The Seine rises in the Côte d’Or before meandering through Paris and into the English Channel near Le Havre. It’s one of my favourite European rivers, and while a cruise is all about life in the slow lane, there are plenty of opportunities for activities, such as exploring historic castles and beautiful gardens.
Cruises sailing north from the French capital delve into the Pays-d’Auge, where rolling hills are punctuated with rustic villages of half-timbered thatched cottages and neat apple orchards. The region is also famed for its venerable Gothic cathedrals that stir the soul, although little can prepare you for the heart-rending beaches of Normandy, the location of the D-Day landings.
Round-trip cruises from Paris mostly conform to similar seven-night itineraries; all spend at least one night in the city. It’s wise to travel between April and October, as many attractions close outside of this window.
Find by cruise type:
- Best for Second World War history
- Best for art and architecture
- Best for learning about French royalty
Best for luxury
Paris and Normandy
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
Key stops: La Roche-Guyon, Vernon, Rouen, Caudebec-en-Caux and Mantes-la-Jolie
Departure port: Paris
Duration: Seven nights
Ship name: S.S. Joie de Vivre
This seven-night sailing takes in several key sights, and in a region renowned for imposing castles, it visits what I consider one of the best – the fairytale 12th-century Château de La Roche-Guyon, with its hilltop keep. At Giverny, you can take in the tranquil scene created by the master of Impressionism at Monet’s house and gardens.
In Honfleur, there’s plenty of time to admire colourful, narrow, medieval timber-frame houses wrapped around the yacht-filled Vieux Bassin. Heading south along the Seine, you’ll stop at Mantes-La-Jolie for a tour of the magnificent Secret Apartments at the Palace of Versailles – a standout excursion that’s not to be missed.
The 128-guest S.S. Joie de Vivre is a plush vessel: expect handcrafted furniture, sumptuous fabrics, an array of antiques and spacious cabins with French balconies. I especially love the Art Deco vibe, nowhere more so than in Restaurant Pigalle, Bistrot and Claude’s Bar.
Insider tip
Don’t miss Uniworld’s private evening concert in the Gothic splendour of the Rouen Cathedral – it’s next level. So too is the nightly light show that’s projected onto the west façade each year between the end of May and the end of September.
How to do it
A seven-night Paris and Normandy cruise departing on April 25, 2027, costs from £4,094pp for a classic cabin. Includes flights or Eurostar from St Pancras, transfers, premium drinks, excursions, Wi-Fi and tips and bicycle hire.
Best for Second World War history
Paris and the Heart of Normandy
Viking
Key stops: La Roche-Guyon, Vernon, Rouen and Les Andelys
Departure port: Paris
Duration: Seven nights
Ship name: Viking Skaga
Adults-only line Viking offers this week-long itinerary that’s ideal for those keen to learn more about the historic beaches of Normandy. There are excursions to the site of Operation Overlord, the unprecedented amphibious assault on D-Day, as well as a Normandy Beaches in World War II tour that starts at the Memorial Museum in Bayeux and continues to Gold Beach, the village of Arromanches, and what remains of the ingenious Mulberry Harbour.
The imposing Château Gaillard, built in 1196 by Richard the Lionheart, and Domaine Duclos Fougeray, an 18th-century cider estate where you can stroll through the orchards, before tasting cider, pommeau, calvados and apple juice, are further highlights.
With a capacity of just 168 passengers, Viking Skaga is slightly smaller than the line’s other river ships, allowing it to navigate north of Paris. Features include floor-to-ceiling windows, indoor and al fresco dining and sun decks with herb gardens – the ideal spot to watch the river slowly pass by.
Insider tip
An overnight stay in the French capital affords the option of a retro-inspired chauffeured motorcycle ride. This 90-minute excursion, called Paris by Sidecar, is a fun way to explore must-see attractions and is recommended.
How to do it
A seven-night Paris and the Heart of Normandy cruise departing on May 14, 2027, costs from £3,295pp for a standard cabin. Includes flights, a complimentary excursion in every port, drinks with meals, Wi-Fi, and tips.
Best for art and architecture
La Belle France: Paris, Normandy and the River Seine
Amadeus River Cruises
Key stops: Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, Rouen, Le Havre, Caudebec-en-Caux, Les Andelys, Vernon and Mantes-la-Jolie
Departure port: Paris
Duration: Seven nights
Ship: Amadeus Diamond
This is one of the few Seine cruises that call at Conflans-Sainte-Honorine for a visit to the town of Auvers-sur-Oise. With its rose-scented narrow lanes and houses with shutters, it’s easy to see why it inspired Impressionist artists including Cezanne, Daubigny and Van Gogh, who is buried in the town’s hilltop cemetery.
Le Havre, on the northern bank of the Seine Estuary, also features on this itinerary. Dominating the city with its octagonal lantern tower, Église Saint-Joseph may look grey and brutalist from the outside, but inside, myriad glass panels burst with colour.
Following an extensive refurbishment in 2019, the elegant 146-passenger Amadeus Diamond is equipped with a fitness and massage area as well as a beauty salon, and a spacious sundeck replete with a lido bar, lounge chair, giant chessboard and an indoor pool. Exceptional meals are served in the on-board restaurant, while nightly entertainment takes place in the Panorama Bar and Lounge.
Insider tip
Le Havre is also the gateway to Étretat‘s dramatic alabaster stone cliffs. Take the beachside paths leading to the flint archway of Porte d’Aval and the monumental Manneporte.
How to do it
A seven-night La Belle France: Paris, Normandy and the River Seine cruise departing on September 30, 2026, costs from £2,505pp for a C-Grade cabin. Includes flights, transfers, wine and beer with meals, tips and bicycle hire.
Best for French heritage
Highlights of Normandy and the Seine
Scenic
Key stops: Conflans, Rouen, Honfleur, Caudebec-en-Caux, Vernon and La Roche-Guyon
Departure port: Paris
Duration: Seven nights
Ship: Scenic Gem
Historically rich Rouen – famously described by writer Victor Hugo as “the city of a hundred spires” – features on Scenic’s seven-night Highlights of Normandy and the Seine sailing. The 12th-century Cathédrale Notre-Dame, with its soaring new spire, rises like a cardinal among curates. As the tallest in France, it’s on many visitors’ bucket lists, and so too is the marker in Place du Vieux-Marché, where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake on May 30, 1431.
The 126-guest Scenic Gem can cruise right into Honfleur harbour, making a spectacular arrival at this chocolate-box port that’s considered the birthplace of Impressionism.
One excursion I wouldn’t miss on this sailing is the Scenic Enrich concert of French classical music in the opulent surroundings of the 18th-century Château La Roche-Guyon.
Insider tip
No matter which suite you choose, you’ll receive butler service, a mini-bar restocked daily with your favourite drinks and luxurious bathroom amenities. However, for extra perks – think unlimited laundry service, a welcome bottle of champagne, in-suite dining, and the packing and unpacking of your luggage – book one of the Royal Suites on the Diamond Deck.
How to do it
A seven-night Highlights of Normandy and the Seine itinerary departing on April 6, 2026, costs from £3,467pp for a standard suite. Includes flights, transfers, selected activities, premium drinks, a complimentary mini-bar, butler service and tips.
Best for exploring the outdoors
Paris & Normandy
AmaWaterways
Key stops: Les Andelys, Le Havre, Caudebec-en-Caux, Rouen and Vernon
Departure port: Paris
Duration: Seven nights
Ship: AmaLyra
Nature lovers should sign up for a hike or bike tour at Les Andelys; there’s beautiful scenery along the Chemin des Châtaigniers path. A climb to the ruined medieval Château Gaillard, the former stronghold of Richard the Lionheart, is rewarded with jaw-dropping views.
With an overnight stay in Le Havre, head to the Fort de Sainte-Adresse, built to defend the harbour from British attacks and now transformed into a botanical garden. A must-see for art lovers is a visit to MuMa (Musée d’Art Moderne André Malraux), while Le Volcan, designed by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer, is a striking entertainment venue.
With French balconies offering breathtaking views, the 140-guest AmaLyra has garnered recognition for its on-board cuisine in the restaurant and at the intimate chef’s table, where guests can enjoy a tasting menu prepared in the kitchen directly before them.
Insider tip
At Monet’s gardens in Giverny, opt for a morning tour as the artist’s famous pink-stucco farmhouse can get very busy in the afternoon.
How to do it
A seven-night Paris & Normandy sailing departing on April 29, 2027, costs from £4,984pp for a Riverview cabin. Includes flights from London or Manchester, transfers, drinks with lunch and dinner, selected cocktails, and a choice of small group excursions.
Best for learning about French royalty
The History of France from Paris to Normandy
CroisiEurope
Key stops: Melun, Mantes-la-Jolie, Caudebec-En-Caux, Rouen and La Roche-Guyon
Departure port: Paris
Duration: Seven nights
Ship: R.E. Waydelich L.J
If you opt for this itinerary, expect a sailing that’s brimming with royal flamboyance. On departure, R.E. Waydelich L.J – named after the celebrated Alsatian artist – heads south to Melun, when other cruises typically set a northerly course towards the Seine Estuary. The nighttime sailing, as it passes under the 37 bridges that span the Seine, is spellbinding. Arrival the next afternoon permits a visit to the majestic Château de Fontainebleau, the former residence of 34 kings and two emperors.
Equally grandiose, the Palace of Versailles is a short drive from leafy Mantes-la-Jolie. Stroll around the Hall of Mirrors and the gilded Trianon Estate, where Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI held court before losing their heads. However, it’s essential to pre-book your visit to both via your travel agent or online, as they cannot be reserved through CroisiEurope.
The 81-guest R.E. Waydelich L.J ship is propelled by paddle wheel technology. As you would expect with a French company, menus pay tribute to the nation’s gastronomy and are served in a communal setting with excellent wines included at lunch and dinner.
Insider tip
I find the MuséoSeine Museum at Caudebec-en-Caux fascinating, as the interactive experience narrates the history of navigation and halcyon life along the river. If, like me, you’d like to learn more about the Seine’s back story, a visit is recommended.
How to do it
A seven-night History of France from Paris to Normandy itinerary departing on April 22, 2026, costs from £1,939pp for a Category C cabin. Includes flights from London Gatwick to Paris, and all meals and drinks.
About our expert
Gary Buchanan
Scottish-born Gary Buchanan has worked as a specialist cruise writer for 22 years, contributing to leading British publications. He is the author of five books about cruising and spends over seven months every year at sea.