I spent over $4,800 taking my retired parents on an 8-day river cruise through France, and it was the ideal multigenerational trip

My parents and I went on an eight-day cruise on the Seine, and it took us to charming villages in Normandy.Sarah Kuta

• I took my retired parents on an eight-day river cruise through France aboard the Viking Skaga.
• The relaxed pace, calm waters, and mellow excursions made it the perfect way to travel with them.

Last year, my mom suggested we take a river cruise called the Viking Skaga. Its eight-day "Paris & the Heart of Normandy" itinerary along the Seine starts and ends in Paris and includes small towns in Normandy — such as La Roche-Guyon, Vernon, and Rouen.

I knew this trip would help me reconnect and create lasting memories with my retired parents, who are both in their early 70s. So my mom, my dad, my partner, and I booked the cruise in 2022, with a departure date nearly a year later in March 2023.

My partner paid for his portion of the trip separately, so the total cost for my parents and I came out to $4,852 after applying a promotion.

That price included the cruise fare, all onboard meals and snacks, round-trip airfare, airport transfers, travel insurance, gratuities, a free shore excursion at every port, an alcoholic beverage package, and one optional shore excursion.

Here's what the experience was like.