Rouen to Normandy beaches

[karolm]

Our cruise excursion to Normandy was cancelled.

 

Can anyone give me information how to get to Normandy from Rouen?

 

Are there tour guides on the dock?

 

Is there a tour place that anyone can recommend?

 

Thanks,

 

Carol

[NancyIL]

Are you on a river cruise? (I don't know of any large cruise ships that dock in Rouen.) You might check into renting a car to drive to the D-Day beaches. On the other hand, Rouen sounds like a lovely city in which to spend a day.

[karolm]

We are on the Azamara Journey.

 

The reason we booked this cruise is for the Normandy beaches.

 

The Journey is a refurbished Renaissance ship and carries less than

700 passengers.

[NancyIL]

I keep forgetting about Azamara! How long are you in port? You might check with Normandy Town and Country Tours to see if they will pick up in Rouen: http://www.normandytownandcountry.com

[karolm]

Thanks for the info. I contacted them and they are fully booked.:mad:

[NancyIL]

Did Azamara say why the tour was cancelled? Their web site still shows a 10-hour Beaches of Normandy tour.

[karolm]

I have gotten a few different stories from Azamara shore excursions.

I have tried to book it on line and it is missing.

 

One was that that excursion was cancelled.

 

Another story was that the tour limit has been met that can be booked on line and that there will be some ? openings once we board the ship.

 

I have called numerous times and half the time I get one story and the

other time I get the other story.

 

I wanted to have some concrete plans now. I have tried rental car

companies and they are closed at different times. We are in Rouen on a

Saturday 11am to 12mid May 30th. It really is feasible that this tour

doesn't exist anymore because of the June 6 D-Day week celebration.

[NancyIL]

It would be very disappointing to be there during the time of the special commemorations at the D-Day beaches and unable to get there. I can't imagine that the excursion would be cancelled for lack of interest, and think it's more likely that they are full. Maybe if enough people on your cruise contact Azamara, they will offer additional transportation. Good luck!

[karolm]

Thanks for all your help.

 

I have rented a car for the day.

 

Carol

[cpmac]

The other option is a driver guide. You 'll see a lot more of the beach zone which covers 55 miles. You can't see it all. A guide would take you to the best places. A google search on d-day guide would bring up plenty of choice.

[klemmaniac]

Is it at all possible to hire a guide that day from Rouen or is the only option to reserve and pre-book one? I have also read that one can rent a car near Rouen without a reservation, which may be my other option.

[karolm]

I have a battlefield guide booked. Thanks all for your help.

[Cruisin Kay D]

Check out normandy-battlefields.org -- Sharon's email is normandytour@aol.com -- WONDERFUL COUPLE! If they can't, ask for a recommendation from them -- British couple -- we went with them May 2 from Cherbourg to Amer beaches & cemetery!!!!

 

[HI to NancyIL -- this is Kay from Veendam/Alaska 08]