A brush with the masters aboard the AmaLegro for an art cruise

We take an art cruise aboard AmaLegro and discover making it is more fun than just going to a gallery and looking at it.

It sounds like an art critic’s version of hell. Forty people behind their easels on board a cruise ship, determined to create their masterpieces.

AmaWaterways had promised passengers three two-hour painting sessions. And the chance to create three pieces of “art”.

Of the 80 passengers from Australia, Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States who had booked the Art Illumination Cruise along the Seine River, going from Paris deep into Normandy and returning in seven day, 40 of us had signed on to brush up on the old masters. The majority had never held a brush or put paint to paper before.

Elizabeth Grebler, holder of an art degree from California State University, had been hired to guide us. And, of course, this lovely stretch of the Seine would inspire.

The art experience on the AmaLegro

As we boarded AmaLegro, we noticed the art on the walls comprised prints of famous French Impressionists. No pressure!

We learned that one of Grebler’s duties as an art teacher was to encourage people who were told at school that they had no talent. Her job was to persuade them to forgot those cruel comments and just pick up a brush and paint.

On our second day, we were taken on an excursion to the glorious home and Giverny gardens of Claude Monet. He loved landscapes. And he pained the Water Lilies series – some 250 oils of his flower garden.

So with fresh visions of snapdragons, hollyhocks and, of course, water lilies in our heads, we headed into the dining room after breakfast where 40 easels had been set up. Each with a set of paints and an apron.

Painting on the AmaLegro

Standing in front of us, Grebler began painting her version of the water lilies, one color at a time. She showed us how to mix shades and encouraged us to put anything down that we wished. These were, after all, going to be our pieces of art to keep as mementos of a delightful week cruising along the Seine.

We had read that Monet said: “I may be a painter, but it’s thanks to flowers”. So we took the plunge with our paint for the very first time in our lives.

As we worked, Grebler came around with encouraging remarks for everyone. Each of the 40 paintings was slightly different but almost all – except for the painting by a dentist from Atlanta – looked like Monet’s famous flowers. Those of us who were virgin artists were surprised by how few pats of acrylic paint we were given. We asked where, for example, we would find the green we would need for all the vegetation. Our teacher showed us how to mix our yellow and blue pigments to make any shade of green we wanted.

We painted for two hours each day. And when we were resting our newly acquired artistic talents, we took excursions.

We “artists” visited the fortified Middle Ages town of Honfleur with its slate covered half-timber houses and a picturesque harbor that Monet loved to paint. Which meant that our class the next day dealt with reflections on water and sky, with Grebler telling us to “brush in your sky first” and “remember the light and colour of the mirror of the clouds”. Put your houses in last, was her advice.

We painted little sailboats and multicolored cottages and water reflections with varying degrees of success.

For the non-painters on the AmaLegro

Those who chose not to paint used some of the 20 bicycles that were stored on the top deck to tour the towns and villages where we docked. Or, we could just stay on board and enjoy the hot tub and the fitness and reading rooms.

Many of the passengers visited the beaches of Normandy. Almost all of us, when the boat tied up in the town of Rouen, spent the evening enjoying the stunning light and sound show presented on the front of the 12th to 16th-century Rouen Cathedral. Another church in Rouen, the city where the demise of Joan of Arc took place, is the gorgeously lacy Church of Saint-Maclou. With an architectural style called “Flamboyant Gothic”, the church resembles the winner of a serious sand sculpture contest.

More shore excursions…

Toward the end of the trip, our excursion to Chateau de Malmaison, the luxurious estate of Napoleon and Josephine Bonaparte which served as the seat of French government from 1800 to 1802, had us studying the valuable collection of with new, appreciative eyes.

Our vision of Paris as we had first made our way along the river leaving the city was of a brilliantly illuminated Eiffel Tower, and that’s what Grebler suggested we paint for our final work of art. She began by showing us the perspective of the legs of the tower, using black and white to put the varying and iconic dimensions into the art.

On show…

As our week on AmaLegro went on, we had noticed that some of the Impressionist art along the hallways was disappearing. In its place were the works of unknown artists.
Yes, our first exhibition.

Sometimes, these newly minted art works had a price next to them. One said “Euro 4”. An hour later, another price had been scratched over the original, reading “Euro 1 – on sale!”.

The funniest exchange was the first day’s painting by the dentist, who instead of water lilies had chosen to paint a violent red-slashed picture of distress. We silently named “Root Canal Gone Awry”. No matter, he said, he was happy painting anything for the first time. Even when the picture he had put on the wall outside his cabin was placed in the rubbish bin a few hours later.

The crew gave us wrapping materials to send our paintings home to our children. We’re still waiting for the reviews.

We loved the experience of making our own European art and cruising aboard AmaLegro was a lovely experience. The cabins were surprisingly roomy and comfortable, with tiny balconies. It allowed us to see the parade of villages as we passed.

The food

Chefs George Sakadanov and Norman Wolf provided exquisite French-inspired meals three times a day, with elegant tea times and cocktail hours in addition. It was not unusual to find l’escargots and frogs’ legs in cream sauce at lunchtime, and we understood why AmaWaterways is the only river cruise company in the world to be awarded membership in the “Royal Guild of Goose Roasters” – known more generally as La Confrerie de la Chaine des Rotisseurs, the oldest gastronomic society on the planet.

* NOTE: This cruise is now offered on demand aboard AmaLyra.

The verdict

HIGHS: The novel experience of seeing our brush strokes turning into actual pictures and holding on to beautiful memories of the things we saw on this voyage was pure joy.

LOWS: The Chef’s Table, touted as a special experience, was disappointing. The food was just as exceptional as that in the main dining room, but not so much better that we felt it was worth leaving the group to eat there. It is good that the cruise company does not charge extra for this dining experience.

BEST FOR: Adults of all ages. Children are not allowed on AmaWaterways cruises, except for their new trips organized in cooperation with the Disney Company. But any adult interested in art, food, travel and France would love the Art Illumination cruise. And no painting experience is needed!

Fact file

CRUISE LINE: AmaWaterways

VESSEL: AmaLyra

STAR RATING: N/A

PASSENGER CAPACITY: 144

TOTAL CREW: 45

ENTERED SERVICE: 2009

LENGTH: 360 feet

FACILITIES: Entertainment-on-demand, free high-speed internet, sauna, whirlpool, massage and hair salon, lounge, specialty coffee station, variety of dining venues including The Chef’s Table, walking track, sun deck, fitness room, onboard bicycles.

BOOKINGS: AmaWaterways requires a minimum of 20 guests in order to schedule an Art Illumination Cruise. A regular seven-night Paris & Normandy Cruise, now offered aboard AmaLyra, is priced from $2,999 per person twin share.