NORMANDY BEACHES
 

OUR CRUISE SHIP WILL BE IN LE HAVRE PORT FOR ONE DAY.

WE WANT TO TOUR NORMANDY BEACH D-DAY AREA AND AN AMERICAN CEMETERY .

WHAT TOUR SHOULD WE TAKE ? HALF OR FULL DAY ?

What does each tour cover?

And what would you do with the other half day. Shop (?) in Le Havre? Sit around the ship?

From what I know, it pretty much takes a half day just to get there and back.

If Lenyoung is repeating what the cruise ship offers then obviously there are two tours. I was on a river cruise that started in LeHarve at 10 AM and returned to the boat at about 5. The drive to Arromanche was a bit over an hour. I guess it could have been abbreviated or elongated by starting earlier.

I would think that kerouac gave the advice I think the best.

What ship are you taking? We took a day long Princess excusrion, we visited the major landing sites and beaches as well as did a little bit of shopping in the town. I'd say a 5-6 hour tour would be adequate unless you wanted a meal included.

I think a whole day tour would be worthwhile.

Hello Len: If you really want to absorb a remembrance of D-Day, do as Kerouac suggests and sit around the ship in Le Havre. Then, on another occasion, spend 4 or 5 days in Normandy. Gradyghost

So you are in Lehavre. Various choices. Get to see the Bayeux tapestry. No matter what your reaction to history the idea that a queen sat her ladies down to stitch propoganda on her husband's invasion of the wealthiest country in Europe is worth seeing.

If you want to understand the Invasion the beaches are a bit dull try to get to the museum in St Mer (Mere?) Eglise which is where the USA got stuck for 3 days.

Normandy is also famous for Cheese, Cidre and Mussels (Moule et Frites avec Blonde for E7 is a feast and best eaten on the dock side.

The decision between half day and full day tour would depend on your level of interest and relative cost.

Here is a very brief list of major sights.

The primary American beaches are Utah and Omaha (aka bloody Omaha). There is a small museum at one of them. I can't remember which.

The primary American cemetery is at Colleville sur Mer.

The Point du Hoc promontory and batteries separate Utah from Omaha.

St Mere Eglaise is the first town liberated in the landings. It was liberated by the paratroopers. The rebuilt church has stained glass windows showing paratroopers and there is a paratrooper museum.

Arromanche is a town where one of the two artificial harbors was installed. A few of the prefab concrete structures still remain out in the surf. There is a good museum and well as a separate theater with a invasion themed, 360 degree film.

Although not D-Day related, Honfluer has a very picturesque port area and is somewhat on the way from LeHavre to the invasion Beaches. It might be on your tour offering or could fill the other half of your day, if your like photography.