Impressionist France
10 nights
Star Explorer
21 May '27Cruise overview
The French are known for their style and taste, and as you make your way from Bordeaux to Brittany, Normandy to Flanders, notice how each new vista appeals to an artist’s eye. Island fortresses exude a fairytale magic – the breathtaking abbey perched on Mont St. Michel, imposing St.-Malo filled with pirate lore, the Ville Close of Concarneau with its romantic drawbridges. Everywhere you look are scenes that beg to be captured on canvas, or perhaps already are – stunning La Rochelle built of luminous white limestone, Quimper’s gargoyle-embellished cathedral, Monet’s fabulous Japanese garden in Giverny, and Versailles, its gardens as magnificent as its gilded interior. History here escapes the books and leads you on a wild scavenger hunt.Uncover the hearts and souls of medieval prisoners in the graffiti of La Rochelle’s Old Port towers. Read the story of St. Ronan carved into the wood pulpit of Locronan’s church. Relive the battle before the battle of D-Day in the bullet holes on Pegasus Bridge. Your spring timing is perfect for wandering gardens and flower markets, quaint Old Towns and the shops of Rue de Rennes in Paris. And with three overnight stays and smaller ports of call that are closer to the sights than big ships get, you can spend more time in the places you want to see most.
Itinerary
Bordeaux
Bordeaux as a whole, rather than any particular points within it, is what you’ll want to visit in order to understand why Victor Hugo described it as Versailles plus Antwerp, and why the painter Francisco de Goya, when exiled from his native Spain, chose it as his last home (he died here in 1828). The capital of southwest France and the region’s largest city, Bordeaux remains synonymous with the wine trade: wine shippers have long maintained their headquarters along the banks of the Garonne, while buyers from around the world arrive for the huge biennial Vinexpo show (held in odd-number years).Bordeaux is, admittedly, a less exuberant city than many others in France, but lively and stylish elements are making a dent in its conservative veneer. The cleaned-up riverfront is said by some, after a bottle or two, to exude an elegance reminiscent of St. Petersburg, and that aura of 18th-century élan also permeates the historic downtown sector—“le vieux Bordeaux”—where fine shops invite exploration. To the south of the city center are old docklands undergoing renewal—one train station has now been transformed into a big multiplex movie theater—but the area is still a bit shady. To get a feel for the historic port of Bordeaux, take the 90-minute boat trip that leaves Quai Louis-XVIII every weekday afternoon, or the regular passenger ferry that plies the Garonne between Quai Richelieu and the Pont d’Aquitaine in summer. A nice time to stroll around the city center is the first Sunday of the month, when it’s pedestrian-only and vehicles are banned.
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La Rochelle
Belle-Île-en-Mer
At sea
Saint-Malo
Saint-Malo
Caen
Paris
Paris
At sea
London Tower Bridge
Deluxe Suite
DECK | CABIN TYPE: Suite | 288 SQ FT
This 288-square-foot suite welcomes you with spectacular views, courtesy of the sliding glass doors that lead out to your private balcony. The outdoor space adds another 110 square feet, enough to sit outside comfortably and enjoy the breeze. The bedroom features an inviting queen bed and its own sliding glass door with balcony access, while the bathroom includes a luxurious walk-in mosaic glass shower with rain head and body jets.
All Accommodations Feature
- Queen Size Bed with Luxurious Linens
- Waffle Weave Robe and Slippers
- Interactive TV
- Mini Bar/Refrigerator
- Safe
- Direct Dial Phone
- L’Occitane Bath Amenities
- Fresh Fruit
- Hair Dryers and 110/220 outlets
- Wi-Fi Internet Access (various plans available for purchase)
- Mirrored closet with ample drawer space
- Vanity with magnifying mirror and chair
Amenities
- Queen or Twin Configuration
- Vanity Area
- Shower
- Toiletries Provided
- TV
- Media/Entertainment Station
- Safe
- Hair Dryer
- Telephone
- Desk
- Air Conditioning
- Wi-Fi (Additional Cost)
- Mini Bar (Additional Cost)
Ship features
Accomodation
All Accommodations Feature
- Queen Size Bed with Luxurious Linens
- Waffle Weave Robe and Slippers
- Interactive TV
- Mini Bar/Refrigerator
- Safe
- Direct Dial Phone
- L’Occitane Bath Amenities
- Fresh Fruit
- Hair Dryers and 110/220 outlets
- Wi-Fi Internet Access (various plans available for purchase)
- Mirrored closet with ample drawer space
- Vanity with magnifying mirror and chair