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Our Wonderful CroisiEurope “Meandering Seine” Cruise For our 40th anniversary my wife & I just did a CroisiEurope 6 night cruise in northern France. Our first cruise ever. We’ve lived abroa...
We had never been on a European river cruise before and chose this one for its brevity, just four nights. We were very happy with our choice and heartily recommend Croisieurope to travelers seeking...
We had a wonderful trip on the beautiful Renoir. We chose this trip because we wanted to do a one way on the Seine, ending in Paris. We started in Honfleur where we had time to explore the city a...
One of CroisiEurope's older river ships, MS Renoir received a total overhaul in 2018. Now designated a "five anchor" vessel, it carries fewer passengers (105) in larger cabins. Interior design is crisp and modern. The light-filled cabins have French balconies -- sliding-glass doors than can be opened -- ideal for cruisers who appreciate some fresh air. To their programming, they've added "Discovery" shore excursions -- unique things to see or active pursuits like hiking and biking -- along with their usual "Classic" options. This ship sails the Seine river from late March through late October, always from Paris to Honfleur or the reverse, or round trip from Paris, with journeys lasting from four to seven nights.
Operated by the third generation of the Schmitter family (they own 45 ships and charter 10 others), Renoir has a decidedly French feel. About 55 percent of the guests are French-speaking, while 45 percent typically come from Germany, the U.K., Scandinavia and the U.S. Before 2013, CroisiEurope -- which has been one of the largest river cruise lines, in terms of fleet size -- didn't promote itself to a North American audience. They do now, and the number of passengers from the U.S. is growing every year, they say. Onboard announcements are made in French and English, and most of the staff speaks some English. Dining tables are assigned, and they'll place you with others who speak the same language. It isn't necessary to speak French to feel comfortable on Renoir, but you'll definitely enjoy yourself more if you can understand a little. If you're a Francophile at heart, you'll enjoy the cultural immersion aspect of this cruise.
Into French food? Prepare to be delighted. CroisiEurope's executive chef, Alain Bohn, has crafted a menu of gorgeously presented (and delicious) classics, offered on all of their ships. Think duck terrine, fish in puff pastry and crepes Suzette. If you're keen to have lots of choices, or are a picky eater, beware: the three-course menu for lunch and dinner is set. (This can be modified for dietary restrictions like gluten-free and vegetarian; let them know before you sail.) And some of the staff is still getting used to American tastes; ask for a diet soda, for example, and you may get a raised eyebrow (but you will get your drink.) There also isn't much choice for shore excursions; you'll select either a classic must-see (i.e., a chateau visit) or a more active or off-the-beaten-path option.
On the plus side, this cruise is truly all-inclusive, including wines and shore excursions. The only add-ons are for specialty wines (beyond the pairings offered at lunch and dinner), Champagne and some premium beverages as noted on the bar menu. Servers aren't aggressively upselling these. Plus, the small size of the ship makes it easy to navigate and easy to get to know fellow cruisers.
Essentially, this is river cruising, streamlined -- there aren't many bells and whistles (no pool, spa, or fitness center) -- and there are few decisions to make, since meal times are set, shore excursion options are minimal and there are only two cabin categories, not five or six.
For many travelers, the main benefit is the price point: CroisiEurope is known for delivering lots of bang for the euro, and Renoir is no exception. Prices tend to be about 30 percent less than the competition. Not bad, since you'll feel like you're touring the Seine in a floating boutique hotel. The international mix of travelers (as opposed to all English-speaking) aboard Renoir adds a dash of cultural flavor.
Passenger age range is typical for a river ship. What's different about CroisiEurope's ships is that they draw from a mix of countries, with about half of the group French-speaking and the rest a smattering of other languages. Onboard announcements are in French and English, and they employ multilingual guides for excursions. You'll be seated at meals with passengers who speak your language -- unless you'd rather be seated with Francophones to practice your French.
Dress aboard Renoir is casual by day, and "smart-casual" by night. There's no dress code, even for gala evenings. A simple dress (for women) and collared shirt and slacks (for men) will suffice. Since you'll spend some time sightseeing in Paris, it's good to err on the side of "city chic" by day (skip the hoodies and ripped jeans) so you won't feel out of place. Your favorite blazer will be a workhorse on this cruise.
All meals are included in the cruise fare, plus daily soft drinks and alcoholic drinks during meals and at the bar while onboard. Shore excursions are included for passengers from North America. Wi-Fi is free, as are headsets used for excursions. The euro is the currency used onboard. Tipping is at the guest's discretion; suggested gratuity is 8 to 10 euros per person per day, placed in an envelope on the final day of the cruise. Tips are pooled among the crew.
This ship had a gut renovation during 2017, right down to the hull. Sixty beds were removed to make cabins (reduced in number) larger; and they are spread out across two decks.
Riverview: The cabins onboard are all identical and are now 17 square meters (about 183 square feet) They're not huge, but the design helps the space feel bigger and brighter, thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows and light colors. Cabinetry and linens are bright white; bathroom tiles are glossy white, accented with glass mosaic tile. Adding to the boutique hotel feel are black-and-white herringbone throws, textured carpeting (also in black and white) and touches of rose gold in lighting fixtures and accent pillows. Renoir prints (but of course) adorn the walls. Beds face the window. Storage is adequate, not ample. Each cabin has two USB ports (hooray), a flat-screen TV that appears overhead with a push of the button and fairly reliable Wi-Fi. There's also a safe in each cabin. The two twin beds can be pushed together to create a queen or kept separately for less intimate co-travelers.
Bathrooms are tiny but modern, with a glassed-in shower, hair dryer and a lighted magnifying mirror (nice!) Towels are thick and fluffy, but no washcloths are provided. Hand sanitizer, soap, shampoo and conditioner (unbranded) are provided. There is a shelf above the toilet, and a bit more storage in a vanity cupboard alongside the hair dryer. Two sturdy hooks alongside the towel rack are handy for hanging toiletry kits. This is a one-person-at-a-time situation, bathroom-wise.
There is one accessible cabin within Renoir; there are no connecting cabins.
The French are passionate about food, and the cuisine aboard this French-owned ship reflects that. The food quality is generally very good aboard Renoir and prepared in the classic French style. CroisiEurope's executive chef, Alain Bohn, is a member of the Maitres Cuisiniers de France, one of only 250 chefs worldwide in this association.
The dining room is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast runs from 7 to 9 a.m. Lunch and dinner dining times depend on shore excursion arrivals; typically, noon or 1 p.m. for lunch and 7 or 7:30 p.m. for dinner. There is one seating only for both lunch and dinner. Seating (by table) is set.
Breakfast is buffet-style, with plenty of fresh fruit, cereal, eggs (including an omelet station), meats and -- of course -- breads. Three-course meals are offered for lunch and dinner, with white, red or rose' wine, at set times each day. For lunch, you might encounter a leek tart, followed by magret de canard (breast of duck) in pinot noir sauce with sweet corn chips and vegetables, and then a Pont-l'Eveque cheese and pana cotta with berries. Dinner might be an Alsace salad, followed by venison in a mushrooms sauce with potato puree atop red cabbage. Dessert is always a treat for the eye as well as the palate; perhaps baked apple in brioche or baba au rhum.
Although there is a set menu for lunch and dinner, the staff can easily accommodate vegans, vegetarians and gluten-free diners. Best to let them know of your dietary restrictions when you book. They'll also make a last-minute substitution for you (say, you're not keen on duck confit and would prefer a salad) in most instances. House wines, paired to complement the entrees and inclusive with lunch and dinner, are appealing and locally sourced. There's one Gala Dinner per cruise, in the middle or end of the sailing. This meal features an extra course and leans toward the fancier side; say, duck foie gras with caramel spice, rack of veal with shallots and tarragon sauce and crispy vegetables, goat cheese on toast with mesclun salad and honey vinaigrette, followed by flaming baked Alaska.
Dining room decor is fresh and pretty, in the same color palette as the guest cabins, with blush-colored velvet chairs and banquettes, decorative pillows in blush and black, black-and-white speckled carpeting, white table linens, rose gold accents and fresh flowers throughout.
MS Renoir has no room service.
On mornings while sailing, guided calisthenics take place on the sun deck after breakfast. During the day on sailing days, crew members host games in the lounge. There's also small stash of board games and books (mostly in French, so BYO). When the weather is fine, everyone decamps to the deck chairs on the sun deck. By night, there is music in the lounge, or performances by the staff. During every cruise, there's one night of live entertainment, such as a local musician or duo that gets guests on the dance floor, or joining in a sing-along.
Shore Excursions
For North American passengers, excursions are included with the rate. They're generally a half-day to a full-day long. Choose from a Classic excursion -- focusing on culture, architecture and history, and traveling by foot or by coach -- or a Discovery tour, featuring out of-the-way sites, tastings of local products and other more unique experiences, including biking and hiking tours. Book these in advance. For example, a Classic tour might feature a visit to the Martainville Chateau, while a Discovery tour might be a hike across the cliffs of Etretat. Passengers are split into groups, and board when their group is called via announcement. Given the fact that Renoir is so small -- with a maximum of 105 passengers -- organization of excursions is easygoing and manageable.
Daytime and Evening Entertainment
On the first night aboard ship, there's a meet-and-greet with the staff, with cocktails and toasting. Beyond that, passengers may meet on the sun deck after breakfast for guided calisthenics, gather in the lounge for trivia and games during the day and reconvene in the lounge after dinner for music, dancing or a performance by the staff. There is typically something going on in the lounge in the evening; the schedule varies for daytime activities.
Enrichment
There is no enrichment on Renoir. The program for the next day is generally given during dinner.
Lounge (Deck 2) Sleek and comfortable, the lounge has a bar, angular white tables and blush-colored velvet seating. With ample windows, it's a pleasant place to watch the excursion boats pass by on the Seine.
The ship has a sun deck with lounge chairs; this is the site of staff-led exercise on mornings at sail. Leaving Paris, passengers gather on this deck to admire the City of Lights in the evening (and duck, as the MS Renoir glides under bridges on the Seine!).
Services include a reception desk, small boutique and books to browse and borrow (mostly titles in French.) Wi-Fi is available aboard the ship, in the lounge and most guest rooms, and it's free.
Renoir does not have a spa or fitness facilities.
There's not a minimum age to sail aboard the MS Renoir. Kids are allowed (but are not catered to) on this ship.
European Itinerary: Renoir sails the Seine River in the spring, fall and winter seasons, departing from Honfleur and Paris.
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