AzAmazing Evening marks Henry's heroism and the sacrifices made on D-Day

• D-Day veteran Henry Ochsner with Azamara President Larry Pimentel and Captain Johannes Tysse

The sands of Normandy saw some distinguished action on Friday, the 70^th anniversary of D-Day. The Queen joined Presidents Obama, Hollande and Putin at Omaha Beach where the liberation of Europe began with the landing of Allied troops on June 6 1944. The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall were among those attending a remembrance ceremony at Juno Beach to mark Canada’s involvement.

There’s an armada of cruise ships in the area, carrying a few surviving veterans along with hundreds of passengers wanting to pay their own tributes.

I am travelling on Azamara Journey, which spent the day in port at Cherbourg, on the tip of Normandy’s Cotentin Peninsula and within a few miles of the heart of the D-Day action.

We have our own veteran sailing with us. Now 91, Henry Ochsner was a member of the Second Battalion of the US 506^th Parachute Infantry Regiment when he was dropped into combat 70 years ago.

He was guest of honour at the AzAmazing Evening Liberation Party held in Cherbourg’s restored Gare Maritime last night. The splendid Art Deco building was opened in 1912, just in time to welcome Titanic, en route from Southampton.

Laid waste under German occupation in the Second World War, it is now back in use as a cruise terminal and maritime museum. Azamara took over the splendid first floor passenger halls for the party and laid on an absolute treat.

There was music from a uniformed uniformed big band and the delightful Three Belles (below); locals in authentic period dress added to the atmosphere like a puff of Gitanes, a sip of Pernod, or a whiff of garlic, and there was enough wine, cheese and galettes to sink a battleship.

After a moving welcome speech, the Mayor of Cherbourg had everyone on their feet for a standing ovation when he presented Henry with a commemorative bronze medal.

“We will never forget the men who chose to make the ultimate sacrifice to put an end to the darkest period in our history,” he said. “Your sacrifice allowed us to work for peace.

“We are proud of your presence in Cherbourg on this historic day. Thank you for our freedom,” he added.

After such an emotional evening, it seems churlish to strike a sour note, but I feel I have to. The red, white and blue theme of the evening was carried through with countless displays of American Stars and Stripes and French Tricoleurs. 

A few Canadian Maple Leaf flags looked as if they had been added as an afterthought and the only Union Flags on display were a handful draped around a bicycle on display at the end of a counter top.

The few British passengers who are among those making the 11-day “Memories of World War II” cruise would have been justified in asking why they were not better represented.

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Fred Olsen Commemorate D-Day With Help For Heroes

We are always keen to hear about charity initiatives here at World of Cruising, and this year is especially relevant as it marks the 70th anniversary of D-Day.
 

With that in mind, we think the latest news from Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines will be of great interest to many as they will welcome Captain Tony Harris, Official Ambassador for the ‘Help for Heroes’ charity and motivational speaker, on its special seven-night ‘D-Day Anniversary Cruise’ aboard Braemar on June 1.

Sailing from Harwich, it calls first at Zeebrugge (for Bruges), where guests can visit the poignant Tyne Cot Cemetery – the largest Commonwealth cemetery in the world – and Memorial, to remember those who lost their lives during the First World War. Located in the famous Cloth Hall, visitors will discover the In Flanders’ Fields Museum, which presents the story of the First World War in the West Flanders front region.

From Zeebrugge, Braemar returns briefly to the UK, to Portsmouth, to pay respects to those who gave their lives at the tranquil war memorials, before stepping back in time and visiting the D-Day Museum. Then it's on to Cherbourg, which was part of the Battle of Normandy in the Second World War, before cruising on to Le Havre for an overnight stay, providing the opportunity to take a tour to the Allied landing areas on the Day of Remembrance.

Dunkirk is the last port of call on this epic cruise holiday, with time to visit the Dunkirk War Museum, which tells the story of the Allied evacuation from the town, before the ship returns to Harwich.

Prices for this commemorative cruise start from £629 per person, based on two adults sharing a twin cabin, Grade 'I', and include accommodation, all meals and entertainment, and port dues.

More info: call 0800 0355 242 or visit www.fredolsencruises.com.

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Cruise Ex-UK In 2012 With Oceania

Oceania Cruises will be offering four ex-UK cruises and three cruises returning into the UK during 2012, enabling guests to combine no-fly cruising or cruises with a simple ferry crossing or single outbound flight to join the line’s luxurious, mid-sized ships.

Oceania's first new-build luxury cruise ship Marina will offer two ex-UK sailings in June, a 12-night round-trip from Dover (embarking June 6), calling into Scotland, the Orkney Islands and Skye, four port calls in Ireland and returning to Dover via Fowey (Cornwall); and a voyage from London to Copenhagen, via Ireland, Iceland, Faroe Islands and Norway (embarking June 18). 

British guests will also be able to disembark in the UK following a 12-night sailing on board Marina from Copenhagen to Dover, boarding in Denmark’s capital on August 31 and calling into Norway, the Shetland Islands, Scotland, three ports in Ireland (including an overnight in Dublin), and returning to Dover via Falmouth (Cornwall).

Oceania's smaller 650-guest Nautica will offer two ex-UK sailings, a magnificent 21-night round trip from Dover, departing on July 3, that calls into Scotland, Shetland Islands, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Greenland, the Isle of Skye, Belfast and Dublin, Falmouth, Cherbourg and Zeebrugge, before returning to Dover. Nautica will also sail a 12-night cruise around the British Isles, departing from Dover on July 24, calling into Scotland, the Orkney Islands, Skye, four ports in Ireland, Fowey and Le Havre.

For booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

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