Seine River Cruise featuring Monet's Garden and the Gardens

Departing: May 2027 - May 2027

Join us on a relaxing cruise on the sinuous River Seine, into which we have woven a series of visits to the outstanding gardens of Normandy, including Monet’s garden at Giverny, which continues to enthral countless visitors more than 90 years after his death.

Other garden highlights include the Château de Mirosmesnil, which represents four centuries of harmonious architectural styles, and Le Vasterival, one of the finest gardens of its type and a lasting legacy of its creator, the Princess Sturdza. At the Jardin de Plume, we discover a natural yet structured contemporary garden in a typical Normandy orchard. We also enjoy a visit to France’s most iconic palace, the Château de Versailles. Waking up to a new view every day (without having to pack and unpack!) is always a lovely experience and combined with these wonderful gardens, this promises to be an unforgettable cruise holiday.

Included

Explore Giverny & Château de Mirosmesnil, with entrance fees included
All other visits as outlined in the itinerary
Professional Tour Manager
7 nights in a deck 1 outer cabin on the A-ROSA VIVA on a full-board plus basis: comprehensive breakfast, lunch & dinner buffets with live-cooking stations, embarkation snack, as well as daily tea & coffee time (cabin upgrades available)
Drinks included throughout the day: tea, coffee & coffee specialities, water, soft drinks, beer, prosecco, as well as a selection of wines (excluding premium drinks & spirits)
Return standard class rail travel from London St Pancras International to Paris. (First class upgrades and regional connections also available on request)
Private air-conditioned coach travel

Highlights

The incomparable gardens of Giverny, carefully maintained as Monet would have wished
Guided tour of the chapel, the castle and the gardens at Château de Mirosmesnil
Guided tour of the gardens at Le Vasterival
A taste of Normandy at a Calvados producer
Visit to the iconic Château de Versailles

Trevor Edwards

A horticulturist, garden designer and consultant with almost 50 years’ experience. He has led garden tours worldwide and lectured internationally on the Gardens of Ireland. A former garden centre owner, he is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Gardeners and Freeman of the City of London.

Tour Itinerary

We depart from London St Pancras International on the morning Eurostar service through the Channel Tunnel to Paris Gare du Nord (First class upgrades and regional connections also available on request). On arrival, we are met by our comfortable local coach and transfer to Musée de l’Orangerie des Tuileries, which is home to the series of two-metre high murals entitled Les Nymphéas, a sequence of impressions such as clouds, reflections and sunsets which Claude Monet installed between 1914 and 1918, when he was at the height of his extraordinary powers. Later, we transfer to our ship on the banks of the River Seine.

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: A-ROSA VIVA

As we sit down to breakfast this morning, the ship sails towards Rouen. After lunch on board, we depart for a visit to the Jardin de Plume. Since 1997, Sylvie and Patrick Quibel have been creating this natural yet structured contemporary garden in a typical Normandy orchard. Making generous use of grasses and perennials, the four-acre garden includes seasonal plantings, a central square mirror pool and a kitchen garden.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: A-ROSA VIVA

After breakfast, we depart by coach for the first of two garden visits today, Château de Miromesnil, which represents four centuries of harmonious architectural styles, including a rare example of Louis XIII monumental style. Of particular interest is the kitchen garden, restored forty years ago by the Comtesse de Vogüé, grandmother of the present owners. Separated by alleys made of grass, the squares are ordered with vegetables and flowers that contrast with the profusion of annual flowers on the sides. The surrounding park is dominated by a cedar of Lebanon, several centuries old, and there are also fruit trees, magnolias and a huge collection of clematis. A packed lunch is included today.

We continue to the nearby garden of Le Vasterival. In 1957, Princess Sturdza, a talented plantswoman, started to create this magnificent garden in a natural style covering seven hectares of acid soil, a kilometre from the sea. Princess Sturdza died in 2009 but the garden continues to thrive, with a huge range of plants which grow to perfection in its composted earth. Its informal design with paths, woodlands, glades and immaculate grass walks leading temptingly in all directions, contains a richness of flora in a variety of settings all year round. A guided tour is included here.

Afterwards, we re-join the ship at Rouen before sailing to Caudebec.

Meals: Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: A-ROSA VIVA

After breakfast, we depart for a visit to the Pegasus Bridge Memorial Museum, which pays tribute to the Anglo-Canadian 6th Airborne Division that captured and liberated the bridge here during the D-Day Landings of June 1944.

We then continue to the garden at Château de Canon at Mezidon-Canon, which was redesigned by a barrister who knew Horace Walpole. The layout is best understood as a French interpretation of the Augustan Style. Like Chiswick Park, it has an axis leading from the house across a grass parterre and an axial woodland ornamented with small temples, including The Temple de la Pleureuse and a Chinese pavilion.

We conclude today in Pont L’Evêque at the famous Calvados house of Père Magloire. Welcomed by the hostesses who accompany us to the Museum of Calvados and Old Trades, we are guided by the Cellar Master with the aid of the audio-visual presentation and have a visit to the cellars followed by a tasting in the shop. A packed lunch is included today.

Dinner is served on board in the evening as the ship sails for Les Andelys.

Meals: Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: A-ROSA VIVA

The morning is free to explore at your leisure as the ship is docked in the town of Les Andelys. During the early afternoon, the ship sails to Vernon. On arrival, we depart for nearby Giverny and the world-famous house and gardens of Claude Monet. Both the house and gardens have been lovingly and accurately restored – one would believe that the family have just gone out to walk in the garden. There is plenty of time to explore this marvellous garden at your leisure, followed by an opportunity to visit the little church where Monet is buried.

We return to our ship in time for dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: A-ROSA VIVA

Today is spent cruising the Seine, enjoying the panoramic scenery and the on-board facilities of our ship. We arrive in Paris in the early evening.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: A-ROSA VIVA

After breakfast, we depart for arguably one of France’s most iconic palaces, the Château de Versailles. We have a full day to explore the Royal Apartments, the Hall of Mirrors with 357 mirrors, where courtiers and illustrious guests were received at the time of Louis XIV, the Chapel, the Royal Opera and the Museum of the History of France. Outside, the world-famous gardens, which were again designed by André le Nôtre, are also the largest museum of outdoor sculptures in the world, with a total of 221 pieces. The waterbed comprises two large pools which reflect light and illuminate the façade of the Hall of Mirrors. The Northern Parterre is divided into two, each side centred around a circular pool.

We later return to the ship for our final evening on board.

Meals: Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: A-ROSA VIVA

After breakfast on board, we disembark and transfer to the Gare du Nord for our Eurostar train back to London, where we expect to arrive in the evening.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation

Accommodating up to 202 passengers, A-ROSA VIVA offers comfortable outside-facing cabins feature a private bathroom with shower, bathrobe, TV, hairdryer and onboard Wi-Fi (payable). Main deck cabins have a picture window, whilst upper decks have Juliette balconies.

The spacious sun deck boasts a heated Jacuzzi, sun loungers, a putting green, shuffleboard and a giant chess board. The restaurant offers all meals, either served or gourmet buffet dining, and there’s also the chance to enjoy al fresco dining afternoon tea and snacks. Relax in the panoramic lounge and bar area, enjoy regular entertainment or head to the relaxing A-ROSA SPA, fitness room and relaxation areas.

Please note: there is no lift on board, so access between decks is only by stairs.