Romance on the Seine: Why Viking’s Paris & the Heart of Normandy Cruise is the Ultimate Couples’ Escape

I truly believe the best way to tour Europe is on a river cruise. Unpack once and walk right off the ship at your destination to cut the stress of traveling between cities. If you’re a couple looking for a great getaway together without the usual travel stress, this is for you.

Highlights

• Sightseeing versus Relaxing: Balances active daily tours with well-deserved downtime
• Paris-to-Paris Route: Starting and ending in Paris creates a seamless, stress-free trip
• River Cruising Advantages: Unpack once and leisurely take in sights along the Seine
• Charming French Villages: Discover beautiful, picturesque stops beyond the bustling capital
• Veteran Honors: Moving opportunities to commemorate military history along the Normandy coast

Editor’s note: The writer was hosted by Viking River Cruises.

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Sightseeing on Viking’s Paris to the Heart of Normandy Itinerary

Viking’s Paris to the Heart of Normandy itinerary fills each day. We started after breakfast each morning and often finished right before dinner. While I loved visiting Paris, the charming French villages along the Seine captured my heart.

• The Magic: Stepping directly off the ship to explore historic European towns
• What We Loved Best: The perfect balance of sightseeing activities and onboard downtime
• Must-Try Recommendation: Stroll through local town squares at your own leisurely pace

SheBuysTravel Tip: If you are considering an optional paid tour with Viking, research the tour. Viking offered a chateau tour that was over $100 per person. The chateau was just a short walk from the ship and we paid less than $20 a person for entrance.

A Day Wandering Paris

You see more from your feet than your seat! To fully embrace the Paris experience, dump the tour and just wander. We took an Uber to Notre Dame, about a four-mile walk from the ship, then spent the day exploring sidewalk cafes, Tuileries Garden and Place de la Concorde.

• The Magic: Soaking in authentic Parisian culture at outdoor park benches
• What We Loved Best: Discovering hidden sidewalk cafes for coffee and lunch
• Must-Try Recommendation: Pack good hiking shoes that stand up to uneven pavement and 22,000 steps when exploring Paris.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Take an Uber to Notre Dame and wander back through Tuileries Garden to experience Paris like a local.

Normandy Beaches France

Viking offers two trips to Normandy, one to explore the Commonwealth experience and the other the American experience. My husband and I are both veterans, so this was an incredibly moving experience for us. The day included Caen Memorial Museum, lunch, the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, and Omaha Beach.

• The Magic: Honoring fallen heroes during a solemn, dedicated wreath-laying ceremony
• What We Loved Best: Sharing a deeply moving experience as military veterans together
• Must-Try Recommendation: Participate in Viking’s onboard veteran ceremony at Omaha Beach

SheBuysTravel Tip: Prepare for an emotional day at the American Cemetery and Omaha Beach, especially if you have military ties. I am glad I had tissues.

Monet Foundation Giverny

I have always loved Claude Monet and Impressionism, so this tour was high on my list. Strolling through the gardens, I could envision Monet standing on the banks of his lily pond painting. I was not prepared for the crowds, thousands of people in line throughout all the trails.

• The Magic: Standing right at the lily pond that inspired world-famous paintings
• What We Loved Best: Envisioning Monet painting in his vibrant, historic Giverny gardens
• Must-Try Recommendation: Take a break at one of the cafes in Giverny for gelato or coffee.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Visit the Musée des Impressionnismes Giverny. It is an oasis from the crowds at the garden.

Relaxation on the Viking Paris to Normandy Itinerary

A Viking river cruise day can be nonstop, but I found plenty of opportunities to relax, too. Taking a break and sipping coffee at a sidewalk cafe was one of my favorites, especially after hiking up to an imposing 12th-century fortress.

• The Magic: Relaxing at a quiet village cafe after exploring ancient ruins
• What We Loved Best: Unwinding over warm coffee while watching charming village life
• Must-Try Recommendation: Hike up to Château Gaillard for breathtaking views before coffee

SheBuysTravel Tip: Pick up lunch at a local bakery and bring back to the ship for an al fresco picnic on the top deck..

Take a Stroll Along the Seine River

I squeezed in strolls along the Seine whenever the opportunity presented itself. The ship often docked before tours started or we stayed docked after tours ended for the day, giving us peaceful time along the water.

• The Magic: Unscheduled riverbank walks right outside your ship’s cabin door
• What We Loved Best: Having quiet moments along the Seine before tours launch
• Must-Try Recommendation: Take an early morning walk along the riverbanks while docked

SheBuysTravel Tip: Often there is leisure time after tours where you can go back to the ship or spend more time exploring the darling French villages.

Take Advantage of the Sun Deck

Enjoying a lunch we picked up from a local bakery and sipping wine on the sun deck while taking in the scenery sure was memorable. Even better, later that evening we skipped dinner due to our late lunch and had the sun deck to ourselves while cruising the Seine.

• The Magic: Watching the sun go down over French castles from a quiet deck
• What We Loved Best: Private evening views of the river after skipping traditional dinner
• Must-Try Recommendation: Pick up local wine and fresh sanwiches for a private deck picnic

SheBuysTravel Tip: Bring some storage bags for leftover food. You have a small refrigerator in the room. I often had half a pastry or some other trip that a food bag kept fresh for a later snack.

Cruising the Seine River

I think the most relaxing times of the whole cruise occurred when the ship cruised the Seine River. This is where the veranda cabin pays off, letting you watch historic sights pass by in total comfort.

• The Magic: Seeing golden hour light highlight historic castles right from your veranda
• What We Loved Best: Watching the French countryside drift past during daytime cruising
• Must-Try Recommendation: Book a veranda stateroom for private views during river navigation

SheBuysTravel Tip: Pick up a bottle of French wine to bring back to the ship. Viking does not charge a corkage fee or just head to the lounge and get a glass of wine to enjoy on your balcony.

Unpacking Once in a Stateroom Built for Two

Unpack Once: The cabins have an efficient layout with room for everything you packed. Everywhere I went, I saw people dragging suitcases on cobblestones; what a nightmare. I loved exploring a town and then boarding the ship for the next destination without long bus rides.

• The Magic: Moving between destinations without dragging suitcases over cobblestones
• What We Loved Best: Smart, efficient stateroom storage that keeps living spaces organized
• Must-Try Recommendation: Don’t overpack. There are no formal nights

SheBuysTravel Tip: Make early morning coffee runs to the onboard coffee machine to enjoy sunrise views together on your balcony.

The Ease of a Seamless Paris-to-Paris Itinerary

Roundtrip flights to Paris make for a seamless experience. Book Viking Air Plus for a small fee to choose your preferred flights sooner. The feeling of stepping into the arrival hall and seeing the Viking rep in their red jacket ready to escort you is priceless.

• The Magic: Escort services that accompany you straight to your airport check-in counter when departing Paris
• What We Loved Best: Starting and ending in Paris for hassle-free flight scheduling
• Must-Try Recommendation: Add Viking Air Plus to customize flight times and choices early

My Must-Have Souvenir: French Perfume

The one souvenir I wanted was a bottle of Miss Dior perfume. I shopped at the original Bon Marché at the Dior counter. The associate helped me select a bottle, offered complimentary engraving, and presented it wrapped in a signature ribboned bag spritzed with fragrance.

• The Magic: Custom name engraving on luxury perfume at historic department stores
• What We Loved Best: Scent memories that transport you straight back to Paris
• Must-Try Recommendation: Visit Le Bon Marché for personalized luxury fragrance shopping

SheBuysTravel Tip: Stop at La Grande Épicerie de Paris for elegant French spices, chocolates and condiments that make unique souvenirs.

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