2024. Explore the Île de la Cité in the historic center of the city for a closer look at Notre Dame, and cross the Archbishop’s Bridge to the Left Bank and the Latin Quarter. Stroll through narrow streets where for centuries artists, writers, philosophers, and students from the Sorbonne lived a bohemian lifestyle and helped define French culture. Return to the ship and enjoy lunch onboard. Take advantage of an afternoon at leisure to explore Paris as you wish. Throughout the afternoon, a shuttle bus will be available from the ship to different points in the city. This evening, gather with fellow Smithsonian Journeys travelers for a farewell reception and dinner on board. (B,L,D)

Day 9 – Depart Paris for the U.S.

This morning, disembark the ship and transfer to Charles de Gaulle International Airport for your onward flight. (B)