Late deals
STANDING on the sundeck of the A-Rosa Viva watching the sun go down and Paris fade into the distance made me think: why have I never thought of going on a river cruise before?
Who doesn’t want to look out of their window in the morning to find that what had been Paris the night before is now Rouen?
This historic gem once had so many churches that it was known as the City of a Hundred Spires, the most imposing being Notre Dame in the town centre.
Claude Monet was so impressed he painted it at least 30 times, capturing the changing tones of the stone facade in all types of light. The village of Caudebec-en-Caux marked the furthest point up the river that the A-Rosa Viva ventured. The French king Henry IV is said to XXXXXX xxxxxx have declared that the chapel here was
Xxxx the most beautiful in his kingdom – don’t be fooled by his use of the word “chapel”, it’s the size of a small cathedral.
There was another treat for us here as the A-Rosa Viva has its own stock of e-bikes, and what a wonderful way they are to explore the Normandy countryside. Being electric, they make short work of the steepest climbs, including the 165ft high Pont de Brotonne over the Seine.
Acorns and sweet chestnuts crunched under our wheels as we glided through the Forest of Brotonne, where you still find houses with thatched roofs which have a line of earth at the apex with lilies poking out – apparently the roots help keep the thatch in place.
Another spot that was a joy to wake up beside was the small riverside town of Les Andelys.
Less successful, in my opinion, were the optional coach excursions.
Travelling an hour or so to Le Havre to stop for five minutes to take photographs of the seafront from a hilltop seemed hardly worth the effort.
Beyond Le Havre is Étretat, a quaint BY ANDREW PENMAN resort with a stony beach hemmed in by chalk cliffs, but the half-hour stop was scarcely long enough for a stroll and ice cream.
It was the same with the trip to Deauville, Honfleur and a Calvados distillery all on the same afternoon – as much time was spent on the coach as at the sites.
Whatever the outing, it was always a pleasure to return to the excellent A-Rosa Viva.
The crew couldn’t be more friendly, the boat was spotless, the cabins bigger than some hotel rooms I’ve stayed in.
If I have one suggestion, it would be to include more local produce – such as some Normandy cider to enjoy as you watch the French countryside slip past, or a Calvados as a nightcap as you relax on the sundeck that stretches almost the whole length of the boat.
A perfect toast to Paris. ■ Flying from Glasgow on November 8 or 18, seven nights all-inclusive at the four-star Real Bellavista Hotel & Spa, Albufeira, Algarve, from £449pp. ■ Flying from Glasgow from December 1-15, seven nights halfboard at the four-star Elba Carlota Hotel, Costa Caleta, Fuerteventura, from £449pp. ■ Flying from Glasgow on December 10 and 17, seven nights halfboard at the four-star Sentido Gran Canaria Princess, Playa del Ingles, Gran Canaria, from £439pp. ■ For these deals and more, visit www. stewarttravel.co.uk, your nearest Stewart Travel store or call 0800 091 2757.