Travel with Jill on the Normandy Landing Beaches River Cruise9 days Paris to Paris ~ October 27 - November 04, 2014

Save $500 per person if booked before June 25, 2013. From $2525 per person in double occupancy water level cabin 2 nights prior to the cruise in a Paris hotel is $384 per person Air from Detroit is approximately $1530 per person$250 per person non-refundable deposit is due at time of booking. Final payment is due July 16, 2014 Travel in style on the Avalon Creativity. *This cruise is a special interest cruise. It is a food lovers paradise innorthern France. An expert chef will dazzle you with regionalspecialties and food preparation tips. There will cider and winetastings, visits to a distillery and cheese farm and you will even comeaway with easy to make recipes. Bon Appetite!* Also 2014 is the 100 year anniversary of WWI. This cruise has awonderful tour of Normandy Landing Beaches. It will be a once in alifetime experience.

Your Cruise BeginsDay 1 Arrive in Paris, France (Embarkation)Welcome to Paris, France’s capital on the River Seine, the “City of Light,” where romance fills the air. This afternoon, boardyour river cruise vessel and meet your crew at an evening welcome reception. During dinner, your ship glides smoothly outof Paris. (Dinner)

Day 2 VernonThis morning during breakfast, arrive in Vernon. Later, choose between a guided visit of Giverny and a visit to Bizy Castle.Claude Monet lived at GIVERNY for almost 43 years (1883-1926), and viewed his flower and water gardens as works ofart—just like his paintings. See his collection of Japanese prints, his charming house, and his biggest sources of inspiration.Or, visit BIZY CASTLE, built in 1740 and nicknamed “Normandy’s Versailles.” It is known for its famous stables—inspired bythose at Versailles—and its magnificent courtyard and water garden. You can join a PASTRY DEMONSTRATION on board,or simply relax. In the late afternoon your ship departs for Rouen. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) Day 3 RouenRouen, the capital of Upper Normandy, is an important commercial city perhaps best known for its connection to Joan ofArc. Enjoy the included GUIDED WALK through the medieval quarter with its half-timbered, glazed-tile houses, and take yourpictures of the Gros Horloge, an intricate Astronomical Clock dating back to the 16th century. Visit the splendid gothicCATHEDRAL. Before dinner, join an ONBOARD LECTURE to learn more about this area, then enjoy a Normandy dinnerfeaturing specialties of the region. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

To book this river cruise contact: 

Expedia CruiseShipCentersJill Baker

(586) 840-7447 Ext 104jillbaker@cruiseshipcenters.com 

Your Cruise Continues  Day 4 RouenMake your choice today of an included full-day excursion to the historic NORMANDY LANDING BEACHES—withpoignant sites such as Omaha Beach, the Pointe du Hoc monument, and the American Cemetery—or a “TASTE OFNORMANDY” for a more in-depth look at this picturesque, mainly agricultural region. The most important productsare dairy, apples, and grain. Camembert cheese is a specialty, as is CALVADOS, a strong apple brandy you’ll havethe chance to taste at a local distillery. And for a touch of history, visit the famous BAYEUX TAPESTRY. Tonight,head for Les Andelys. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) Day 5 Les Andelys–ConflansIn the morning your ship arrives in Les Andelys. One of the most beautiful places in France, Les Andelys sits on abend of the Seine. The choice is yours: join a Local Guide for a GUIDED WALK, visiting the PARISH CHURCH OF LEGRAND ANDELYS or the imposing CHÂTEAU GAILLARD. England’s King Richard the Lionheart feared an attack byFrance’s king, so he built the château as a fortress in 1196. Constructed in only a year, it is truly a masterpiece ofmedieval military architecture. Then, depart for Conflans. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) Day 6 Conflans–ParisAfter breakfast you may either join our included guided excursion to AUVERS-SUR-OISE, the quaint little town whereVincent Van Gogh lived and died, or to Napoleon and Josephine’s CHÂTEAU DE MALMAISON just outside Paris.Requiring extensive renovations, this large country estate was purchased by Josephine Bonaparte in 1799 whileNapoleon was fighting in Egypt. It was her aim to make it “the most beautiful and curious garden in Europe, a modelof good cultivation.” This evening, arrive in Paris. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) Day 7 ParisKnown as one of the world’s most romantic and lively cities, Paris is a delight for all your senses. Your included CITYSIGHTSEEING shows you magnificent must-see sights, such as Notre Dame Cathedral, the unique Louvre Museumwith its glass pyramid as a contrast to its ancient architecture, the commemorative Arc de Triomphe, and the EiffelTower. Alternatively, you may like to join a GUIDED WALK in the heart of Paris and trendy Marais district. In your freetime, stroll down the Champs-Elysées with its lavish cafés, or perhaps visit the world-famous Louvre or Montmartrewith its gleaming white Sacre Coeur Basilica and bevy of artists on Place du Tertre. Paris is also well known for itscolorful nightlife, and an optional outing to one of the world’s most famous cabaret shows, the Moulin Rouge, mightmake the perfect finale to your Seine cruise vacation. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) Day 8 Paris (Disembarkation)Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (Breakfast)