Arrive at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport for your transfer to the first-class River Baroness. We will check into our staterooms, and relax onboard the ship. Lunch snacks are available to enjoy midday. Tonight we will have a welcome gathering where you will meet Pam Holland and your Sew Many Places escort. We will enjoy dinner together and settle in for a good night sleep. L, D

This morning, following breakfast, our cruise ship docks in the town of LES ANDELYS. Les Andelys was of considerable strategic importance during the Middle Ages, prompting King Richard the Lionheart to build a fortified castle to protect the Duchy of Normandy from the French King Phillip II in the 12th century. We will walk the English king’s stronghold and admire the remains of the impressive Chateau Gaillard. This evening we are back onboard and our ship will sail to the town of ROUEN. B, L, D

Following breakfast this morning, we will visit the charming city of ROUEN, the historical capital city of Normandy. Because of Normandy’s proximity to the sea, it has been the site of many conflicts and battles, including the famous D-Day Invasion by the Allied forces during World War II. Before visiting the beaches of Normandy, we will travel to the town of Bayeux, where you can appreciate the Medieval depiction of the Battle of Hastings on a tapestry dating from the 11th Century, which Pam is recreating as her legacy. The original tapestry was created by one of Pam’s ancestors. Afterward, you will visit places that are haunting reminders of the Allies’ hard fight for freedom – the American Cemetary at Colleville sur Mer, the Allied landing sites at Omaha Beach, and Mulberry Harbor at Arromanches. We will return to the ship later this evening. The ship will remain in Rouen overnight. B, D

After breakfast, we will enjoy a walking tour of Rouen. Our visit to Rouen will take you to the stunning Gothic cathedral; the haunting medieval quarter with its half-timbered, slate tile roofs; and the Gros Horloge, a Renaissance clock tower that arches overhead. The walk ends at Vieux Marche, where Joan of Arc was punished for her defiance. After lunch we will gather with Pam for an enlightening class based up the tapestry. B, L, D

Following a hearty breakfast, we travel overland to HONFLEUR, a charming French harbor town favored by artists such as Gustave Courbet and Claude Monet. You will enjoy a guided walking tour from the former smuggler’s harbor of Vieux Bassin, the most frequently painted scene in Honfleur, where the fishing village backdrop is seemingly unchanged from over 500 years ago – through the pedestrian streets to St. Catherine’s Church. This afternoon after lunch, we will meet with Pam to learn more about the tapestry. B, L, D

Today, following breakfast, we will visit Monet’s home in his beloved village of Giverny, where he lived for 43 years until his death in 1926. We will explore Monet’s house, furnished as it was when the leader of the Impressionist school lived here, including his precious collection of Japanese engravings. Strolling the gardens, we will see the familiar Japanese bridge and water garden shaded by weeping willows, with its pond still full of water lilies that so inspired the artists work. This evening we will set sail for Paris. B, L, D

Today, following breakfast, we will enjoy a city tour of Paris. We begin our tour with a drive up the grand boulevard Champs – Elysees and past the Arc de Triomphe. We will stop for a photo opportunity at the Eiffel Tower before continuing to Place Vendome, Hotel de Ville, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Latin Quarter. Then it is on to Les Invalides, the Lourve courtyard, and the Luxembourg Gardens, where you will see a slice of daily Parisian life – gentleman playing boules and children sailing boats on the glassy pond – as well as view Bartholdi’s model for the Statue of Liberty. We will return back to our cruise ship where the remainder of the evening is free to enjoy at your leisure. Please note: Because the ship is docked in Paris, you may use it as a hotel and explore the city of Paris at night. B, L, D

This morning, following breakfast, we pack our luggage and disembark from the River Baroness and transfer back to the Charles de Gaulle airport. For anyone that is interested we are offering an optional 2-night package in Paris to visit the Fabric District. B