The Seine: D-Day Beaches to Paris

Orientation: The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. This is a Chartered Exclusively for Road Scholar Adventures Afloat program. Port stops and field trips are subject to change as weather and river conditions could affect the progress of the vessel, making it run late and possibly miss ports if it is not safe to dock. The cruise itinerary should therefore be regarded as provisional. The time available in each port is set by the cruise line, which may mean free time in port is limited. The cruise line reserves the right change the itinerary without prior notice. When possible, the Road Scholar daily schedule indicates port arrival and departure times. Our knowledgeable Group Leader will also serve as our Study Leader, giving lectures and providing expert commentary throughout the program. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

At a restaurant near the hotel. French restaurants take pride in creating a relaxed atmosphere where patrons expect to take their time, savor every bite, and set the pace of the meal, requesting “l’addition” — the check — only when they are ready. Meals are accompanied by complimentary “pain” (bread) and “eau” or “l’eau” (water), so you need not ask for them. When wine is offered, it is customary to fill your glass only half way so the wine can breathe and to be sure everyone has a share. Servers wait until everyone at the table has finished their dish before clearing and bringing the next course. To indicate that you have finished your meal, place your utensils together on the right hand side of your plate.

At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

At the hotel.

We will check out, board a motorcoach, and begin our ride to Bayeux.

At a restaurant en route.

Afternoon We will check-in to the hotel. After settling in, we’ll meet our Group Leader and set out on a walking field trip in Caen. We’ll learn about the history of this city and orient ourselves.

At a local restaurant.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Please note that the period scheduled for free time is subject to change depending on local circumstances and opportunities for independent exploration. Next, we will board a motorcoach and begin our ride to Mont-Saint-Michel.

At a farm-based restaurant en route to Mont-Saint-Michel, we will enjoy a farm-to-table meal featuring locally-sourced ingredients.

We will continue our ride to the place the locals call “le Mont.” With its legendary origin — which its founder said was at the request of the Archangel Michael! — Mont-Saint-Michel is one of France’s best known and most strikingly beautiful landmarks. It is also a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site. From the UNESCO inscription: “Perched on a rocky islet in the midst of vast sandbanks exposed to powerful tides between Normandy and Brittany stand the ‘Wonder of the West,’ a Gothic-style Benedictine abbey dedicated to the archangel St Michael, and the village that grew up in the shadow of its great walls. Built between the 11th and 16th centuries, the abbey is a technical and artistic tour de force, having had to adapt to the problems posed by this unique natural site.” We will explore this historic landmark at our own pace, using a museum audio guide. We will then return to the hotel by motorcoach.

This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

We will be joined by a World War II expert who will lead our field trip to some of the beaches involved in D-Day, the Allied invasion of Europe through Normandy. From Pegasus Bridge, we will move along the British and Canadian sectors. We will learn about the importance and creation of the Mulberry Harbors and the stubborn German battery at Longues sur Mer.

At a local restaurant.

We will set out with our Group Leader on a field trip to the Bayeux Museum, home of the world-renowned Bayeux Tapestry. During our self-directed exploration with museum-provided audio guides, we will be able to view and understand this masterpiece of 11th century Romanesque art. It is nearly 230 feet long and actually an embroidery that tells the story of William “the Conqueror” who was Duke of Normandy and his successful invasion of England in 1066. There are 58 detailed scenes, all hand-crafted. It is part of UNESCO’s “Memory of the World” registry.

At the hotel.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

We will board a motorcoach and set out on a field trip to the Omaha landing beach, site of the largest amphibious invasion in history. With a local expert, we’ll learn how the beachhead was taken at a cost of an estimated 4,414 lives of Allied soldiers, sailors, airmen, and coast guardsmen (National D-Day Memorial Foundation). We will see and discuss some of the gun positions that survive today. Our expert will speak to us about the American landing here from multiple perspectives. We will also pay our respects to fallen soldiers at the Normandy American Military Cemetery.

At a local restaurant.

We will continue exploring with our expert at Pointe du Hoc, where we’ll learn how American Army Rangers took the heights under a hail of enemy fire. Next, we will have an opportunity with our Group Leader to sample the region’s renowned Calvados apple brandy and regional cheeses at the Château d’Englesqueville, where the first monument to honor American soldiers who fought here during World War II was built. We will ride back to the hotel after our field trips.

On your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

We will board a motorcoach and ride to Saint-Lô to explore the hedgerows that proved to be a uniquely difficult obstacle for American soldiers. We will learn from a World War II expert about the battles that took place among the hedgerows of Normandy after the Allies pushed inland from the beaches.

We will have meal vouchers known as “tickets restaurant” that can be used at restaurants, bakeries, brasseries, and cafés displaying a TR sticker on the window with messages such as this: “Nous acceptons les Tickets Restaurant.” Change is not given back if the meal cost is less than the value of the voucher. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Moving on, we will reach Sainte-Mère-Église and Utah Beach where a local expert will lead on-site discussions of the operations here. Sainte-Mère-Église was at the center of the U.S. paratrooper landings and is known for the soldier whose parachute caught on the church’s steeple, leaving him stranded overnight.

At the hotel.

At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

At the hotel.

We will check-out of the hotel and we will leave our luggage on the motorcoach and set out on a walking field trip with our Group Leader.We will have some independent time to explore Caen at our own pace. We’ll then board a motorcoach and ride to the Caen Memorial.

At the Caen Memorial.

The Caen Memorial is a major museum dedicated to the history of the 20th century. During our self-directed exploration, we will examine the different galleries focusing on World War II, the Cold War, and peace. We will board a motorcoach for Honfleur after our field trip and have a welcome drink before dinner.

Aboard ship.

At leisure. Information regarding activities aboard ship will be provided.

Aboard ship.

We will set out on a walking field trip with our Group Leader to see examples of unique architecture in this historic old city. We’ll learn why it has one of the few remaining all wooden churches and the important role Honfleur played in the settlement of New France.

Aboard ship. Lunches and dinners will be plated and served 3-course meals with mineral water, fruit juices, tea, coffee, wine, and beer included; other beverages available for purchase at the bar or off the wine list at meals.

Our Group Leader will accompany us on a walking field trip to the Musée Eugène Boudin for a self-directed exploration. Situated in a 19th-century chapel and two modern extensions, with views over Honfleur and the Seine, the museum houses nearly 13,000 square feet of permanent exhibitions in nine rooms. Named after Honfleur’s most famous painter, there are works on display by not only Boudin himself, but also other great impressionists such as Dubourg, Monet, and Jongkind. We will walk back to the ship after our field trip and have a welcome drink before dinner.

Aboard ship.

At leisure. The ship will head to our next port, Caudebec.

Aboard ship.

We will leave the ship in Caudebec and ride a short distance to the Abbey of St. Wandrille. A local expert will take us through the monastery that was founded in the 7th century. Although much of the abbey has been rebuilt, the chapel of Saint Saturnin remains standing on the hillside overlooking the abbey and is one of the oldest ecclesiastical structures still in existence. After exploring the abbey, we will have an opportunity for those who would like to attend mass with the Benedictine monks as they sing Gregorian chants. We will then ride on to meet the ship in Duclair.

Aboard ship.

We will gather with our Group Leader for a lecture about aspects of World War II. We will learn about discoveries that emerged during the war such as penicillin (discovered in 1928 and first used on humans in 1942), jet aircraft, and nylon.

Aboard ship.

At leisure.

Aboard ship.

We will step off the ship and explore historic Rouen on a walking field trip with a local expert. We’ll see its famous half-timbered houses and the magnificent cathedral where Monet studied and painted the effects of changing light. As we go, we’ll learn about this unique city’s history, taking time to pause at the site where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in 1431. We will walk back to the ship after our field trip.

Aboard ship.

We will gather for a lecture about Robert Capa, a photographer who captured some of the most renowned images of the D-Day invasion and the liberation of Paris.

Aboard ship.

At leisure.

Aboard ship.

We will leave the ship, board a motorcoach, and ride to Giverny, where Claude Monet (1840-1926) planned, planted, and painted his incredible gardens. Looking at the very gardens that inspired him, we’ll learn about his famous art and the Impressionist movement with commentary by our Study Leader. Walking through the water garden and Clos Normand, we may feel as if we have stepped right into one of Monet’s famous water lily paintings! Monet drew pictures as a child, went to a school for the arts, and painted many outdoor scenes during his career. Monet and his artist friends rebelled against the kind of conservative art approved by critics and created their own style. It was called Impressionism because it was an “impression” of a scene, painted outdoors to capture the look of natural light. Today, Impressionism is one of the most popular art forms in the world. We will ride back to the ship after our field trip.

Aboard ship.

We will gather for a lecture to learn more about Claude Monet and his legacy at Giverny.

Aboard ship.

At leisure.

Aboard ship.

After stepping on the ship, we will board motorcoach with our Group Leader, then set out on a walking field trip to explore medieval Paris and the Île de la Cité. The “Île” is the heart of Paris and the location where the city was founded. It is dominated by the Gothic cathedral, Notre-Dame de Paris. Construction began in 1163 and was not completed until 1345. Damaged and restored a number of times — including the disastrous fire of April 2019 — it remains one of the largest and finest examples of Gothic architecture anywhere. We will be able to admire the exterior before returning to the ship.

Aboard ship.

Free time. Take this opportunity to explore Paris at your own pace, seeing and doing what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Aboard ship.

At leisure. Prepare for disembarkation in the morning.

Aboard ship.

We will pack up and disembark the ship. Our luggage will be stored securely in the motorcoach we will be using to get around the city today. We will meet a local expert for a walking field trip to learn about the occupation and liberation of Paris during World War II. After gaining foundational insights, we will walk through areas of Paris that were under German occupation and discuss the resistance and liberation. We’ll begin at the Hotel Meurice, once the German headquarters, and end at the statue of Charles de Gaulle on the Champs Elysées, with stops in between.

On your own to enjoy what you like in Paris, from world-famous cuisine at renowned restaurants to charming sidewalk cafés and bistros.

We will regroup at an announced time and place with our Group Leader and ride to the Musée du Louvre. During our self-directed exploration, we will have time to explore and investigate the wing or collection of masterpieces that piques your interest most. From the Louvre, we will ride to our last hotel and check in.

At a restaurant near the hotel. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

At the hotel. This concludes our program.

If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on another rewarding program in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!