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Cruise Information

TRIP OVERVIEW
Embrace the holiday season with a taste of Joyeux Noel. Explore Paris, France’s twinkling “City of Light.” Sail through the snow covered landscapes of Normandy’s country and admire the scenes of fairy-tales villages along the way. Enjoy the scented aroma of mulled wine and roasted chestnuts amid a festive backdrop of Christmas markets. Onboard festivities include regional dining specialties, seasonal treats and more to celebrate the holidays. 
 

What’s included:
One complimentary short excursion in every port of call
Free Wi-Fi
Beer, wine and soft drinks with onboard lunch and dinner
24-hour specialty coffees, teas and bottled water
Port taxes and fee
Visits to UNESCO sites
Enrichment lectures and Destination Performances
Cultural Curriculum
Means including regional specialties
Most al fresco dining on the rivers
Walking track and sports deck
24 – hour guest services
Welcome cocktails and farewell dinner
Curated Library
 

All state rooms include:
Outside staterooms with river view
Bottled Water replenished daily
Voltage: 220V and 110V plus USB ports
Queen size Viking Explorer Bed with optional twin bed configuration
All Upper and Middle Desk Staterooms have a full veranda or French Balcony
Private bathroom with shower, heated floor and anti-fog mirror
40” or 42” flat screen TV with infotainment system
Telephone, safe, refrigerator, hair dryer and individual climate control
 

Pricing per person based on double occupancy:
Standard – prices starting at $2,799 per person based on double occupancy
French Balcony – prices starting at $3,299 per person based on double occupancy
Veranda– prices starting at $3,799 per person based on double occupancy
 

Available dates for 2023: December 3rd, 5th, 10th, 12, 17th, and 19th
 

Rates are per person, cruise only. Air, insurance and transfers are additional. Government fees and taxes are included and fuel charge may be additional per person. Travel insurance is highly recommended. Not responsible for publishing/printing errors.
 

MEMBERSHIP CREDITS CANNOT BE USED FOR THIS VACATION 

 

Itineraries are subject to change; port sequence, scheduled time, and/or day.  For the most updated cruise information, please visit www.vikingrivercruises.com.
 

Itinerary

Day 1 – Paris, France
Embark your ship and settle into your stateroom. Long a hub of French culture and cuisine, Paris is one of the most romantic destinations in the world. Over the centuries, Parisian culture has been built on the wings of inspiration. Music, film, architecture, literature, dance and the visual arts all have their brilliant place in the museums, theaters, bookstores and remarkably preserved buildings of this magnificent city. At the center of it all is the Champs-Élysées. With its inviting riverside promenade, graceful bridges and splendid views of all things Parisian, from the Eiffel Tower to the Louvre Museum. 

 

Day 2 – Paris, France
Paris’s landmarks come alive during the Christmas season as twinkling lights adorn the city’s streets. Shop windows are a grand affair, depicting scenes from fairy tales, Santa Claus and his workshop, or a snowy winter wonderland. While it rarely snows in Paris, there is always the chance of a dusting, adding to the magical atmosphere. From November on, leading department stores, including Galeries Lafayette and Printemps, present their seasonal displays, often featuring clever animation; their grand openings are hotly anticipated each year. 

 

Day 3 – Vernon, France and Scenic Sailing: Seine river
Vernon is a charming provincial town. Its cobblestone streets are reminiscent of the Middle Ages, and some of its half-timbered houses feature magnificent wooden carvings. The town was founded by the Viking Rollo in the 9th century, where an island in the Seine made for easy crossings. Because of its importance as a transit point between Paris and Rouen, the town was well fortified and frequently besieged. Ruins of its old medieval bridge still linger on the Seine’s right bank. The remains of La Château des Tourelles are the last surviving witness to that era.
The Seine meanders through the mellow vistas of Normandy. As it makes its sleepy and serpentine way to the English Channel, it winds along for 240 miles from Paris, more than doubling the distance of a crow’s flight. As you sail, fertile fields unfurl toward groves of apple orchards, sources of the region’s famed calvados apple brandy. Norman cows graze the grassy meadows that help produce creamy Brie and Camembert. You will also gaze upon picturesque villages and historic abbeys on these bucolic banks. 

 

Day 4 – Caudebec-en-Caux, France
Caudebec-en-Caux is a picturesque town with quaint houses lining the banks of the Seine River. It is known for its Gothic-style church of Notre Dame, which features ornate stone carvings and impressive stained glass windows. The town also features some of Normandy’s oldest buildings; the Maison des Templiers, built in the 12th-13th centuries, and the 14th century old prison, which is now a charming stone house. The nearby Abbey of St. Wandrille was one of the first Benedictine abbeys in Normandy and has remained an important spiritual center since its founding.
Day 5 – Rouen, France
The landmarks and streets of Rouen are aglow with twinkling lights during Advent. Half-timbered houses don decorative displays along the pedestrianized Rue du Gros Horloge and the city’s main squares play host to street performers. At the Place du Vieux Marché, skaters perfect their skills on the ice rink, while at Cathedral Square, more than 70 market stalls form the annual Christmas market. Square Verdrel, by the Fine Arts Museum, transforms into a winter wonderland bringing a magical atmosphere to its landscaped green spaces. 

 

Day 6 – Les Andelys, France
Les Andelys is best known for its imposing castle overlooking the city, the Château Gaillard. Built in 1196 by Richard the Lionheart, the castle and the village’s strategic location bolstered the importance of Les Andelys throughout the Middle Ages. The town also gained notice for its Sainte Clotilde Miraculous Spring, where the wife of the first Frankish king, Clovis, turned well water into wine to serve the builders of her Benedictine monastery. Europe’s devout, upon hearing of the act, flocked here on pilgrimages until the end of the 19th century. 

 

Day 7 – Paris, France
Parisian Christmas markets are filled with good cheer as mulled wine, roasted chestnuts and tasty morsels of cheese and chocolate are served across the city. Tuileries Garden is the largest marché de Noël in Paris, combining traditional market stall offerings with carnival themed attractions. Its Ferris wheel offers a prime spot to view the city from above. The charming Montmartre district offers the perfect place to shop for unique handcrafted gifts, while the Hôtel de Ville provides a stunning backdrop to its stalls, bathing its neoclassical facade in twinkling lights. 

 

Day 8 – Paris, France
One of the most pleasurable activities in Paris is whiling away the time in one of the city’s outdoor cafés. Whether you are sipping a café au lait or a kir royale, there is no better way to feel like a Parisian. The hub of social and culinary life, cafés have been part of the city’s fabric since the 1600s. During the 20th century, literary and artistic figures—such as Ernest Hemingway, Colette and Pablo Picasso—famously met over drinks to share their works and ideas. Today, thousands of cafés line the pavements and squares to connect with France’s culture and history. After breakfast, disembark your ship and journey home.
 

Ship Information

Ship: Fjorgyn

Norse mythology’s Mother Earth, Fjorgyn has been associated with the start of the growing season, when Norway’s soils were nurtured for planting seeds. She was the mother of Thor, the mighty thunder god and son of Odin. As such, she was also an adversary of Odin’s wife Frigg. • Only 168 guests • Crew: 46 • Length: 410 feet • Year built: 2020