This River Cruise offers a unique and scenic way to explore the beautiful region of Normandy in France and the iconic city of Paris. You start in Paris, where you'll have the opportunity to explore landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and the Louvre Museum. From Paris, you'll embark on your river cruise along the Seine River, making stops at charming towns and cities along the way. One of the highlights of this itinerary is a visit to the historic region of Normandy, where you can explore the picturesque countryside, visit the D-Day landing beaches, and experience the rich history and culture of the area.

Including all meals with complimentary wine or beer with dinner, this cruise promises a delightful journey through the heart of France. Leave right from Champaign and unpack once. Enjoy a $200 per person discount when you pay your balance by check.

• Paris City Tour • Full Day Historic Normandy Tour - WWII D-Day Landing Beaches incl. Omaha, Colleville Cemetery and WWII Museum • Auvers-sur-Oise Tour with Chateau D'Auvers Museum • Rouen Walking Tour • Etretat Tour - Normandy Coast & Village • Paris Extended Port Stay 7 Night Cruise - Outside Cabin- Amadeus Diamond 

PARIS Paris, the "City of Light," is the world's most visited capital. Enjoy a Paris City Tour to see the beloved landmarks that line the Seine, including the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre, and the Eiffel Tower. Also, see the majestic Arc de Triomphe and ride along the Champs-Élysées. During your leisure afternoon, maybe wander the historic banks of the Seine, which are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

CONFLANS - AUVERS-SUR-OISE Visit the village of Auvers-sur-Oise, an inspiration to many of the famous Impressionist masters, including Cezanne, Pissarro & Daubigny. The most famous of these artists is Vincent van Gogh. See Auberge Ravoux, where Van Gogh lived. See his final resting place & where he was inspired to create nearly 80 canvases. Experience a multimedia museum journey about the great masters at the Chateau D'Auvers featuring over 500 paintings set in motion with sound effects & period music. 

ROUEN Enjoy a Rouen Walking Tour, including a visit to the magnificent cathedral that inspired Claude Monet, and the modern Church of Joan of Arc with its wonderful 16th-century stained-glass windows. Rouen is known as Museum Town for its many museums, was important in the Roman era and Middle Ages, and features a cobblestoned pedestrian center with medieval half-timbered houses.

LE HAVRE - ETRETAT A UNESCO World Heritage Site & important port, Le Havre, sits where the Seine River meets the English Channel. The harbor was destroyed in World War Il and was rebuilt. Enjoy an Etretat Tour to explore the famous Normandy coastline featuring cliff-top paths for views of steep chalk rocks with impressive needle-like formations, which have inspired many well-known artists. Enjoy some leisure time in the attractive seaside village of Etretat. 

HISTORIC NORMANDY TOUR Discover Normandy on this full-day tour featuring many historic landmarks. Visit Pointe du Hoc, site of a German artillery unit where the US Army climbed 100-foot cliffs. Stop at Omaha Beach, the most famous of the five code-named beaches. Visit Colleville Sur Mer, an American Cemetery where over 9,000 American troops are laid to rest. Enjoy lunch before a visit to a World War Il Museum to learn more about the landings, battles, and liberation of this region. 

LES ANDELYS - SEINE CRUISING This morning, stop in the little town of Les Andelys in the shadow of Chateau Gaillard, one-time home to Richard the Lionheart. An amazing optional will be available to visit nearby Giverny, home to Impressionist Claude Monet, where you see Monet's House & wander his Garden. The optional makes a photo stop at Chateau Gaillard. After a long day to Normandy, today is the perfect day to relax onboard for a half or full day & enjoy the passing Seine scenery and ship amenities.

We want our guests to feel comfortable, which is why there is no binding dress code on board. We recommend elegant clothing for dinner and for special occasions.

What to pack: The following items are essential for any destination: sunglasses, sunscreen, hat, and umbrella. In the colder months we suggest to bring a warm scarf, gloves and waterproof shoes. It is recommended that you bring duplicates of prescription eyewear, copies of prescriptions for any medications (generic equivalents are usually easier to obtain), copies of credit card information, and copies of your passport information pages.

An adapter/transformer may be necessary (the on-board power supply is 230V AC/50 Hz) if you bring any electronic devices with you. A travel alarm clock is helpful as is a currency converter if you want to purchase any souvenirs on excursions. If you want to send postcards, do not forget to note the addresses of the recipients.

Clothing: Comfortable, casual clothing is appropriate both onshore and onboard and we suggest lightweight clothing that can be layered. Shorts are appropriate for most tours, however long pants may be required for inside visits on some excursions. Your cruise manager will advise when and if this is required. Mix-and-match color schemes work best to help keep baggage light. You will find a significant amount of walking over uneven terrain during your time ashore. We recommend comfortable walking shoes with good ankle support. Sturdy sandals are another good option.

Don’t forget to pack a lightweight, waterproof jacket (preferably hooded) or even a heavier-weight wind-breaker for cooler temperatures. Also, keep in mind that the ship, motor coaches and other venues visited on our itinerary are air conditioned and may be quite cool. We recommend you that you pack a lightweight sweater or long sleeve shirts and carry them with you on excursions.

*Price is per person based on room occupancy chosen. Premier World Discovery operates the tour as a disclosed principal. The deposit is $1099 per person. The tour balance is due 7/29/24 with a discount of $200 per person if paid by paper check or e-check via WeTravel.

• The document required is a valid passport valid through 2/6/25. • Insurance coverage included is Premier’s TPP; for coverage details, see premierworlddiscovery.com/tpp.html covering cancellation charges; other terms at steviejaytravel.com/terms are incorporated by reference. • A local host is provided only from Champaign to Chicago O’Hare Airport to get you checked in for your flight, but not as a host on the tour. Price and details are subject to change. If you do not want to be covered by the included Travel Protection Plan (TPP), enter the discount code NO-INSUR for a $499 per person reduction when booking. Category availability subject to confirmation.

EASY 1 (2) 3 4 ACTIVE. On a scale of 1 to 4, the tour is a 2, easier than average.

Level 1: The tour operates at a very leisurely pace and involves some minimal physical activity such as climbing stairs, boarding a motorcoach, walking into a museum or other venue and walking from the hotel reception area to hotel rooms and dining areas.

Level 2: This tour requires average physical activity. You should be in good health, able to walk some stairs and walk reasonable distances, possibly over uneven ground and cobblestoned streets.

Level 3: This tour includes moderate physical activity. The itinerary blends some longer days with shorter days. You should be in good health, able to walk a flight of stairs or more and participate in walking tours or nature walks possibly over uneven ground and cobblestoned streets with periods of standing.  There could be some early and late activities, and temperature and altitude changes.

Level 4: This tour is active, requiring participants to be good physical shape to fully enjoy the experiences. This itinerary has more activities which may include such things as longer walking tours over uneven ground, transfers over uneven and dusty terrain, high altitudes or very early morning departures. All conditions do not apply to all days, so please read the itinerary carefully and speak to one of our Reservations Coordinators to determine if this tour is right for you. Unfortunately, this tour is not appropriate for individuals who use wheelchairs, scooters, walkers or similar equipment. 

 The Premier Compass Club rewards our valued guests with special recognition and a Compass Club Loyalty Credit on future tours and cruises. Guests who have completed a trip will automatically be enrolled and receive an additional $100 per person or $200 per couple Compass Club Loyalty Credit applied to their next Premier World Discovery tour or River Cruise. Loyalty Credit is valid for 24 months from your last tour.

FULL REFUND if sick and unable to travel*, or canceling for any reason, get a 75% credit towards a future Premier World Discovery tour later in the year (the latter applies up to 48 hours before scheduled departure). The included Travel Protection Plan costs $499 per person and is not refundable.

The Travel Protection Plan also includes Post-Departure coverages for Trip Interruption and Delay, Baggage/Personal Effects and Delay, Emergency Accident/Sickness Medical Expense, Emergency Evacuation/Repatriation of Remains, Accidental Death and Dismemberment, Non-Insurance and Emergency Travel Assistance Services 24/7. 

premierworlddiscovery.com/tpp.html 

*You are also covered if there is a death in the immediate family.

Three meals daily are served graciously in the exquisite restaurant and feature local & international specialties. All dinners are four courses and are served with included Hand Selected Wines, Beer, and Soft drinks. While dining, you have splendid views of the passing scenic landscapes through the large picture windows. Enjoy afternoon and/or late evening snacks in the lounge based on the daily schedule.

Book securely online 24/7* by clicking the green button, or call Bill Owen at 217 619-0202 or Mary Beth at 217 840-8724. Or mail a deposit check to Stevie Jay Travel, 4413 Trostshire Cir, Champaign, IL 61820. 

*Credit cards or "e-checks" from a checking account are welcomed and entered securely on WeTravel.

Seine Riverboat (7) Amadeus Diamond. The language on board is English. 

THE SHIP - MS AMADEUS DIAMOND The 144-passenger MS Amadeus Diamond has been a highlight of the fleet since 2009 and is the new jewel of the French waterways after its complete renovation in 2019. The refresh upgraded both the interior of the ship and the ship’s technology. The Diamond travels exclusively along the Seine and allows guests to experience the charm of northern France in an unforgettable way. The extensive Restaurant and the Panorama Bar offer divine views of the passing riverscapes. The 60-staterooms & 12-suites are bright, modern and provide a wonderful private space to enjoy your river cruise. The attentive English Speaking onboard service staff will see to your comfort with typical European hospitality. The beauty of river cruising is that the most interesting destinations come to you. This Diamond charter features English-only onboard commentary with inclusive sightseeing excursions balanced with choice to simply relax onboard during your leisure time or add sightseeing with optional excursions. The ship offers countless choices for your leisure time including a putting green, fitness studio, massage facilities & quiet spaces to escape with a book.

COMFORTABLE & MODERN STATEROOMS After boarding, unpack once. All staterooms onboard offer excellent river views and are bright, modern and inviting giving you a space of your own with all the amenities and pleasant touches of an upscale hotel. The Mozart & Strauss Decks feature suites and staterooms with French Balconies. Staterooms on the Haydn Deck have a fixed window. Each stateroom is fully equipped with comfortable & modern furnishings including flat screen TV, individual heating/air conditioning controls, safe, phone, hair dryer and a private bathroom with shower.

An elevator operates between all three decks with all staterooms and suites. The elevator does not go up to the top, Sun Deck.

Board our vehicle in Champaign to Chicago. Board our overnight flight to Paris.

More Photos includes a larger map in the Photo Gallery at the bottom of the webpage

Meet your PWD Tour Director - Transfer to your ship. Board the MS Amadeus Diamond for your 7 Night Seine River Cruise. Enjoy a Welcome Drink & Welcome Dinner onboard - Ship departs Paris this evening. (D)

Photo: Restaurant aboard MS Amadeus

Morning - Cruising - Arrive in Conflans. Afternoon - Auvers-sur-Oise Excursion Village of Van Gogh. 

Visit the village of Auvers-sur-Oise, an inspiration to many of the famous Impressionist masters including Cezanne, Pissarro & Daubigny. The most famous of these artists is Vincent van Gogh. See Auberge Ravoux, where Van Gogh lived. See his final resting place & where he was inspired to create nearly 80 canvases.

Experience a multimedia museum journey about the great masters at the Château D’Auvers featuring over 500 paintings set in motion with sound effects & period music. (B,L,S,D)

Meals included are each day noted with the initials of Breakfast, Lunch, Snack, and Dinner.

Photo: Château d'Auvers sur Oise

Morning - Rouen Walking Tour (Museum Town). Afternoon - Explore Rouen on your own - Ship departs late afternoon.

Enjoy a Rouen Walking Tour including a visit to the magnificent cathedral that

inspired Claude Monet, and the modern Church of Joan of Arc with its wonderful

16th-century stained-glass windows. Rouen is known as Museum Town for its

many museums, was important in the Roman era and Middle Ages, and features a

cobblestoned pedestrian center with medieval half-timbered houses. (B,L,S,D)

Photo: Great clock, Gros Horloge, of Rouen, Normandy

Morning - Étretat Tour (Walk along the Normandy Coastline & scenic village). Afternoon at Leisure or Optional Excursion to Honfleur

A UNESCO World Heritage Site & important port, Le Havre, sits where the Seine

River meets the English Channel. The harbor was destroyed in World War II and was

rebuilt. 

Enjoy a Etretat Tour to explore the famous Normandy coastline featuring

cliff-top paths for views of steep chalk rocks with impressive needlelike formations,

which have inspired many well-known artists. Enjoy some leisure time in the

attractive seaside village of Etretat. (B,L,S,D)

Photo: Etretat's alabaster coast

Full Day Tour of Historic Normandy with Lunch (WWII D-Day Landing

Beaches incl. Omaha Beach, American Cemetery Colleville & WWII Museum.)

Discover Normandy on this full-day tour featuring the Allies' Operation Overlord and the invasion of D-Day. Visit Pointe du Hoc, site of a German artillery unit where the US Army climbed 100 foot cliffs. Stop at Omaha Beach, the most famous of the five code named beaches. 

Visit Colleville Sur Mer, an American Cemetery where over 9,000 American troops are laid to rest. Enjoy lunch before a visit to a World War II Museum to learn more about the landings, battles and liberation of this region. (B,L,S,D)

Photo: Omaha Beach

Morning - Cruising or Optional Excursion to Monet’s House & Garden. Afternoon - Relax & Seine River Cruising. Gala Farewell Dinner Onboard

This morning stop in the little town of Les Andelys in the shadow of Chateau Gaillard, one time home to Richard the Lionheart. An optional tour will be available to visit nearby Giverny, home to Impressionist Claude Monet, where you see Monet’s House & wander his Garden. Then the option makes a photo stop at Chateau Gaillard. 

After a long day to Normandy, today is the perfect day to relax onboard for a half or full day & enjoy the passing Seine scenery and ship amenities. (B,L,S,D)

Photo: Les-Andelys

Morning - Paris City Tour - Afternoon at Leisure in Paris to explore. Optional Excursion - Montmarte Walking Tour. Final Dinner Onboard in Paris - Ship Docked overnight in Paris.

Paris, the “City of Light” is the world’s most visited capital. Enjoy a Paris City Tour to see the beloved landmarks that line the Seine including the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower. Also see the majestic Arc de Triomphe and ride along the Champs-Élysées. 

During your leisure afternoon maybe wander the historic banks of the Seine which are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (B,L,S,D)

Photo: The Eiffel Tower and River Seine at sunset

We are taken to the airport with wonderful memories of Paris and cruise on the River Seine. Board our same-day flight back to Illinois. On arrival, we are taken back to Champaign. (B)

Photo: MS Amadeus Diamond, our floating hotel hosts just 146 guests with impeccable Austrian hospitality