June to August marks the anniversary of the Battle of Normandy – the campaign that liberated France from Nazi occupation. Commencing with the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, Operation Overlord was the largest amphibious assault in history, beginning the march eastward to defeat Germany. Our special group will cruise the River Seine aboard the Amadeus Diamond, beginning and ending in Paris. Escorted by an expert battlefield Historian, our special tour includes evening seminars and two days’ comprehensive touring of the D-Day beaches.
On-board Amadeus Diamond, enjoy fine-dining meals, with a generous continental breakfast buffet, multi-course lunches and dinners – all included. Free-flowing hand-selected wines, beer and soft-drinks are included at every lunch and dinner, and complimentary coffee and tea are available 24-hours in the Amadeus Club. Relax and watch the countryside go by from your stateroom, the Panorama Bar, or River Terrace, utilise complimentary on-board WiFi, or enjoy Sun Deck with golf putting green, chess, shuffle board and lounge area. A 24-hour fitness centre and massage room are also on-board.
Amadeus River Cruises is a family-owned Austrian company underpinned by 40 years of experience. Its award-winning fleet has been designed with a focus on comfort, style, and guest experience. On-board chefs serve fine-dining fare using fresh, local ingredients, and Amadeus is at the forefront of sustainable river cruising – awarded a prestigious Green Award in 2022.
Day 1 - Embark Paris
Embark this afternoon in Paris, the romantic City of Light, with embarkation from 4pm. After unpacking, join your Historian and fellow Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours’ special group travellers for a Welcome Cocktail and Welcome Dinner.
Day 2 - 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.
Optional shore excursion:
Day 3 - Rouen
Our cruise arrives in Rouen at 8am. Choose to enjoy an optional shore excursion, or relax as you please. Today our special group comes together for a Seminar, led by your Historian.
Optional shore excursions:
Day 4 - 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. As we drive through Normandy, we will learn stories from the landing and the troops involved, on both sides, highlighting these personal stories through visits to Le Cambe German Cemetery and Colleville-Sur-Mer American Cemetery. In Sainte-Mère-Eglise – near the church where US-paratrooper John Steele was caught, hanging from the bell tower by his parachute – we will visit the immersive Airborne Museum to learn about the paratroopers, invasion preparations in England and battles for liberation. And visiting the infamous Omaha Beach, the bloodiest landing site on D-Day, we will see where American troops came ashore under a hail of gunfire and suffered thousands of casualties – the action famously depicted in Saving Private Ryan. As we tour back towards Le Havre, we pass multiple drop sites and learn more about the battle from our Historian. We will arrive back at Le Havre Pier to the Amadeus Diamond at around 5:30pm to enjoy an evening of leisure, entertained by the music of local chanson singers.
Day 5 - Le Havre & 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 Ranville War Cemetery to learn the stories of the British and Commonwealth soldiers and pay our respects to Australian Flight Lieutenants Thomas Robert Bowden Anderson and Henry Lacy Smith who are buried here.
At the Benouville Memorial Pegasus Museum, we will learn the story of the successful coup de main to capture Pegasus and Horsa bridges, before travelling to the Ver-sur-Mer British Normandy Memorial. A quick drive will then take us to Arromanches – part of the Gold Beach landing area – 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-sur-Mer Gun Battery, before travelling to Caudebec-en-Caux Pier to reboard at around 5:30pm.
Day 6 - 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. After our final Seminar, we bid “Au Revoir” to our Historian as we sail towards Paris.
Optional shore excursions:
Day 7 - Paris
In the early morning, it’s “Bienvenue“ to the French capital. Explore the City of Light 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:
Day 8 - Paris
After breakfast, your Amadeus crew bids you “adieu”. 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. The itinerary is subject to change without prior notice
3 departures to choose from:
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.
Mozart Suite (22m²) with French balcony
Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors with French balcony, mini-bar, bathrobe, 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.
Travel at 60 and supplier booking conditions apply.
Non refundable deposit of 20% is due within 7 days of booking. Final payment due no later than 150 days prior to departure