Paris to Normandy Cruise
Destinations: Paris, Vernon and Les Andelys, Caudebec to Normandy Beaches, Rouen, Conflans | London pre-cruise extension
Trip Leader: Dr. John Glen and Susie Ledbetter
Dates: May 19–26, 2018 | London pre-cruise extension May 16–19, 2018
Trip Cost: Starting at $3,190/person for double-occupancy (shared) room, $6,380 single-occupancy
Extension Cost to London: $1,700/person double-occupancy, $2,095 single-occupancy (Sold Out)
Trip Capacity: 120 guests
Trip Overview
Join former Principia College history professor Dr. John Glen and Summer Session art history instructor Susie Ledbetter (C’70) as we closely examine the events of the D-Day Allied invasion of occupied France and the incredible series of events that led to the liberation of Paris as WWII ended. The optional, pre-trip tour begins in London with visits to Churchill’s War Rooms and Museum, Bletchley Park (home of the Enigma code breakers), and the Imperial War Museum. The full group then cruises north from Paris on the Seine, stopping for a firsthand exploration of the Normandy beaches over the course of two days. John’s lectures will guide our group from the Allied preparations to the liberation of Paris. Since this region is also home to French Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, Susie will lecture on this remarkable period of French painting with field trips to Monet’s home and gardens in Giverny, Rouen Cathedral, and Van Gogh’s Auvers-sur-Oise. Our finale will be a day in Paris with Susie, touring unmatched art museums that were slated to be destroyed by Hitler as recounted in Is Paris Burning?
Trip includes:
- Lectures from Principia faculty
- All meals, snacks, and buffets served onboard, including the following: early-riser breakfast, full buffet breakfast, late-riser breakfast, lunch, afternoon coffee/tea/cake, dinner
- Prepaid gratuities (aboard the ship for the crew and on land for the coach drivers)
- Port charges
- Luxury bedding and linens in all cabins
- Entertainment, port lectures, and other activities on board
- Complimentary daily shore excursions in each port with audio headsets
- Complimentary WiFi throughout the vessel
- Daily program and port information
- Captain’s Welcome Reception and Gala dinner
London three-day extension includes:
- Three nights' hotel accommocations, breakfasts, and porterage service
- All activites described in the itinerary, including entrance fees
- Guided tours of local attractions by a local guide
Trip does not include:
- Gratuities for local guides while out on tours
- Meals not mentioned on the itinerary
- Airfare, taxes, and fuel surcharges
- Any checked baggage fees imposed by the airlines
- Passport and visa fees (visas are not required for American citizens)
- Trip insurance for the cruise portion of this tour; trip insurance is available for the London pre-trip extension ($149/pp)
- Optional excursions, upgrades, supplements, and personal expenses
The accommodations and itinerary are subject to change.
Meet Your Trip Faculty Members
Dr. John Glen grew up on an 80-acre alfalfa hay farm in Scottsdale, Arizona. After graduating from Arizona State University, he entered the U.S. Army and served as a medical evacuation helicopter pilot in Vietnam and as an instructor pilot at Ft. Rucker in Alabama.
John spent several years as a helicopter pilot for the U.S. Forest Service and the Florida Division of Forestry, helping to prevent and suppress forest fires. In 1989, he began working at Principia College, first as Assistant Coach for football and softball and then as a history professor. In 1999, John received his PhD from St. Louis University. His dissertation focused on the Pearl Harbor air raid.
John has written extensively on the Civil War, including "Journalistic Impedimenta: William Tecumseh Sherman and Free Expression," which has been published in several scholarly collections, as well as numerous book reviews and two articles on Hawaiian history currently awaiting publication.
Graduating from Principia College with a double major in history and education and a minor in art history, Susie Ledbetter spent many years as an art museum docent/educator. Later, she taught art history and served as a college counselor in an independent high school. For the last two years, Susie has taught at Principia's Summer Session, where her course titles were Paris, The Making of the Modern and What Makes It a Masterpiece?