This 7-night cruise aboard AmaWaterways’ AmaDante ship was titled Impressions of the Seine & Paris. It started in Le Havre and ended in Paris. AmaWaterways provided a private car to take us from the airport to the port. It was a pleasant, 2 1/2 hour ride and we rode with a delightful young man who had never been outside of the United States. Throughout the cruise, we checked in on Nick and were his self-imposed guardians.
The AmaDante holds 140 passengers and this cruise was full. If you’ve never been on a river cruise, expect to see your fellow cruisemates often. You can’t help but run into each other in the lounge, dining area, hallway or on shore excursions. The dining room offers seating at a set time and many guests are given the option to dine with others. It’s a fantastic way to meet new people!
My first port call on this cruise was a sobering visit to the Normandy Beaches. I was truly amazed by the historical significance of this area. The dedicated French government takes such great care of the cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer. You can really feel their gratitude for the thousands of brave young servicemen and 4 women who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect their country. Our guide shared a respectful and engaging narration about Omaha Beach, and we also explored the artillery battery at Longues-sur-Mer and the charming village of Arromanches, where you can still see remnants of the floating harbor used during the WWII landings. The cloudy, overcast skies lent to the fitting serenity of this memorial.
I enjoyed my time in the Normandy region of France. We visited several impressive churches, traveled through scenic countryside, and toured Claude Monet’s house and garden. It’s worth noting that many cathedrals are named Notre Dame, which translates to “Our Lady,” honoring Mary, the Mother of Jesus. The Gothic architecture is impressive. Strolling through medieval Rouen was interesting, especially learning the tragic story about Joan of Arc and seeing where she was executed. Food lovers should check out the restaurant La Couronne where Julia Child had her first memorable meal, which started her journey into French cuisine.
The French Renaissance era could easily compete with a bestselling romance novel, starring King Henri II and his enchanting mistress Diane de Poitiers. Imagine a love story where Henri, already tethered to Catherine de’ Medici, decided to gift a whole chateau, Chateau d’Anet, to Diane—his older, wiser woman who had 20 years on him! She exited life at 66 in 1566, and it was later discovered that she routinely drank liquid gold to preserve her youthful glow. This splendid chateau is still standing and has doubled as a star in films like Thunderball, The Pink Panther Strikes Again, and Mary Queen of Scots. Now that’s what I call historical drama! 
And just like that, our week-long cruise on the Seine was wrapping up. I’m really glad we picked the route that kicked off in Le Havre and finished in Paris instead of the other way around. It started off with some serene vibes and wrapped up with a bang as we watched the Eiffel Tower sparkle at night. The captain brought us as close to the famous landmark as he could, and it was so cool to see it from a different angle!
###
Wow Val, another great blog, thank you for sharing your journey with us! This makes me want to visit Monet’s home as I love his art and his gardens are so inspirational for a lot of his paintings! I can’t wait for you next blog, and keep it up!