We depart St Pancras International by Eurostar for the journey to Paris, travelling in Leisure Select Class, with a complimentary meal and drinks served on board. From Paris a coach takes us to the historic town of Compiègne in the picturesque Picardy region. Here we board the charming Anacoluthe for a Champagne welcome. The pace of your holiday is set by you alone, you may wish to take part in our included shore excursions, explore independently or simply relax, watch the ever changing landscapes of this lovely river and look forward to enjoying the French cuisine and complimentary wines served on board. (E,D)

This morning we have a guided walking tour of Compiègne, renowned for its historic 16th century town hall and the cloisters of St Corneille Abbey. Its extravagant château, once a favoured residence of French royalty, is a magnificent example of French classical architecture. You have a little free time to visit the flower market in the town before rejoining the ship for lunch. This afternoon we cruise down the meandering River Oise, passing verdant hills on the way to Pont St Maxence. We moor overnight in this lovely village within walking distance of the 14th century Royal Abbey of Moncel. (B,L,D)

This morning we continue along the river, enjoying diverse scenery as we pass the hill-perched village of Saint-Leu and the charming town of L'Isle-Adam, with its traditional "guinguettes" - the open-air riverside dance halls so beautifully illustrated in Renoir's paintings. We arrive in Auvers sur Oise, which was the inspiration for many Impressionists and where Vincent van Gogh spent his final few months living in the Auberge Ravoux. This afternoon we explore some of the sites and monuments related to the great artist. We moor in Auvers sur Oise overnight. (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 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 leave the Anacoluthe and join a coach for our journey to Paris. At Gare du Nord we board the Eurostar service to London. We travel in Leisure Select Class, where a complimentary meal and drinks are served at our seats 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