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Cruise ships join the Rouen Armada

Rouen Armada
The Rouen Armada was last held in 2013
Held every five to six years, the Rouen Armada celebrations commenced Thursday to coincide with the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings. Azamara Journey, Marco Polo and Europa will be joining the line up this year.

For the next 10 days, around 700,000 people per day are expected to line the banks of the River Seine at Rouen, Normandy where 50 vessels are in port. Large sailing ships, national navy vessels, sailors and crews will light up the city and its 7km of quays until June 16.

The first Rouen Armada was held 30 years ago in 1989, which was initially a tall ships festival to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the French Revolution in 1989.

Ships from 12 different nations

At the last Rouen Armada in 2013, ships took part from 12 different nations and 8,000 of the ships’ sailors joined in city parades, together with concerts and firework displays every night.

Cruise ships joining

Cruise ships will also play a part of the festivities. Azamara Journey is berthed in the centre of Rouen for three days, together with Cruise and Maritime Voyages’ Marco Polo which is calling twice during the period, together with Hapag Lloyd’s Europa. In addition, there will be 18 river cruise ships in Rouen and a further six ocean cruise ships at Rouen’s Honfleur terminal along the River Seine estuary.

The date for the next Rouen Armada will be announced shortly.