We depart St Pancras International by Eurostar for Paris. Sit back in your comfortable Leisure Select seat and enjoy your complimentary meal and drinks before our arrival in the French capital. We leave the train and travel by coach to Les Andelys, at the foot of chalky white cliffs and overlooked by the imposing Château Gaillard. A welcoming glass of champagne awaits us when we board Anacoluthe. The pace of your holiday is set by you alone, you may wish to take part in our included group shore excursions, explore independently, or simply relax and admire the views from the sun deck as we meander along the river and savour the French cuisine and complimentary wines served on board. (E,D)

We have an early morning cruise to Vernon, gateway to Normandy, where we leave the ship for a short coach journey to Giverny. This magical place was Claude Monet's home and studio for over forty years until his death in 1926 and it is easy to see why this delightful location provided such inspiration for the painter. Here we discover the famous water lily ponds recreated by Monet and the Japanese Bridge which was the subject of many of his paintings over the years. After lunch back on board we enjoy an afternoon of leisurely cruising before we arrive at our mooring for the night in Mantes. (B,L,D)

This morning we have a guided walking tour of historic Mantes and its old town. The town is home to the magnificent Gothic Notre Dame church, which resembles the great one of the same name in Paris. Its original stained glass windows date back to the 12th century and beautifully reflect the light of the Seine Valley. This afternoon Anacoluthe cruises onto Poissy, during which there will be a wine and "Noyau de Poissy" liqueur tasting. Perhaps take the opportunity for an after dinner stroll in the riverside park. (B,L,D)

An early cruise this morning takes us to Conflans St Honorine, the confluence of the Seine and Oise rivers. Due to its strategic position, the town is considered the capital of France's inland waterways. The right bank of the Seine is usually lined with barges. Today is market day and we moor close by. After a visit to the Navigation Museum, we continue our cruise to Chatou, on the "Ile des Impressionistes", with its elegant mansions and interesting architecture, arriving early evening. We moor here overnight opposite the Maison Fournaise, once the meeting place of the Impressionists, now a restaurant featuring a number of works by Renoir - perhaps take the opportunity to see these paintings over an after dinner drink. (B,L,D)

Today our cruise takes us through the Suresnes lock and dam which control the level of the Seine in Paris and onto Sèvres. Here we visit the fascinating Sèvres porcelain factory and museum. The manufacture of this famous French porcelain dates back to 1740 and a visit here allows us to see the production techniques and workshops, as well as examples of its earliest designs. The museum displays ceramic art from Roman times right up to works by contemporary world renowned designers. After our visit, we return to the Anacoluthe and in the late afternoon we continue to Paris, where we enjoy a memorable cruise at dusk through the illuminated French capital. (B,L,D)

Our cruise continues south from Paris to Melun in the Seine Valley. Here we visit nearby Château Vaux le Vicomte, a lavish 17th century Baroque palace with elegant gardens created for Nicolas Fouquet, Louis XIV's financial advisor. Fouquet drew the jealous attention of the king, who arrested him and confiscated the château and its contents. Soon the same design team was working on a bigger and better château at the King's estate nearby: the Palace of Versailles. This afternoon we cruise to our final port of call, St Mammes, a small town in the upper reaches of the Seine. In the evening we enjoy a farewell gala dinner to mark our final night on board our ship. (B,L,D)

After breakfast we disembark Anacoluthe in St Mammes and join a coach for the drive to central Paris and the start of our journey home. At Gare du Nord we board the Eurostar service back to London. A complimentary meal and drinks are served on board before our arrival into St Pancras International. (B,E)

E = Eurostar meal, B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner

These meals, where shown, are included in the price of your holiday