Paris and Normandy Seine River Cruise with AmaWaterways

Does anything sound more like a dream than sailing down the Seine river? I was so excited to return to Paris for my first AmaWaterways cruise this year, even more so because it would be my husband’s first visit to the City of Light. With it being his first time to Paris, we of course had to start with a stop at the Eiffel Tower. To get the full experience, we pulled up a couple of seats at Café du Trocadero, a gorgeous little café situated right at the foot of the tower. We went at night and were treated to the Eiffel tower in full sparkle mode. We soaked in the beauty of the location while we enjoyed delicious crepes, dessert, and coffee (unsurprisingly a little pricey, but totally worth it – location, location, location!)

“We went at night and were treated to the Eiffel tower in full sparkle mode.”

Before we boarded the ship for the cruise, we made a few more not-to-be-missed stops. We hopped on the metro to visit the Arc de Triomphe, then enjoyed the Golden Versailles Palace and Garden Tour by our friends at Project Expedition. It was absolutely gorgeous even with the pouring rain. This is a perfect tour for active people – it moves quickly and covers a lot of ground, then once the tour is over you are free to wander and explore on your own as long as you like. We finished up with a visit to Notre Dame which, surprise, surprise, was wrapped with very long entry lines. I have a hot tip for how to book tickets for same-day tours with a little less of a headache when we start putting together your next Paris trip!

Finally, it was time to board the ship and I must tell you it is beautiful. AmaWaterways is known for their friendly service and lovely itineraries – this trip from Paris to Normandy and back to Paris was no exception. The room aboard the ship was nice and comfortable (I am claustrophobic so I was a little nervous, but it was actually perfectly fine!) I am a National Board Certified Health Coach and one of the reasons I wanted to do an Ama cruise was to experience for myself the wellness offerings. We took stretching classes in the morning which were lovely. Ama also offers guided yoga classes and spa treatments (of which need to be booked as soon as you step foot on the ship – they book up very quickly!). The ship also included bikes for guests to borrow to tour around towns as we made our stops along the Seine.

“AmaWaterways is known for their friendly service and lovely itineraries – this trip from Paris to Normandy and back to Paris was no exception.”

The cuisine aboard the ship was delicious. There was a ton of variety and the dining areas were very comfortable. I am lactose intolerant and was very happy to find plenty of options and accommodations. Small snacks were always available throughout the day, and many prospective guests will be happy to know wine and beer is included with lunch and dinner.

I was also very pleased with the excursions and overall experience. The guides were amazing across the board and everything ran very smoothly. One day we did an all-day excursion to Normandy, on another we did Monet’s Gardens. On this 7-day tour there was always an exciting tour to join with multiple activity intensity options to suit every guest’s comfort level. For people who get tired or have mobility problems, there are relaxed walking tours with time built in to sit and rest. For very active people, there are options to take the bikes for rides up to the top of the town’s hill for incredible views. In the middle, a bus may take guests up to the top of the hill to tour the castle, then allow guests to hike back down at their own pace. There was something for everyone and everyone felt fulfilled at each destination.

“On this 7-day tour there was always an exciting tour to join with multiple activity intensity options to suit every guest’s comfort level.”

After the trip concluded, I am happy to have first-hand experience aboard Ama’s ships. If you have been dreaming about sailing on the Seine and experiencing the splendors of Paris from a new angle, feel free to reach out to me! I can answer all your questions about which cabin to choose, what the excursions are like, how your dietary preferences are accommodated, tips to get the most out of your trip, and so much more. Merci et à bientôt mes amis!