AMA Waterways has recently announced that it intends to honour the 70th anniversary of the Second World War’s French D-Day landings with an enhanced itinerary on its Paris and Normandy itinerary for 2014.
The line’s popular Paris and Normandy voyage will be enhanced by the inclusion of two ‘D-Day Remembered’ excursions, offered to river cruise passengers as optional shore experiences during the voyage. Passengers can choose either a US or British and Canadian-themed excursion, though both excursions begin with a visit to the village of Arromanches, historically a base for allied troops, the harbour of which was used during the June 6, 1944 landings.
After visiting Arromanches, passengers who choose a US-themed trip will visit the D-Day Museum, then travel to St Laurent-sur-Mer, the location of Omaha Beach – a key location during the invasion – before moving on to the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, which was the first US cemetery to exist on European soil.
Guests who choose the British and Canadian-themed excursion will visit the landing sites of the British 50th Division on Gold Beach and also the Canadian Third Division on Juno Beach, where they’ll be able to visit a museum dedicated to Canadian soldiers’ contributions to the war effort. Passengers will also have the opportunity to visit the Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, the British Cemetery in Ranville – which was the first French village to be liberated on D-Day – and the Memorial Pegasus.
As well as the excursions, the line will offer a choice of Second World War-themed films, which will be available on the staterooms’ infotainment system throughout the duration of the cruise.
The Paris and Normandy cruise, which begins and ends in Paris, operates from April 10 to November 27 on the line’s 150-passenger AmaLegro.
By Simon Brotherton
Google
