There is something about France. It is blessed with endless lanscapes, charming towns, interesting history and incredible variety. And one of the best ways to appreciate it is on a luxury river cruiser. For this trip, we will fly to Paris and spend two nights at a lovely hotel that is well locted in the city. After we enjoy Paris, we will board our boat (in front of the Eifel Tower) and begin our seven day cruise through the heart of northern France making interesting stops along the way. One of the hightlights will be a full day in Normandy to appreciate the consequential events that took place there on those now peaceful beaches. It is a trip NOT to be missed and we are doing in September which is the pefect month to be there.
BUT TO BE INCLUDED, YOU HAVE TO ACT QUICKLY! Cruising the rivers of Europe is very popular and for good reason. Also, riverboats are of course much smaller than cruise ships, welcoming several hundred guests instead of several thousand. And some of the most charming towns and scenery in Europe happen to be on the rivers. For all of these reasons, space is carefully monitored and often sold out 9 months before departure.
So COME ABOARD. We are holding guaranteed space with locked in pricing for our group until December 31, 2023. After that date, if there are unsold cabins, the price will increase. So read on. We think you’ll like what you see. We look forward to hosting your journey along the serene Seine River throught the heart of France!
IMPORTANT NOTE: The air-included pricing shown below assumes that you depart the US on September 21 and return on October 1, and that we obtain the international airline tickets for you. That is the case whether you are flying out of Salt Lake or any other city in the continental United States. If you choose to travel on different dates or obtain your OWN aifare (for whatever reason), we will deduct $1,000 from the above, per person prices.
The prices below INCLUDE INTERNATIONAL AIRFARE from your home city. It is an all inclusive price:
Prices include AIRFARE, cruise, taxes, port charges, government fees, Paris hotel for two nights, all gratuities and Butler service, and other items listed in this brochure.
Click here to see the Emerald Star Deck Plan: Scenic Gem| Our Space Ships | Scenic° USA – Scenic (scenicusa.com)
IMPORTANT NOTE: TO BE INCLUDED, YOU HAVE TO ACT QUICKLY! Cruising the rivers of Europe is very popular and for good reason. Also, riverboats are of course much smaller than cruise ships, welcoming several hundred guests instead of several thousand. And some of the most charming towns and scenery in Europe happen to be on the rivers. For all of these reasons, space is carefully monitored and often sold out 9 months before departure. We are holding guaranteed space until December 31, 2023 – Call quickly for best cabin selection.
September 21: Today we gather for our flight to Paris arriving the following day. Flights are available from your home city to meet up with us along the way. Our once in a lifetime trip is underway.
September 22: Your journey begins in Paris, the ‘city of light’. Upon arrival, We will be met by our local representatives and we will be transferred to our hotel. As people are arriving at differen times today, you will be free to do as you wish. There is much to do within walking distance of our hotel that is well located.
September 23: After breakfast, enjoy an included panoramictour of this capital city. See such famous sites and landmarks as the Louvre, Opéra Garnier, Place Vendôme, the trendy district of Le Marais on the Right Bank, Place de la Concorde, Champs-Élysées, Arc de Triomphe, Place de la Bastille, the Trocadéro and the pièce de rèsistance…the Eiffel Tower. For our group, there will be an OPTIONAL excursion to see the Gardens of Versailles (Palace of Louis XIV) and we will make a photo stop at the Paris LDS Temple (which is just 1.5 miles away). We then return to our hotel in Paris. If you are not interested in the Versailles, you can visit the Louvre Museum or choose from many other optional activities. We will be there to help you arrange it. B
September 24: Embark the MS Scenic Gem: Around mid day, we will depart the hotel and embark the MS Scenic Gem, home for the next seven nights. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure to unpack, discover the amenities onboard or take a leisurely stroll along the Seine. This evening, the ship departs Paris and a delicious welcome dinner awaits. Meals: Meals: B, D
September 25: Conflans Sainte Honorine / Auvers sur Oise: This morning arrive in the charming medieval town of Conflans. In port, your Freechoice options are: discover the charms of Auvers-sur-Oise and see Vincent van Gogh’s room, OR visit the magnificent Chantilly Castle for a guided tour of the remarkable château set amidst beautiful parklands. This afternoon, enjoy the amenities of the vessel as you sail to Rouen. Meals: B, L, D
September 26: Rouen: The ship arrives in the quaint, historic capital of Normandy and one of the most prosperous cities of medieval Europe. Freechoice: Join a local guide on a walking tour to see the historic Rouen Cathedral and the famous sites of Joan of Arc, including Place du Vieux-Marche with a monument indicating where she was burned at the stake. Walk the winding medieval streets and admire the city’s half-timbered houses. Alternatively, join a guided cycling tour along the Seine to the beautiful 19th-century botanical gardens that boast a number of rare and exotic plants. This afternoon set sail for the picturesque village of Honfleur. Meals: B, L, D
September 27: Honfleur / Normandy: Today we visit Normandy and its beaches. On our excursion to Normandy, we see the now peaceful province which is very different than it was on June 6, 1944. We will learn about the U.S. contribution to the battle at Utah Beach and Memorial. At the Normandy American Cemetery, we will see thousands of white crosses marking the graves of our military heroes. From the cemetery, see Omaha Beach. It is a memorable and poignant place to visit. We’ll also have a brief look at the charming town of Honfleur. Meals: B, L, D
September 28: Honfleur – Caudebec-en-Caux: Enjoy a choice of three Freechoice excursions today. Travel to Fécamp, situated in spectacular surroundings amidst the tallest cliffs of Normandy. The city’s natural setting contrasts perfectly with its architectural centerpiece, the Benedictine Palace. OR, choose to travel through picturesque landscapes that were once dotted with over 100 abbeys. Along the way, visit some of the abbeys of this magnificent region that are still operating today. OR, learn about the Roman past of the the town of Lillebonne. It is said that William the Conqueror was in his castle at Lillebonne in 1066 when he decided to invade England. Meals: B, L, D
September 29: Vernon: Your Freechoice activities include an excursion to Giverny to visit Monet’s former residence and gardens (this is our recommendation). You will be amazed by the beauty of the landscape as you stroll along the paths and wander through the gardens that provided Monet with inspiration for his paintings. OR, if you’re feeling more adventurous, explore by bike with a self-guided cycling tour to Giverny. As a special Scenic Enrich treat, experience the opulence and grandeur of yesteryear while attending a classical concert performed by the region’s most reputable musicians at the Château de La Roche-Guyon. The memories are sure to last a lifetime! Meals: B, L, D
September 30: Paris: Arriving back in Paris, your Freechoice activities are: shop with a Chef at a local food market and enjoy exquisite tastings, OR, walk through the trendy Marais District with a resident expert and hear tales that only the locals know. Alternatively, you may choose to explore beyond the city limits and tour the 17th-century estate of Château Vaux-le-Vicomte, featured in the James Bond movie Moonraker. There is a bit of leisure time in the afternoon/evening to create those final Paris memories. Meals: B, L, D
October 1: Paris / USA: Bid ‘au revoir’ to France and return home with memories of wonderful experiences aboard the MS Scenic Gem along the Seine River. Meal: B
Registration Information:
To make a reservation, simply fill out the attached reservation form and send it to us with a deposit of $400 per person. When we receive your deposit, we will mail you a receipt confirming that you are registered for the tour. A letter with instructions, hotel itinerary flight information (if applicable) and luggage tags will be sent 100 days prior to departure at which time the balance will be due. You do not need to pay the balance until after you receive that packet. We require final payments in the form of a check. If that is not possible, arrangements can be made to use a credit card. Webb Tours accepts Visa, Amex, Mastercard and Discover. A 2.5% surcharge will be added for final payments made by credit card. There is no additional charge for original deposits made with credit cards.
Cancellation Penalties
We understand that you may need to cancel your trip for whatever reason. Due to the high demand for river cruises and the rules enforced by our suppliers, the deposit is non refundable once paid. If it is 95 days or more before departure, all money will be refunded. Here is a summary of the cancellation penalties:
For airlines, specifically, tickets are generally non refundable when purchased. However, most airlines will allow the value of the canceled tickets to be reused for future travel, though a penalty may be assessed to reuse the tickets. If you have to cancel, Webb Tours will work with other providers to obtain as much refund as possible for our travelers.
Cancellation Insurance:
To avoid cancellation penalties, cancellation insurance may be purchased. Insurance will reimburse you for the non-refundable cancellation penalties imposed if you must cancel your trip for a covered reason like illness, injury or death to you, a traveling companion or an immediate family member. Other reasons for cancellation include Common Carrier-caused delays due to inclement weather, jury duty, or a documented traffic accident in route to departure. Price of the insurance depends on your stateroom category as follows:
Category D/E: Call for premium amount
Category B/C: Call for premium amount
Category PA: Call for premium amount
Insurance is purchased through the cruise line and may be purchased any time up to the point you make your final payment. Insurance cannot be purchased after your final payment is made. Webb Tours is not the insurer and acts as agent for the insurance company. To activate your insurance, we need your premium and your birth date.
Mail deposit and enclosed reservation form to:
WEBB TOURS
2378 Evergreen Avenue
Salt Lake City, UT 84109
Tel. (801) 278-3101
or Toll Free 1-800-658-8519
