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Join Fr. Brian Fischer and Hector Molina on a pilgrimage to France, including a Seine River cruise and visits to Lisieux, Normandy Beach, Paris, and more!
Join Fr. Brian Fischer and Hector Molina on a Seine River Cruise, which includes Lisieux, Rouen, Paris, and more.
Hector Molina is an international Catholic evangelist, Bible teacher, podcaster, digital content creator, and pilgrimage leader with more than three decades of ministry experience. He has served in diocesan evangelization and Hispanic ministry and now helps pilgrims engage Scripture, Catholic teaching, and sacred places with clarity and energy.
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We depart on an overnight flight from St. Louis to Paris. Dinner and breakfast will be served on the plane. Quotes for add-on flights and Premium Economy or Business class are available upon request. Please note: specific seat assignments are not possible with group air. You may choose to book your air if seat location is a priority and purchase the Land Only package with us.
Welcome to France. Upon arrival at the airport, we are greeted by our English-speaking French Guides, who assist us onto the deluxe motor coaches as we settle in for a drive through the pretty French countryside to Lisieux, home of St. Therese the Little Flower. En route, we stop in Chartres to see the magnificent Cathedral and its crypt. We celebrate Mass. Following lunch in the village (not included), we continue to our hotel and enjoy getting to know the other group members. Dinner and overnight in Lisieux.
We visit the Basilica of St. Therese, where we celebrate Mass in the crypt and have time for Prayer and Reflection. We continue to the Carmelite Monastery, where St. Therese lived and died; here, we see the chapel and the museum dedicated to the Saint’s life. Following lunch on our own, we visit the family home of Saint Thérèse, “Les Buissonnets.” Our last stop is the Hermitage, a peaceful retreat where Saint Thérèse often spent time. In the evening following dinner, we will pray the Rosary, have time to share personal experiences of the day, and quiet personal reflection. Dinner and overnight in Lisieux.
Following a beautiful French breakfast, we depart for the charming town of Honfleur. We celebrate Mass at the Church of St. Catherine, the largest wooden church in France (TBC). We have time at leisure for lunch and to explore Honfleur on our own before we board the ship and settle into our cabins. The entire ship, our home for the next six nights, is at our disposal to laugh, share, and enjoy meeting new friends, where we also experience new adventures. Following a welcome reception and dinner, we can venture into town to explore and perhaps have a drink in one of the many lovely cafés in this town. Nightly entertainment and beverages are included with meals. Dinner and overnight on the ship.
After breakfast on the ship, we drive through the beautiful region of Normandy to Omaha Beach, where we see the American Memorial and Cemetery. We celebrate Mass and remember our brave, fallen soldiers who gave their lives so we could live in freedom. The year 2024 marked the 80th Anniversary of the D-Day Landing. It was on these serene beaches, at the crack of dawn on June 6, 1944, that the Allies finally gained a foothold in France; from this moment, Nazi Europe was destined to crumble. We stop at a local farm for lunch and to taste a variety of cheeses this area is known for, and learn about the local drink called Calvados. In the afternoon, we return to the ship, where we can relax onboard, or explore Honfleur. Dinner and overnight on the ship.
This morning we enjoy the views from the ship as we sail past the romantic-looking landscapes of forests, small villages, and farms between Honfleur and Paris. Many of those houses near the river are old mansions from the 18th and 19th centuries. This morning, we learn about Joan of Arc in preparation for our visit to Rouen, the preeminent capital of Normandy. Rouen offers a restored medieval quarter and the marvelous Gothic Cathedral of Notre Dame, often painted by Claude Monet. Throughout its turbulent history, the city was devastated several times, including during the Middle Ages, when a fire and the plague ravaged it. The English occupied it during the Hundred Years War, when the French heroine Joan of Arc (Jeanne d’Arc) was tried for heresy and burned at the stake in the central square in 1431. During WWII, Allied bombing raids laid waste to large parts of the city, especially the area south of the Cathedral. Still, the town has been meticulously rebuilt over the last seven decades. We tour the city on foot and celebrate Mass at the Church of St. Joan of Arc. Dinner and overnight on the ship.
After breakfast, we disembark in the lovely little town of Vernon. We celebrate Mass and then transfer to Giverny to visit the Claude Monet Estate. The famous Impressionist artist Claude Monet lived here for forty-three years, from 1883 to 1926. With a passion for gardening and colors, he conceived his flower garden and water garden as true works of art. Walking through his house and gardens, visitors can still feel the atmosphere that reigned at the home of the Master of Impressionism and marvel at the floral compositions and nymphéas, his greatest sources of inspiration. We return to the ship and enjoy the afternoon cruising towards Poissy for our visit tomorrow to Versailles. Dinner and overnight on the ship.
Today, we explore the opulent palace of King Louis XIV, known as the “Sun King” and a favorite place of Marie Antoinette. We see the manicured gardens of Versailles, followed by a visit to the palace. We return to the ship for lunch and a relaxing afternoon. We marvel at the sights along the riverbanks as we sail towards Paris. Mass will be celebrated on the ship. Tonight we enjoy our gala dinner followed by dancing in the lounge. Dinner and overnight on the ship.
We wake up in Paris! Seeing the beautiful Eiffel Tower, Les Champs-Elysées, and other city highlights during a panoramic tour. We celebrate Mass at Rue De Bac, in the Chapel of the Miraculous Medal, where we see the incorrupt body of St. Catherine Laboure and visit the museum next door. We explore the newly renovated Notre Dame Cathedral, ending our day in the Montmartre section, where we tour the magnificent Sacre Coeur (Sacred Heart Basilica) and the city’s bohemian quarter. We return to the ship in the afternoon. Tonight, we enjoy the “Paris by Night cruise” as we sail past beautifully lit-up monuments and watch the light show at the Eiffel Tower. Dinner and overnight on the ship.
Following breakfast, we disembark from our ship, saying goodbye to the wonderful crew who hosted us, and to the many friends we made this week. We transfer to the airport for the return flight to the USA.
We are transferred to the train station this morning, where we board the comfortable TGV train to Lourdes. Upon arrival in Lourdes, we settle into our hotel and visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Lourdes for Mass. Dinner and overnight in Lourdes.
We have two full days in Lourdes. We celebrate Mass at the Basilica, have a walking tour of the Sanctuary, including the Grotto and the Basilica, and watch a video presentation that explains Lourdes’s story in detail. Our group will see Boly Mill, the birthplace of St. Bernadette, and the Cachot, an abandoned prison where Bernadette’s impoverished family lived. We pray the Stations of the Cross and attend the Blessing of the Sick in the afternoon. We have time for private prayer and reflection. In the evening, we join the Candlelight Procession. Dinner and overnight in Lourdes.
Following Mass in Lourdes, we depart for Toulouse, where Dominic of Osma founded the Dominican Order. The Jacobin Church was the heart of life and a teaching center in the 12th century, and now is the place where St. Thomas Aquinas is buried. Standing majestically in the city’s heart, the huge Gothic structure contains the tomb and the Saint’s relics. We have a guided tour of the church and time to explore the city independently. Tonight’s dinner is at a local restaurant with a choice of beer or wine. Overnight in Toulouse. (B. Special dinner)
Early this morning, we are transferred to Toulouse airport, where we board our flights back to the United States.
Main Deck Land and Air (cash). Main trip package. Cash price.
Main Deck Land and Air (credit card). Main trip package. Credit-card price.
Main Deck Land Only (cash). Main trip package. Cash price.
Main Deck Land Only (credit card). Main trip package. Credit-card price.
Main Deck Solo Travel (cash). Additional supplement. Cash price.
Main Deck Solo Travel (credit card). Additional supplement. Credit-card price.
Upper Deck Land and Air (cash). Main trip package. Cash price.
Upper Deck Land and Air (credit card). Main trip package. Credit-card price.
Upper Deck Land Only (cash). Main trip package. Cash price.
Upper Deck Land Only (credit card). Main trip package. Credit-card price.
Upper Deck Solo Travel (cash). Additional supplement. Cash price.
Upper Deck Solo Travel (credit card). Additional supplement. Credit-card price.
Lourdes Extension - Double Occupancy. Optional trip component.
Lourdes Extension - Solo Travel. Additional supplement.
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