Inclusions:

• All meals onboard, prepared with seasonal and fresh ingredients
  • 7 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 7 dinners
• Captain’s Welcome & Farewell Receptions
• Welcome & Farewell Gala Dinners
• Unlimited beverages onboard, including fine wine, beer, spirits, specialty coffee and tea, soft drinks and mineral water

Excursions

• 6 days of excursions, including ‘Choice Is Yours’ options, all fully hosted by English-speaking local experts
• Guided “Let’s Go” and “Do as the Locals Do” programs
• State-of-the-art Quietvox portable audio-headset system on all excursions
• Use of bicycles and Nordic walking sticks

Accommodation

• 7-night cruise in a river-view stateroom aboard the S. Joie de Vivre
• Lavishly appointed river-view staterooms and suites have handcrafted Savoir ® Beds of England, high thread count 100% Egyptian cotton sheets and European duvets, and a menu of pillow options
• Free Internet and Wi-Fi access while onboard

Experiences

• 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
• Services of an experienced Cruise Manager and Voyages.golf team leaders throughout
• All transfers on arrival and departure days
• Gratuities for onboard personnel (ship, staff, crew, Cruise/Tour Manager)
• Captivating onboard local entertainment

Golfers

• 3 x 18-Holes of golf:
  • Rouen La Forêt Verte (Rouen) or similar
  • Le Golf Parc Robert Hersant (La Chaussée-d’Ivry) or similar
  • Étretat Golf Course (Normandy)
• All rounds include pull-trolleys
• Lunch at each golf course
• All transfers from ship to golf courses
• Optional rental clubs available at extra cost

Flight

• One-way flight from Paris to Liverpool on Sunday 16 July

Bonus

• Book this cruise and receive 5% off any listed 151^st Open Championship travel package

Quick Glance:

Day-to-day

Day 1: Sunday 09 July 2023 – Paris (Embark)

Arrive and transfer to the ship. The ship will be located at Port de Javel Bas, 75015 Paris, France. If arriving as a group or pre-arranged transfer, we will have a representative waiting at the Charles de Gaulle airport to pick you up.

Day 2: La Roche-Guyon, Vernon, Giverny

Today we enjoy the simple charms of France’s natural beauty. Enjoy an excursion to a splendid château and gardens situated in an equally grand setting, plus a chance to immerse yourself in the very landscapes that inspired Impressionist master Claude Monet. Visit the hilltop Château de La Roche-Guyon, surrounded by beautiful gardens and offering sweeping views over the Seine. You will also have the opportunity to visit the home and gardens of Claude Monet or a guided bike ride from Vernon to Giverny, taking in the beautiful French countryside along the way.

Your choice of “Let’s Go” hike on the Crests trail of Monet’s gardens at Giverny, or Chateau La Roche-Guyon, or “Let’s Go” bike ride from Vernon to Giverny.

This evening, there will be a Captain’s Welcome Reception and dinner prepared for you.

Day 3: Rouen (Golf)

Non-Golfers

Walk in the footsteps of greatness in Normandy’s medieval capital, a city with a historic quarter that remains amazingly intact. From the cathedral Monet painted dozens of times to the cross marking the spot where Joan of Arc was martyred, Rouen is a treasure trove for the culturally curious. The roll call of famous people who lived or died in Rouen is long and varied—Richard the Lionheart, Joan of Arc, Gustave Flaubert and Claude Monet are among them.

Featured Excursion:

Rouen walking tour, the Dukes of Normandy’s capital

Golfers:

Today is our first round of golf. We play Rouen La Forêt Verte golf courses (or similar). Designed by French architect Thierry Huau who is a prominent environmentalist, the 18-hole course opened in 1989. The parkland course stretches out along nearly 6 kilometres in Normandy’s Seine-Maritime department, just 20 minutes from Rouen where the S.S Joie de Vivre is docked. There is no better way to kick off an authentic French golfing itinerary than the Rouen La Forêt Verte golf course. With a par of 72, the wooded course features four water hazards and 50 bunkers among sharp doglegs.

Day 4: Caudebec-en-Caux (Honfleur or Étretat)

Non-Golfers:

Caudebec-en-Caux, a lovely little town on the right bank of the Seine Estuary, is your base for one of two very different excursions. Non-golfers will drive through the beautiful Calvados countryside to Honfleur, a delightful seaside harbor and city of painters.

Golfers:

Golfers will head to head to the cliffs of Étretat for a game of golf along France’s version of the England’s’ cliffs of Dover. The 18-hole golf course offers fantastic views over the English channel. Formed in 1908, the original course was designed by Julien Chantepie and Arnaud Massy, but was redesigned by Didier Fruchet in the early 1990s.

Day 5: Rouen (Normandy Beaches)

Today all guests will have the magical experience of Normandy’s beaches, made famous from World War II where some 156,000 American, British and Canadian troops stormed 50 miles of Normandy’s beaches on June 6, 1944. Your full-day outing will visit Utah Beach and Ste-Mère-Église, with a choice to venture to either the American, British and Australian or Canadian beaches. After, you’ll go to the American cemetery and partake in a private ceremony at the Omaha Beach Memorial—a sentimental remembrance of Operation Overlord. Your choice of which beach to visit will get you more specific stories of WW2 specific to those beaches (categorised as USA, British/AUS, Canadian).

Day 6: Mantes-la-Jolie (Versailles or Golf)

Non-golfers:

Today we visit Mantes-la-Jolie for a better insight into how the French rules (Dauphin) lived over the centuries. This will include stepping inside the famous Palace of Versailles, the lavish palace built by the Sun King, Louis XIV.

Golfers:

After a leisurely breakfast on board, we will visit Le Golf Parc Robert Hersant (or similar) for a leisurely round of 18 holes at one of France’s most beautiful golf courses. Designed by Robert Hersant and Ron Fream, the parkland course has an American design set amongst gorgeous French countryside with majestic water features dominated by hills dressed in rare tree species with scarlet foliage in autumn. On the banks of the Eure in Normandy, this is a prestigious estate with over 15,000 trees.

Day 7: Paris

Today we return to the city of our departure, also known as the ‘City of Light.’ The featured excursion today is the ‘Heart of Paris’ Seine River Cruise, with a few choices for other activities including a Paris City tour, “Let’s Go” Seine riverbanks bike ride, or “Do as the Locals Do” Île de late Cité and Latin Quarter. After the day is done, we return to the ship for a lovely farewell dinner.

Day 8: Paris (Disembark)

After a wonderful time cruising the Seine River and exploring the cultural heart of France from Paris to Normandy, it is time to disembark. With three rounds of golf at some of the most authentic French golf courses, it is time to get a taste of England’s best on the Golf Coast in Liverpool. We will transfer you directly to Charles de Gaulle Airport for a direct flight to Liverpool. This flight is included in the cost.

• Pre-Open tour ends here – Start your 151^st Open Championship Package –

Note: The itineraries presented are subject to modification due to water levels, closures because of public holidays or other uncontrollable factors. Every effort will be made to operate programs as planned, but changes may still be necessary throughout the cruise. This day-to-day schedule is subject to change. Your final day-to-day schedule will be provided onboard on the first day of your cruise.

Ship Details – S.S. Joie De Vivre

Luxurious, charming and evocative, the S.S. Joie De Vivre breathes life into its staterooms with a touch of old-world charm combined with a river of elegance.

Grand Suite

The Grand Suite consists of 38 sq m, with a French balcony offering the best views on the ship. Inside, you will find a separate spacious living room, bathroom with separate rain shower and tub, as well as a secluded toilet and bidet. Handcrafted Savoir Beds of England, make for a great nights’ sleep, with a safe, built-in closet, hairdryer and individual thermostat creating a fantastic experience during your journey.

Suite

At 24 sq m, the S.S. Joie de Vivre suites are the second-best rooms in terms of space and lavishness. Luxuriously decorated with handcrafted Savoir Beds of England, these staterooms have a French balcony offering lofty river views throughout. The marble bathrooms have Asprey bath and body products, plush towels with a towel warmer, and cosy bathrobes and slippers. To say the Suites are anything short of luxury is an understatement!

Deluxe French Balcony

The Deluxe French Balcony rooms are a smaller version of the Suites, with 18 sq m of space, but still featuring a French balcony with which to enjoy the gorgeous views throughout your journey. Enjoy a flat-screen TV, an individual thermostat, built-in closer with plush bedding and a marble bathroom to top it off.

French Balcony

At the same size (18 sq m) as the Deluxe French Balcony, the standard French Balcony rooms are a level down on the ship. All French Balcony rooms are on the same level, with the Deluxe rooms and suites on the deck above. Inside your French Balcony Room, enjoy plush Savoir bedding with a marble bathroom and worldly amenities with which to enjoy your time on the Seine.

Classic

Considered entry-level, the Classic Staterooms on the S.S. Joie De Vivre are lavishly appointed with 15-17 square metres per stateroom. These staterooms are located on the lower level and do not have a balcony. They have a panoramic window with which to view the beautiful French countryside. If you are looking for the most budget-friendly option, consider a Classic room.

Rouen La Forêt Verte (or similar)

Located in Normandy, just 20 minutes from Rouen, Rouen La Forêt Verte stretches for six kilometres in heavily treed countryside. Established in 1989, the golf course was designed by famed architect Thierry Huau, a prominent environmentalist of international acclaim. With four water features, winding doglegs and 50 bunkers, there are plenty of obstacles to dodge during your ground. The heavily forested area creates a green wonderland in the summer, making for a fantastic day out to enjoy authentic French golf near the heart of France.

Golf d’Étretat

Perched atop Normandy’s answer to the white cliffs of Dover, the Golf d’Étretat comprises 18-holes of links golf overlooking the English Channel. Founded in 1908, the prominent golf course was designed by Julien Chantepie and Arnaud Massy (first foreign golfer to win The Open). Expect fantastic links golf with even better views! The famous elephant trunk etched into the white cliffs are viewable from the Étretat golf course, so bring a camera.

Golf Parc Robert Hersant

Designed like the great American parkland courses, Le Golf Parc was designed by media magnate Robert Hersant, who has since passed. Assisting with the design was American Ron Fream, who planted about 15,000 trees to create an amazing forest that the golf course meanders through. The golf course measures 6,301 yards from the back tees, so it is not excessively long. The aspect of horticulture emanates everywhere you look at Le Golf Parc. With water features, doglegs and fantastic views, you could not ask for a better golfing day out than Le Golf Parc Robert Hersant.

This cruise has a number of scheduled activities daily. Please contact us for more information.

Prices are based on Euro’s (€) and quoted as per person

Cruise Ship: Classic Stateroom

Upgrade Your Stateroom Aboard the S.S. Joie De Vivre:

Terms & Payment Plan:

• Prices are based on Euro’s (€) and quoted as per person
• 25% Deposit to book
• 25% Stage Payment due 30 October 2022
• Balance Due 31 January 2023
• Standard flexible terms and conditions apply. See here for more information.

Specials:

• Book before Earlybird pricing expires 31 March 2022; prices increase after this date
• The first three solo travellers are automatically entitled to a half-priced cruise
• Purchasers of this tour are eligible for a 5% discount from both the tour and Early Birdies travel package to the 151st Open Championship