Consider a river cruise in France for a multi-generational way to experience Paris, the French countryside, and excursions to towns and chateaus in Normandy. The CroisiEurope river cruise stops every day to let you explore a new place, while enjoying delicious French food on the boat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. River cruising lets you choose your own way to enjoy the time, while letting your family spend time together.
Our 5-day river cruise in France began and ended in Paris, and let us explore towns along the Seine River. For my family, a CroisiEurope river cruise in summer was a great way to explore the landscape that inspired Impressionists in Normandy, enjoy delicious food on the boat, and give each of us a good mix of independence and family time.
Why a River Cruise?
The big appeal of a French river cruise is the daily excursion that allows you explore Normandy towns or countryside alongside the Seine, with the cruise company handling logistics. Since you are on a river, you don’t have to deal with seasickness, and you have a constantly changing view of medieval and modern towns, farms and open country. You can watch the riverbank from the lounge or from the open air on the deck. Plus, big windows in each cabin look directly out to the riverbank, close enough to the water that we truly felt we were on a boat.
Paris by Night
Our river cruise began with a bang: an exhilarating tour of Paris by night, with its key monuments dramatically lit up against the night sky. After checking in at 6 p.m. and enjoying a welcoming cocktail and a delicious dinner, we cruised along the River Seine during Golden Hour and as night fell.
For full dramatic effect, we headed up to the ship’s deck to watch the gorgeously lit Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, and other monuments stand out against the night sky. Passengers sat in deck chairs – and sometimes we had to lie down. Paris bridges are so low that CroisiEurope staff make sure you lie down flat to avoid bonking your head on the stone bridges as you pass beneath. We passed so close to the underside of the bridges that my kids were tempted to touch them as we cruised underneath. Risky, but how could you resist?
I can’t guarantee it, but it seemed our ship captain timed our arrival at the Eiffel Tower so we caught its hourly light show. Five minutes of Paris romance to kick off our cruise!
Daily Excursions from the Ship to Normandy
My family opted for every daily excursion offered over the five days of the cruise. If your mental image of a charming French fishing village came to life, it might be Honfleur, one of our stops in Normandy. A knowledgeable local guide met us at the ship, and walked us through the harbor lined by sidewalk cafes, 16th century houses and churches and lush flowers in window boxes. He explained local history in English, all against the backdrop of a brilliant blue sky.
We love sharing tips and stories with our fellow Traveling Grandparents. Join our private Facebook Group to become part of our community!
In Rouen, another knowledgeable English-speaking guide walked us to the cathedral that the Impressionist painter Monet painted again and again in the changing light. She pointed across the street to the shop window Monet sat in as he worked, which explains the odd angle of his Cathedral paintings. (You can see one of the Cathedral paintings in Paris at the Musee Orsay.) Rouen has a giant medieval clock that still tells the time, the day of the week, and the phase of the moon, all in gleaming gold gilt.
The CroisiEurope cruise line arranged several other excursions into the French countryside in Normandy, some involving a short bus ride. We visited a 15th century country palace (Martainville Chateau), the Joan of Arc memorial that has a good view of Rouen, and the glamorous seaside town of Deauville, where if the weather is warm, you might be able to take a quick dip. A highlight was the distillery that produces Calvados, a popular apple-based liquor, and its beautiful grounds.
Food and Wine on the Ship
This is a French cruise company so, as you might imagine, the food and wine were excellent. Most of the 75 passengers were French or other nationalities from nearby countries, so being on the ship itself felt like a European trip. But for your three daily meals, the cruise tries to seat you with people who speak your language. My family was seated with other English-speaking tourists, and we enjoyed getting to know them.
Buffet breakfast featured the outstanding dairy products of Normandy. Lunch and dinner were both delicious three-course meals, a set menu served to each passenger. CroisiEurope thoughtfully accommodated my vegetarian daughter and another passenger’s dislike of fish. While the cruise can adapt to some dietary restrictions, to have fun, kids would need to be old enough to enjoy sitting down to a formal lunch and dinner.
Wine flowed freely in the lounge, and during lunch and dinner, though our table skipped it at lunch. My kids are 19 and 22, and enjoyed that the drinking age in France is 18.
Multi-Generational Travel
Our CroisiEurope cruise was a good fit for multi-generational travel, if kids are tweens or old enough to entertain themselves, to have fun chatting through a formal meal with other passengers. Another boon for multi-generational groups is that passengers (say a grandparent or a teen) can opt out of excursions to either stay on the boat or explore individually.
Entertainment and games in the lounge were geared to an older crowd, but my kids enjoyed the multi-generational dance floor, with a live singer and musician who covered popular French, Spanish, and American dance tunes. My kids also appreciated having wifi in the lounge, and their own cabin for down time.
Our ship had 3 levels: the cabins, the lounge and dining level, and the open-air deck. While a river cruise is a smaller than a big cruise, so entertainment possibilities are more limited on board, there are no full days on the water, and excursions every day. Plus, on a river cruise, each docking point is right downtown, within easy walking distance to places you’ll visit, so independent exploring is possible.
Socializing among the 75 or so passengers on a river cruise is expected, and it can be fun to chat with other passengers in the lounge, if there is a common language – as there often is.
Consider a river cruise if your family wants to enjoy exploring French towns and countryside, while letting the professionals at CroisiEurope plan the logistics.
Would you ever consider taking a river cruise of France? Tell us about it in the comments.
Vicky and Buddy says
I’ve always wanted to take a European river cruise. I’d see them passing along in Germany and France all the time. The seem so convenient and laid back. And you guys got to see so much! Thanks for letting us know about your experience!
Sarah Ricks, Philadelphia SheBuysTravel says
We’d love to do another one. Really a pleasure, and a fun way to be introduced to a whole new region of the country.
Melissa jones says
What a wonderful way to explore France! I had never thought of going on a river cruise but it’s lovely that you can almost hop and off at key locations and then enjoy french cuisine on the boat in-between. Great for families especially. I would definitely give this a go 🙂
Sarah Ricks, Philadelphia SheBuysTravel says
Agreed, that’s the beauty of never being far from the riverbank – stops and excursions are daily. And the food and drink on the boat were a pleasure, so fun to rest up between excursions.
Jenna says
Sounds like such a fun adventure–I’ve always wanted to do a river cruise. Paris is such a great city and it would be the perfect way to start the cruise! Normandy would be a fun day trip option as well. Great photos!
Sarah Ricks, Philadelphia SheBuysTravel says
True, starting and ending in Paris was lovely, and we stayed there for a few days beforehand and an overnight afterwards, so we got a chance to explore Paris as well as the Normandy region.
Wandering Carol says
A river cruise through Europe would be my dream trip. I did a barge trip in the Canal du Midi earlier this year and it was unforgettable. I agree with what you say, if it’s France, they’re going to do a good job on food and wine. Normandy is a fascinating region to visit, I liked Honfleur, too.
Sarah Ricks, Philadelphia SheBuysTravel says
Agree, Honfleur was really beautiful. I’d love to take another river cruise, exploring other parts of Europe. Where is the Canal du Midi?
Carol Colborn says
River cruises do have advantages but I really can’t afford the price! I wonder if they can design one that is reasonably priced. Maybe a trip on the Yangtze.
Sarah Ricks, Philadelphia SheBuysTravel says
It’s true that a river cruise is not low budget travel, but think about what it includes: room, board, travel between locations, planning and travel for each day’s excursions, and guided tours in English. The food is gourmet, 3 meals per day, and wine is included. So, you are getting far more than just a boat ride, more like a guided introduction to an area of France.
Vanessa says
Mmmmm….. free flowing wine! I love that things started in Paris with an evening tour of the city – I’ve done a similar tour but on one of the many tourist boats and it wasn’t nearly as nice as what you described.
Sarah Ricks, Philadelphia SheBuysTravel says
That evening to nighttime tour of Paris and its beautiful monuments was really special. Glamorous way to start the cruise.
Christina says
River cruising is a good way to travel through Europe because you don’t have to pack and unpack. I’m sure it would also be an educational way for the kids to learn about the culture and history of the regions you cruise through. It would be a great way to bond with the family while on vacation.
Sarah Ricks, Philadelphia SheBuysTravel says
All true! The logistics were so easy, because the cruise planned each excursion, with both English and French speaking guides. And as you say, visiting a new town or countryside chateau did not require any packing or unpacking. We loved it.
Toni Broome says
What an interesting way to see France. With only 75 passengers it would be both social and intimate, I think I would prefer that to the huge cruise ships at sea and the foodie experience sounds excellent, no shortage of quality local produce nearby.
Sarah Ricks, Philadelphia SheBuysTravel says
True, the excellent food on board, the free drinks, and the small number of passenger on board did encourage you to mingle in the bar area, and to chat with different people while on the excursions. A pleasure to reflect on the day with people from New Zealand, France, and others who spoke English (since I speak no French).
Natalia says
This sounds such a great experience) It gives a broad overview of the country. If I visit France again, it will be nice to join this cruise))
Sarah Ricks, Philadelphia SheBuysTravel says
I agree! It is fun to get a chance to explore a whole region of France, without having to deal with the logistics of arranging the visits. The cruise company handled all details for the daily excursions, including English and French speaking guides. The option to explore on your own was always there, but we enjoyed learning more from the guides.
Mags says
I’ve always wanted to do a river cruise! I love being on the water, and I love France. I don’t see how it could be a bad combination!
Sarah Ricks, Philadelphia SheBuysTravel says
Agreed, and a fun way to get a sense of a whole region of France, with daily excursions to different places.
Anne says
This is something I’ve never considered but I like the idea of no days at sea and watching the countryside slip by!
Sarah Ricks, Philadelphia SheBuysTravel says
Absolutely, Anne. The ship travels at night, and a few hours each day, but there’s plenty of time to get outside and explore, each day of the trip. Plus, I enjoyed that we started and ended right downtown in central Paris, giving us the chance to explore Paris for a few days both before and after the trip. Hope you get to try it!
Sarah Ricks, Philadelphia SheBuysTravel says
It is true that passengers were older on the cruise, tho I wouldn’t say that old, and the dance floor got crowded. To have fun in the dining room, I think kids would need to be able to sit and enjoy a 3-course meal. While French families expect kids to be able to do that from about age 5 on, we Americans tend to eat on the run, and most American kids would need to be tweens or teens to be able to enjoy the gourmet food experience of a river cruise. We loved it, and my kids are 19 and 21.
cathy bennett kopf says
We’ve considered a river cruise, but have heard the average passenger age is near 80. My kids are…the nice word would be “exuberant”. I’m afraid they’d be cited for disturbing the peace!