Day tour from Le Harve to Paris

[loan_girl]

We will be docking in Le Harve on Princess Cruise Line.

I'd love to do a day-trip to Paris with my Family.

We are party of 6. Grandma, 2 Adults, Kids 17,13, and 10

I'd love recommendations for a company you have used for a similar excursion.

We'd like to see the "sights" Eiffel Tower, Arch de Triomphe, Notre Dame, Champs Elysees

and have lunch. Our Ship is stopped 6/29/2018 from 7:00-20:00.

Thanks in advance for any help!

[easyboy]

When you take a private excursion, suggest refund policies, if allowed, are clearly stated. Our Le Havre port of call last Sept was cancelled due to Le Havre port union strike. It was unexpected that may not happen on yours.

 

 

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[Bob++]

I have no personal experience but have seen this company recommended elsewhere. I think that they look quite expensive, but not so bad compared with six times the Princess excursion charge.

 

http://www.driverguidefrance.com/

[rocklinmom]

I am looking at the same thing for the following summer on Princess. Since the Le Havre port is a two and a half to three hour drive to Paris (each way), I would book the Princess excursion for two reasons: 1) if there are any delays (i.e. traffic, bus mechanical, accidents, etc.) on the way back to the ship, the ship will wait for you; and 2) if the port is closed because of a labor strike, which happened several times in Le Havre this past summer, then you will get your money refunded back to you, guaranteed.

[gerelmx]

We take ship tour, lunch was on a Senna river cruise ship very nice but a waste of time. Count 3 hours driving from Le Havre to Paris an 3 hour back.

[OCruisers]

I am looking at the same thing for the following summer on Princess. Since the Le Havre port is a two and a half to three hour drive to Paris (each way), I would book the Princess excursion for two reasons: 1) if there are any delays (i.e. traffic, bus mechanical, accidents, etc.) on the way back to the ship, the ship will wait for you; and 2) if the port is closed because of a labor strike, which happened several times in Le Havre this past summer, then you will get your money refunded back to you, guaranteed.

 

We booked with Princess for the same reason! :)

[gkkapp]

On our British Isles cruise 2012 we and our friends did Paris in 4 hours . We chose the "Paris on Your Own" option offered by Princess. The four of us had never been there and thinking that we might not get there again we carefully picked things we wanted to see and do. The bus dropped us in the heart of the city at the Place de la Concorde. We took a cab to near Notre Dame and walked along the Seine going in back of the church and up the other side for good photo views. Stopped at a sidewalk cafe next to the church for a quick bite and then toured the inside of Notre Dame.

 

Then we began walking back to the Place de la Concorde stopping along the way as we felt like it. I bought a small painting from a street vendor. We walked through the courtyard at the Louvre and saw the glass pyramid. Then we walked through the Tuileries Gardens and made it to the Place de la Concorde with time to spare. We did not go close to the Eiffel Tower but could easily see it. On the way out the bus went right by it!!!

 

The moral of the story is...it can be done. Did not see everything but at least we can say we were there. Careful planning will make it work.

 

Hope this helps.

 

<<<Karen>>>

 

P.S. We lived in Salt Lake City during the 1980's and spent many nice days in Park City :D.

[kctwinmommy]

I am looking at the same thing for the following summer on Princess. Since the Le Havre port is a two and a half to three hour drive to Paris (each way), I would book the Princess excursion for two reasons: 1) if there are any delays (i.e. traffic, bus mechanical, accidents, etc.) on the way back to the ship, the ship will wait for you; and 2) if the port is closed because of a labor strike, which happened several times in Le Havre this past summer, then you will get your money refunded back to you, guaranteed.

 

When we were there last summer, many people said that was why they booked with RCI. We were also there on Bastille Day, so it was going to be extra crazy in the city. We didn't want that, but we talked to people who were planning that trip. It's just so far from the port, they wanted to be sure they were covered.

[loan_girl]

On our British Isles cruise 2012 we and our friends did Paris in 4 hours . We chose the "Paris on Your Own" option offered by Princess. The four of us had never been there and thinking that we might not get there again we carefully picked things we wanted to see and do. The bus dropped us in the heart of the city at the Place de la Concorde. We took a cab to near Notre Dame and walked along the Seine going in back of the church and up the other side for good photo views. Stopped at a sidewalk cafe next to the church for a quick bite and then toured the inside of Notre Dame.

 

 

 

Then we began walking back to the Place de la Concorde stopping along the way as we felt like it. I bought a small painting from a street vendor. We walked through the courtyard at the Louvre and saw the glass pyramid. Then we walked through the Tuileries Gardens and made it to the Place de la Concorde with time to spare. We did not go close to the Eiffel Tower but could easily see it. On the way out the bus went right by it!!!

 

 

 

The moral of the story is...it can be done. Did not see everything but at least we can say we were there. Careful planning will make it work.

 

 

 

Hope this helps.

 

 

 

<<<Karen>>>

 

 

 

P.S. We lived in Salt Lake City during the 1980's and spent many nice days in Park City :D.

 

 

 

Thank you so much for this information. I also grew up in Salt Lake City in the Holliday area. I think this is the best way for us to do this trip as well. Thanks again for the good advice :-)

 

 

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[SAS21]

When we did LeHavre as a port day, we chose the Paris on your own offered thru Royal Caribbean. I hired a tour guide that met us at Place de la Concorde. she then took us around Paris. We also had her hire a van for 3 hours of the 5 we had before taking the bus back to the ship. We saw so many sites in this short period of time, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Monte Mart and the Basilica there( can't recall the name) Luxembourg Gardens, Louvre, plus some. We also visited a pastry shop and went to an outside bread and cheese market. A very busy day, somewhat expensive with having a van to take us around, but so worth it. When we got on the bus to return to the ship and were reliving some of what we had saw, others on the bus overheard us and commented about how much we had seen in such a short period of time and were not too happy with their day as they had not seen near as much as we did. She was a great guide and made us feel so welcome.

 

We did not pay for the guide or van until the completion of the tour.

[Cotswold Eagle]

When we did LeHavre as a port day, we chose the Paris on your own offered thru Royal Caribbean. I hired a tour guide that met us at Place de la Concorde.

 

 

Sounds like you had a great day, but it would be of more use to the OP and future readers if you shared who your fabulous guide was [emoji846]

 

It’s Sacré Cœur in Montmatre, by the way, just in case you were still trying to remember!

 

 

 

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[Markanddonna]

Check out the posting under the France board.

[Pet72Vet]

We recently cruised to Le Havre where the cruise line offered bus transport to and from Paris such that, once in Paris, you were on your own. We came up with the following itinerary (a combination of walking and metro) which allowed us to visit the major tourist attractions in Paris. This itinerary requires 3 1/2-4 hours during which time you will be "on the move." It does not allow for any inside visits, but rather just photo stops. Wanted to share for anyone else who might be interested. Since this might have been our one and only opportunity to see Paris, we wanted to fit in as many tourist attractions possible in the least amount of time. We saw Place de la Concorde, Hotel de Ville, Notre Dame, Saint Sulpice, Les Invalides (Location of Tomb of Napoleon), Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Elysses, Louvre and Jardin de Tuileries. This is Paris "on the fly" in a "nutshell" and will only be enjoyed by others who are "like-minded."

 

METRO OPTION FOR PARIS

 

[10 Ticket (carnet “stack” of tickets) Metro Purchase ≈ 14.50€ available for purchase near turnstiles in Metro stations – exactly the right number of tickets for two for the following metro itinerary. You will also need a street map of Paris which identifies the location of the metro stops. This option worked perfectly to view major tourist attractions in an approximate 4 hour time span provided you are “on the move”]

 

1. From Cours la Reine to Notre Dame, get on M1 at either Champs-Elysses-Clemenceau OR Place de la Concorde. Get off at Hotel de Ville station and walk across bridge to Notre Dame Cathedral.

 

2. After Notre Dame, walk back away from the Notre Dame a short distance to get on M4 line at Saint- Michel-Notre-Dame toward Odeon and Saint-Sulpice.

 

3. Get off M4 at Saint-Sulpice

 

4. After Saint-Sulpice, walk to M10 line at Sevres-Babylone Station. Get on M10 at Sevres-Babylone Station toward Duroc Station

 

5. Change to M13 line at Duroc Station toward Saint-Francois-Xavier station

 

6. Get off at Saint-Francois-Xavier station and walk north on Boulevard des Invalides to Les Invalides (Military Museum and Napoleon’s Tomb)

 

7. Walk from Les Invalides to Eiffel Tower

 

8. Leave Eiffel Tower via Quai Branly to the Bir Hakeim M6 station on Boulevard de Grenelle. The station is just south of Quai Branly (away from the River Seine)

 

9. Get on M6 at Bir Hakeim station and get off at Charles de Gaulle Etoile for Arc de Triumphe.

 

10. Get on M1 at Charles de Gaulle and get off M1 at Champs-Elysses-Clemenceau to return on foot to Cours la Reine. Alternatively, get off M1 at Tuileries to view the gardens next to the Louvre and return on foot to Cours la Reine.

 

 

Hope others find this "on your own" itinerary to be helpful with their planning. Kind regards.

[SAS21]

Sounds like you had a great day, but it would be of more use to the OP and future readers if you shared who your fabulous guide was [emoji846]

 

It’s Sacré Cœur in Montmatre, by the way, just in case you were still trying to remember!

 

 

 

Sorry it took me so long to get back and post this information. Our tour guide was Genevieve Roberts and I booked her through ToursbyLocals. I communicated with her by email and she informed me of the cost of the private van she hired for us. She does walking tours also, but we have one family member who has limited mobility. I recommend her highly.

[Chocolate Teapot]

It is quite easy to walk from Place de la Concorde, through the Tuileries and up to the Louvre. There are also Hop-on Hop-off buses if time is limited.

 

As I have mentioned on here before, http://www.ratp.fr is the Paris public transport website and is full of helpful information about buses and the underground.

[elaine5]

for those going on day tour option from cruiseship, for DIY we accomplished the following a few weeks ago:

Off bus near Place de la Concorde, walked to champs elysees and got on a city bus going (a few long blocks) towards Arc de Triomphe, bought tickets and went up via elevator (reserved for babies, mobility, health conditions. I didn't know what the climb would be like, but is would be fine for most adults-we climbed down with no issues). If you are definitely going, try to buy a ticket in advance. then we took the metro to the Paris Opera with prepurchased tickets for non-escorted tour, took a quick look into Galleries Lafayette (beautiful ceiling) and metroed to St Michel. DD had prebooked Notre Dame tour climb (it's an app and tikets come out at 7:30 each AM). She climbed 1/2 way up and we needed to leave to make our bus at 3:10. We did a quick walk along the Seine and metroed back on the left bank side and then crossed the bridge to the bus. The bus gives you a very good view/photo opp of Eiffel tower. This was a hurried pace 4 hours with us very familiar with Paris and the metro and buses. We could not have also gone to Eiffel. I don't see any way DIY to get to Arc, Eiifel and ND unless you do not visit/climb.

If you cut out Opera and went from Arc to Eiffel for a look (but not climb), you could then go to ND (no inside visit). Or you could look at Eiffel and do a ND tower climb with pre-booked tickets or an inside visit (summer lines are 1.5 hours long).

We had a great day--but didn't even stop to eat--literally on the run for 4 hours.