Which river cruise lines sail the Seine to Normandy?
By Richard Jasinski·Updated 10 November 2026
These 12 river cruise lines sell a Seine sailing on their own websites, read 10 November 2026. Each card gives what the line says about it, with the ship, sailing, length, price or number where it names one, then why to choose it, what to ask for and the limits it publishes.
Which river cruise lines sail the Seine to Normandy?
12 river cruise lines in the Uncompromised Travel table say on their own websites that they sell a Seine sailing; VIVA Cruises, Thurgau Travel and Tauck have the most Google reviews under the line's own name.
A-ROSA
- Best for
- Drinks-inclusive sailings on Rhine, Danube and Douro
- Seine sailing
- Sails Seine Experience Normandy 2027 on A-ROSA VIVA, 7 nights from Le Pecq / Paris to Rouen, Caudebec-en-Caux and Vernon, from €1,261 per person in cabin A on the sailing page read.
- Why choose them
- Began sailing the Danube in 2002 with A-ROSA BELLA and A-ROSA DONNA and now lists 15 river ships. Trustpilot: 2.9 out of 5 from 342 reviews, newest 6 November 2026. Read 10 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for the Premium All-Inclusive fare, which includes one free change of travel date up to 30 days before departure.
- Not the fit if
- you use a wheelchair: there are no wheelchair-accessible cabins and no passenger lifts except on A-ROSA ALVA, SENA, ALEA and CLEA.
- Money protection
- Risk coverage certificate (Sicherungsschein) under Section 651r BGB, issued before the 25% down payment is due.
Amadeus River Cruises
- Best for
- European river cruises with wine at dinner
- Seine sailing
- Runs golf cruises on the Seine and the Rhine with a golf expert in 2027.
- Why choose them
- Suites on its ships measure 26.4 m2 (284 sq ft) with a walk-out balcony.
- Ask for
- Ask for excursion Package C, which includes every excursion on the cruise at a reduced price when booked in advance.
- Not the fit if
- you use a wheelchair or scooter: neither is permitted on board and guests must manage the gangway, stairs and ramps without one.
- Money protection
- Listed in the Austrian carrier directory under number 2004/0052, with customer money insured under the Austrian travel agency insurance ordinance (RSV).
Excellence River Cruises
- Best for
- German-language river voyages from Switzerland
- Seine sailing
- Sails Paris, Normandy & the sea on the Excellence Royal, 8 days from Paris to Les Andelys, Caudebec-en-Caux, Rouen and Vernon, from CHF 2'155 per person in 2027.
- Why choose them
- Says its fleet holds the Green Award and the Fair Cruise Award and has twice won the Myclimate Award.
- Ask for
- Ask for a sailing with a double cabin on the main deck for one person without supplement.
- Not the fit if
- you do not speak German: German is the language on board, including daily programmes and menus.
- Money protection
- Stiftung Gesetzlicher Garantiefonds der Schweizer Reisebranche (Garantiefonds).
- Website
- excellence.ch
Gate 1 Travel
- Best for
- Escorted tours with chartered river cruises
- Seine sailing
- Sells a 12 Day Seine River Cruise with London.
- Why choose them
- Founded in 1981, it began with tours to Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Greece and Turkey.
- Ask for
- Ask for the Cancel for Any Reason waiver, which allows cancellation up to 72 hours before departure for a future travel credit.
- Not the fit if
- you use a wheelchair, walker or scooter: none can be accommodated on its international river cruises.
- Enquiry
- gate1travel.com/terms
Grand Circle Cruise Line
- Best for
- Small-group Danube and Seine cruises with airfare
- Seine sailing
- Sails The Seine: Paris & the Heart of Normandy, 13 days with 10 nights on the 120-passenger M/S Bizet, calling at Rouen, Honfleur and the Normandy beaches.
- Why choose them
- Founded in 1958 by Ethel Andrus to serve Americans over 50. Trustpilot (whole company): 4.0 out of 5 from 20 reviews, newest 7 November 2026. Read 10 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for a departure with a free or low-cost Single Supplement, or for roommate matching, which carries no single supplement even without a match.
- Not the fit if
- you use a wheelchair or motorised scooter: most trips are not accessible and guests needing help must travel with an able companion.
- Enquiry
- gct.com/about-us/contact-us
nicko cruises
- Best for
- River cruises for German-speaking travellers worldwide
- Seine sailing
- Sails the Seine on SEINE COMTESSE (150 passengers), with three days in the Loire Valley after a Seine cruise.
- Why choose them
- Sails a fleet of 22 ships and says it has been market leader for river cruises in Germany since 2007. Trustpilot (whole company): 3.2 out of 5 from 387 reviews, newest 5 November 2026. Read 10 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for a Single-Spezial departure, where the single supplement is cut by 50%.
- Not the fit if
- you want an English-only ship: most river ships run in German and English; CYRANO DE BERGERAC runs in French and German.
- Money protection
- Insurance certificate naming the insurer, required before any payment under its package travel terms.
- Website
- nicko-cruises.de
Riviera Travel
- Best for
- All-inclusive European river cruises with excursions included
- Seine sailing
- Sails The Seine, Paris and Normandy River Cruise (8 days, 10 included experiences) and Paris, Normandy & Historic Treasures of the Seine (11 days) on MS Jane Austen.
- Why choose them
- Says it has welcomed more than 1.75 million guests worldwide and launched its river cruises in 2009.
- Ask for
- Ask for a solo departure with the single supplement waived, or a Cruise & Stay with three nights in a 4-star hotel.
- Not the fit if
- you use a wheelchair: there are no wheelchair accessible cabins on any of its ships.
- Money protection
- Says it is fully bonded with the CAA and ABTA, which are UK bodies, so your money is safe in any eventuality; its US booking conditions carry Florida Seller of Travel Ref. No. ST40993.
- Enquiry
- rivieratravel.com/contact
Scenic
- Best for
- All-inclusive Europe and Mekong river cruises
- Seine sailing
- Sails Highlights of Normandy & the Seine, 8 days, from US$5,054 per person, double occupancy, 2027 season.
- Why choose them
- Its river fleet is growing from 13 to 16 ships, with new additions planned for 2027 and 2028.
- Ask for
- Ask for a Solo Program Preferred Fare, which gives 50% single supplement savings, with a free single supplement on select dates.
- Not the fit if
- you live outside the United States: these fares and offers apply to legal residents of the United States.
Tauck
- Best for
- Fully guided European river cruises, excursions included
- Seine sailing
- Sails Rendezvous on the Seine: Paris to Normandy (10 days, 9-night cruise, round trip from Paris), with visits to the D-Day beaches and the American Cemetery.
- Why choose them
- Founded in 1925, it now offers nearly 200 itineraries across land tours and river and small ship cruises. Google: 3.4 out of 5 from 41 reviews; Trustpilot (whole company): 2.7 out of 5 from 93 reviews, newest 13 October 2026. Read 10 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for a Category 1 cabin on a European river cruise, which carries no single supplement.
- Not the fit if
- you need help walking or use a motorised scooter: Tauck cannot provide individual assistance and cannot take scooters on any trip.
- Enquiry
- tauck.com/contact-us
Thurgau Travel
- Best for
- Swiss river voyages on its own ships
- Seine sailing
- Sails MS Swiss Pearl, for 133 guests, from Paris to Rouen and Le Havre and back, 8 days from CHF 1'790 per person, March to September 2027.
- Why choose them
- Founded in December 2001, it sails 19 ships on over 50 waterways in more than 25 countries. Google: 4.4 out of 5 from 181 reviews; Trustpilot (whole company): 4.6 out of 5 from 1,004 reviews, newest 8 November 2026. Read 10 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for the excursion package with audio guide when you book, as most excursions are sold that way.
- Not the fit if
- you cannot leave the ship on your own in an evacuation, as guests must be able to do so and must tell Thurgau Travel before booking if not.
- Money protection
- Garantiefonds der Schweizer Reisebranche (Swiss travel industry guarantee fund).
- Website
- thurgautravel.ch
Viking
- Best for
- Europe, Nile and Mekong river voyages
- Seine sailing
- Sails the Seine on six ships, Viking Fjolvar, Fjorgyn, Kari, Nerthus, Radgrid and Skaga, with itineraries including Christmastime in Paris & Normandy.
- Why choose them
- Says it was voted #1 for Rivers in Condé Nast Traveler's 2026 Readers' Choice Awards, the sixth consecutive year. Trustpilot (whole company): 1.7 out of 5 from 384 reviews, newest 10 November 2026. Read 10 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for the Viking Inclusive Value fare, with one shore excursion in every port, or the current Special Solo Traveler Fares.
- Not the fit if
- you are travelling with children: Viking says its river ships have no children on board.
- Website
- vikingrivercruises.com
VIVA Cruises
- Best for
- All-inclusive river cruises with tips included
- Seine sailing
- Sails the 5-day Culinary Cruise Normandy from Paris via Les Andelys, Rouen, Caudebec and Conflans back to Paris on VIVA BEYOND (112 guests).
- Why choose them
- Says the Swiss shipping company Scylla AG, which owns a fleet of 40 ships, stands behind the brand. Google: 4.4 out of 5 from 289 reviews; Trustpilot: 3.9 out of 5 from 178 reviews, newest 6 November 2026. Read 10 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for a Culinary Cruise with Falstaff, where all shore excursions are included in the price.
- Not the fit if
- you want a doctor on board: there is none, though first aid can be given on all ships.
- Money protection
- Guarantee certificate handed over before the 20% down payment is due.
- Website
- viva-cruises.com
Which of these show a dated price on this page?
4 of the 12 cards show a price for a sailing of this kind, with its currency and a date or season. Gate 1 Travel, nicko cruises, Riviera Travel, Tauck and Viking publish fares on their own websites without a sailing date, a per-person basis or a currency on the pages read, so no figure is shown for them. Ask every line for a written quote with the departure date and what it includes.
Which of these lines name a scheme that protects your money?
7 of the 12 lines name a scheme, bond, licence or account that protects payments for some or all bookings; check the number with the scheme before you pay.
- A-ROSA: Risk coverage certificate (Sicherungsschein) under Section 651r BGB, issued before the 25% down payment is due
- Amadeus River Cruises: Listed in the Austrian carrier directory under number 2004/0052, with customer money insured under the Austrian travel agency insurance ordinance (RSV)
- Excellence River Cruises: Stiftung Gesetzlicher Garantiefonds der Schweizer Reisebranche (Garantiefonds)
- nicko cruises: Insurance certificate naming the insurer, required before any payment under its package travel terms
- Riviera Travel: Says it is fully bonded with the CAA and ABTA, which are UK bodies, so your money is safe in any eventuality; its US booking conditions carry Florida Seller of Travel Ref. No. ST40993
- Thurgau Travel: Garantiefonds der Schweizer Reisebranche (Swiss travel industry guarantee fund)
- VIVA Cruises: Guarantee certificate handed over before the 20% down payment is due
Who to contact first
Start with the 3 lines on this page that publish both a sailing price and their cancellation terms on their own websites, then add any other card that fits your dates and the sailing you want.
What to ask each one to set out in writing:
- What the fare includes, line by line: excursions, drinks, gratuities, wifi, flights, transfers and hotel nights before and after.
- The ship: how many guests it carries, the cabin size and whether it has a French balcony, a full balcony or a window.
- The deposit, when the balance is due, what you lose if you cancel and what the line does if low or high water changes the route.
- Which scheme or licence protects your money and what you need to walk on the excursions if mobility matters to you.
Seine and Normandy river cruises: the questions people ask
What should I ask a river cruise line before booking?
What the fare includes, line by line; how many guests the ship carries and the size of the cabin; the deposit and what you lose if you cancel; what happens if low or high water changes the route; and which scheme protects your money.
Can I book with these lines directly?
Yes. Each card links the line's own website or enquiry page; ask for a written quote that lists what the fare includes and the cancellation scale.
Do these lines all sell the same kind of river cruise?
No. Each card names the sailing, ship or offer the line's own website gives; ship sizes, lengths, rivers and prices differ, so compare the cards before you ask for quotes.
What happens if the river is too low or too high to sail?
8 of the 12 lines set out on their own websites what they do when water levels change a sailing, such as a ship swap, a coach transfer or a refund. Ask each line in writing before you book.
Which of these have the most Google reviews?
VIVA Cruises, Thurgau Travel and Tauck, in that order. A count says how many people reviewed a line, not whether it fits your sailing; each card gives the rating and count, read 10 November 2026.
Which of these have Trustpilot profiles?
7 of the 12: A-ROSA, Grand Circle Cruise Line, nicko cruises, Tauck, Thurgau Travel, Viking and VIVA Cruises. Each card gives the TrustScore, the review count and the newest review date, read 10 November 2026.
Which of these publish their cancellation terms?
10 of the 12: A-ROSA, Amadeus River Cruises, Excellence River Cruises, Gate 1 Travel, Grand Circle Cruise Line, nicko cruises, Riviera Travel, Scenic, Tauck and VIVA Cruises. Ask each for the full scale in writing before you pay a deposit.
Where can I check these facts myself?
Each card links the pages of the line's own website its lines were read from, with the date they were read.
How were these lines chosen?
Each one is in the Uncompromised Travel river cruise lines table, built from the river cruise lines ChatGPT names most often. On its own website it sells a Seine sailing. A line is on the page because its published facts fit the question, never because it paid.
Is any company on this page paying to be here?
No. No company on this page is a partner of Uncompromised Travel; none paid to be on it.
Read next
Companies are added at each update. Want to be the company this page features?
Built to answer the question in the main heading. What is shown: what each line published on its own website, read on 10 November 2026, with links to the pages read, with its Google and Trustpilot figures where the listing carries the line's own name, from the Uncompromised Travel river cruise lines table. Cards are in alphabetical order. No company on this page is a partner of Uncompromised Travel. How this site earns · How we work.