AmaWaterways 2023 Paris & Normandy (Paris to Paris) 5/18/23

[Glassishalffull]

Debbie from KY signing in.  Anyone out here have any tips for must see or must do?  This is my first river cruise and I have sailed many times on the larger ships but making memories on the Seine this time.  Any thoughts or input would be great.

[Lois R]

Welcome to River Cruising.😀 I have not been on this itinerary but I have been on 2 river cruises (and probably 70 ocean cruises).  Anyway, a river cruise is NOTHING like an ocean cruise so just go with an open mind. This is much smaller and you normally dock right there in town and walk off the riverboat and taaa daaa.......you are there😀 during the day, you will be given options for your tours and will most likely be off the riverboat for the entire day. It is quite casual, there are no shows or casinos on board. Sometimes they may have a musician in the evening (pianist, guitar), something like that. 

 

Hopefully someone who has sailed your itinerary will chime in........actually, I am wanting to do this one too but for later in the summer. My first river cruise was with AMA....excellent choice!😀 I hope you have a wonderful time!

 

[Canal archive]

Glassishalffull hopefully our Host Jazzbeau sees your question as I cannot remember how to access his report on his Scenic Seine cruise last year it will give you a superb insight in what is available.

I did it 9 years ago and will be doing it again this July both times with Scenic. 
Giverney the home of Claude Monet a must, get there early, Rouen for Joan of Arc beautiful city. The history is mind blowing from the Vikings - Rolo the Walker to WW1 & 11, the foods pretty good, well it is France and the Cider is excellent nearly up to Somerset standard.

[Host Jazzbeau]

Thanks for the mention.  Here is my report on the Scenic 10-night Seine cruise:

 

Note that the excursion offerings will be different on AMA, especially those that featured Richard the Lionheart, Rollo the Walker, and the WWI doughboy [as only Scenic took up that guide's offer].

[Coral]

I recently did Normandy on an ocean cruise and it ranks as one of the most powerful sites I have been to (others include WWII memorial sites).

 

I have been on a few river cruises and a ton of ocean cruises. I agree with comment to keep an open mind as they are 2 different beasts. Both are good!

[Got2Cruise]

If you want to get to the top of the Eiffel Tower or see the Mona Lisa at the Louvre book a beat the line tour. I always have good luck thru Viator.com

[Canal archive]

We toured a cider farm sat on the contraption being towed by the tractor whilst we were inside tasting their excellent product it started to rain this I spied through the window, nor a sight you see often. 

On Scenic Gem 2014

 

Edited February 26, 2023 by Canal archive

[Coral]

5 hours ago, Canal archive said:

We toured a cider farm sat on the contraption being towed by the tractor whilst we were inside tasting their excellent product it started to rain this I spied through the window, nor a sight you see often. 

On Scenic Gem 2014

 

That picture was used in the @notamermaid's contest during COVID. Right?

[Canal archive]

Note to self, yes must mark used - remember.

[tulok]

I was on the Normandy river cruise with Uniworld in 2021, and I am going again on AMA in August. I loved the itinerary. Monet’s house is not to be missed. The beaches and Memorial are bittersweet. The shopping in Rouen was the best I have had in France. Honfleur was beautiful but very crowded and a lot of tourist shops. This is my 8th trip to Paris. I love the city. I am going again because my husband didn’t get to go with me in 2021 so we wanted to go after all the pictures. I never turn down a river cruise. This is my first AMA and I have heard only good things.

Edited March 4, 2023 by tulok
misspelled

[Lois R]

1 hour ago, tulok said:

I was on the Normandy river cruise with Uniworld in 2021, and I am going again on AMA in August. I loved the itinerary. Monet’s house is not to be missed. The beaches and Memorial are bittersweet. The shopping in Rouen was the best I have had in France. Honfleur was beautiful but very crowded and a lot of tourist shops. This is my 8th trip to Paris. I love the city. I am going again because my husband didn’t get to go with me in 2021 so we wanted to go after all the pictures. I never turn down a river cruise. This is my first AMA and I have heard only good things.

Thanks for the photos!.😀...so, tell me, how did you like the Uniworld cruise? I have sailed with them once on a different itinerary and loved them. I am now in the middle of trying to decide if i want to sail with them again to Paris or try another line........such decisions LOL.......You must really love Paris!

This will be my first time there.

[Coral]

On 2/27/2023 at 3:06 AM, Canal archive said:

Note to self, yes must mark used - remember.

Nothing wrong with re-using it 🙂 

[Canal archive]

Lois R I suspect other cruise lines do the same thing but the reasons I’ve kept on using Scenic are - I like their product - and they alter their excursions from year to year. We’ve so far repeated two of their tours and never repeated an excursion, we’re off to the Seine this year same thing. Also my DH feels comfortable in familiar surroundings, for a man who traveled the world for work he’s now got very picky with his travel requirements.

[Coral]

On 3/4/2023 at 7:54 AM, Lois R said:

Thanks for the photos!.😀...so, tell me, how did you like the Uniworld cruise? I have sailed with them once on a different itinerary and loved them. I am now in the middle of trying to decide if i want to sail with them again to Paris or try another line........such decisions LOL.......You must really love Paris!

This will be my first time there.

Lois - regardless of what line you pick, I would spend a few days exploring Paris. I think you are retired (if my memory serves me correctly). I can't imagine being in the area and not spending 3 days there minimum. I had said previously - I had a cruise planned to end there for my 50th and had booked 2 nights (after a 25 night cruise - TA plus British Isles). After trying to figure out how what to do there, I wished I had planned more time but I am still working and couldn't be gone that long. This was for April of 2020 and obviously got cancelled.

[tulok]

On 3/4/2023 at 7:54 AM, Lois R said:

Thanks for the photos!.😀...so, tell me, how did you like the Uniworld cruise? I have sailed with them once on a different itinerary and loved them. I am now in the middle of trying to decide if i want to sail with them again to Paris or try another line........such decisions LOL.......You must really love Paris!

This will be my first time there.

I have been on 3 Uniworld cruises and they are wonderful. I like the all-inclusive. The only other I have been on is Viking and even though it was a wonderful cruise, I get tired of the “cabin number or name” question. For the price difference, they were very close to the Viking end price.

I am excited to try Ama. 

And yes, I love Paris. So much to see and do and eat.

[tribbs1]

I have sailed the Seine Paris to Normandy with AMA and it was truly amazing.  We have spent time in Paris before so if you do I recommend securing skip the line passes to the Louvre or the Musee d’Orsay.  If you can swing it, Palace of Versailles is incredible. Our group spent 6 hours there - mostly wandering the beautiful gardens.  In Giverny you will go to Monet’s house and gardens which is iconic.  In Rouen you have the chance to find out more about Joan of Arc.  If you don’t mind hiking there is a hike up a hill at the top of the city that has wonderful views.  Honfleur was enchanting, but the highlight of the cruise was the Normandy beaches and the American cemetery.  AMA does a flower dedication at the cemetery and it was one of the most moving things I have ever been a part of.  

[SCHappilyRetired]

On 2/24/2023 at 8:02 AM, Glassishalffull said:

Debbie from KY signing in.  Anyone out here have any tips for must see or must do?  This is my first river cruise and I have sailed many times on the larger ships but making memories on the Seine this time.  Any thoughts or input would be great.

Since we have done Normandy on an ocean cruise, we decided to skip this river cruise and branch out to areas we have not been to so I can't help you on that end.  I CAN highly recommend AMA Waterways.  We have never been disappointed.