Page 14 - AAA Now! – AAA Central Penn – March/April 2020

AAA
France River Cruising /Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
TM
PARIS & NORMANDY
By Sandy Fenton
Normandy Beaches during its 75th anniversary of the D-Day invasion.
Below are a few of my favorite Uniworld S.S. Joie de Vivre Seine River experiences:
• Walking off the ship and discovering the hilltop Chateau La Roche-Guyon with its ancient fortifications, caves, extensive vegetable and flower gardens, observatory and sleepy village overlooking the Seine. (German General Rommel “The Desert Fox” made the chateau his headquarters during WWII.)
• Spending an emotional and memorable day at the Normandy Landing Beaches, including Utah beach; Sainte-Mere-Eglise (first liberated French town);
the Airborne museum; Point du Hoc; the American Cemetery (where over 9,380 U.S. soldiers are buried and not a dry eye during the lowering of the flag); and the private Uniworld ceremony at Omaha Beach.
• Walking off the ship in historic Caudebec-en-Caux and exploring the town center and Notre-Dame church before riding bikes (Uniworld carries a fleet of bicycles onboard) along the river to charming, quiet Villequiers Village and stumbling upon Maison Vacquerie – home of the Victor Hugo Museum.
• Glorious and glamourous Paris. Standing on the upper deck of S.S. Joie de Vivre you have an up-
close and personal view of the Eiffel Tower and the neighborhoods surrounding it. I loved the private city eating and walking tours with local experts who live there and know it best, and also riding bikes along the flat Seine riverbanks and taking in the daily life of Parisians.
• All-inclusive luxury on the river. Everything from airport transfers, excursions, unlimited beverages, gratuities, crafted cocktails, spirits and fine wines, Wi- Fi, entertainment and wellness classes, world-class and award-winning dining (every meal was fresh and locally sourced), and so much more. One price, no nickel and diming.
• The elegant, comfortable and well-appointed staterooms and lavish suites (Uniworld is a sister company to the highly acclaimed five-star Red Carnation Hotel Collection.) The hand-crafted “Savoir” bed. The tumble-into-your-sumptuous “Savoir” bed and never wanting to get up – ever.
I can’t speak highly enough of our Uniworld S.S. Joie de Vivre Seine river cruise experience, and I wasn’t alone. Every guest we met and chatted with felt exactly the same way.
If you’re looking for a seamless, luxurious, all- inclusive, authentic and off-the-beaten-path experience sailing France’s Seine River (or other river itineraries), ask your favorite AAA travel agent about all the Uniworld Boutique River Cruise sales and promotions going on now and throughout 2020/2021.
Sandy Fenton aboard Uniworld’s S.S. Joie de Vivre docked in Mantas-la-jolie, France
S.S. Joie de Vivre river ship
Ihave yet to meet anyone who has not thoroughly enjoyed taking a European river cruise. And why not – what’s not to love?
European river cruises
continue to explode with American travelers and their high satisfaction rates keep consumers returning, albeit to different river itineraries throughout Europe and beyond.
I was hooked after our
first Danube sailing aboard
Viking River Cruises in 2011
and since then we returned
to the Danube during the magical Christmas market season (Viking - 2012) and also cruised the Moselle and the Rhine (Uniworld - 2014). I loved every day of my river cruising experiences – and could not wait to return to European river cruising.
And I did. A few months ago, my husband, Stewart, and I cruised round trip from Paris along the Seine River aboard the luxurious and all-
inclusive S.S. Joie de Vivre (Joy of Life), Uniworld Boutique River Cruises’ sumptuous river ship sailing exclusively throughout France.
S.S. Joie de Vivre (120 guests) docks in the heart of Paris with
a bird’s eye view of the city and the iconic Eiffel Tower. The ship
is a love letter to France – from the décor and design to its outstanding farm-to-ship-to- table French food, local wines, art and music. Everything is custom- designed and French inspired, including a classic French Supper Club with live music. Nothing is
overlooked and your overall feeling of well-being and gracious day-to-day (actually, hour-to-hour) guest services – and attention to detail – will spoil you immediately. She is a masterpiece!
One of the many reasons I wanted to sail S.S. Joie de Vivre’s round trip (eight days) Paris itinerary was the immersive, off-the-beaten-path and authentic daily excursions, especially a full day at the
"Let’s Talk Travel with AAA," hosted by Sandy Fenton, is broadcast Saturdays 11:00AM to 12:00PM on iHeartMedia’s WHP580. For more information, go to whp580.com and click on the link to "Let’s Talk Travel."
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