A Seine River cruise offers something rare: a front\u2011row seat to brush\u2011stroked landscapes, cobblestoned villages, and artistic touchpoints that shaped the world\u2019s most beloved painters. Instead of wrestling with train timetables or the crush of Paris day\u2011trippers, you float from one tableau to the next, watching France unfurl in pastel\u2011soft layers\u2014chalk\u2011white cliffs glowing under Normandy sun, willow\u2011draped riverbanks shimmering like a Monet study, and quiet medieval towns where the ghosts of Pissarro, Sisley, and Van Gogh feel close enough to tap your shoulder. <\/p>\n
Aboard a small, design\u2011forward river ship, the journey becomes a moving gallery\u2014champagne in hand\u2014where each bend of the river reveals a new composition. One evening you\u2019re gliding past the Eiffel Tower as it erupts into its glittering \u201cdisco\u201d; the next morning, you\u2019re stepping ashore into Alice\u2011in\u2011Wonderland\u2011esque clifftop gardens. So if you dream of chasing impressionist landscapes from Normandy to the \u00cele\u2011de\u2011France, this is my guide to one of the most beautiful ways to see the country\u2014by following the Seine in the footsteps of the painters who immortalized it.<\/p>\n
You\u2019ll start your journey in Paris\u2014The City of Light\u2014slipping through its narrow streets before pulling up along the riverbank to meet your home for the week: the 112-guest Viva Beyond<\/a>. Christened in May, with Cecilie Kopperud as its godmother, it\u2019s the newest addition to Viva\u2019s fleet of nine stylish river ships and the flagship of its new premium river cruise brand, Viva Boutique<\/a>. <\/p>\n Read More: ForbesWhy A Botanical Cruise Is A Beautiful Way To See ScotlandBy Lewis Nunn<\/a><\/p>\n Onboard, it feels like a chic Parisian boutique hotel\u2014anchored by an Art Deco reception\u2014with 56 elegant staterooms and suites; a petite gym kitted out with Technogym gear (a rowing machine, exercise bike, and treadmill); a massage room (offering foot massages, aromatherapy, muscle treatments, and its signature Wellness Massage); and a mini boutique selling Ray\u2011Ban sunglasses, Pierre Lannier watches, and Giovanni Raspini jewellery. There\u2019s also a chic lounge centered around a retro Parisian\u2011style bar wrapped in ribbed plum velvet; three restaurants\u2014including a specialty venue by German Michelin\u2011starred chef David G\u00f6rne; and a glorious waiter\u2011served sun deck with loungers and a bubbling jacuzzi.<\/p>\n And where to stay? Go for one of its ten Beyond Suites\u2014each at a generous 30 square meters\u2014with a king-sized bed, walk-in-wardrobe, cozy sitting nook, and a stylish ensuite with a walk-in rainfall shower. A wall-to-wall Juliet balcony runs the full length of the suite, paired with little touches like framed vintage Vogue covers, complimentary room\u2011service breakfast, a daily replenished minibar, a \u20ac50 laundry voucher, Dyson hairdryers, and a welcome bottle of Fay\u2011Berjeot champagne. <\/p>\n Read More: ForbesHow To Spend A Gorgeous Weekend In Port IsaacBy Lewis Nunn<\/a><\/p>\n After a welcome presentation and cocktail party\u2014Kir Royales in hand\u2014slip into Moments, the onboard restaurant by German Michelin\u2011starred chef David\u202fG\u00f6rne, whose cooking has held a red star since\u202f2016 and a Green\u202fStar for sustainability since\u202f2020. <\/p>\n Here, you\u2019ll feast on an eight-course tasting menu: think fresh oysters with champagne and caviar, G\u00f6rne\u2019s signature p\u00e2t\u00e9 en cro\u00fbte, a palate-cleanser ros\u00e9\u2011champagne sorbet, veal tenderloin swimming in pea pur\u00e9e, hot melted Camembert, white\u2011chocolate cake with red berries, and handmade chocolates\u2014all paired with exceptional wines, hand-chosen by Viva\u2019s \u2018Master of Wine\u2019, Romana Echensperger, from Champagner\u202fDavid\u202fG\u00f6rne to Domaine\u202fde\u202fl\u2019A\u202f2022.<\/p>\n And as you sail past the Eiffel Tower for its 11 o\u2019clock \u201cdisco\u201d\u2014that magical moment when the entire 300\u2011meter icon erupts into a glittering storm of 20,000 lights\u2014you\u2019ll continue toward your first port: Conflans, historic capital of France\u2019s inland waterways. <\/p>\n A Viva motorcoach whisks you to the fairytale village of Auvers\u2011sur\u2011Oise\u2014final resting place of Vincent van Gogh. Wander its cobbled lanes and step into The Ravoux Inn, where he slept, ate, and painted tirelessly during his last weeks\u2014from Wheatfield with Crows to Portrait of Dr. Gachet\u2014paying just 3.50 francs a day. And the unexpected jewel? The Mus\u00e9e de l\u2019Absinthe: a tiny, eccentric museum devoted to the lore of the \u201cgreen fairy.\u201d You\u2019ll explore the history of distilling and drinking absinthe\u2014its myths, its rituals, its bohemian devotees\u2014before finishing with a (heavily diluted) tasting. <\/p>\n Auvers\u2011sur\u2011Oise<\/p>\n Elev\u00e9<\/p>\n Later, returning to the ship just in time for the \u2018Quatre Heure\u2019 ritual: where gorgeous cakes and canap\u00e9s are served\u2014from strawberry cheesecakes to smoked salmon finger sandwiches. <\/p>\n The next morning, however, after an onboard lecture introducing the core concepts of impressionism\u2014light, color, and the fleeting moment\u2014you\u2019ll set off on a guided tour of Rouen, capital of Normandy. Stroll past its medieval half\u2011timbered houses and gems like La\u202fCouronne, where Julia Child tasted her first French meal. Then visit Rouen Cathedral\u2014celebrated for its mismatched trio of towers and for receiving the heart of Richard the Lionheart \u201cout of love for Normandy\u201d\u2014and the Church of Saint Joan of Arc, its dramatic interior arcing upward like the hull of an overturned Viking ship.<\/p>\n Back onboard, after cocktail hour, dine at Viva\u2019s Brasserie\u2014more relaxed in feel, but beautifully executed\u2014grazing on classic French dishes like beef tartare, striploin steak with fries, scallops dusted with smoked paprika, and velvety chocolate flan (plus beef bourguignon and snails for the brave at lunch).<\/p>\n Read More: ForbesAn Insider\u2019s Guide To Le Cordon Bleu LondonBy Lewis Nunn<\/a><\/p>\n Then, sailing into the UNESCO\u2011listed city of Le Havre\u2014rebuilt after WWII by architect Auguste Perret and now France\u2019s largest container port\u2014you\u2019ll explore its impressionist ties at the MuMa Museum of Modern Art<\/a>, home to one of the nation\u2019s most extensive collections of Monet, Boudin, and Dufy.<\/p>\n Le Havre also serves as the gateway to \u00c9tretat\u2014where Monet painted its striking white cliffs, including the Porte d\u2019Aval arch and L\u2019Aiguille (\u201cthe Needle\u201d), a lone pillar rising from the sea. Its crowning jewel? The Alice\u2011in\u2011Wonderland\u2011esque Jardins d\u2019\u00c9tretat<\/a>\u2014spilling over the Alabaster Coast cliffs\u2014with sculpted topiary curling like Channel tides and giant silver heads, the \u2018Jardin \u00c9motions\u2019, each conveying a different mood: serene, mischievous, even cheekily tongue\u2011out.<\/p>\n Jardins d\u2019\u00c9tretat<\/p>\n Elev\u00e9<\/p>\n With an overnight in Le Havre, Beyond Suite guests slip into a chef\u2011hosted private dinner at the Michelin\u2011starred Restaurant G.a<\/a> inside the 19th\u2011century, neo-gothic Manoir de R\u00e9tival\u2014a handsome riverside retreat overlooking the Seine in Caudebec\u2011en\u2011Caux\u2014helmed by G\u00f6rne himself. <\/p>\n The evening begins with amuse\u2011bouches, including a white pepper flower from the gardens, before spilling into a 9\u2011course tasting menu: silky foie gras, Saint Wandrille trout, butter\u2011soft turbot, succulent lobster, crystallized violet sorbet, tender Kobe beef with kapers, and thoughtful wines from Sauternes to Saint\u2011V\u00e9ran Ch\u00e2teau de Beauregard 2022, finishing with Calvados.<\/p>\n The next day, however, brings the voyage\u2019s crowning jewel for impressionism lovers\u2014Monet\u2019s Garden<\/a> at Giverny, the artist\u2019s home from 1883 until he died in 1926. Step through the green gate into a world he shaped with obsessive devotion: the Clos Normand, a riot of color arranged in painterly bands of tulips, irises, peonies, and dahlias; and the famous Water Garden, inspired by Japanese prints, where wisteria\u2011draped bridges arch over still ponds scattered with water lilies. <\/p>\n Here, Monet painted his monumental Nymph\u00e9as series\u2014around 250 canvases\u2014capturing shifting reflections of sky, willow, and blossom. Meanwhile, the house remains much as he left it: butter\u2011yellow dining room, blue\u2011and\u2011white kitchen tiles, and more than 200 Japanese ukiyo\u2011e prints lining the walls.<\/p>\n The garden of the famous painter Claude Monet, where he painted his water lilies<\/p>\n getty<\/p>\n Later that evening, Beyond Suite guests attend a private cocktail party with the captain, cruise director, and hotel manager\u2014before the Signature Gala Dinner\u2014cleverly staged the night before your final evening so you can enjoy it without the stress of last-minute packing. It unfolds as a six\u2011course procession: salmon mosaic with lemon\u2011dill cr\u00e8me fra\u00eeche, white\u2011tomato \u201ccappuccino\u201d soup, black tiger shrimp, slow\u2011roasted Black Angus filet mignon, a salted\u2011caramel rhapsody with white\u2011chocolate cremeux, and petit fours with Calvados.<\/p>\n Read More: ForbesHow To Spend A Gorgeous Weekend In South CornwallBy Lewis Nunn<\/a><\/p>\n And the grand finale? The next morning, graze on 7am croissants as the onboard violinist plays you into Paris, before joining an iconic open\u2011top Citro\u00ebn 2CV private tour through the city: passing the Eiffel Tower, Emily in Paris locations, Montmartre\u2019s artists\u2019 quarter, and stopping inside the Church of Saint\u2011Sulpice\u2014the second\u2011largest in Paris.<\/p>\n And returning onboard, you\u2019ll sink into the lounge, that last glass of champagne in hand, watching a roaring \u201920s tongue\u2011in\u2011cheek Paris P\u00e9tille cabaret show, with live jazz and circus\u2011style acrobatics\u2014a cheeky reminder that the Seine reveals France at its most irresistible.<\/p>\n How To Do ItThe Cruise<\/p>\n VIVA Cruises\u2019 seven\u2011night In The Footsteps Of Impressionism voyage, departing 6 September 2026 from Paris, is priced from $3,929pp. Full details at viva-cruises.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n Flights<\/p>\n US travelers can access direct flights to Paris from over 10 major cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Miami, Boston, Washington D.C., Dallas, San Francisco, and Seattle. Meanwhile, British travelers can fly direct from all major UK airports.<\/p>\n More From Forbes:ForbesWhy A Botanical Cruise Is A Beautiful Way To See ScotlandBy Lewis Nunn<\/a>ForbesAn Insider\u2019s Guide To Conrad London St. JamesBy Lewis Nunn<\/a>ForbesHow To Spend A Gorgeous Weekend In Port IsaacBy Lewis Nunn<\/a>ForbesAn Insider\u2019s Guide To Le Cordon Bleu LondonBy Lewis Nunn<\/a>ForbesAn Insider\u2019s Guide To The Peninsula LondonBy Lewis Nunn<\/a>ForbesHow To Spend A Gorgeous Weekend In South CornwallBy Lewis Nunn<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A Seine River cruise offers something rare: a front\u2011row seat to brush\u2011stroked landscapes, cobblestoned villages, and artistic touchpoints…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":54501,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[5,9933,14145,34878,34879,34880],"class_list":["post-54500","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-france","tag-france","tag-normandy","tag-seine-river","tag-seine-river-cruise","tag-viva-beyond","tag-viva-cruises"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/france\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54500","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/france\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/france\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/france\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/france\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=54500"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/france\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54500\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/france\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/54501"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/france\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54500"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/france\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=54500"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/france\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=54500"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}