Day 1

This afternoon you begin embarkation to prepare for an afternoon departure from Southampton.

Day 2

This morning you arrive in St Malo, France where the following excursions are available.

MEDIEVAL CITY OF DINAN  -  4.5 hours  -  £41 to £50 per person

Our tour today takes us to Dinan, an ancient and well-preserved medieval walled city, and unquestionably one of the most beautiful places in Brittany.

Formerly seat of the Dukes of Brittany, Dinan, which is protected by the highest walls in the dukedom, stands at a height of 75 metres (246 feet) and dominates the beautiful Rance Valley.

Upon arrival, we begin with a guided walking tour, where we will discover the typical timbered houses, dating back to the 14th and 18th centuries, when the town’s cloth and linen industry was a source of great prosperity. From the Rue de L’Horloge, one of the most picturesque streets in Dinan, we will see the 15th century clock tower, before we reach the English garden, which was laid out in 1852. Here we can admire the magnificent view over the Rance Valley.

We shall then visit Saint-Saviour’s Church, built in the 13th century in several styles including Romanesque, Gothic, Classical and Baroque. The heart of Bertrand du Gresclin, a 14th century soldier who won many battles against the English, is preserved in the transept, where his tombstone can also be seen. Altered considerably in the 15th and 16th centuries, the church remains asymmetrical and unfinished to this day. It became a basilica in 1954.

Following an inside visit to the church, we will be given some free time to browse at leisure, before we make our way back to our ship. En route, we will be able to see the 750-metre (2,500 feet) long dam of the Rance estuary, which lies between Dinard and St Malo, Our guide will explain that in its very centre stands a tidal power station.

MONT ST MICHEL  -  5 hours  -  £50 to £60 per person

This tour takes us via the scenic coastal road to the marvels of the Mont Saint Michel – a rocky tidal island in Normandy.

Called ‘the wonder of the Occident’, due to its island setting, its rich history and the beauty of its architecture, Mont St Michel leaves an indelible impression at any time of year. As the bay is already partially silted up, the mount is usually seen surrounded by huge sand banks that shift with the tides and often reshape the mouths of neighbouring rivers. The movement of the tides in the bay is very great and the difference in sea level between high and low water can be over 12 metres (40 feet) – the highest in France.

Our visit of the area begins from the fortified entrance, the Bavole Gate, and along the Grande Rue, the main street in Mont St Michel. The street soon narrows dramatically and begins to climb steeply to reach the abbey, church and the cloister. In the summer it is as lively and crowded as it was in the Middle Ages at the height of the most fervent pilgrimages.

The Abbey’s origin goes back to the early 8th century, when the Archangel Michaël appeared to Aubert, Bishop of Avranches, who founded an oratory on the island, which was then known as Mount Tombe. During the Carolingian era, the oratory was replaced by an abbey, and from then on until the 16th century a series of increasingly splendid buildings – in the Romanesque and then the Gothic style – succeeded one another. The well-fortified Abbey was never captured.

Following our visit of the magnificent Abbey, the church and the cloister, we will be given some free time to explore the area independently. We then head back to St Malo via the scenic coastal road.

ST MALO  -  PRIVATEER CITY  -  5 hours  -  £51 to £60 per person

On our tour, we can discover the historical background of Saint Malo, which is closely linked to sea travel and trading.

Despite being almost destroyed in 1944, Saint Malo seems to have risen from the dead due to the traditional rebuilding of the city. On our tour, we can discover the historical background of Saint Malo, which is closely linked to sea travel and trading. During the 16th century, the town became overcrowded due to its insular state, which lead to middle-class ship-owners and tradesmen buying small manors in the country as their countryside homes, which are referred to as ‘Malouinières’.

Our first stop is at the Malouinière de la Ville Bague. Built in 1715 by Guillaume Eon, the descendant of a rich trading family, the Malouinière is considered to be the most beautiful Corsaires residence still inhabited. Upon arrival, a family member will lead us on a guided tour of the English-style garden, the pigeon house, which is listed as a historic building and is now a museum containing marine objects, and the church, where we will see period objects, wallpaper and furniture.

Following our visit, we re-board our tour coach and return to Saint Malo. From here, we will walk into the walled city and to the Hôtel d’Asfeld. Originally a Privateer’s house, it was built during the 17th century by François Auguste de la Lande, Privateer to the King. This prestigious building will be presented to us by its owners. Dressed up in period costumes, they will take us back in time, telling us all about the life that once went on here. We will walk through wood-panelled lounges, use concealed staircases to get to the basements, which were once used as prisons during the Revolution, and see Privateers’ weapons, documents, treasure boxes and period money. At the end of our visit, we can enjoy a glass of traditional Breton cider.

Departing the Hôtel d’Asfeld, we then embark on a guided walking tour of Saint Malo, along the ramparts that surround the town. During our pleasant walk, we will have picturesque views of the Breton coast, the mouth of the Rance Estuary, and (weather permitting) the resort of Dinard in the distance. We then proceed to Saint Vincent Cathedral, a Roman Catholic Cathedral dedicated to Saint Vincent of Saragossa. Following our visit, we then walk back to the quayside and our awaiting ship.

Day 3

This morning you arrive in Honfleur, France.

HONFLEUR  -  5 hours  -  £40 to £50 per person

This tour gives us the opportunity to experience the tranquil charm of Honfleur, a small and perfectly preserved 13th century fishing village, located on the Seine Estuary.

We will enjoy a guided introduction to this quiet town, lined with typical old timber-framed or slate-shingled houses.

During our walking tour, we will see the unique 17th century harbour Vieux Bassin. We will pass the Governor’s House ‘La Lieutenance’ and the ancient gateway to the town, before arriving at the lovely 15th century Sainte-Catherine Church. The massive oak belfry is covered in chestnut and stands apart from the church on a large foundation, which used to contain the bell-ringer’s dwelling. Sainte-Catherine Church is a rare example in Western Europe of a building constructed entirely of wood.

Following our walking tour, we can enjoy free time to browse independently, before making our way back to Rouen.

MONET'S GARDEN  -  5.5 hours  -  £55 to £65 per person

Departing the quayside, we drive to Giverny, a pretty village located on the banks of the River Seine, and renowned for being the location of Claude Monet’s house.

The world-famous impressionist painter lived in this house from 1883 until his death in 1926. Between 1886 and 1890, a whole colony of painters joined him in order to take advantage of the ‘garden art’ form. It was in this very picturesque setting that Monet painted the huge canvases of the Water Lilies, which can be seen in Paris at the Orangerie Museum.

Upon arrival, we first visit the Clos Normand – the arches of flowers – whose palette of varying colours inspired Monet. We continue to the pink and green house standing at the top of the gardens. Reproductions of Monet’s works and his collection of 18th and 19th century Japanese prints can be seen in the different rooms.

Our tour will end back in the gardens, where our guide will lead us through the picturesque ‘water garden’ shaped by weeping willows, its famous Japanese bridge and its pond, which inspired Monet in his work. At the end of our visit, there will be some free time, before we begin our return journey to Honfleur

ROUEN  -  5.5 hours  -  £45 to £55 per person

Rouen is a city which has stirred the souls of many great writers and inspired numerous painters in the past. Situated on the north bank of the River Seine, it is considered to be the historical capital of Normandy.

Upon arrival into Rouen, we begin our guided walking tour of the old part of the city, along the narrow streets lined with more than 700 timber-framed houses, all characteristic examples of medieval building techniques. Our walk will take us along Rue Saint-Romain, one of the town’s most fascinating streets, with the beautiful Church of St-Maclou, built between 1437 and 1517 and decorated in gothic-flamboyant style. As we continue along the bustling Rue du Gros-Horloge, we will see the unique medieval defensive clock tower. The clock was formerly located in the belfry and moved to its present location in 1527, when the arch was specifically built to receive it. We will also see the nearby law court, situated in an outstanding renaissance building.

Next we shall visit the inside of the Notre-Dame Cathedral of Rouen, considered to be one of the finest achievements of French gothic art. The attraction of Rouen Cathedral lies in its infinite variety, including an immense façade bristling with openwork pinnacles and framed by two totally different towers – Tour Saint Romain and Tour de Beurre. The Cathedral contains the tomb of Richard the Lionheart, who loved the city and ordered that his heart be buried here.

Our guide will then lead us to Place du Vieux Marche, the old market square where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake following her trial in 1431. We can have some free time here to explore independently, prior to our return to Honfleur via the motorway

PARIS DISCOVERY  -  10 hours  -  £75 to £85 per person

On our tour today we can enjoy a leisurely cruise on the Seine River and take in the most famous landmarks of the ‘City of Lights’.

Departing from the quayside, we drive to Paris, where we meet our guide. We shall make our way to Bateaux Parisiens, located by the Iena Bridge right in front of the Eiffel Tower. As we set sail on our river cruise, we can take in many of the city’s famous monuments, including the Trocadero, designed in the Neo-classical style, the Eiffel Tower, the Invalides, the Louvre and Orsay Museums, the Conciergerie and Notre-Dame on the Ile de la Cité. Whilst enjoying our cruise, we can listen to commentary about the surrounding area.

Stepping back on to dry land, we commence our sightseeing drive, travelling down the Champs-Élysées, past Concorde Square, the famous obelisk, Vendome Square, the Opera Garnier and the Arch of Triumph, honouring those who fought for France during the Napoleonic Wars.

We shall then have some free time to explore Paris on our own. We may choose to browse the Grands Boulevards – one of the main shopping and dining areas of the city – which are lined with traditional Parisian brasseries, restaurants and cafés, along with fine shops. One of the most famous of the avenues is Boulevard Haussmann, featuring the renowned French department stores Galeries Lafayette and Printemps.

Following our free time, we re-board our tour coach for the return journey to Honfleur and our awaiting ship.

BAYEUX  -  5 hours  -  £50 to £60 per person

This tour takes us directly to the city of Bayeux via the motorway, and through the countryside of Normandy.

Bayeux, the former capital of the Bessin, was the first French town to be liberated on June 7th, 1944, and was fortunate not to have been damaged during the war. The Cathedral still keeps watch over the town, while the Bayeux Tapestry presents its unique record of the events of 1066.

We first visit the William the Conqueror Centre, an impressive 18th century building, which is home to the world famous Queen Mathilda Tapestry, also known as the Bayeux Tapestry. This incredible piece of Norman art tells the story of the conquest of England, culminating with the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Displayed in 58 scenes, it stretches a total of 70 metres (230 feet). Our visit will also include numerous vivid dioramas as well as a fascinating film detailing the Tapestry’s historic background.

We continue our tour with a visit to the beautiful Norman-gothic style Notre-Dame Cathedral, which was built in 1077 on the site of a Roman temple. The Cathedral, which boasts some beautiful original architecture, was the original home of the Bayeux Tapestry.

Next we begin our walking tour of the charming streets of Bayeux, passing medieval and renaissance houses, which have all been attractively restored. Our path will also lead us past impressive private mansions such as the Hotel de la Tour du Pin and its imposing façade in the 18th century Louis XVI style.

A TASTE OF NORMANDY  -  4.5 hours  -  £50 to £60 per person

Normandy is the land of picturesque half-timbered houses, lush green pastures and apple orchards – a land of rich culinary tradition based on its fine local products: butter, cream, world famous cheeses, and apples from which cider and the brandy Calvados are made.

Departing the quayside, we travel through the heart of the Norman countryside to the village of Le Breuil en Auge, where we visit the traditional distillery Le Château du Breuil. This attractive slate-roofed château was built in the 16th and 17th centuries, and specialises in making cider and Calvados. Upon arrival here, we commence our guided walking tour of the distillery and ageing cellars, before we are invited to a special tasting of famous Normandy products such as Calvados and cider together with delicious cheeses including Camembert and Livarot served with bread and butter.

Next we travel to Honfleur to experience the charm of this perfectly preserved 13th century fishing village. Honfleur is considered to be the birthplace of impressionist and romantic art movements. During our walking tour, we will see the unique 17th century harbour Vieux Bassin. We shall pass the Governor’s House ‘La Lieutenance’ and the gateway to the town, as well as the lovely 15th century church of Sainte-Catherine – a rare example in western Europe of a building constructed entirely from wood. The church has a massive oak belfry covered in chestnut, which stands apart from the church on a large foundation that used to contain the bell-ringer’s dwelling.

After enjoying some free time in Honfleur, where we can stroll along the quaint streets at leisure, we return to our awaiting ship.

Day 4

Morning arrival in Southampton.

luggage allowance

If you are sailing from a UK port a generous 200lbs (90kgs) of luggage is allowed.

Fly/cruises
On fly/cruises, however, your allowance will be subject to the conditions imposed by the air carrier and will vary from airline to airline. On our charter flights, the baggage allowance is a generous 25kgs, although this is subject to change at the start of each fly-cruise season. Additionally, on our charter flights, 1 piece of hand luggage weighing a maximum of 5kgs is allowed.

Please note that no one piece of baggage must weigh more than 23kgs. More than one piece of baggage is permitted for check-in, but the total weight of all baggage must not exceed the allowance of 25kgs.

Coach Services
For safety reasons, when using one of our advertised coach services each piece of luggage must weigh less than 20kgs. Please check when booking and on receipt of your tickets.

DRESS CODE

Daytime wear is casual, although when it comes to evening, dressing for dinner is traditional.
We recognise that those who are new to cruising may be wondering what is appropriate to wear onboard a Fred. Olsen cruise ship. We have a relaxed formal atmosphere onboard our ships, so to help you decide what to pack, we have put together the following simple guidelines:

Daytime Wear
During the daytime we recommend comfortable shoes, which are essential for going ashore, sightseeing, and walking on deck. As the sun begins to set a lightweight jacket or coat is recommended. During the day our restaurants request you adhere to an appropriate dress code e.g. no swimwear.

Evening Wear
The evening is generally speaking informal, with gentlemen wearing jacket and tie (lounge suit or sports jacket is fine) and ladies smartly dressed. On ‘Formal’ evenings, gentlemen will prefer to wear ‘black tie’ with ladies elegantly dressed in cocktail or evening dress. As a guideline there are usually four formal nights on a two-week cruise. Details will be supplied with your travel documents. During your cruise there will be some casual as well as themed evenings, such as ‘Tropical Evening’ or ‘British Night’

Suit Hire
To make your evenings even more relaxed and memorable we now have a very special formal hire service available. Hiring or packing dress suits for formal nights can be a bit of a chore, but a solution is at hand. ‘Floating Formals’ is a suit hire service, which you can pre-book by telephone from your home. When you arrive on board, your tuxedo will be pressed and waiting for you in your cabin. When the cruise is over all you need to do is leave the garment(s) with reception. It’s that simple!

Hire rates start from £68 for cruises of 14 days or less. Suit hire is available for longer cruises on request. The service is available on cruises departing from Dover or Southampton and orders can be placed up to 72 hours before your sailing date. Please call ‘Floating Formals’ on 0208 518 4171 for full details and bookings, or to visit their website click here. Arrangements and prices are correct at the time of going to print, and may be subject to change. Please be aware this service is not available for fly cruises.

WELL-BEING AT SEA

Medical Facilities
For your peace of mind, all our ships have a medical centre offering primary care with a doctor and/or nurse on permanent call. They can easily be called from the phone in your cabin, if needed in an emergency. The medical centres operate outside the British and European health services and charges are levied for consultations, prescriptions and cabin visits. A scale of charges is displayed in the medical centre and charges incurred will be billed to your on board account. Sharp boxes are available on request. If you are taking medication, please remember to bring adequate amounts to last the duration of the cruise. A copy of any regular presciption would also be useful in the event of a medical emergency. Any serious pre-existing medical condition that could adversely affect your cruise must be brought to the attention of our Medical Department well in advance of departure.

Passports & Visas
It is a requirement that every passenger holds a full, valid and in date passport.

Passports - If you are an EC citizen, valid passports or national Identity Cards will be sufficient for visits to EC countries. If you are not an EC citizen then you will need a valid passport.

All passengers need to have valid passports for visits to countries outside the EC, with validity 6 months after the date of your return.

Visas - If you hold a British Subject passport, please note this will not be sufficient for our Miami fly-cruises, and you could be denied boarding at the UK departure airport, unless you have the relevant/required visas, which are your responsibility to obtain. You must therefore be in possession of a valid British Citizen passport.

Certain countries such as Russia will require you to have a visa if you wish to explore ashore on your own. If, however, you are taking a Fred. Olsen organised tour ashore then you will be covered by the group visa.

We strongly recommend that you check all documentary requirements for your cruise with your Travel Agent or with us on booking, in order to ensure you have the right documentation for your holiday.

For the latest travel advice and information, please log on to www.fco.gov.uk/travel

Tender Services
Some ports will require passengers to go ashore by tender, with access down the steps of a gangway. Please ask about your particular cruise at the time of booking. On health and safety grounds wheelchair bound passengers or those requiring more than minimal assistance to board/alight a tender will be prevented from going ashore on these occasions.

Smoking On board
Smoking is no longer permitted in any inside deck area. Smoking is however permitted on cabin balconies and on designated open deck locations.

LIFE ON BOARD

Accommodation
Your cabin onboard a Fred. Olsen ship is your home from home, and we have a wide variety of cabins to suit your needs. We also have a substantial number of single cabins on board all our ships, as we recognise that paying a supplement for a twin cabin just adds to the expense of your holiday. Or if you'd rather, we offer shared cabins (same sex only) where you may meet a new friend.

Dining
The cruise is tailored to your needs, so how and what you eat is entirely your choice. Lunch can be taken alfresco while the evening can be more formal with elegant cocktails followed by dinner prepared by our award-winning chefs. Meals are prepared exactly to your liking, whether dinner in one of our restaurants or a relaxed meal in a cafe.

Dietary Requirements
We will do our best to accommodate most dietary requests on board. We currently cater for vegetarian, low fat, dairy free, lactose free, gluten and wheat free diets. All special requests must be specified when booking, and we will endeavour to source the products required, but cannot guarantee specific brands. (Some special requests may not be possible due to the location of the vessel and availability at local ports).

Paying on Board
For your convenience a credit system is operated for all on board services, except for foreign currency exchange and ‘games of chance’. When a chargeable service is provided, you will be required to present your account card and sign a cashpoint receipt, retaining one copy for your reference.

Your account is open from the time you embark the vessel with your swipe card, which is issued at check-in and which acts as your on board account card. To avoid any necessity to queue in order to settle your account at cruise end, you will be requested to present your credit/debit card at Reception early in the cruise so that a swipe can be taken. You can check the balance of your account at any stage in the cruise and it will then be automatically debited after disembarkation. On Balmoral and Braemar you can view your account on FOi (Interactive TV) by visiting ‘Account Review’ from the main menu.

The following credit cards are accepted ; American Express , Diners Club, Eurocard, Mastercard and Visa. All credit card payments will attract a 2% surcharge. However, we also accept Visa debit cards without surcharge, but regret we cannot accept ; Maestro, Solo, Electron or travel agent debit cards on board. Neither can we accept any form of pre-paid currency or travellers cheque cards.

For security we strongly advise travellers cheques as the safest form of currency. These can be cashed with no limits. You may also cash personal cheques to the value of your cheque guarantee card - the number of occasions will be dependent upon cruise duration.

The currency used on board is Sterling, which must be the currency used to settle your on board account if paying in cash. We also carry currencies for most of the ports of call we visit – please see Bureau de Change for more details.

Gratuities
Gratuities to crew, drivers, guides etc. ashore are not included in the cost of your holiday. We’re confident however that you’ll wish to reward staff on board for their service, although tipping is entirely at your discretion. As a general rule £2.00 per passenger per day for your cabin stewardess and the same amount for your restaurant waiter is always very much appreciated.

SHIP SERVICES

Laundry Services
All our ships provide an excellent Laundry, Dry Cleaning and Pressing Service. A full price list and details will be found in your Welcome Pack waiting for you in your cabin. An additional 25% is charged for same day service.
An ironing room and self service launderette is available on all our ships, where a nominal charge is made for the use of the washing machines.

Library
All our vessels have a well-appointed library on board offering a wide variety of books, including some large print books. There is also a selection of board games for use during your cruise. Audio books are also available, but please remember to bring your own personal CD/cassette player.

Internet Centre
To access the internet you simply swipe your ID card through the keyboard reader which makes a connection to the internet (asking you a security question in the process). Users can browse the internet freely and e-mail is available via web-based e-mail accounts. Charges are based on the amount of information you download at any one time so for example a website with a large amount of content such as the BBC or similar will cost more to view than a simple webmail provider. All charges are summarised at the end of each session and posted directly to your on board account. For more information, we supply a detailed instructions leaflet on board.

Bureau De Change
All our vessels operate a bureau de change facility on board, where foreign currency can be purchased or sold. This facility is located at the Reception Desk. All major currencies are stocked based upon the itinerary of the cruise, with no commission charged and with rates comparable to high street banks or bureau de change. You may purchase foreign currency with travellers cheques or cash. Alternatively, you may use your credit card to buy Sterling to then purchase foreign currency for which a charge of 3.5% will be applied. (Please note that owing to local restrictions some currencies cannot be carried).

Daily Times
Each evening a Daily Times newsletter will be placed in your cabin, detailing events and timings for the following day. This will include time zone changes and dress code guidelines.

SHIP SERVICES

During your chosen cruise you will have a number of opportunities to take part in one of our many shore excursions.  These are the perfect opportunity to explore everything your destination has to offer, in an organised and relaxed manner.

All excursions are prebooked by sending the booking form supplied with your confirmation to:

Shore Tours Department

Fred.Olsen Cruise Lines

Fred.Olsen House

White House Road

Ipswich

IP1 5LL

Payment may be made by credit card or cheque, and tour booings open six weeks prior to departure.  Tickets for the tours you have booked will be delivered to your cabin at the start of the cruise.  Excursions are subject to change.