Battle of Normandy: 80th Anniversary River Cruise

Your fare excludes:

Day 1, Wednesday 17 July 2024 I Embark Paris

Embark this afternoon in Paris, the romantic City of Light. After unpacking, join your Historian and fellow Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours’ special group travellers for a Welcome Cocktail and Welcome Dinner.

Star Inclusions: Welcome Cocktail, Welcome Dinner

Day 2, Thursday 18 July 2024 I Conflans

Arrive early in the morning in Conflans-St.-Honorine, at the confluence of the rivers Oise and Seine. Choose to join an optional shore excursion or to relax as you please. Today our special group comes together for our first Seminar, led by your expert Historian, to discuss the events that led to the Battle of Normandy, and the planning and strategy behind this campaign.

Optional shore excursion:

• A guided tour of Painters Village Auvers-sur-Oise – a charming town which was an inspiration to many Impressionist masters, including Cezanne, Pissarro, Daubigny and Vincent van Gogh, whose final resting place is here.

Star Inclusions: Battle of Normandy Special Group Seminar

Day 3, Friday 19 July 2024 I Rouen

Our cruise arrives in Rouen at 8am. The day is yours to enjoy, and there are two optional shore excursions to choose from. This afternoon, the as our vessel departs and continues northward, join your Historian and fellow special group travellers for a Seminar discussing the roll out of the D-Day landings, learning stories of the Anzacs involved.

Optional shore excursions:

• A walking tour of Rouen, uncovering the capital of the Normandy region including visiting the cathedral that inspired Claude Monet, and the modern Church of Joan of Arc with its magnificent 16th century stained-glass windows.
• Visit Le Pressoir d‘Or, a typical 17th Century farmhouse to taste cider and view the orchard cellar and museum dedicated to the old apple press, before visiting the beautiful village of Lyons-la-Forêt.

 Star Inclusions: Battle of Normandy Special Group Seminar

Day 4, Saturday 20 July 2024 I Le Havre and D-Day Beaches – American Sector

Today we will spend a full day exploring the D-Day battlefields, accompanied by our expert Historian. Our special group will be met at Le Havre Pier by our coach at 9am, to travel to Point du Hoc, an elevated vantage point from which huge German guns with could deliver fire on both Omaha Beach and Utah Beach. German bunkers still stand here and craters made by the bombing can be seen. From here, you can also see the edge of the famous Norman ‘bocage’, the ancient hedged countryside that was an obstacle for Allied troops. We then visit the infamous Omaha Beach, the bloodiest landing site on D-Day, and see where American troops came ashore under a hail of gunfire and suffered thousands of casualties. This was the action famously depicted in Saving Private Ryan. We pay our respects at the huge American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, which was also featured in Saving Private Ryan and is the last resting place of more than 9000 servicemen killed in Normandy. As we tour back towards Le Havre we pass multiple drop sites and learn more information about the battle from our Historian. We will arrive back at Le Havre Pier to the AMADEUS Diamond at around 5pm to enjoy an evening of leisure, entertained by the music of local chanson singers.

Star Inclusions: Point du Hoc , Omaha Beach , Colleville-sur-Mer American Cemetery

Day 5, Sunday 21 July 2024 I Le Havre and D-Day Beaches – British Sector > Caudebec-en-Caux

Today our special group will spend a full day exploring the British Sector of the D-Day Battlefields. We will be met at Le Havre Pier by our coach at 9am to travel to Arromanches, the beach where the Allies established an artificial harbour to unload heavy equipment. During 100 days of operation of the port, 2.5 million men, 500,000 vehicles and 4 million tonnes of material were landed. We will then visit Longues Gun Battery, and Gold Beach – the centre beach of the five designated landing areas of the Normandy invasion. We will visit Pegusus Bridge to learn the story of the successful coup de main to capture Pegasus and Horsa bridges, and pay our respects at the Commonwealth Cemetery. As we tour back to meet the AMADEUS Diamond at Caudebec-en-Caux Pier, we will learn more information about the battles from our Historian. We will arrive at Caudebec-en-Caux Pier to reboard at around 5pm.

Star Inclusions: Arromanches , Longues Gun Battery , Gold Beach, Peguses Bridge , Commonwealth Cemetery

Day 6, Monday 22 July 2024 I Les Andelys > Vernon > Mantes-le-Jolie

After two days of battlefield touring, enjoy a day to relax and explore the cultural highlights, villages and towns of France. You may choose to join an optional shore excursion, to uncover the region’s art and imperial history. Today, our special group comes together for our final Seminar, led by your Historian, discussing how the Battle of Normandy progressed after the D-Day landings. This evening we farewell our Historian as we sail back to Paris.

Optional shore excursions:

• Monet’s Muses and Château Gaillard – explore the remains of the English King’s stronghold: Château Gaillard, before continuing to Giverny, to visit the home of Impressionist Claude Monet and the beautiful gardens which were inspiration for several works of art.
• Josephine, Napoleon, and Château de Malmaison – explore the former residence of Joséphine and Napoleon Bonaparte, the Imperial couple.

 Star Inclusions: Battle of Normandy Special Group Seminar

Day 7, Tuesday 23 July 2024 I Paris

In the early morning, it is ‘Au Revoir’ to our Historian, but “Bienvenue“ to the French capital. Explore the City of Lights at your leisure, or choose to join an optional shore excursion. Late this afternoon, enjoy a festive Captain‘s Gala Dinner and admire the city lights of the French capital on our last night aboard AMADEUS Diamond.

Optional shore excursions:

• Paris: Cafes, Cathedrals & City of Light – explore the sights of the Eiffel Tower and the bustling Champs-Élysées, one of the world’s most famous commercial streets, during a morning city tour.
• Montmartre walking tour – delve into the allure of Montmartre, an eternal muse for creativity and expression, located on the highest hill in northern Paris. From its cobbled streets and quaint cafes to its iconic Sacré-Coeur, Montmartre offers a unique experience that transports visitors back to the ”La Belle Époque“ era.

 Star Inclusions: Captain’s Gala Dinner

Day 8, Wednesday 24 July 2024 I Paris

After breakfast, your AMADEUS crew bids you “adieu”.

Interested in joining Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours’ 4-day Western Front Explorer departing 24 July 2024? ask your travel consultant for details.

The journey may be over, but the memories will last a lifetime.

 Note: All Optional experiences for this trip are bookable with the Travel Director when you travel.

I​tinerary is subject to change without prior notice

D​eparting Paris on 17 July 2024, arriving in Paris 24 July 2024

• Haydn Cabin C-4 with panoramic window $5995 Per Person/ $6607 for Solo use
• Haydn Cabin C-1with panoramic window $6581 Per Person/ $7281 for Solo use
• Strauss Cabin B-4 with French balcony $7271 Per Person/ $8878 for Solo use
• Strauss Cabin B-1 with French balcony $7683 Per Person/ $10567 for Solo use
• Mozart Cabin A-1 with French balcony $8754 Per Person/ $12857 for Solo use

Looking for pre- and post-tour arrangements in Paris? Looking to combine this river cruise with a wider variety of experiences? As a full-service travel agency, Travel at 60's friendly consultants can happily help you find a good deal on airfares, accommodation and more. Call 1300 414 198 for a friendly chat about your travel plans.

Haydn Cabin C-4(15m²) with panoramic window

Small panoramic windows (cannot be opened), ample closet space, choice of bed configuration (double or twin bed), flat-screen television, individual climate control, en-suite bathroom with shower/WC, bathrobe, hair dryer, direct dial telephone and in-room safe. Located on the bottom deck, towards the back of the vessel.

Haydn Cabin C-1 (15m²) with panoramic window

Small panoramic windows (cannot be opened), ample closet space, choice of bed configuration (double or twin bed), flat-screen television, individual climate control, en-suite bathroom with shower/WC, bathrobe, hair dryer, direct dial telephone and in-room safe. Located on the bottom deck, close to the fitness room.

Strauss Cabin B-4 (15m²) with French balcony

Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors with French balcony, ample closet space, choice of bed configuration (double or twin bed), flat-screen television, individual climate control, en-suite bathroom with shower/WC, bathrobe, hair dryer, direct dial telephone and in-room safe. Located on the middle deck towards the back of the vessel.

Strauss Cabin B-1 (15m²) with French balcony

Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors with French balcony, ample closet space, choice of bed configuration (double or twin bed), flat-screen television, individual climate control, en-suite bathroom with shower/WC, bathrobe, hair dryer, direct dial telephone and in-room safe. Located on the middle deck.

Mozart Cabin A-1 (15m²) with French balcony

Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors with French balcony, ample closet space, choice of bed configuration (double or twin bed), flat-screen television, individual climate control, en-suite bathroom with shower/WC, bathrobe, hair dryer, direct dial telephone and in-room safe. Located on the top deck.