No-fly Paris & Normandy on Uniworld

Boarding the Eurostar in London, you’ll quickly sweep on to Paris. The SS Joie de Vivre is is able to dock right in the heart of the city, affording you the chance to stroll along the banks of the Seine before embarking. Once on board, you’ll be welcomed by 20th-century Parisian opulence, exemplified by fine art, antiques and butler-served cabins host to dark-wood furnishings and marble bathrooms. In turn, the open bars and all-inclusive dining add further indulgence, from tapas supper clubs to four-course farm-to-table delicacies. There’s also the likes of the onboard spa, yoga and fitness centre.

Your first port of call is Vernon, a pretty riverside town and a favourite subject of one Claude Monet. And, via a pretty bicycle ride or road transfer, you’ll visit his beloved home in Giverny for an included tour of its stunning gardens, instantly recognisable from the artist’s masterpieces. You’ll then return to the ship, where you’ll be treated to a captain’s welcome reception and gala dinner.

Stay: Joie de Vivre (Deluxe)

The next stop, Rouen, is termed – rather appropriately – the ‘City with a Hundred Bell Towers’. But, its most impressive is the one that rises above the Notre Dame Cathedral – a true Gothic masterpiece. Your expert-led guided tour will also bring you to the Renaissance clock tower and bronze cross where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake before offering you the chance to taste your way through such local gastronomic delicacies as Camembert and white cider in the local shops.

Stay: Joie de Vivre (Deluxe)

Mooring at Caudebec-en-Caux, a charming riverside village watched over by a dramatic 16th-century church, you’ll have a choice of excursions. Perhaps head out through the idyllic Calvados countryside to Honfleur; an impressionists’ favourite, colourfully historic houses jostle for space on its fishing-boat-lined seafront. Your guided walking tour here will bring you along cobbled streets lined with welcoming cafés to showcase the town’s historic sights. Otherwise, continue your golfing experience at Golf d’Étretat – a spectacular course perched on clifftops that rise nearly 50m above the sea.

Stay: Joie de Vivre (Deluxe)

Returning to Rouen, today will see you uncover the region’s fascinating WWII past. Along the way, your expert guides will bring to life visits to the landing beaches, bunkers at Pointe du Hoc and airborne museum of Sainte-Mère-Église – the first town in France to be liberated. There’s also the option of a trip to Bayeux to view the famous 11th-century tapestry that depicts the Battle of Hastings – a true UNESCO-listed treasure. Whichever you choose, you’ll end the day with a remembrance ceremony at a Normandy landing cemetery.

Stay: Joie de Vivre (Deluxe)

Continuing back towards Paris, you’ll dock in Mantes-la-Jolie, its riverside weeping willows watched over by a beautiful church that dates back to the 13th century. It’s also gateway to Versailles and its world-famous palace. An architectural marvel, its royal apartments are immaculately preserved, just as grand as when Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette fled in 1789. The Hall of Mirrors and the fountain-dotted gardens are particular highlights. Alternatively, your guided touring will bring you to Château de Malmaison – the home of Napoleon’s first empress, Josephine. Filled with Empire furnishings and ringed by grand gardens, it’s a truly royal step back in time.

Stay: Joie de Vivre (Deluxe)

Ending with a last night in Paris, you’ll have the choice of a trio of excursions. If it’s your first time visiting, perhaps get your bearings with cruise or bike ride along the Seine. But, for some more detail, join the ‘Do as the Locals Do’ tour. You’ll wander the narrow streets of the Latin Quarter to learn how, for centuries, artists, writers and the Sorbonne’s students have formed something of a bohemian enclave, where pictures are painted, politics argued and absinthe sipped. You’ll also enjoy an insider’s tour of the Notre Dame Cathedral, led by an architectural expert.

Stay: Joie de Vivre (Deluxe)

Disembarking the ship and head back back to Gare du Nord for your Eurostar trip back to London.