How much does it cost?

From £2,299 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $3,105 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is train travel included?

Yes. Eurostar Standard Class from London St Pancras to Paris outbound and return is included, along with all coach transfers.

What is the barge and how long do we stay aboard?

Great Rail Journeys operates a 6-night cruise aboard MS Deborah, run by Croisi Europe. You stay on the same barge for all six nights, moored at different riverside towns.

Yes. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided each day, plus a drinks package with dinner every evening.

Is this escorted or independent?

Escorted. An experienced Tour Manager and Cruise Director team travel with the group throughout.

What châteaux do we visit?

Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte on Day 2 and Château de Fontainebleau on Day 4, both with guided tours included.

When does this trip run?

Great Rail Journeys has departures in May, June, and September 2027, and September 2026.

Great Rail Journeys · River cruise

Waterways of the Yonne, Paris & River Seine

Seine and Yonne barge cruise from Paris to Sens with château visits

Great Rail Journeys' 7-day Waterways of the Yonne, Paris and River Seine is a barge cruise combining rail travel with river navigation through the heart of French culture and history. The journey begins when the Tour Manager meets you at London St Pancras for the Eurostar service to Paris. From there, you board the MS Deborah for six nights of cruising along the Seine and Yonne rivers. Days blend sailing through rural landscapes of stone cottages and woodlands with guided visits ashore: Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte's Baroque splendour, the artist village of Barbizon, the royal residence of Fontainebleau where Marie Antoinette lived, and the medieval city of Sens with its 12th-century Gothic cathedral. You dine aboard each evening, and Day 1 features a dinner cruise past Paris's lit landmarks. The pace is leisurely, with most days split between morning or afternoon sailing and one or two guided shore excursions. This suits history-loving couples, first-time rail travellers seeking structure, and anyone who prefers the comfort of guided group travel with meals and logistics handled.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has fallen £200 since 4 Jul, to £2,299.

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 3 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

Single supplement is substantial: GBP 4,399 (double from GBP 2,499), roughly 88% more than half the double price
Most days involve coach transfers between the barge and inland attractions rather than continuous river travel

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: MS Deborah (Paris)
Arrival in cultural Paris
Meet the Tour Manager at London St Pancras and board the Eurostar to Paris. Transfer to the hotel barge and settle in with a welcome cocktail, followed by an evening dinner cruise along the Seine admiring the illuminated city landmarks. Note: the 16th June departure operates a reverse itinerary from Sens to Paris.
Day 2overnight: MS Deborah (Évry)
Along the Seine to Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte
A morning of cruising through the heart of Paris toward Évry. Step ashore for a guided visit to Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte (built 1656-1661), with its state rooms, formal gardens and fountains, then free time in Évry before returning to the barge for dinner.
Day 3overnight: MS Deborah (Melun)
Uncovering the history and culture of Melun and Barbizon
Sail past bucolic scenery to Melun, once the seat of France's medieval Capetian monarchs and now renowned for Brie cheese. After lunch onboard, transfer by coach to the painter's village of Barbizon, birthplace of the Barbizon School of Art, with time to explore the Auberge Ganne museum or artists' studios. Return to Melun for dinner.
Day 4overnight: MS Deborah (Moret-Loing-et-Orvanne)
Exploring the regal Château de Fontainebleau
A morning of peaceful sailing before disembarking at Moret-Loing-et-Orvanne. After lunch, transfer by coach to Château de Fontainebleau, a royal residence from the 12th to 19th centuries, seeing Marie Antoinette's Turkish boudoir and Napoleon III's imperial theatre, plus a tour of Fontainebleau town, before returning for dinner aboard the barge.
Day 5overnight: MS Deborah (Montereau)
Touring the artistic haven of Moret-Loing-et-Orvanne
A guided tour of Moret-Loing-et-Orvanne, famous for barley sugar and the landscapes that inspired Impressionist Alfred Sisley, taking in the fortified medieval gates and Notre Dame church. After lunch, sail to Montereau at the confluence of the Yonne and Seine, mooring for the night.
Day 6overnight: MS Deborah (Sens)
Sailing the Yonne to ancient Sens
Cruise along the Yonne past hamlets and woodlands to Sens, one of the oldest cities in France, for a guided tour of its 12th-century Gothic cathedral, Roman streets and the covered Marché Couvert food market, followed by a final dinner together onboard.
Day 7rail
Homeward bound
Disembark after breakfast and say farewell to the crew, then travel by coach to Paris to connect with the Eurostar back to London St Pancras.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 1Evening dinner cruise along the Seine with views of Paris's illuminated landmarks from the water
Day 2Guided visit to Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte, a masterpiece of French Baroque architecture built between 1656 and 1661
Day 4Tour of Château de Fontainebleau, a 130-hectare estate where French royal families lived between the 12th and 19th centuries, including Marie Antoinette's Turkish boudoir
Day 6Cruise along the Yonne past stone cottages and woodlands, arriving in ancient Sens for a guided tour of its 12th-century Gothic cathedral

Included

Escorted throughout your tour by an experienced Tour Manager/Cruise Director team
6-night cruise onboard MS Deborah, operated by Croisi Europe
Excellent service onboard
Complimentary onboard Wi-Fi
Eurostar Standard Class rail travel
All rail and coach travel throughout your tour
Breakfast, lunch and dinner each day
Drinks package with dinner every night of your cruise
Complimentary luggage service from your home to the ship and back (one case per cabin)
Superb excursions included

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £2,299 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $3,105 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is train travel included?: Yes. Eurostar Standard Class from London St Pancras to Paris outbound and return is included, along with all coach transfers.
What is the barge and how long do we stay aboard?: Great Rail Journeys operates a 6-night cruise aboard MS Deborah, run by Croisi Europe. You stay on the same barge for all six nights, moored at different riverside towns.
Are meals included?: Yes. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided each day, plus a drinks package with dinner every evening.
Is this escorted or independent?: Escorted. An experienced Tour Manager and Cruise Director team travel with the group throughout.
What châteaux do we visit?: Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte on Day 2 and Château de Fontainebleau on Day 4, both with guided tours included.
When does this trip run?: Great Rail Journeys has departures in May, June, and September 2027, and September 2026.