Cruise description

4 Night Cruise sailing from Paris roundtrip aboard A-Rosa Viva.

4 Night Cruise sailing from Paris roundtrip aboard A-Rosa Viva.

In medieval Rouen, the “frosted city”, Noël normand – Norman Christmas - is celebrated with a festive market that makes the city's ancient narrow streets seem even more romantic than usual. Perhaps you're willing to attempt a few laps of the ice-skating rink in front of the famous cathedral? Needless to say, the Champs-Élysées boasts one of Paris's many enchanting Christmas markets. This magnificent Parisian boulevard is a shopping paradise all year round, but at Christmas it is also home to romantic wooden huts selling handicrafts and French Christmas delicacies. In a sea of sparkling lights you'll encounter ice sculptures and a magical big wheel giving you unforgettable views of the winter wonderland below, all surrounded by illuminated trees. At Christmas, the City of Lights truly lives up to its name.

Highlights of this cruise:

Paris
Paris is the capital city of France and every year millions of people come to Paris to marvel at its beauty, savour its exceptional cuisine and indulge in its world-famous shopping. Known as the 'City of Light', Paris benefitted from a huge re modelling program that started in 1852 which gave rise to its current layout, boulevardes, gardens and parks.

The most famous part of Paris is the Champs Elysees, a wide Boulevarde running from the Arc de Triomphe to Place de la Concorde.
Paris has some of the best know landmarks in the world, apart from the Arc de Triomphe it boasts Notre Dame, The Eiffel Tower, The Louvre and more. Its great gardens include the Tuileries and Luxembourg gardens.

Divided by the River Seine the City of Paris is relatively easy to enjoy on foot as many of the key landmarks are relatively close to each other. For the bolder tourist Paris now has the ‘Velib’ bike rental system which offers a very cheap and practical way to get around the city.

Rouen
Rouen is the historical capital city of Normandy, in northwestern France on the River Seine, and currently the capital of the Haute-Normandie (Upper Normandy) région. It is situated on the River Seine, approximately 90 minutes drive north-west (135 km) from the centre of Paris.

Rouen was one of the largest and most prosperous cities of medieval Europe which can be seen in the many monuments and buildings which have been preserved in its historical centre. Its architectural treasures include Gothic monuments like the Notre Dame Cathedral, St Ouen Abbey, Saint Maclou Church and the Palais de Justice or Renaissance style monuments like the Gros Horloge, Saint Maclou Ossuary and the Bourgtheroulde Mansion.

After the historical centre, there is ‘Sainte Catherine’ hill nearby, from where you can admire a magnificent view of the city and the meandering River Seine or walk along rue Eau de Robec where some watermills, testament to an important textile history when people were making a living out of the cloth manufacturing industry, which is now represented by the sheep symbol.

Vernon
Vernon is a commune in the department of Eure in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France. It lies on the banks of the Seine River, about midway between Paris and Rouen. The city is well known for its production of engines by the SNECMA group.

Visitors to Vernon will enjoy viewing the medieval streets and half timbered houses. Other attractions include Archives Tower, the ruins of Phillipe Auguste Castle and Tourelles Castle, the City Museum and the Collegiate Church.