Seine River cruise marks 80th anniversary of the Battle of NormandySeine River cruise marks 80th anniversary of the Battle of Normandy

The eight-day return cruise departs Paris on July 17, 2024, and costs from A$5,995 per passenger twin-share.

McLachlan, who founded Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours in 2008, said June to August 2024 marks the 80th anniversary of the campaign to liberate France from Nazi occupation.

Largest amphibious assault

‘It commenced with the D-Day landings on June 6, 1944, with Operation Overlord the largest amphibious assault in history, beginning the march eastward to defeat Germany,’ he said.

‘It involved 7,000 allied warships, vessels and landing craft manned by over 195,000 naval personnel from eight allied countries, as well as an airborne attack, designed to land around 150,000 allied troops on five different beachheads.

‘By August 1944 all of northern France had been liberated.’

Seminars

There will be three World War II seminars during the cruise and passengers will spend two full days exploring the D-Day landing beaches.

 A welcome and farewell cocktail party is planned, with free-flowing wines at every lunch and dinner aboard the river vessel and complimentary coffee and tea 24/7.

There will also be free shipboard Wi-Fi and passengers will have complimentary use of Amadeus Diamond's bicycles.