7 Day Loire Valley Cruise

PARIS - CHATEAUX OF THE LOIRE VALLEY - NANTES - SAINT-NAZAIRE -
NANTES - CHALONNES-SUR-LOIRE - ANCENIS - NANTES
NSN-CLR

Chenonceau in Minature

A taste of Paris linked with the history of France: discover the castles of the Loire between Chambord and Chenonceau before boarding the river boat for a cruise on the Royal Loire river whose beautiful landscapes are legendary. Visit Nantes and The Machines of the Isle of Nantes, a gallery that recreates the imaginary world of the famous writer Jules Verne. Discover Saint-Nazaire and admire its shipyard and the Escal'Atlantic which immerses you in the world of steamships from the beginnings of their gigantic construction to life on board. Soak up the magical castles of the Loire such as Brissac, the highest castle in France whose monumental facades rise up from its large landscaped park.

DAY 1: PARIS

Our guide will greet you starting from 5:00 p.m. at the Villa Montparnasse hotel, 2 rue Boulard, 75014 Paris. At 6:00 p.m., you?ll be transferred by coach to the Noces de Jeannette restaurant, 14, rue Favart, 75002 Paris. After dinner, our coach will take you back to the Villa Montparnasse hotel for the night.

DAY 2: PARIS - LOIRE CHATEAU - NANTES

Breakfast will be served at the hotel. At 6:30 a.m., we?ll set off by coach for the?Ch?teau de Chambord. King Francis I built this extraordinary castle as a hunting lodge. It is one of the most recognizable ch?teaux in the world because of its very distinctive architecture blending traditional French medieval forms with classical Renaissance structures. Enjoy a tour of this majestic castle and its grounds. We?ll then continue on to Chenonceau, stopping for lunch in a local restaurant. Our afternoon will be spent visiting the?Ch?teau de Chenonceau. Once of the best-known and most-visited ch?teaux in the Loire Valley, it spans the Cher River. Its architecture is a fascinating mix of late Gothic and early Renaissance. The list of aristocrats and nobles that have lived in it is astounding: Thomas Bohier, Diane de Poitiers, and Catherine de' Medici, to name just a few.

After our visit, we?ll head to Nantes, arriving in the evening. We?ll welcome our passengers on board upon your arrival. After comfortably settling into your cabins, we?ll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail.

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DAY 3: SAINT-NAZAIRE - NANTES

This morning,?join us for an optional?excursion for both packages: Saint-Nazaire, a seaside town. We?ll begin our visit with Escal?Atlantic, which traces the history of Norman and French ocean liners. We?ll then visit the actual Saint-Nazaire shipyard as it is today. Once the birthplace of the most outstanding French transatlantic liners, it is now the construction site for modern, elegant cruise ships. While following a tour designed especially for understanding the complexity of constructing these veritable floating palaces, you?ll discover the immensity of this site (267 acres), the stunning logistics, and the high technology put in place to build the ships (Only on pre-booking before departure. Each passenger will be asked to produce a valid passport in order to gain access to the shipyard).

In the evening, join us on an?optional excursion for both packages:?A boat tour on the Erdre, one of the most beautiful rivers in France.

DAY 4: NANTES

This morning, join us for the?optional excursions proposed :
CLASSIC: Guided tour of Nantes and the Castle of the Dukes of Brittany.
DISCOVERY:?Nantes, the Machines de l??le(3), secret courtyards and covered passageways.

This afternoon, join us for the?optional excursions proposed:

CLASSIC:?The Muscadet Wine Route and the medieval village of Clisson. We'll pass through many of the villages attesting to the region's vigorous wine culture. We'll continue toward La Chapelle Heulin and stop at the Ch?teau Cassemich?re (or similar site). This exceptional site invites you to discover its history-filled vineyards, visit its cellars and taste the dry, light, fruity and aromatic wine. Our next stop will be Clisson, a charming medieval city with 15th century ruins and an Italian flair.
DISCOVERY:?Soar over the Loire?in a helicopter (you must register for this excursion at your travel agency before your departure).(3)?An unforgettable experience! Catch a bird's eye view of Ancenis, its hills and castle, the 14th-century tower in Oudon, the ch?teaux de Clermont and de la Turmeli?re, etc.

DAY 5: NANTES - THE CHATEAUX OF THE LOIRE VALLEY - ANGERS

We'll cruise to Bouchemaine.?Optional excursions proposed:

CLASSIC:?Visit the historical sections of Angers and see the legendary Apocalypse Tapestry(3). Capital of the Anjou region, Angers has many artistic and historic treasures and has become famous as much for its rich heritage as for its modernity and excellent quality of life. We'll visit the Ch?teau d'Angers, which dominates the old town, and admire the extraordinary Apocalypse Tapestry(4), one of the most important collections of medieval tapestries in the world. And we'll finish up with a tour of the cathedral area, combining Roman art ruins and rich Gothic-style architecture.

DISCOVERY:?Tour of the Ch?teau de Brissac and wine tasting?(3). We'll leave by coach for the Ch?teau de Brissac and visit the seven-story, 204-room splendid residence. The castle's spectacular decorations and the breathtaking Belle ?poque theater are definitely not to be missed! At the end of our tour, we'll discover the castle cellars and enjoy a wine tasting.

Tonight, join us for an evening of entertainment.

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DAY 6:

CHALONNES-SUR-LOIRE?- THE CHATEAUX OF THE LOIRE VALLEY - ANCENIS

Today will be dedicated to an included full day’s excursion to the Ch?teaux of the Loire Valley. We’ll leave by coach for the?Ch?teau d’Azay-le-Rideau. Built on a small island in the middle of the Indre River, the ch?teau as it is seen today was built under Francis I by Gilles Berthelot. The castle is a French National Monument and possesses all the refinement found in the French Renaissance. We’ll continue to Villandry for lunch. Walk off your great meal with a stroll through the beautiful?gardens at the Ch?teau de Villandry. Spread out over three levels, they are impressive and a great way to relax and enjoy the beginning of your afternoon. Afterward, we’ll continue our tour and visit the?Ch?teau d’Uss?. Rebuilt in the 15th and 16th centuries, this stronghold with fortified towers, turrets, and steeples looks like something out of a fairytale. The castle is still inhabited today and takes visitors back to a time of legends and fairytales. It is thought to have inspired Charles Perrault when writing “Sleeping Beauty.” We’ll return to Ancenis for our festive gala evening. Our ship will cruise to Nantes during the night.

DAY 7: NANTES - PARIS

Enjoy one last buffet breakfast before disembarking at 09:00 a.m. Transfer by coach from Nantes to Paris.?End of our services.

**Please note that this is a bi-lingual ship with information provided in both English and French, and an international cruise host on board.**

For reasons of navigation and passenger safety, the Captain of the ship reserve the right to modify the itinerary of the cruise.

There might not be any other english speaking guests on these dates.

2024 RATES:

Departure	Ship	Main Deck From	Upper Deck From
3-May-24	Loire Princess	$2,949	$3,298
20-Sep-24	Loire Princess	$2,949	$3,298
15-Oct-24	Loire Princess	$2,949	$3,298

Prices Include: Full board cruise from dinner of the first day to breakfast of the last day in a double cabin with showers and toilets, welcome drink, entertainment, the Captain's evening, the assistance of our hostess on board, FREE Wi-Fi and port taxes. DRINKS PACKAGE INCLUDED - Soft Drinks, as well as tea and coffee specialties, Beer, sparkling white wine, Cremant and Prosecco (in a glass), as well as open wines and daily recommendations from the wine menu (by the glass), Cocktails and long drinks throughout the day and evening.

Prices Do Not Include: Drinks, not listed above, insurance and optional excursions.