Trafalgar is deepening its move into European river cruising with plans to add a third ship and a new Seine River itinerary from 2027, positioning the brand more firmly in one of France’s most iconic regions. The new vessel, Trafalgar Harmonie, will join Trafalgar Verity and Trafalgar Reverie, which launch on the Rhine and Danube in 2026, and will sail a Paris‑to‑Normandy route designed around the operator’s trademark storytelling and locally led experiences.
Trafalgar Harmonie: New Ship on the Seine
Trafalgar Harmonie is being purpose-built for the Seine and is expected to enter service in April 2027 on the Best of the Seine with Paris & Normandy itinerary. The 126‑passenger ship will feature seven stateroom categories, all with river views, plus a French‑inspired restaurant, lounges, spa, fitness area and a high staff‑to‑guest ratio to preserve Trafalgar’s intimate guided‑tour feel on the water.
The ship’s design and scale are tailored to navigate France’s river towns and historic ports while maintaining a boutique atmosphere for guests transitioning from Trafalgar’s land tours to river cruising. Harmonie’s deployment on the Seine also accelerates Trafalgar’s original fleet‑growth timeline, bringing its third river ship forward from a previously signalled 2029 window.
Best of the Seine with Paris & Normandy
Launching in 2027, Best of the Seine with Paris & Normandy will combine marquee French highlights with Trafalgar’s signature hosted experiences ashore. The itinerary is set to include Paris, Rouen, Honfleur and other riverside towns, as well as visits to Claude Monet’s house and gardens in Giverny and key Normandy D‑Day landing sites.
Guests can expect Be My Guest–style encounters with local families at cider farms in Normandy and a Make Travel Matter experience in Paris centred on heritage preservation and sustainable urban planning. The program is designed to appeal to culturally curious travellers who want small‑ship cruising layered with deeper local connections and curated storytelling.
From Rhine and Danube to Seine
Trafalgar’s Seine entry follows its river debut on the Rhine and Danube in spring 2026, operated by Trafalgar Verity and Trafalgar Reverie, both chartered from sister brand Uniworld Boutique River Cruises. The 128‑guest ships will sail itineraries including Best of the Rhine & Amsterdam and Best of the Danube, combining Trafalgar’s guided‑holiday format with Uniworld’s boutique river hardware.
Together, Verity, Reverie and Harmonie give Trafalgar a three‑river footprint in Europe within its first two operating years, significantly expanding options for clients who already know the brand from coach tours but now want a familiar, hosted experience on the rivers. Land extensions in cities such as Lucerne, Prague, Budapest, London and Paris are being marketed to help advisors stitch river segments into longer, higher‑value European itineraries.
Growing Demand for France and River Cruising
Trafalgar reports strong demand for France, particularly from markets such as Australia, and sees a dedicated Seine product as a natural next step as it grows its river cruise portfolio. By announcing Harmonie and its 2027 sailings early, the brand is tapping into the trend for booking river journeys several years in advance, giving travellers more time to secure preferred dates and cabins.
For guests, the expansion means more choice across three classic European rivers, all anchored by Trafalgar’s Experience Directors, locally rooted encounters and Make Travel Matter activities that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. For the wider market, Trafalgar Harmonie’s arrival on the Seine underscores how demand for intimate, experience‑rich river cruising in France continues to surge into the second half of the decade.
