Paris Excursions

[Budget Queen]

50 minutes ago, PoofCat99 said:

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.

I was just in Paris for a week =  again  last October.   I agree,  this is hardly a good effecient use of time.  And frankly a poor choice, with only a few hours.   It is slow-  with wasted "waits" .   

[Budget Queen]

6 hours ago, Turtles06 said:

 

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

 

 

I agree,   there is no way,   they did much of anything and certainly missed hundreds of touring opportunities.    

 

Maybe,  will reconsider at a future time?    And spend enough time there to experience and enjoy some of it's various treasures.   

 

A really significant negative with some port touring is the focus- can be a rush and constant reminder of limited time.   Can impact the entire time touring,  having that thought about getting back on time.  

[TPgal]

1 hour ago, PoofCat99 said:

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.

2

 

I agree with that assessment, it is handy but I have blanked out on the time we spent waiting by the river for the next boat to come by.  The metro is amazing!  If one train comes and it's packed with people another is moments behind.  ❤️ 

[PoofCat99]

1 hour ago, TPgal said:

 

I agree with that assessment, it is handy but I have blanked out on the time we spent waiting by the river for the next boat to come by.  The metro is amazing!  If one train comes and it's packed with people another is moments behind.  ❤️ 

I've visited Paris a few times. Depending on time of day you can get places on the bus pretty quick & see more of the city.  You can plan routes at www.ratp.fr. Buy a pack of 10 tickets, you can share between you.

 

Though, if I had the choice as a first time visit & only a few hours, I wouldn't do the  "on your own". It is easy to get turned around & you can waste time checking maps, etc. If you're determined to do on your own, have a game plan,  map out where you are going ahead of time,  have a plan B, and be ready to abort if your time gets short.

 

If you lunch at a cafe look for "quick service" places. The French expect diners to take their time. My parents & I once had lunch in a little town in Provence that lasted 3 hours.

 

[Zippeedee]

20 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.  

 

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.  

Your shopping time at the end of the river cruise will be about 20 minutes  to walk along the row of souvenir vendors between the dock area and the bus parking. It is a very nice excursion but there is really no free time.  The Getaway is in port at Le Harve on the same day so expect many busses and long waits at the morning rest stop. Just for the Breakaway last April there were 12 busses headed to Paris for the three excursions.

[pamrose228]

4 hours ago, Zippeedee said:

Your shopping time at the end of the river cruise will be about 20 minutes  to walk along the row of souvenir vendors between the dock area and the bus parking. It is a very nice excursion but there is really no free time.  The Getaway is in port at Le Harve on the same day so expect many busses and long waits at the morning rest stop. Just for the Breakaway last April there were 12 busses headed to Paris for the three excursions.

 

So what do I need to buy in those 20 minutes, no mini Eiffel Towers  or Tshirts for me.  Give me suggestions TIA

How many Euros do I need for this Land an Sea trip aprrox.  Lunch and wine are part of the deal, so its basically for a few small items.

[herdingdogmom]

1 hour ago, pamrose228 said:

 

So what do I need to buy in those 20 minutes, no mini Eiffel Towers  or Tshirts for me.  Give me suggestions TIA

How many Euros do I need for this Land an Sea trip aprrox.  Lunch and wine are part of the deal, so its basically for a few small items.

We tipped the guide and bus driver and river cruise staff.  We didn’t buy any souvenirs after the cruise but did get wonderful photos from the back of the boat and at the base of the Eiffel Tower.

[Zippeedee]

9 hours ago, pamrose228 said:

 

So what do I need to buy in those 20 minutes, no mini Eiffel Towers  or Tshirts for me.  Give me suggestions TIA

How many Euros do I need for this Land an Sea trip aprrox.  Lunch and wine are part of the deal, so its basically for a few small items.

If it is similar to our experience, the Breakaway didn't plan for an early breakfast. The rest stop was at a roadside gas station/convenience store. The lines for coffee and croissants were LONG. I paid for a packaged waffle and an Orangina there. I tipped the driver and guide, and that was about it. Along the river there were vendors with some interesting art from their native countries, some pretty scarves, and the expected t-shirts and tchochkes.  There is a small store in the terminal as you re-board. There was some glitch with the gangways and only one was open. We were in line about 90 minutes, packed in, no way to do much shopping there, but others who arrived earlier found some nice local products there. Hopefully they have learned something and this year will be easier for all.

[PaulInPGH]

My wife and I just spent a week in Paris back in November. If I was going just for a few hours, I would suggest really trying to limit yourself to one or possibly two places, rather than try to scramble around to just see the outside of a bunch of different sites. The metro is convenient, for sure, but you'll still have to spend the time locating the stations, reviewing maps, and generally figuring out how to navigate an unfamiliar city. Also, don't hesitate to use Uber to move between locations. We used it several times during our stay when we were too tired to metro back to our hotel, and it was always fast, convenient, and affordable.

 

If you decide to spend your time near the Notre-Dame Cathedral (which is spectacular), you could also explore the nearby Sainte-Chapelle Cathedral, which is home to some of the most beautiful stained glass in Europe. A short walk can also take you to the Ile Saint-Louis (look for Berthillon ice cream, some of the best in the world), across the river to the Latin Quarter where there are plenty of lunch spots, or, only two subway stops away, the Saint-Germain-des-Pres area, which is home to a number of the most historic cafes in Paris. My point is, you don't need to zoom around and see all the major sites to have a memorable Paris experience. Pick one or two things that sound attractive and do that, and save the rest for the next visit.

 

Cheers.

[rocklinmom]

We are also docking at Le Havre in June (on Princess not NCL) and will visit Paris for the day.  Does NCL offer the shorex that goes to the Louvre and has lunch next to the Eiffel Tower?  We are doing that one.  It has two hours at the Louvre which we figure will be enough time for the highlights and requisite Mona Lisa photo.  Lunch is one and a half hours so enough time to get ET pics.  Those are our priorities for Paris so it works well. 

[pspercy]

On 1/27/2019 at 7:39 PM, TheTides said:

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

 

Paris trip from Le Havre sounded too hectic for us and we'd been before so we took an excursion to Honfleur which was most enjoyable.

[notanforme]

On 1/27/2019 at 3:14 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 decided to go to Paris a day early.  We fly into Paris, arriving on the 6th, and take a train to Amsterdam the afternoon of the 7th.  That's a little more time than the On Your Own excursion for Paris.  Then when arriving at LeHavre, we will take the Beaches of Normandy excursion- just got the one through NCL although there are probably others cheaper.  That is another option to have more time in Paris.

[Wheeling TravelingMom]

17 hours ago, notanforme said:

We decided to go to Paris a day early.  We fly into Paris, arriving on the 6th, and take a train to Amsterdam the afternoon of the 7th.  That's a little more time than the On Your Own excursion for Paris.  Then when arriving at LeHavre, we will take the Beaches of Normandy excursion- just got the one through NCL although there are probably others cheaper.  That is another option to have more time in Paris.

That's a great plan. Wish I had thought of it. We are going to Amsterdam early and bought airfare with points so I have no flexibility to change it now. 

Edited February 21, 2019 by Wheeling TravelingMom

[Turtles06]

1 hour ago, Wheeling TravelingMom said:

That's a great plan. Wish I had thought of it. We are going to Amsterdam early and bought airfare with points so I have no flexibility to change it now. 

 

You could, you'd just have to pay the change fee.  I know that's not cheap, but it could be worth it if the other plan works better for you.

 

[bearette]

I did a week in Paris a few years ago and then did a layover for 22 hours on a flight recently. My first advice is to checkout your roll call.  To do a.place quickly you need someone who knows where they are going.  A small group tour will allow you to see more for less. someone on board has already set this up I  am sure. They don't make money if you are back late so pick a reputable operator and you will be ok. We hit a transportation strike so our best laid plans didn't work as the train didn't run on their normal schedule, which wasted our time.

 

 If you do the on your own route:

I recommend the Arch de Triumph and Chaless de Elysses(sorry spelling errors) area. Their stairs are shorter and will give you the great view that isn't as crowded as the Eiffel Tower, plus the tower will be in your photos. There is some main stream shopping there, too.  Following,  metro or uber to Notre Dame.  There is a famous park a short walk away from there and the Partheon, I would just look at the outside, or a small park behind Notre Dame, and many restaurants and bakeries around there. Walk across the river to avoid major tourist traps or eat in the park if you make it that far.

 

My picture is actually a view of my kids looking out over Paris from the top of Notre Dame (there is a fee). There is a wait, but I believe you can select a time online, too.

 

 If you have time sit at a cafe.  If not get a croissant/food to go at one of the many places. I recommend a baked good after a cafe visit regardless of whether you sit to eat, as nothing is better than French bakeries.

 

I'm my one day, we visited from 2pm until 6ish :Notre Dame , ate at a cafe across the bridge, walked by Pantheon down to the park, and walked through the park. This gives you an idea of how long it takes.

 

Have fun!

Edited February 22, 2019 by bearette

[sharonann24]

We will be on the Pearl for the June 22 sailing and are opting for the Le Havre/D Day sites. The travel time to and from Paris just does not seem worth it to me and the time you would have in Paris is truly not enough to do it justice. I have been to Paris (years ago!) and would probably return to do a land tour where we could do the city thoroughly and then venture out.  I will be looking forward to hearing any reviews of the Pearl sailings in May and June since I haven't seen too many on this thread.  

[cruisequeen4ever]

If you do some digging around online, you might be able to determine the drop-off point (if it wasn’t already noted on this thread). It is likely within walking distance of the main sites. 3 hours in Paris is not long, but if it’s your shot to see Paris, you’ve gotta take it! I’d go with the “On Your Own” excursion, and walk fast. The Louvre isn’t close to the Eiffel Tower; I’d recommend taking an Uber. If you get dropped off by the Eiffel Tower you could maybe buy your ticket online in advance to reach the summit, but it’d be difficult to gauge the exact time. Cafes are all over, so that will be easy to accomplish. Good luck! Paris is gorgeous!