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7-night Family Fun Along the Seine – Paris to Normandy Cruise

Roundtrip Paris
7-night Family Fun Along the Seine – Paris to Normandy Cruise
June 2, 2025
Tauck - Cruise Division: ms Esprit for Tauck
Roundtrip Paris
Vacation Offer ID 1543006
Reference this number when contacting our travel specialist.
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Overview
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Ship Info
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Activities & Services
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Staterooms
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Deckplans

Cruise Theme: Family

Family river cruises give your loved ones the opportunity to delight together in all-inclusive vacations with exciting shore excursions, onboard activities and exclusive, family-friendly experiences designed with every generation in mind.

Cruise Inclusions

EXPERIENCE WITH TAUCK

Poignant insights at Normandy's D-Day beaches & hands-on discoveries at the D-Day Academy

TAUCK VALUE INCLUDES

  • All gratuities to Tauck Director, guides & drivers
  • Tauck's private shore excursions and distinctive inclusions valued at $2,507
  • Exploring Paris on a bicycle tour or a walking tour
  • A visit inside Monet's house and painted gardens at Giverny
  • A choice of experiences in the spired town of Rouen, where the spirit of Joan of Arc lives on
  • An inside tour of Château de Versailles
  • Guided walk through the palace gardens or exploration of the gardens and Marie Antoinette farm by bicycle
  • 20 meals, airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted, all gratuities to Tauck Director, guides & drivers, service charges, admission fees, taxes & porterage 

Available Add-Ons

Optional roundtrip airfare from your city
Pre or post cruise hotel stay
  • Destination Guide
  • Suggested Shore Excursions
Destination Arrival Departure
Paris

Paris 06/02/2025

Tour begins: 4:00 PM, ms Swiss Sapphire. A transfer is included from Charles de Gaulle International Airport, and Gare du Nord and Gare du Lyon train stations to the ship. Tonight, you'll meet your Tauck Director and your fellow family river cruisers at a welcome reception and dinner.,
06/02/2025 06/02/2025
Paris

Paris 06/03/2025

The historic city of Paris is at your feet today, literally! Two sightseeing choices today – get an overview of its famous landmark sites on a guided walking tour, viewing the Arc de Triomphe and gargoyled Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris (no inside visits on this walking tour). Or, if you wish, pedal along the Seine on a guided bicycle ride, passing by the Musée d'Orsay, the Tuileries Garden, and the towering Eiffel Tower. Everybody meets up for a visit to the Eiffel Tower and lunch. The rest of the day is free for you and your family to experience "Paree" as you please.,
06/03/2025 06/03/2025
Paris

Paris 06/04/2025

Until King Louis XIV moved his household outside of Paris to the Château de Versailles in the 1700s, Louvre was a royal palace. But now it's an amazing treasure-filled museum – one of the largest and most-visited art museums in the world – and the perfect place for today's guided visit and a fun scavenger hunt. Follow clues to works of art renowned the world over, including Leonardo da Vinci's enigmatic Mona Lisa, whose mysterious smile has captivated imaginations for centuries. Following your morning at Musée du Louvre you'll enjoy some free time in Paris, then embark ms Sapphire mid-afternoon and begin your cruise along the River Seine.,
06/04/2025 06/04/2025
Vernon (Giverny)

Vernon (Giverny) 06/05/2025

Traveling in France is a feast for the senses. In Paris you've already seen – and "hunted" for – some of the most famous art in the world at the Musée du Louvre. Today you'll hear a lot about the artist Claude Monet when you visit his pink house and painted gardens in Giverny. Dock in Les Andelys this afternoon for a choice of sightseeing – hike up to Château Gaillard and listen to stories about Richard the Lionheart, King of England, who built the fortified castle; or take a guided walking tour of the village of Les Andelys. Dinner is back onboard your riverboat as we head for Caudebec for a full day at Normandy's historic D-Day beaches.,
06/05/2025 06/05/2025
Vernon (Giverny)

Vernon (Giverny) 06/05/2025

Traveling in France is a feast for the senses. In Paris you've already seen – and "hunted" for – some of the most famous art in the world at the Musée du Louvre. Today you'll hear a lot about the artist Claude Monet when you visit his pink house and painted gardens in Giverny. Dock in Les Andelys this afternoon for a choice of sightseeing – hike up to Château Gaillard and listen to stories about Richard the Lionheart, King of England, who built the fortified castle; or take a guided walking tour of the village of Les Andelys. Dinner is back onboard your riverboat as we head for Caudebec for a full day at Normandy's historic D-Day beaches.,
06/05/2025 06/05/2025
Les Andelys

Les Andelys 06/05/2025

Traveling in France is a feast for the senses. In Paris you've already seen – and "hunted" for – some of the most famous art in the world at the Musée du Louvre. Today you'll hear a lot about the artist Claude Monet when you visit his pink house and painted gardens in Giverny. Dock in Les Andelys this afternoon for a choice of sightseeing – hike up to Château Gaillard and listen to stories about Richard the Lionheart, King of England, who built the fortified castle; or take a guided walking tour of the village of Les Andelys. Dinner is back onboard your riverboat as we head for Caudebec for a full day at Normandy's historic D-Day beaches.,
06/05/2025 06/05/2025
Caudebec-en-Caux

Caudebec-en-Caux 06/06/2025

You'll feel history all around you today as you learn about the heroes of Normandy's Allied Invasion of June 6, 1944, during up-close exploration of D-Day beaches. Visit D-Day sites including Pointe du Hoc and Omaha Beach plus a poignant stop at the hallowed American Cemetery. Following lunch, the afternoon is spent exploring one of Europe's most unique museums, the D-Day Academy; here you'll have a hands-on opportunity to learn first-hand about World War II. You'll actually touch World War II artifacts, from weapons to wireless radios; put on a workable wireless headset as you climb aboard a Willys Jeep or Dodge Command car for a ride between the apple trees; and sample rations that the troops ate while serving here. Drive to Caudebec late afternoon and return to the riverboat to set sail for Rouen.,
06/06/2025 06/06/2025
Pointe du Hoc

Pointe du Hoc 06/06/2025

You'll feel history all around you today as you learn about the heroes of Normandy's Allied Invasion of June 6, 1944, during up-close exploration of D-Day beaches. Visit D-Day sites including Pointe du Hoc and Omaha Beach plus a poignant stop at the hallowed American Cemetery. Following lunch, the afternoon is spent exploring one of Europe's most unique museums, the D-Day Academy; here you'll have a hands-on opportunity to learn first-hand about World War II. You'll actually touch World War II artifacts, from weapons to wireless radios; put on a workable wireless headset as you climb aboard a Willys Jeep or Dodge Command car for a ride between the apple trees; and sample rations that the troops ate while serving here. Drive to Caudebec late afternoon and return to the riverboat to set sail for Rouen.,
06/06/2025 06/06/2025
Omaha Beach

Omaha Beach 06/06/2025

You'll feel history all around you today as you learn about the heroes of Normandy's Allied Invasion of June 6, 1944, during up-close exploration of D-Day beaches. Visit D-Day sites including Pointe du Hoc and Omaha Beach plus a poignant stop at the hallowed American Cemetery. Following lunch, the afternoon is spent exploring one of Europe's most unique museums, the D-Day Academy; here you'll have a hands-on opportunity to learn first-hand about World War II. You'll actually touch World War II artifacts, from weapons to wireless radios; put on a workable wireless headset as you climb aboard a Willys Jeep or Dodge Command car for a ride between the apple trees; and sample rations that the troops ate while serving here. Drive to Caudebec late afternoon and return to the riverboat to set sail for Rouen.,
06/06/2025 06/06/2025
Colleville Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer

Colleville Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer 06/06/2025

You'll feel history all around you today as you learn about the heroes of Normandy's Allied Invasion of June 6, 1944, during up-close exploration of D-Day beaches. Visit D-Day sites including Pointe du Hoc and Omaha Beach plus a poignant stop at the hallowed American Cemetery. Following lunch, the afternoon is spent exploring one of Europe's most unique museums, the D-Day Academy; here you'll have a hands-on opportunity to learn first-hand about World War II. You'll actually touch World War II artifacts, from weapons to wireless radios; put on a workable wireless headset as you climb aboard a Willys Jeep or Dodge Command car for a ride between the apple trees; and sample rations that the troops ate while serving here. Drive to Caudebec late afternoon and return to the riverboat to set sail for Rouen.,
06/06/2025 06/06/2025
Rots

Rots 06/06/2025

You'll feel history all around you today as you learn about the heroes of Normandy's Allied Invasion of June 6, 1944, during up-close exploration of D-Day beaches. Visit D-Day sites including Pointe du Hoc and Omaha Beach plus a poignant stop at the hallowed American Cemetery. Following lunch, the afternoon is spent exploring one of Europe's most unique museums, the D-Day Academy; here you'll have a hands-on opportunity to learn first-hand about World War II. You'll actually touch World War II artifacts, from weapons to wireless radios; put on a workable wireless headset as you climb aboard a Willys Jeep or Dodge Command car for a ride between the apple trees; and sample rations that the troops ate while serving here. Drive to Caudebec late afternoon and return to the riverboat to set sail for Rouen.,
06/06/2025 06/06/2025
Rouen

Rouen 06/07/2025

Wake up in Rouen, the "museum city of a hundred spires", this morning and walk off your riverboat right into the heart of history. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Rouen grew up along the Seine and was an important city for the Romans, Vikings, and Normans as far back as the 3rd century! It became the capital of Normandy in the 10th century and many buildings remain from its heyday in the Middle Ages. William the Conqueror used to hold court here, Richard the Lionheart left his heart here, and Joan of Arc was burned at the stake here. Explore the sites today on a guided tour that takes you to Rouen's Notre Dame Cathedral painted by Claude Monet more than 30 times, Joan of Arc Square and the church where she died, and you'll also embark on a photo scavenger hunt. After lunch onboard the riverboat, you have an opportunity if you wish to visit Panorama XXL to see a multi-media exhibit about Rouen's rich history.,

Optional Private Excursions

Avoid the crowds and hustle and bustle associated with a group activity. For a memorable trip ashore, we invite you to consider a private shore excursion. Enjoy the undivided attention of your own driver/guide and the flexibility of experiencing the aspects of the local culture that most interest you. Below are just some samples of the private shore excursions we can arrange for you. Let us personalize your experience!

Le Havre: D-Day Beaches - 9 hours
The numerous monuments and memorials on the Normandy coastal area bear witness to the fierce fighting that took place here during and after the D-Day Landings of World War II. Your driver-guide meets you after you have departed your cruise ship and takes you on a full-day tour of the American Sector to visit some of the most important sites of this pivotal point in the war.

Your day starts on the famous coastline at Pointe du Hoc, which the US Rangers scaled, demonstrating a triumph of planning, training and execution by elite and well-led troops. Further eastwards along the coast is the sector known as Omaha Beach, also captured by invading American forces, and where you can examine several sites from both the German and US perspectives. You also hear about Operation Aquatint, a failed 1942 British Commando raid on the area. Your day ends with a poignant visit to the US Military Cemetery and Interpretation Centre at Colleville-sur-Mer, the final resting place of over 9300 US soldiers located on a bluff overlooking Omaha Beach. You are transferred back to your cruise ship from here.

Highlights:
  • Visit Pointe du Hoc and Omaha Beach; two of the most significant D-Day sites
Tour Duration: 9 hours

Tour Can Operate: Morning

Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information

Physical Activity Level: Moderate

Inclusions:
•    Private transport by luxury car or minivan
•    An expert local driver-guide for 9 hours
•    Entrance fees to all sights and museums
•    All taxes

Exclusions:
•    All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
•    Gratuities
06/07/2025 06/07/2025
Poissy

Poissy 06/08/2025

Travel today to Louis XIV's ornate palace, the Château de Versailles, where you'll have a choice of a guided visit inside the palace or a guided bicycle ride. If you choose the palace visit, be sure to take a walk in the garden – it is just as impressive as the palace, covering 1,976 acres with some 200,000 trees, 50 fountains, and 210,000+ flowers. And if you choose to explore by bicycle, you'll also visit Marie Antoinette's farm, created in the style of a miniature Norman village. Bid a fond au revoir to the River Seine at a farewell reception and dinner onboard ship tonight.,
06/08/2025 06/08/2025
Versailles

Versailles 06/08/2025

Travel today to Louis XIV's ornate palace, the Château de Versailles, where you'll have a choice of a guided visit inside the palace or a guided bicycle ride. If you choose the palace visit, be sure to take a walk in the garden – it is just as impressive as the palace, covering 1,976 acres with some 200,000 trees, 50 fountains, and 210,000+ flowers. And if you choose to explore by bicycle, you'll also visit Marie Antoinette's farm, created in the style of a miniature Norman village. Bid a fond au revoir to the River Seine at a farewell reception and dinner onboard ship tonight.,
06/08/2025 06/08/2025
Paris

Paris 06/09/2025

Your France family vacation ends in Paris. Disembark this morning in Paris. Transfers are included from the riverboat to Charles de Gaulle International Airport, and Gare du Nord and Gare du Lyon train stations; allow a minimum of three hours for your flight check-in.,
06/09/2025 06/09/2025
Tauck - Cruise Division: ms Esprit for Tauck
Newly redesigned for a more intimate cruising experience, ms Esprit offers a seamless combination of luxury and comfort as you glide along the Danube and Rhine Rivers... enjoy views of fairy-tale castles that line the riverbanks from the Sun Deck... gaze at picture-book villages while you dine at Compass Rose, or simply enjoy the camaraderie of fellow passengers in the lounge before heading out, ready for the adventures that lie ahead...
Ship Highlights
  • Al fresco dining on Sun Deck, weather permitting
  • Amenities such as Fitness center, massages and putting green on Sun Deck etc
  • Onboard entertainment includes enrichment lectures, piano music nightly, in-room movies
  • Open seating in main dining room, The Compass Rose
Ship Statistics
Last Refurbished
2018
Registry
Swiss
Built Year
2010
Ship Length
361 ft (110 m)
Passenger Capacity
98
Number of Crew
36
Internet
Service levels may vary

Dining

The Compass Rose
The main dining area, The Compass Rose, is also fitted with a buffet at one end of the dining room. Filled with a variety of regional dishes as well as some familiar faces (french fries and salad options with a large selection of dressings), it's perfect for those who want to get right into the days adventures.

Bars & Lounges

Bars & Lounges
The Panoramic lounge and bar is the sole lounge. Sporting an extensive cocktail menu, grab a drink and join fellow passengers and sit on one of the many plush chairs and couches, taking in the breathtaking views of the river as it passes by. During cocktail hour, enjoy the soft and relaxing sounds of the piano as a pianist plays live music, radiating throughout the lounge as a perfect compliment to the days events that preceded.

Onboard Activities

Lobby
Aboard ms Joy, explore all that the ship has to offer including a large variety of onboard entertainment options such as enrichment lectures, nightly piano music, in-room movies, culinary demos, local entertainment and “themed” fun.

Outdoor Activities

Outdoor Activities
Enjoy the luxuries of ms Joy while you sail along the river maybe, practice your putt on the sun deck putting green or, if the weather permits, step into the Jacuzzi, or maybe you just want to take in the sights of the passing European landscape from high noon to sunset.

Wellness

Wellness
Fitness center and massages available.
Shipboard Policies
  • Wheelchair Access & Special Needs
    Tauck regrets that it cannot provide individual assistance to a guest for walking, dining, or other personal needs. Guests needing such assistance must be accompanied by an able companion who will assist them. They cannot accommodate wheelchairs or motorized scooters; ask at time of booking.
Public Rooms
  • Bar(s)/Lounge(s)
Stateroom Amenities
  • Bath Amenities/Toiletries
  • Bath Robes
  • Complimentary Bottled Water (and/or Other Beverages)
  • Goose-Down Pillows
  • Hair Dryer
  • In-Stateroom Movies
  • Luxury Bedding
  • Minibar and/or Refrigerator
  • Pillow-Top Mattresses
  • Showers and/or Bath Tubs
  • Suites
  • Spacious Closet(s)
Entertainment
  • Internet Access
    Complimentary basic internet is included on riverboats and where available in hotel rooms. Service levels are not guaranteed.
  • Classes and Workshops
  • Educational/Enrichment Programs
  • Guest Lecturers
  • Live Music
  • Local Entertainment
Dining
  • Al Fresco Dining
    Weather permitting
  • Casual Dining Venue(s)
  • Dining Style: Anytime Dining
  • Dining Style: Flexible Dining Options
  • Dining Style: Open Seating
  • In-Room Breakfast Tray
  • Room Service
  • Unlimited Complimentary Beverages
    Includes regional wine, beer and premium spirits, in addition to specialty coffee, water and soft drinks.
Other Facilities
  • Beauty Salon
  • Boutique(s) (duty-free)
  • Laundry Service (nominal fee)
Sports, Health and Fitness
  • Bicycles (for use ashore)
  • Fitness Center
  • Massage Room
  • Putting Greens
  • Spa
  • Whirlpool(s)

Suite

Cat 7 Diamond Deck Suite (7) Call for pricing
Cat 7 Diamond Deck Suite
  • Category: 7
  • Square Feet: 300
Size: 300 sq. ft. Private Balcony: French Beds: 62 inches X 77 inches (with optional twin-bed configuration).
Stateroom Amenities: Two floor-to-ceiling French Balconies, each 98 inches wide x 75 inches high each with one sliding door that opens, Quad cabin made possible by pullout couch (only for children), Coffee maker plus mini-bar stocked with complimentary water and soft drinks replenished daily, 32” LED TV, Breakfast room service, Iron plus ironing board, 220v and 110v outlets in cabin and bathroom, Easy under-bed luggage storage, Telephone, safe and individual climate control, Onboard wi-fi available, a shipboard credit (one per stateroom) is provided to be used onboard for spa services, gift shop purchases, etc.

Oceanview

Cat 6 Ruby Deck (6) Call for pricing
Cat 6 Ruby Deck
  • Category: 6
  • Square Feet: 183
Size: 225 sq. ft. Private Balcony: French Beds: 62 inches X 77 inches (with optional twin-bed configuration).
Stateroom Amenities: One floor-to-ceiling French Balcony (98 inches wide x 75 inches high) with one sliding door that opens, Refrigerator stocked with complimentary water and soft drinks replenished daily, 32” LED TV, 220v and 110v outlets in cabin and bathroom, Easy under-bed luggage storage, Telephone, safe and individual climate control, Onboard wi-fi available.
Cat 5 Diamond Deck (5) Call for pricing
Cat 5 Diamond Deck
  • Category: 5
  • Square Feet: 183
Size: 183 sq. ft. Private Balcony: French Beds: 62 inches X 77 inches (with optional twin-bed configuration).
Stateroom Amenities: One floor-to-ceiling French Balcony (98 inches wide x 75 inches high) with one sliding door that opens, Refrigerator stocked with complimentary water and soft drinks replenished daily, 32” LED TV, 220v and 110v outlets in cabin and bathroom, Easy under-bed luggage storage, Telephone, safe and individual climate control, Onboard wi-fi available.
Cat 4 Ruby Deck (4) Call for pricing
Cat 4 Ruby Deck
  • Category: 4
  • Square Feet: 150
Size: 183 sq. ft. Private Balcony: French Beds: 62 inches X 77 inches (with optional twin-bed configuration).
Stateroom Amenities: One floor-to-ceiling French Balcony (98 inches wide x 75 inches high) with one sliding door that opens, Refrigerator stocked with complimentary water and soft drinks replenished daily, 32” LED TV, 220v and 110v outlets in cabin and bathroom, Easy under-bed luggage storage, Telephone, safe and individual climate control, Onboard wi-fi available.
Cat 3 Diamond Deck (3) Call for pricing
Cat 3 Diamond Deck
  • Category: 3
  • Square Feet: 150
Size: 150 sq. ft. Private Balcony: French Beds: 62 inches X 77 inches (with optional twin-bed configuration).
Stateroom Amenities: One floor-to-ceiling French Balcony (98 inches wide x 75 inches high) with one sliding door that opens, Refrigerator stocked with complimentary water and soft drinks replenished daily, 32” LED TV, 220v and 110v outlets in cabin and bathroom, Easy under-bed luggage storage, Telephone, safe and individual climate control, Onboard wi-fi available.
Cat 2 Emerald Deck (2) Call for pricing
Cat 2 Emerald Deck
  • Category: 2
  • Square Feet: 183
Size: 183 sq. ft. Private Balcony: No Beds: 62 inches X 77 inches (with optional twin-bed configuration).
Stateroom Amenities: Refrigerator stocked with complimentary water and soft drinks replenished daily, 32” LED TV, 220v and 110v outlets in cabin and bathroom, Easy under-bed luggage storage, Telephone, safe and individual climate control, Onboard wi-fi available.
Cat 1 Emerald Deck (1) Call for pricing
Cat 1 Emerald Deck
  • Category: 1
  • Square Feet: 150
Size: 150 sq. ft. Private Balcony: No Beds: 62 inches X 77 inches (with optional twin-bed configuration).
Stateroom Amenities: Two 2’ x 3’ windows, Refrigerator stocked with complimentary water and soft drinks replenished daily, 32” LED TV, 220v and 110v outlets in cabin and bathroom, Easy under-bed luggage storage, Telephone, safe and individual climate control, Onboard wi-fi available.
Price includes all private Tauck shore excursions, cruise fare, port charges, applicable fuel surcharges, entertainment, and gratuities to Tauck Director and ship staff.

Special Solo Traveler Savings – No Single Supplement in Category 1: On all departures, the single price in Category 1 is the same as the double price – no single supplement, which means savings of up to 50% for solo travelers!

 

Please note: Children under 18 must be booked in a cabin with at least one adult. Accommodations for families of 3 or 4 in Categories 1 through 6 consist of two adjacent, but not connecting, double cabins. Triple and quadruple accommodations in Category 7 consist of a suite featuring a pillow-top queen-sized bed (with optional twin-bed capacity) and a full-sized pull-out couch. Please note that Category 7 suites can accommodate a maximum of 3 adults over the age of 18, or of 2 adults plus 2 children (only available on Bridges family cruises).

 

Recommended age: 8+ – minimum age for our Tauck Bridges river cruises is 4 years.

 

Gratuities to Tauck Cruise Director, Tauck Directors, local guides, drivers & ship staff included.

 

Cruise price per person, based on double occupancy, includes: cruise fare, most meals, port charges, shore excursions, applicable fuel surcharges and gratuities to Tauck Directors, Tauck Cruise Director, ship staff, local guides & drivers, as well as on all included meals. Unlimited complimentary beverages aboard ship include regional wine, beer and premium spirits in addition to specialty coffee, water and soft drinks. 

 

Itinerary Changes – Although not expected, Tauck reserves the right to alter the sequence of ports or omit or substitute scheduled ports or attractions at any time without prior notice.

 

Shore Excursion Selection: Tauck will contact guests 90 days prior to departure to assist with shore excursion selections.

 

Note: This cruise includes a fair amount of walking in each city. *For activities marked with an asterisk (*) in day descriptions, participation is at your own risk and a signed liability waiver will be required.

All fares are quoted in US Dollars.

Sun Deck

Stateroom Key

  • Cat 7 Diamond Deck Suite (7)
  • Cat 6 Ruby Deck (6)
  • Cat 5 Diamond Deck (5)
  • Cat 4 Ruby Deck (4)
  • Cat 3 Diamond Deck (3)
  • Cat 2 Emerald Deck (2)
  • Cat 1 Emerald Deck (1)
Diamond Deck

Stateroom Key

  • Cat 7 Diamond Deck Suite (7)
  • Cat 6 Ruby Deck (6)
  • Cat 5 Diamond Deck (5)
  • Cat 4 Ruby Deck (4)
  • Cat 3 Diamond Deck (3)
  • Cat 2 Emerald Deck (2)
  • Cat 1 Emerald Deck (1)
Ruby Deck

Stateroom Key

  • Cat 7 Diamond Deck Suite (7)
  • Cat 6 Ruby Deck (6)
  • Cat 5 Diamond Deck (5)
  • Cat 4 Ruby Deck (4)
  • Cat 3 Diamond Deck (3)
  • Cat 2 Emerald Deck (2)
  • Cat 1 Emerald Deck (1)
Emerald Deck

Stateroom Key

  • Cat 7 Diamond Deck Suite (7)
  • Cat 6 Ruby Deck (6)
  • Cat 5 Diamond Deck (5)
  • Cat 4 Ruby Deck (4)
  • Cat 3 Diamond Deck (3)
  • Cat 2 Emerald Deck (2)
  • Cat 1 Emerald Deck (1)