Uniworld Parisian Holiday over the Christmas / New Years Holiday

So I am currently in planning mode (recently off AMA Danube sailing over Christmas/New Years) for 2018 and this sailing caught my eye. There is a sailing that leaves on 12/20 and then one on 12/27. Thinking the first which sails over Christmas will impact the two days (possibly 3) in Paris (12/24 and 12/25 and 12/26) because of the holiday - closed shops, sites, etc..... whereas sailing over New Years may not impact the shops, sites as much on 12/31 and 1/1? Would love to hear from anyone who has sailed this itinerary over either of these Holidays and your experiences. Loved AMA and from the research I have been doing looks like Uniworld will be a comparable experience.

Thanks so much!

The official public holidays are just the 25th December and 1st January.

The Louvre for example closes a little earlier at 5pm on the 24th and 31st December, but that is all.

We did a similar river cruise several years ago, it didn’t include Paris but started in Lyon, ended in Marseille and began on December 27. While we had a great time, met many people on our ship, etc, not much was open in the port towns. Nada, zip, zilch. In one town a pottery shop decided to open for a few hours and everyone ran to it like bees to honey, needless to say they probably made a killing-money wise but if you want shopping and dining, this may not be the best time.

Like I said, it was a great trip but very quiet and we’d think long and hard about traveling thru France during this time of year. This is only my opinion. Enjoy your travels and planning.

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