DETAILS

FULL LENGTH TOUR DESCRIPTION

PLEASE NOTE: THIS OVERLAND OPTION IS DESCRIBED BELOW AS A PRE-CRUISE EXTENSION, BUT CAN ALSO BE OFFERED AS A POST-CRUISE EXCURSION. IT OPERATES FROM THE TURNAROUND PORTS OF SOUTHAMPTON, DOVER, HARWICH AND TOWER OF LONDON, WITH MINOR VARIATION TO THE ITINERARY ON EMBARKATION/DEBARKATION DAY BASED ON THE SCHEDULED PORT OF CALL

DAY 1 – Arrive Paris
Begin this four-night cruise extension with a two-night stay in the romantic city of Paris, where your panoramic sightseeing includes the Champs Elysées, Place de la Concorde, Notre Dame Cathedral, Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower.

On arrival at the airport in Paris, collect your luggage and proceed through Customs clearance. After clearing Customs, continue out to the Arrivals Hall where you are met by a local representative who escorts you to your waiting transport and driver for the approximate 35-minute drive from Charles de Gaulle Airport to your hotel, where you check in and enjoy a welcome drink. (Please note that rooms will be made available as soon as possible, however the official check-in time is 2.00pm.) Once settled in, the remainder of the evening is free for relaxing and independent dining.

DAY 2 - Paris
This morning after breakfast, leave the hotel by motorcoach for a half-day sightseeing tour of Paris. From the halls of the Louvre to the formal footpaths of the Jardin de Luxembourg, modern day Paris offers an enormous fascination. There are the wonderfully chic shops on the elegant boulevards that run off the Champs Elysées and countless other historic sites and charming vistas to see and visit in this romantic city and its patchwork of village districts. Drive along the Champs Elysées, past the Place de la Concorde & Eiffel Tower and enjoy an interior visit of Notre Dame Cathedral. At the conclusion of the tour the motorcoach will return to the hotel. However, if you so wish you may choose to remain at the Eiffel Tower to visit the top floor and make your own way back to the hotel at your leisure. Alternatively, you can be left in the Place de la Concorde to explore independently as well. Lunch and the remainder of the day are free for independent sightseeing and/or shopping, and the evening is free for dinner on your own.

DAY 3 - Paris to London
Today after breakfast you say farewell to Paris, check out of the hotel and transfer to the Gare du Nord train station for the trip by Eurostar to the historic city of London.
Arriving in London at the St. Pancras Station International Terminal, collect your luggage and transfer by motorcoach to the pleasant Covent Garden area in the city centre. Here you have time for independent dining in one of the many cafes, pubs or restaurants.

After lunch, reboard the motorcoach for an afternoon’s sightseeing tour of London. Samuel Johnson once said that: “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life”. In London there is an enormous amount to see and to do and a long history dating back to the Romans in 55 BC, who first saw the area as an important shipping point for crops and minerals. The city developed into the wealthy, thriving capital of an industrial and agricultural nation. In the 19th century the British Empire increased London’s influence still further. Despite losing some of its once great influence, it remains a flourishing financial centre and home to one of the world’s most important stock exchanges. It is also the foremost tourist destination in Britain, a centre of academic excellence, and a cultural capital of the world. Although London is much more spread out than many European capitals many of the main tourist attractions are fairly close to each other, and so on this excursion you will see Hyde Park, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, The Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace. An interior visit will also be made of St. Paul’s Cathedral.

At the conclusion of the tour, transfer to your hotel for check-in. Alternatively, you may choose to remain downtown and make your own way back to the hotel at your leisure. The rest of the evening is your own for independent dining.

DAY 4 - London
Breakfast is served at the hotel this morning, after which you embark on a half-day sightseeing tour of The Tower of London that includes The White Tower, the Crown Jewels and the Traitor’s Gate. The Tower’s history dates back some 900 years to the reign of King William the Conqueror. Throughout most of these 900 years the Tower has been a symbol of fear amongst the people of Britain. Those who had offended the monarch were imprisoned within its dank walls. Only a lucky few lived with comparative comfort, but most had to put up with the most appalling conditions. Once imprisoned it was rare to get out alive. Torture and violent death were commonplace.

After your guided visit, return to the hotel by motorcoach or remain at the Tower of London and make your own way back to the hotel at your leisure, as lunch and the remainder of the afternoon are free for independent sightseeing and/or shopping. In the evening, meet your Tour Director at hotel reception and transfer to a local hotel for dinner, after which you return to your hotel to spend the night.

DAY 5 – London onwards
After breakfast at your hotel, it’s time to check out and join your transportation to the pier to board your cruise ship.
 
SHORT LENGTH TOUR DESCRIPTION
A two-night stay in the romantic city of Paris includes panoramic sightseeing of the Champs Elysées, Place de la Concorde, Notre Dame Cathedral, Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower. Then travel by Eurostar to the historic city of London with a panoramic tour to include Hyde Park, Piccadilly Circus, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace. Interior visits are made of St. Paul’s Cathedral and The Tower of London, and there are several opportunities to explore these marvellous cities on your own.
 
TIMING BREAKDOWN
DAY 1
- Arrival at the airport in Paris, baggage claim and Customs clearance
- Approximate 35-minute transfer from Charles de Gaulle Airport to hotel
- Check in and welcome drinks
- Remainder of the evening free for independent dining
- Overnight in Paris (Le Méridien Montparnasse or similar)

DAY 2
09:00 - depart hotel by motorcoach for half-day sightseeing tour of Paris
13:00 - return to hotel (guests may remain at the Eiffel Tower or be left in the Place de la Concorde and make their own way back to the hotel)
- Lunch and the remainder of the day are free for independent sightseeing and/or shopping
- The evening is free for independent dining
- Overnight in Paris

DAY 3
07:45 - check out of hotel and board the motorcoach
08:00 - leave the hotel and transfer to Gare du Nord Train Station to catch the Eurostar to London (transfer to station takes approximately 35 minutes)
08:35 - Arrive Gare du Nord Train Station and check in for Eurostar
10:19 - Depart Paris on Eurostar to London
11:54 - Arrive London St. Pancras Station International Terminal, collect luggage and proceed out to motorcoach
12:15 - Leave station and transfer by motorcoach to Covent Garden area in the city centre
- Lunch is free for independent dining in one of the many cafes, pubs or restaurants in the Covent Garden area
14:00 - Reboard the motorcoach for an afternoon’s sightseeing tour of London
18:00 - Transfer to the hotel for check-in
- Overnight in London (Mélia White House Hotel or similar)

DAY 4
09:00 - Leave the hotel by motorcoach for a half-day sightseeing tour of The Tower of London including The White Tower, Crown Jewels and the Traitor’s Gate
12:45 - Depart Tower of London for return journey to hotel (Guests may choose to remain at the Tower of London and make their own way back to the hotel)
13:00 - Arrive back at the hotel in London. Lunch and the remainder of the day are free for independent sightseeing and/or shopping
17:45 - Transfer to a local restaurant for dinner
18:15 - Arrive at restaurant for dinner
20:00 - Depart dinner restaurant
20:15 - Arrive at hotel
- Overnight in London

DAY 5
Harwich / Southampton / Dover Guests:
11:30 - Leave the hotel by motorcoach for transfer to Harwich, Southampton or Dover to board the vessel. Transfer time is approximately 2 hours to either port
14:00 – Approximate arrival at Harwich / Southampton / Dover Pier

London Tower Bridge Guests:
12:00 - Check-out of hotel, lunch at leisure
13:00 - Leave hotel by motorcoach for transfer to London Tower Bridge to board the vessel. Transfer time is 30 – 45 minutes depending on traffic
14:00 - Arrive at London Tower Bridge to board ship

Approximate duration: 5 Days / 4 Nights

OPERATIONAL NOTES
- Includes four breakfasts and one dinner
- There are restrooms available at both Gare du Nord and Waterloo Stations as well as onboard the Eurostar
- Refreshments are available for purchase at Gare du Nord and onboard the Eurostar
- There are restrooms available at the Tower of London. Some of the walking will be on cobblestones. Comfortable shoes are strongly recommended
- At the London hotel a hospitality desk hosted by the Tour Director will be available for sightseeing information, directions and general information from approximately 1.00pm until 2.00pm and from approximately 6.30pm until 7.15pm.
- The chronological order of sightseeing is subject to change

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