Viking River Cruise: Paris & the Heart of Normandy

We have taken ocean cruises previously, but we did not know what to expect from a Viking River Cruise and we thought it might be fun to compare. We also wanted to do something nice for Celeste’s parents and we weren’t sure how many years they would have left so we decided on taking a Viking River Cruise with them. The ease of arrangements and getting around was very attractive since they were in their late seventies and not really up for driving and complicated hotel stays, etc. The river cruise would allow us to fly in, be driven to the ship, get settled in our rooms and start enjoying our time… meals would be taken care of and all of the logistics as well.

We researched trips thoroughly and due to my interest in history and World War II we purchased the Paris to Normandy river cruise for ourselves and my in-laws as a Christmas gift. My mother-in-law was interested in going to Paris and we always like visiting Paris so this was the perfect destination to satisfy everyone’s desires…. a little Paris, a little art at Monet’s gardens, quite a bit of history at Rouen and the Normandy WW2 Invasion Beaches. So you can feel free to view this BLOG post as also a river cruise review!

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Knowing that the Normandy weather could be volatile we packed expecting rain, cold, and alternating warmer/sunny days. We discovered that having clothing that could deal with cooler or warmer weather, was a good idea during this cruise.

Warning: March or April cruises in France may result in chillier weather than you are used to, the good news is that the weather will vary from day to day. The bad news is that you are going to need some warmer clothes to allow you to remain comfortable.

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about Viking River Cruises in France that we've been asked;

 What are the most popular French river cruises with Viking? Viking offers several notable French river cruises, including trips along the Seine, Rhône, and Saône rivers. Popular itineraries include "Paris & the Heart of Normandy," "Lyon & Provence," and "Chateaux, Rivers & Wine," each focusing on regional highlights like historic sites, local wines, and French cuisine. For current information regarding Viking River Cruises in France, you should visit their website.

 What is included in a Viking River Cruise in France? Viking’s cruises typically include meals, Wi-Fi, guided excursions, and wine or beer during lunch and dinner. Additional amenities, such as airport transfers and enrichment activities, are also included, making the experience well-rounded for guests seeking a cultural immersion. For current information, you should visit the Viking River Cruises FAQ page.

 How long are Viking’s French river cruises? Viking’s river cruises in France range from 7 to 15 days. Shorter options focus on a specific region, like Normandy or Provence, while longer itineraries cover multiple destinations and regions. For current information, you should visit the Viking River Cruises France River Cruises page.

 When is the best time to take a river cruise in France? The peak times are spring (April-May) and fall (September-October) due to mild weather and lower tourist density. Summer is also popular but can be crowded and warmer, while winter cruises are less common but offer a unique holiday experience. If you opt for a Springtime cruise, keep in mind that evenings can be chilly, bring proper clothing.

 What should guests expect for onboard activities and dining? Viking emphasizes destination-focused dining and enrichment activities. Local cuisine and wines are often incorporated into the dining experience, and onboard activities might include French cooking demonstrations, historical talks, and cultural performances related to the region. You might want to take a look at our "Viking Experiences Page" to see what our experiences were on our Viking Cruises (hint, we had a really good time on both cruises and the food was very good).

 Are excursions and tours included in the cruise package? Viking includes at least one guided excursion per port, often tailored to highlight the history, art, or gastronomy of the location. Guests can also opt for optional excursions, which come at an extra cost.

 Are there water level problems with river cruising in France? Yes, water level issues can occur on some French rivers, particularly the Rhône and the Loire, which can experience both high and low water levels depending on the season, potentially impacting river cruises in France; however, cruise companies often adapt their itineraries to manage these fluctuations and most river cruises in France operate without major disruptions.

Viking staff met us at the Charles de Gaulle International Airport, and we were escorted to their van and then on to the Viking Spirit - which was to be our home for the next eight days. We were required to pickup our luggage (at the luggage carousel) and position it for loading into their van. NOTE: You would not want to travel from this airport to the Quai de Grenelle via taxi, as the airport is 40+ kilometers from that area on the River Seine. The taxi ride cost would generally exceed 80€.

Where do Viking Ships dock in Paris: Our ship was tied up (ie; moored) alongside the Quai de Grenelle, on the Rive Gauche (Left Bank). This may differ based upon how many Viking Ships are in Paris at a given time, Viking will sometimes utilize the Port de Javel Bas in Quai André Citroën.

Do not let Jet Lag take Over: Everyone who has ever flown across the Atlantic, knows that jet lag is an issue that must be prepared for and expected. Taking an over the counter "sleep aide" on the flight over the Ocean can help you get some sleep on the plane. Taking a 2 hour nap (but no longer) once you have arrived, can also help. When we arrived our stateroom was ready, which was unexpected as it was possible that they wouldn't be ready until 3:00 pm. We were thrilled and got our brief nap completed, showered, unpacked and started our hike down the Quai de Grenelle to the Eiffel Tower park.

The weather at that time, was a bit drizzly, but since we had all brought our rain jackets and Viking thoughtfully provided umbrellas (the bright red ones!) - we were not deterred.

The hike from Quai de Grenelle to Rue Cler allowed us to walk near the Eiffel Tower, which is always a beautiful sight! It is only a one kilometer stroll along the River Seine, and then we walked through the Champ de Mars gardens to reach the Rue de Grenelle.

The Eiffel Tower is only one kilometer (.6 mile) from where the Viking Spirit was moored, and our first glimpse of the tower, was through the trees in the park that surrounds the tower.

We didn't go up the Tower due to the long lines, but you can easily avoid the lines by purchasing your tickets online well in advance of your trip. We took some pictures of the Tour Eiffel and then continued on-wards to the Rue Cler area of Paris, in the seventh arrondissement. This is a very nice area, pedestrian (or scooter) only.

As expected, the Viking Spirit was waiting for us at it's mooring spot on the Quai de Grenelle. It might not be apparent, but the ship was facing eastward, and I now began to wonder how the ship's captain was going to be able to turn the ship around, and head off into the westward direction necessary for our trip destinations. This was because we were in a relatively narrower part of the Seine River, with a bridge support island immediately to our port side.

As can be seen in image # 3, this is the Viking Spirit from the Pont Grenelle, and as you can see, the Eiffel Tower is perhaps a half mile beyond where the ship is moored. The sun deck area, runs nearly the entire length of the ship, and is equipped with many deck chairs and chaise lounges.

We noticed that the sun deck and just about everything else on this level of the ship, was "too high" for the bridges close by. These images demonstrate how low the bridges are in relation to the Viking Spirit.

So I began to now wonder how they were going to get that large ship underneath those low bridges, with all of those things on the deck that are obviously "too high".

There is a very clever solution, ie; all of the sundeck apparatus (railings, tables, chairs, etc) is folded down, and the ship's wheelhouse (yes, that lowers down too!) is lowered via a set of "stilts" that allows it to be raised or lowered. Once everything is folded down or lowered, there is approximately 4 to 5 feet of additional clearance.

We are on the day trip bus for a tour of Paris, which we hope will be exciting for my wife's parents as this is their first trip to Paris. This tour is a quick trip to the Paris high spots near the River Seine, ie; Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower.

These Viking organized bus tours are really well planned and organized, there is an english speaking local tour guide, who gives us all descriptions of what we are seeing through ear pieces that Viking provides. The buses are comfortable European-style large coaches, and Paris thoughtfully has bus parking near all of the city sites.

Now begins a portion of the trip that neither Celeste or myself had prior knowledge of - the River Seine has six locks, all built for flood control purposes. These locks were started in the 1950's and extensive dredging on the river was performed in the 1960's. All of this effort was due to occasional flooding that Paris has endured since 1910, sometimes producing a severely flooded area along the Seine. Now for the interesting part - the level difference of the River Seine between Paris and Rouen, is 85 feet ! Now, we knew that tidal heights on the English Channel were dramatic, but we had not known that the River had such a height difference! Each lock we went through, would lower the ship some 12 to 20 feet.

The tidal variation in Rouen, where the ship is close to the English Channel (Le Havre is 90Km from Rouen for example), would be 19 to 22 feet! We would go to bed at night, and our cabin window would be level with the dock, but the next morning, our window would be 15 feet below the dock!

To make it perfectly clear what took place, the Viking Ship tied up at Giverny, France. Viking (on their website) refers to this stop as "La Roche-Guyon & Vernon, France" because Monet's Garden is located in Vernon.

We decided on the day trip/bus tour to Monet's Garden - because Celeste is a huge fan of Monet's work. If you have any interest in art to any degree, this would be as exciting to you as it was to us! Monet's house, his garden, everything is maintained as it was when Monet lived there. The Monet Foundation maintains the property as a "living museum".

To view our visit there, click here to view our Vernon page.

Weather was Beautiful

As you can see in this image, this day's weather was fantastic, not a cloud in the sky, nice temperature, and the view from the ship, as it cruised along the River Seine, was stunning.

Scenes along the River Seine

Little villages dot each shore side, the occasional Chateau, and lots of beautiful geography - and - another Seine River Cruise Ship - Viking operates a small number of ships on this route, and this one is obviously headed back to Paris from Rouen.

Small Villages along the Seine

Another of the beautiful villages that can be seen on each side of the River Seine, this was a typical example of the very nice homes we saw.

Due to the excellent weather, and the incredibly scenic ride on the river, this was a very pleasant day, and we spent the majority of it on the sun deck.

The sun deck was the place to be with the weather being so nice, the scenery so constantly beautiful and yet the sun deck was never crowded? Our cabin had a small balcony where one could relax and enjoy the sights, but the sun deck provided lounges, chairs, tables, umbrellas and a waiter!

After departing the Quai de Grenelle, the River Seine swings to the southwest, then makes a sharp right turn to head northeast past Saint-Denis where it makes a sharp left turn to swing back to the west. As the river flows past Argenteuil it is again moving southwest until Le Port-Marly where the river is once again moving in a northeast direction. These wide loops provide a continous display of small villages, various chateaus and beautiful scenery. Once past Vaux-sur-Seine, the river will remain moving in a westerly direction until it reaches Rolleboise where it will once again make a wide loop past Moisson. We will reach Vernon as the river assumed a northwest direction once again.

The Viking Spirit arrived in Rouen at 1PM, and since this represented the farthest west of the ship's travel, it proceeded west past our dock to a "turning basin", where it reversed course and then docked. This maneuver, leaves the ship pointed eastward, which is the direction we will be going when we depart for Paris.

Since the ship arrived in Rouen at mid-day, we had free time the remainder of the day to explore. Very walkable and historic and we had a fantastic dinner there.

A visit to Rouen feels like stepping back in time. This medieval city in Normandy charms visitors with its half-timbered houses, cobblestone streets, and impressive Gothic architecture. At the heart of Rouen stands the magnificent Rouen Cathedral, famously painted by Monet, with its towering spires and ornate facade that mesmerizes visitors upon arrival. Nearby, the Gros-Horloge, a grand 14th-century astronomical clock, adds to the city’s historical allure.

To view our explorations there, click here to visit our Rouen page.

This Viking bus tour/day trip tour was very interesting to me, and if you are a history buff, this tour would be in your wheel-house.

The World War II beach landing at Arromanches-les-Bains, also known as Gold Beach, played a pivotal role in the Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944. As part of Operation Overlord, British forces stormed the shores, overcoming formidable German defenses. Arromanches became the site of Mulberry B, an ingenious artificial harbor that facilitated the rapid influx of troops and supplies.

To view our visit there, click here to visit our Arromanches page.

Quaint little village (2019 population of 8,070) that was started in the sixth century, with a very historic castle high above and the Seine River flowing right next to it. Richard the Lion Heart constructed that very famous castle.

Strolling through Les Andelys reveals narrow, picturesque streets lined with traditional Norman houses, cafes, and quaint shops. The town's church, Collégiale Notre-Dame des Andelys, boasts stunning Gothic architecture and beautiful stained glass, adding to the town's quiet charm.

To view our interesting time there, click here to visit our Les Andelys page.

The Palace of Versailles is a beautiful and historical site, and we enjoyed the tour. The ship had docked at Conflans-Sainte-Honorine and some passengers had taken the shopping trip Viking organized, however we decided to take Celeste's parents to Versailles on the "other bus tour" Viking trip.

To view this amazing French Castle, click here to visit our Versailles page.

The tour buses returned us to the Viking Spirit (a short 30 minute ride), and we headed back down the River Seine to Paris, arriving just before 7:00 pm. We then decided to head out on the town and took the metro to the Champs Elysees for a bit of exploration and some dinner.

The Avenue des Champs-Elysées has been called the 'world’s most beautiful avenue'. Around it and between the Arc de Triomphe and the Place de la Concorde are numerous luxury stores, the most prominent restaurants, four-star hotels, prestigious entertainment venues (Lido, Queen, Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, etc ) and the most popular museums and monuments (Arc de Triomphe, Grand Palais, etc ).

Paris Metro System

The Paris Metro System is gigantic, and it is far, far simpler to ride the Metro than it would be to drive anywhere! A taxi is also a good choice for those that don't want to venture onto the metro. So even though my in-laws had zero experience in riding in a subway system, I talked them into giving it a try from the ship's docking area up to the Avenue des Champs-Élysées.

Strolling on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées

Many, many famous high end clothing companies have locations on the boulevard. As we walked about, we kept noticing dozens of world famous companies.

Arc de Triomphe

Our explorations included walking to the Arc de Triomphe, always beautiful and not so easy to get to unless you have done some research!

Eiffel Tower Light Show

For our last evening aboard the Viking Spirit, we told Ron and Elaine about the Eiffel Tower "light show" and told them that we had to remain awake until at least 11PM, when the light show would start. The lights are cycled off and on (computer controlled), and the colors shift as the light show proceeds.

This was our first Viking River Cruise, and we really enjoyed it. The food was fantastic, the wine they offered with dinner was consistently top-notch, and the breakfast omelets (made to order) were some of the best we've ever had. People always ask "what didn't you like about it" and there really were no negatives about this trip! The River Seine is wide, placid and pretty all the way from Paris to Rouen.

As we glided along the tranquil waters of the River Seine, we passed charming villages, lush vineyards, and historic landmarks, immersing ourselves in the timeless beauty of the French countryside. Arriving in Rouen, known for its rich history and stunning Gothic architecture, we had the opportunity to explore its cobblestone streets, visit the majestic Rouen Cathedral, and delve into the city's fascinating past, including its association with Joan of Arc. Throughout the cruise, we indulged in exquisite cuisine, curated excursions, and personalized service, ensuring an unforgettable experience that showcased the best of French culture and hospitality.

NOTE: Please click here to read our perspective on Viking River Cruises.

Viking changes various parameters of this cruise, but due to it's popularity, they will probably never remove it. Click here to go the Viking Site and read about this cruise in more detail.