Offer is only applicable for new guests to Tauck. Deposit and hotel request must be made at time of booking. Complimentary night is applicable on any new 2024/2025 Tauck journey booked and deposited between the aforementioned booking window. Booking Window: May 1 - June 3, 2024. This offer is only applicable for New Tauck Guests who have never traveled on Tauck previously. Past guests of Tauck are not eligible. Subject to availability. Certain hotel contracts may not be confirmed so offer will apply once hotel is confirmed. If either pre or post night at Tauck hotel is not available, offer does not apply. Deposit & hotel request must be made at time of booking. Reservations made prior to the show are not eligible. Reservations can be made on priced and un-priced Tauck itineraries. For un-priced Tauck itineraries, the name of the pre or post stay location may not be available until the tour is officially launched online. The offer will be applied when the tour is officially priced & launched with full details shared at that time. Valid for travel from January 1, 2024– December 31, 2025. Offer is not combinable with Take Off With Tauck, Gift of Time or other Tauck offers. Certain other restrictions may apply.
Contact one of our Tour Specialists for more information. Offer valid on new bookings only. Savings vary per cabin category on select river cruises. Cannot be combined with any other offer, promotion or discount. Capacity controlled and may be removed at any time without notice. Certain restrictions may apply; ask at time of booking.
Our Seine rhapsody is a river of inspirations... a sojourn in the dreamy haunts of Impressionist painters... romantic villages, cozy cafés, opulent estates, cider farms, seascapes, and exquisite gardens in the heart of Normandy.... Follow the Seine on an 8-day river sojourn, winding from Parisian suburbs to the sea and back, discovering small towns, romantic chateaux and medieval cities, windy seascapes, and colorful gardens that inspired Impressionist painters. Walk in Van Gogh's footsteps at Auvers-sur-Oise... admire the breathtaking view from the heights of Richard the Lionheart's castle at Les Andelys... before opening hours, immerse in the picture-perfect beauty of Monet's gardens and lily ponds at Giverny... stand awestruck at the island monastery of Mont St. Michel, and the D-Day beaches at Pointe du Hoc... wander the cobbled streets of medieval Rouen, and the charming seaside port of Honfleur, where Monet learned to paint with oils, and Impressionism was born. Along the way you'll also find the soul of Norman cuisine, the essence of calvados, and enjoy special evenings as the royals once did at elegant centuries-old Château de Bizy and Château du Taillis.
Tour begins: 4:00 PM. A transfer is included from the Charles de Gaulle airport or Gare du Lyon or Gare du Nord train stations to Tauck's riverboat. Settle in aboard the riverboat and join us this evening for a welcome reception and dinner, followed by a musical performance in the ship's lounge.
Sail to Conflans-St. Honorine this morning, then drive to picturesque Auvers-sur-Oise, where Vincent Van Gogh spent the last days of his life. Van Gogh moved to the artists' community in 1890 to recover from a mental breakdown; at the time, things were looking up; Van Gogh had finally sold a painting; his work was being shown at major exhibitions, and his star was rising in the Paris art world; at Auvers-sur-Oise he had a burst of energy and inspiration, producing 80 paintings in just 70 days; then, with no explanation, he shot himself. Follow Van Gogh's last steps on a walking tour; visit Auberge Ravoux, the inn where he stayed, preserved as a museum; visit the cafe, and Van Gogh's attic room; and see how his neighboring artists lived. Pay homage at the town cemetery, where Vincent's devoted brother and patron, Theo, lies beside him. While in town, you'll also visit the Absinthe Museum, dedicated to the history and mythology of the notorious cordial known as the Green Fairy, popular among bohemian artists and poets of Van Gogh's time. Return to the Sapphire for lunch. This afternoon, enjoy a lesson in Impressionist painting by a professional artist as you sail for Les Andelys.
In 1198, Normandy belonged to England, a claim disputed by Philip II, King of France. Anticipating a French invasion, the audacious King of England, Richard the Lionheart, decided to build a mighty fortress on a cliff overlooking the Seine and the village of Les Andelys. Richard designed the fortress himself and with the help of thousands of workers built it within a year. He proudly named it Chateau Gaillard (loosely translated as "Saucy" or "Defiant" Castle), a towering middle finger to Philip; Richard declared that it was so well situated he could defend it "even if the walls were made of butter." The astonishing ruins of Castle Gaillard are still there, and you can see them up close on a guided tour, with panoramic views. Get acquainted with Les Andelys on a walking tour; then drive to an apple farm in Tilly to find the essence of calvados, Normandy's famous apple brandy. The terroir here is inhospitable to wine-grapes but perfect for apples; cidre, therefore, is Norman wine, with all its sophisticated varieties, grades, blends, and nuances. Discover the art of making cidre and calvados, with tastings, of course, and locally made paté. Return to the riverboat for lunch as you sail for Caudebec; dinner is at leisure this evening, followed by evening entertainment in the lounge.
Legend says that sometime in the 8th Century the Archangel Michael appeared to the Bishop of Arrandos and told him to build a church on a small rocky island off the coast of Normandy. The angel was a brilliant strategist. Surrounded by water and high cliffs, accessible on foot only at low tide, the islet was a challenge to any Romanesque church-builder, but it was also impervious to raids by Vikings and Englishmen. The bishop named it Mont Saint Michel. And over the centuries, as monarchs and architects embellished it, the island became a breathtaking citadel, with fortifications, ramparts, crypts, tunnels, churches, villages, and streets, spiraling up to a Benedictine monastery. In declaring Mont Saint Michel a World Heritage Site, UNESCO calls it "a technical and artistic tour de force." Experience it yourself today on an unforgettable walking tour. Or take a drive to the white shoreline cliffs of Étretat, a favorite landscape for en plein air artists. You'll also visit the picturesque harbor-town of Honfleur, where landscape painter Eugene Boudin gave oil-painting lessons to a teenaged Claude Monet, created an artists' colony, and inspired the Impressionist movement.
2024 marks the 80th anniversary of the Allied invasion of Normandy in World II. Today's poignant visit to the beaches of Normandy is led by a local guide knowledgeable about the day's events, the heroics and the losses of this historic Allied operation of June 6, 1944, as well as its Allied liberation of Western Europe. See Pointe du Hoc where US Army Rangers scaled the 100-foot-high, crater-riddled cliffs and seized the German artillery pieces to keep them from firing on the American troops landing at Omaha and Utah beaches. Visit Omaha Beach, one of the five landing areas of the Normandy Invasion of World War II, today dotted with the remains of German bunkers. Pause at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial overlooking Omaha Beach and the English Channel, the final resting place for more than 9,300 troops who lost their lives in World War II. After lunch at Chateau la Chenevière, meet your riverboat back in Caudebec-en-Caux. Dine at your leisure tonight.
Medieval Rouen is dwarfed by its glorious Notre-Dame Cathedral, which so captivated Claude Monet that he painted it over and over again at different times of the day, to capture its many faces in fleeting changes of light. Stand in awe of this Gothic masterpiece on a walking tour of the city's enchanting half-timbered houses and winding cobblestone streets. Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in the Market Square in 1431, and she's memorialized everywhere in the city, including the Church of Saint Joan of Arc; there is also a chapel in the Cathedral dedicated to her. Enjoy time to explore Rouen on your own, then join us for a Tauck Exclusive this evening at historic Château du Taillis in Duclair; built in Renaissance style in 1530, and nestled in a large woodland park, the château is an elegant retreat steeped in exquisite 18th-century furnishings and décor. Re-embark ms Sapphire in Duclair and sail for Vernon tonight.
Dock in Vernon, and drive to Giverny for an early-opening visit to Claude Monet's house and famous gardens, exclusive to Tauck; the colorful house, now a museum, is preserved as he left it – and you'll explore at leisure the gardens that were Monet's outdoor studios, where he could arrange the trees, flowerbeds, compositions, and colors as it suited him. The flower garden, and the Japanese water garden are meticulously maintained, and walking in them is a unique, immersive experience, not just a sense of being present in Monet's art, but also in the painter's mind. Drop in at the Impressionist Museum for a self-guided visit, to learn more about Impressionism and its history. Then return to Vernon for a farewell reception at the grand Château de Bizy; once the residence of King Louis-Phillipe, the castle is set in a landscaped park of fountains and statuary near the Seine, its salons and dining hall exuding 18th Century French elegance. Join us for a farewell dinner aboard ship.
Tour ends: Le Peca / Paris. Disembark ship by 9:00 AM. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Tauck's riverboat to Charles de Gaulle airport or the Charles de Gaulle, Gare du Lyon, or Gare du Nord train stations for your journey home. Allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in at the airport.
Our Seine rhapsody is a river of inspirations... a sojourn in the dreamy haunts of Impressionist painters... romantic villages, cozy cafés, opulent estates, cider farms, seascapes, and exquisite gardens in the heart of Normandy.... Follow the Seine on an 8-day river sojourn, winding from Parisian suburbs to the sea and back, discovering small towns, romantic chateaux and medieval cities, windy seascapes, and colorful gardens that inspired Impressionist painters. Walk in Van Gogh's footsteps at Auvers-sur-Oise... admire the breathtaking view from the heights of Richard the Lionheart's castle at Les Andelys... before opening hours, immerse in the picture-perfect beauty of Monet's gardens and lily ponds at Giverny... stand awestruck at the island monastery of Mont St. Michel, and the D-Day beaches at Pointe du Hoc... wander the cobbled streets of medieval Rouen, and the charming seaside port of Honfleur, where Monet learned to paint with oils, and Impressionism was born. Along the way you'll also find the soul of Norman cuisine, the essence of calvados, and enjoy special evenings as the royals once did at elegant centuries-old Château de Bizy and Château du Taillis.
The Tauck riverboat was fabulous! We were three in the room and it was large with a beautiful walk-in closet and new lovely bathroom. The Pullman Hotel near the Eiffel Tower was disappointing. The room for three was minuscule and the staff at the front desk were not helpful. If there was a knowledgable concierge, we never found him. The location was poor for metro to get to main sights around the city. We put that on our Tauck survey as well. Cruise director and all tour guides were exceptional. Highly recommend Tauck Bridges and we're looking forward to the Bridges trip we booked for next April. Thanks Affordable Tours!
Wonderful itinerary with excellent local tour guides and tour directors. They went above and beyond to make the trip a memorable one for us. Lots of little extra "touches" made this Tauck tour an outstanding experience. I am hoping to take another Tauck tour very soon!
The Danube river cruise trip from Prague to Budapest was excellent; superior service and itinerary. This is our 2nd trip booked through Affordable Tours and would not hesitate to use your organization again.
Vacationing has never been easier or cheaper with the help of a dedicated travel consultant from AffordableTours.com
Find your perfect trip on our website and simply request a free quote. Need to speak to a live person? Call us 7 days a week at 1-800-342-0019. No robots here!
Your personal travel consultant will reach out and be your point of contact for your entire travel experience from start to finish. Did we mention you'll be working with an award winning team? Sweet!
Because we're one of the largest sellers of travel, we're able to give you a discount on your vacation package. No one beats our prices!
Knowing you got a great deal, all that's left is for you to pack your bags and enjoy your vacation!
It was the first of - I hope- many. Excellent organization and staff.