Paris Excursions

[Wheeling TravelingMom]

Trying to decide on excursions from La Havre to Paris. Would appreciate any input from those who have done this. Cruise is in June. We really want to see Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and just really the outside parts of Louvre (don't think we will have time for more in depth there). We would like to be able to experience them, not drive by. We would also like to pop in and eat at a cafe or something more authentic than a cruise tour.  Its a 3 hours drive each way with 12 hours total in port. Trying to decide between: 

 

Paris on Your Own: For those who are interested in exploring Paris on their own, we are pleased to offer a round-trip motor-coach transfer to the ‘City of Lights’. An escort will accompany you for this approximately three-hour journey and will happily assist you with sightseeing plans and provide information about locations. Upon arrival you’ll be dropped at a central location, convenient to the many shops and city sights.

 

or 

 

Paris and Lunch on Seine: Don’t miss a unique opportunity to visit the spectacular ‘City of Lights’, from two perspectives. After an approximately three-hour drive from Le Havre, you’ll arrive in Paris to discover the most important sights.

Your guide will point out Place de l’Etoile, its Arc de Triomphe and the Champs Elysees Avenue at the end of which the Place de la Concorde offers to all visitors, its legendary obelisk. Continue to the Rive Gauche where the most impressive monuments of Paris are located. At the foot of the Eiffel Tower, the symbol of Paris, a glass-covered sightseeing riverboat awaits you for a scenic cruise on the Seine River. Enjoy a different perspective of this monumental city from the water while having lunch. See the famous Cathedral of Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum and much more. During your lunch cruise, you’ll not only discover the quays and the monuments of this enchanting city, but also the districts where the nobility and the Bourgeoisie live. Afterwards, before driving back to Le Havre, you’ll enjoy some free time in the city near the Trocadero.

 

Would love actual experiences on either from those who have done them. How rushed were you? What were you really able to experience? This is our first time in France so I know this will be just a preview for us. 

[TPgal]

I haven't done either excursion, but just spent from 11 days in Paris and have a bit of insight.

 

The "on your own" trip would be good to be able to get out and see the sights.  I'd recommend going to the river and buying a ticket to the batobus.  This riverboat/bus makes endless loops along the major sights on the seine.  You can get off or on at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, there's a stop at the Notre Dame and easy access to the Louvre.  The ticket is for all day so you can go as much as you want.  It was a great way to get around AND see the bridges.  

 

You can purchase a ticket to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower and you'll be assigned a time to go in, but you're out of luck if you don't make it to the tower at your entry window.  So, while I highly recommend the experience, it's a risk when you don't know when and where you'll be.  

 

The other advice I would give you is to do some homework on the metro - the trains are SO very handy and they have an app for your phone that you can put in where you need to go and it will tell you which train or bus to take.   We were there 11 days and only took 1 cab and that was just the scary drive to the airport.

 

The second excursion sounds nice, but I don't read it that you'll be stopping at the locations. ("your guide will point out"  doesn't sound like you're going for a walk in those areas.)  We saw many riverboat restaurants and they seemed lovely, but I'd rather get out and get up close and personal to the actual sights vs. seeing them thru a window on a boat.    

 

Good luck and have a great day!!  

Edited January 27, 2019 by TPgal

[Wheeling TravelingMom]

Thank you so much for the insight. That is what I am more leaning towards. I think we are going to want the freedom to move around. Good to know about the batobus!

 

Going to the top sounds wonderful but you are right in that we just won't know what time we will be there. 

[TPgal]

Oh, and across the river from the Notre Dame are a million cafes.  We used google to find a highly reviewed little spot that after further research turned out to be in the list of top 10 romantic cafes.  We ate the daily menu and had a stunning three-course meal for 19 euro each.   Le Reminant  - so wonderful!  

[herdingdogmom]

We did the lunch on the Seine excursion in May and really enjoyed it.  But as noted, it is a drive by in the bus and on the boat of all the sights.  There was a little time to walk up to the base of the Eiffel Tower to take pictures, but not much else.  It is a crazy long day and we have been to Paris before so the leisurely boat ride worked for us, but it sounds like you are up for an adventure.  Have fun.

[MeHeartCruising]

In these type of situations, where you have a long distance to the desired site and wish to use a ship excursion over a private tour, I am a fan of the "on your own" ship excursions.  I've used them several times in European cities that were quite distant from the port.  It sounds like you would have about 5 hours on the ground in Paris.  While not a lot of time, if you plan ahead you should be able to see the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, and Notre Dame.  I would probably not try to climb the tower due to the uncertainty of timing.  Even with advance tickets, the total time spent going up to the top is probably at least 2 hours or more.  With a timed ticket entry at the base, you gain entry to the first level.  Then you have to take wait in line with everyone else to get on the second set of elevators to get you to the top.  I guess you could climb the stairs.  But that too would take a while.  I'd just walk around the base and take pictures from nearby.  I'd research and use the Metro system to get me to the Arc de Triomphe.  Again, I wouldn't take the time to climb up top probably, but a quick stop for pictures is worth it.  Then I'd again Metro it to Notre Dame.  You MAY have time to pop out of the Metro at the Louvre station and go up for a quick photo op of the Pyramid and other buildings.  But I would play that by ear.   I WOULD take the time to go inside the Cathedral when you get there.  The entry line moves quickly.  I think you'd have time to do all this (and possibly a little more walking around).  It will be fast sightseeing,  but that's what you sign up for with only 5 hours or so.  You may need to do these in a different sequence depending on where they drop you off and pick you up.   If it were me, my lunch would be a quick ham and cheese sandwich purchased from a vendor stand or maybe a street cafe if you pass by one.  I doubt you'd have time for a Seine River cruise if you do what I say.   A lot will depend on where they drop you off and pick you up.

Edited January 28, 2019 by MeHeartCruising

[TheTides]

Just a thought, its a solid journey into Paris, you would only get a few hours in this Magnificent city.  We just got back from Paris-Northern France, and Le Havre was one of our favorite towns.  There is so much to see and enjoy in this small town, that if your time is limited, it maybe worth just spending it in the small, quaint fishing villages in the area

[DRedmond]

I have no advice to give and it will also be my first time in Paris, but am also deciding between these two options for an August cruise.  

[Wheeling TravelingMom]

7 minutes ago, DRedmond said:

I have no advice to give and it will also be my first time in Paris, but am also deciding between these two options for an August cruise.  

Welcome to the conversation. Lots of great ideas and opinions so far. 

[Wheeling TravelingMom]

47 minutes ago, MeHeartCruising said:

In these type of situations, where you have a long distance to the desired site and wish to use a ship excursion over a private tour, I am a fan of the "on your own" ship excursions.  I've used them several times in European cities that were quite distant from the port.  It sounds like you would have about 5 hours on the ground in Paris.  While not a lot of time, if you plan ahead you should be able to see the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, and Notre Dame.  I would probably not try to climb the tower due to the uncertainty of timing.  Even with advance tickets, the total time spent going up to the top is probably at least 2 hours or more.  With a timed ticket entry at the base, you gain entry to the first level.  Then you have to take wait in line with everyone else to get on the second set of elevators to get you to the top.  I guess you could climb the stairs.  But that too would take a while.  I'd just walk around the base and take pictures from nearby.  I'd research and use the Metro system to get me to the Arc de Triomphe.  Again, I wouldn't take the time to climb up top probably, but a quick stop for pictures is worth it.  Then I'd again Metro it to Notre Dame.  You MAY have time to pop out of the Metro at the Louvre station and go up for a quick photo op of the Pyramid and other buildings.  But I would play that by ear.   I WOULD take the time to go inside the Cathedral when you get there.  The entry line moves quickly.  I think you'd have time to do all this (and possibly a little more walking around).  It will be fast sightseeing,  but that's what you sign up for with only 5 hours or so.  You may need to do these in a different sequence depending on where they drop you off and pick you up.   If it were me, my lunch would be a quick ham and cheese sandwich purchased from a vendor stand or maybe a street cafe if you pass by one.  I doubt you'd have time for a Seine River cruise if you do what I say.   A lot will depend on where they drop you off and pick you up.

Thank you for this opinion. I wish they said where they were dropping off. With the $50 stateroom credit per excursion the "on your own" options are actually a pretty good deal. This one because of the distance is quite a bit but probably worth it to me to make sure we don't miss the ship. 

[MeHeartCruising]

I would post in the France forum and ask if anyone has experience with where the "On Your Own" excursions typically use for the drop off/pickup location.  I would bet it's pretty much always the same location.  Even different cruise lines use the same tour operators.  You may have to adjust on "game day".  But it would give you an idea of where to start.  Here is the link to the France forum:

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/462-france-ports/

 

Edited January 28, 2019 by MeHeartCruising

[Wheeling TravelingMom]

3 minutes ago, MeHeartCruising said:

I would post in the France forum and ask if anyone has experience with where the "On Your Own" excursions typically use for the drop off/pickup location.  I would bet it's pretty much always the same location.  Even different cruise lines use the same tour operators.  You may have to adjust on "game day".  But it would give you an idea of where to start.  Here is the link to the France forum:

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/462-france-ports/

 

Thanks! I always forget about that part of the forums. 

[Turtles06]

1 hour ago, Wheeling TravelingMom said:

Thanks! I always forget about that part of the forums. 

 

They really are the best places for these sorts of discussions!  BTW, I seem to have a recollection of reading on the France board that some of the "on your own" excursions drop you at Place de la Concorde, but please of course do a search there and don't hold me to that.  Even better: call the NCL shorex desk and ask them. I have found them to be very helpful in getting specific details about their excursions beyond what their web site says.  And when they don't know the info, they contact the tour provider to ask.  It's not unreasonable for you to ask this of them.

 

On another note: are you dead set on going to Paris (and spending 6 hrs RT to do so)?  I ask because Le Havre is a great place from which to see the D-Day sites in Normandy.  It's an incredible experience.   (And Paris really does need more than 5-6 hours... Just sayin')

Enjoy whatever you decide!

Edited January 28, 2019 by Turtles06

[DreadPirateRobert]

On 1/27/2019 at 4:14 PM, Wheeling TravelingMom said:

Trying to decide on excursions from La Havre to Paris. Would appreciate any input from those who have done this. Cruise is in June. We really want to see Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and just really the outside parts of Louvre (don't think we will have time for more in depth there). We would like to be able to experience them, not drive by. We would also like to pop in and eat at a cafe or something more authentic than a cruise tour.  Its a 3 hours drive each way with 12 hours total in port. Trying to decide between: 

 

Paris on Your Own: For those who are interested in exploring Paris on their own, we are pleased to offer a round-trip motor-coach transfer to the ‘City of Lights’. An escort will accompany you for this approximately three-hour journey and will happily assist you with sightseeing plans and provide information about locations. Upon arrival you’ll be dropped at a central location, convenient to the many shops and city sights.

 

or 

 

Paris and Lunch on Seine: Don’t miss a unique opportunity to visit the spectacular ‘City of Lights’, from two perspectives. After an approximately three-hour drive from Le Havre, you’ll arrive in Paris to discover the most important sights.

Your guide will point out Place de l’Etoile, its Arc de Triomphe and the Champs Elysees Avenue at the end of which the Place de la Concorde offers to all visitors, its legendary obelisk. Continue to the Rive Gauche where the most impressive monuments of Paris are located. At the foot of the Eiffel Tower, the symbol of Paris, a glass-covered sightseeing riverboat awaits you for a scenic cruise on the Seine River. Enjoy a different perspective of this monumental city from the water while having lunch. See the famous Cathedral of Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum and much more. During your lunch cruise, you’ll not only discover the quays and the monuments of this enchanting city, but also the districts where the nobility and the Bourgeoisie live. Afterwards, before driving back to Le Havre, you’ll enjoy some free time in the city near the Trocadero.

 

Would love actual experiences on either from those who have done them. How rushed were you? What were you really able to experience? This is our first time in France so I know this will be just a preview for us. 

We are facing the same question for our stop there in May of 2020 off the Star.

I hope whatever you do, it meets your expectations. Please share when you get back. 😄

[pamrose228]

I will be in Le Havre port with the  Pearl on May 9, 2019.   It is a national holiday in France and the Yellow Vests should be out in abundance.  

 

I really want to see Paris even if it's only for 4-5 hours.  I chose the Seine River and Land Tpur.  Shorex told me they make stops not many but some and I believe they give you some shopping time at the end.   I would not chance missing the bus back so I chose this fully escorted tour.  

[Turtles06]

4 hours ago, pamrose228 said:

I will be in Le Havre port with the  Pearl on May 9, 2019.   It is a national holiday in France and the Yellow Vests should be out in abundance.  

 

 

May 9?  Isn’t VE Day May 8?

[Markanddonna]

We did the Paris on your own through NCL last May. We knew it would be our first and probably only chance to see Paris, so we booked it. We had perhaps only three hours in Paris mostly because of the ship's inefficient way of gathering the passengers. ALL the Paris excursions met in the theatre which resulted in our being the last to leave. Any excursion that had an earlier time went before us, so we had to wait for all the stragglers. Why didn't they have us in another area so we could leave on time?

 

We arrived after noon, took a taxi to Notre Dame and walked back. The Eiffel Tower had a smoke bomb protest going on as we left. Exciting to watch the police pursue them, but glad we were on the bus.

 

To be honest, Paris has to be my least favorite city in Europe. While I appreciated the cathedral, it wasn't as stunning as I imagined. 

 

Do I regret the trip? No, I can say I have been there, and it was a perfect weather day. Just realize that you might have just three hours and that isn't even enough time to enjoy a 30 minute stop at a cafe.

 

If I had known about Notre Dame, I would have taken it off the itinerary.

[4774Papa]

We ported at La Harve on a cruise and did a wonderful all day Normandy excursion.  We normally take private tours, but the ship's tour was not that expensive.  Glad we did that, since there was an accident on a bridge that delayed traffic for a long time and we were late getting back to the port, but the ship didn't leave us.

 

Sorry, I would never take a tour involving three hours of travel each way.

Paris is a city that needs to be savored for longer than a few hours.

[pamrose228]

4 hours ago, Turtles06 said:

 

May 9?  Isn’t VE Day May 8?

Sorry typo it is the 8th

[Wheeling TravelingMom]

Thank you all for the input. This will be our one and only chance to be in this area for many years so Paris is a must, even if only for a few hours. I think we have decided on the "on your own" and then using the batobus to get to the different places as quickly as possible. I've mapped out their route.  I still need to call into shorex and see where they drop off. If it is Place de la Concorde this will probably be doable. 

 

That's awful Markanddonna about being delayed that much. That gives me serious pause. 

Edited January 29, 2019 by Wheeling TravelingMom

[Turtles06]

2 hours ago, Markanddonna said:

To be honest, Paris has to be my least favorite city in Europe. ..

 

That’s quite a judgment to make after a three-hour visit. 

[Markanddonna]

5 hours ago, Turtles06 said:

 

That’s quite a judgment to make after a three-hour visit. 

That is my opinion. It wasn't the people, the weather, etc. I have traveled extensively and often get impressions within a short period of time, and they are almost all very positive.

[Turtles06]

6 minutes ago, Markanddonna said:

That is my opinion. It wasn't the people, the weather, etc. I have traveled extensively and often get impressions within a short period of time, and they are almost all very positive.

 

I never suggested it was anything other than your opinion, and of course it's your prerogative to have.  I'm truly sorry you felt that way, as Paris is an extraordinary city. 

[Newleno]

On 1/27/2019 at 5:14 PM, Wheeling TravelingMom said:

Trying to decide on excursions from La Havre to Paris. Would appreciate any input from those who have done this. Cruise is in June. We really want to see Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and just really the outside parts of Louvre (don't think we will have time for more in depth there). We would like to be able to experience them, not drive by. We would also like to pop in and eat at a cafe or something more authentic than a cruise tour.  Its a 3 hours drive each way with 12 hours total in port. Trying to decide between: 

 

Paris on Your Own: For those who are interested in exploring Paris on their own, we are pleased to offer a round-trip motor-coach transfer to the ‘City of Lights’. An escort will accompany you for this approximately three-hour journey and will happily assist you with sightseeing plans and provide information about locations. Upon arrival you’ll be dropped at a central location, convenient to the many shops and city sights.

 

or 

 

Paris and Lunch on Seine: Don’t miss a unique opportunity to visit the spectacular ‘City of Lights’, from two perspectives. After an approximately three-hour drive from Le Havre, you’ll arrive in Paris to discover the most important sights.

Your guide will point out Place de l’Etoile, its Arc de Triomphe and the Champs Elysees Avenue at the end of which the Place de la Concorde offers to all visitors, its legendary obelisk. Continue to the Rive Gauche where the most impressive monuments of Paris are located. At the foot of the Eiffel Tower, the symbol of Paris, a glass-covered sightseeing riverboat awaits you for a scenic cruise on the Seine River. Enjoy a different perspective of this monumental city from the water while having lunch. See the famous Cathedral of Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum and much more. During your lunch cruise, you’ll not only discover the quays and the monuments of this enchanting city, but also the districts where the nobility and the Bourgeoisie live. Afterwards, before driving back to Le Havre, you’ll enjoy some free time in the city near the Trocadero.

 

Would love actual experiences on either from those who have done them. How rushed were you? What were you really able to experience? This is our first time in France so I know this will be just a preview for us. 

I have been to Paris many times, how much free time will you have in Paris?  The Metro is so easy to use in Paris and you can easily go to all the places you want to see by Metro.  In my opinion going up the Eiffel tower (IMO with your limited time it would be a waste) is no where near the excitement of seeing the Eiffel tower or walking around the Eiffel tower grounds, directly across the street from the Eiffel tower is the "Trocadero" (also metro stop) with an incredible view of the Siene River and Eiffel tower.  Personally I would stay away from any boat tour, the boat tour would limit your experience.  Have you looked at trains or a bus to Paris (I travel on a budget so this may only work for me) The FLIX bus

Edited January 29, 2019 by Newleno

[PoofCat99]

If I remember correctly, Batobus is not that quick for getting around.  More like a hop-on-hop off bus. It might be quicker to map out metro or regular bus.