POST CONFERENCE - SEINE RIVER CRUISE
15 - 22 MAY 2024
Wednesday 15 May
Depart from Donostia-San Sebastian on a short 30 minute transfer to Hendaye Station in France. Embark here on a high speed TGV train for the 5 hour journey to Paris.
Board the Amadeus Diamond this afternoon in the romantic City of Light. After unpacking, join your fellow travellers for a Welcome Cocktail, followed by a specially prepared Welcome Dinner.
Thursday 16 May
Conference sessions commence from 9.00am - 11.00am.
Arrive early in the morning in Conflans-St.-Honorine, at the confluence of the rivers Oise and Seine.
After lunch on board, join an excursion to Château de Malmaison, the former residence of Joséphine and Napoleon Bonaparte, to immerse yourself in the privacy of the Imperial couple. Joséphine purchased Château de Malmaison in 1799 and transformed it from a dilapidated estate into an extravagant imperial residence with elegant grounds, a large rose garden, and exotic animals.
After you rejoin the ship in Mantes-la-Jolie later this afternoon, your ship continues to Conflans.
Depart Conflans late this afternoon. Dinner on board the ship.
Friday 17 May
This morning join a walking tour to the medieval town of Rouen, once the capital of Normandy. Rouen's lively town centre and old world charm makes it a lovely hidden gem, but it is also where Joan of Arc met her death when she was burnt at the stake in 1431. Visit the cathedral that inspired Claude Monet, and the modern Church of Joan of Arc with its magnificent 16th century stained-glass windows.
Rejoin the ship for lunch and an afternoon conference session from 3.00pm to 5.00pm.
Late this afternoon, the vessel departs Rouen and continues northward to Le Havre. Dinner on board the ship this evening.
Château de Malmaison
Rouen
Saturday 18 May
The harbour of Le Havre is your convenient base for two days with optional land exploration.
In the morning we have an inclusive walking tour to the nearby city of Honfleur, with its picturesque old harbor lined with pastel coloured 16th - 18th century townhouses, complete with fishing boats and luxurious pleasure craft. Along the waterfront, watch the talented artists at work, capturing the delightful view for eternity. This stretch of coastline is one of the most beautiful for its horticulture and scenery.
Rejoin the ship for lunch and an afternoon conference session from 3.00pm to 5.00pm.
An optional tour is available for non-conference attendees to Étretat’s cliff-top for a walk along the extensive paths to view the steep chalk cliffs with impressive needle-like formations (additional cost).
Dinner on board the ship this evening.
Honfleur
Cliff paths of Étretat
Sunday 19 May
Exploration of Normandy and its history
Today, choose from 3 different tour options on a full-day inclusive Norman exploration.
Tour 1 - Caen & Bayeux
Caen is a port city and its centre features the Château de Caen, a circa-1060 castle built by William the Conqueror. It stands on a hill flanked by the Romanesque abbeys of Saint-Étienne and Sainte-Trinité, which both date from the same period.
Bayeux is a town on the Aure river in Normandy, 10 kilometres from the Channel coast. Its medieval centre contains cobbled streets, half-timbered houses and the towering, Norman-Gothic Cathédrale Notre-Dame. We will visit the famed 68-meter Tapisserie de Bayeux, an 11th-century tapestry depicting the 1066 Norman invasion of England which is on display in an 18th-century seminary.
Tour 2 – The Flower Coast, Deauville, Trouville, Calvados Visit and Lisieux Basilica
Côte Fleurie (or Flower Coast) is renowned for its horticulture and scenery. First visit will be Deauville a very chic destination often referred to as the “Parisian Riviera” due to the upscale crowd it attracts. It has also become a hub of French culture with lots of annual events like film festivals, classic music concerts, and polo matches. Nearby Trouville has a more laid back fishing village ambience.
After lunch, visit a winery in the heart of the Coteaux du Layon, diving into the heart of the activity of the Château du Breuil distillery and discover the manufacturing process of Calvados Pays d'Auge, a true emblem of the gastronomic heritage of Normandy.
The final stop on the tour will be at the Basilica of Sainte-Thérèse of Lisieux. The large basilica can accommodate 4,000 people, and with more than two million visitors a year, is the second largest pilgrimage site in France, after Lourdes.
Tour 3 - D-Day Landings Tour
Experience the historic landmarks including the closest harbour linked with the liberation of Western Europe after D-Day - the pretty little town of Arromanches with its remnants of the Second World War Mulberries (an artificial port laid within a few days by British engineers in June 1944), a remarkable testament to human ingenuity and resilience in the face of adversity.
Experience the D-day landing and the Battle of Normandy inside the 360 Circular cinema in Arromanches and also visit various sites like Omaha Beach and Juno Beach. Visit the British Military Cemetery to pay respects to the fallen. Be amazed to see the German artillery battery of Longues-sur-Mer. The battery is the only one in Normandy to retain all its original 150mm guns on site.
Note: You will be asked on the online registration to select you preferred tour. You will be able to change your selection at a future date, however we require this information for planning purposes.
Dinner on board the ship this evening.
Deauville
Monday 20 May
Morning conference session from 9.00am - 12.00pm.
Afternoon tour to St Wandrille Abbey
The Abbey was founded in 649 by Saint Wandrille. It was destroyed during the second World War and rebuilt from 1967 to 1969. Since 2016, the monks have been producing their own beer, renowned as some of the best in the region. One of the Monks will lead you through the impressive Abbey and will guide you through the Abbey’s history. As a keepsake, take home a bottle of the only true monastic brew - which is more bitter than the typical Belgium abbey beers and has a colour somewhere between blond and amber.
Dinner on board the ship this evening.
Tuesday 21 May
Morning tour to Claude Monet’s Garden at Giverny
Disembark in the pretty village of Les Andelys before visiting Giverny and the home of Impressionist Claude Monet with its magnificent gardens that were the inspiration for many of his works of art. The spring colours in May make it one of the best times of year to visit.
Reboard the ship in Vernon for lunch before continuing on a tour this afternoon to visit Chateau Bizy.
This classical chateau was built in 1740 and inspired by Versailles. The visit will take you to the drawing-rooms adorned with carved wood panelling and souvenirs belonging to the Bonaparte Family, and the many other historic treasures in the Chateau. Wander round the English style park, planted with hundred-year-old trees and admire the fountains, ponds and 18th century statues.
This evening, enjoy the Captain‘s Gala Dinner as the ship plies the waters toward our next stop
Monet's Garden
Wednesday 22 May
Disembarkation after breakfast in Paris.
Take the opportunity to spend an extra few nights in Paris or continue your onward travel within Europe or return home to Australia & NZ.
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