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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Grab An Azamara Upgrade

Azamara Club Cruises’ are offering a new 'Double Upgrade' bonus to add even more value to their destination-immersive style that delves into the rich history of Europe, fascinating cultures of Asia and bustling, metropolitan cities of South America. 

In addition, guests can enjoy up to 50 per cent savings on brochure rates, 25 per cent savings on most Land Discoveries (shore excursions) when booked online prior to the sailing, and a whopping $1,000 ChoiceAir credit for air travel booked by September 30.

Azamara's distinct destination-immersive experiences appeal especially to more up-market travellers. The cruise line features sailings with longer stays and more overnights at ports to provide guests the opportunity to experience night touring at some of the most compelling destinations of the areas they sail in.

On board the intimate Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest, guests receive exceptional and personal service and the line’s authentic, exclusive and bespoke AzAmazing Evenings events that showcase the unexpected colours and flavours of a destination. Guests also enjoy fine cuisine, as well as more inclusive amenities, such as included gratuities, complimentary boutique wines, international beers and select standard spirits, bottled water, soft drinks, speciality coffee and teas, as well as complimentary self-service laundry, an English Butler service for suite guests and shuttle transportation to city centres in ports, where available.

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line, the UK's luxury cruising specialists.

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

If you haven't already, subscribe to the World of Cruising magazine today.

Be AzAmazed With Azamara

As part of Azamara Club Cruises’ 2013 European season, newly refurbished duo Azamara Quest and Azamara Journey will launch AzAmazing Evenings, exclusive, custom-designed events which will immerse guests in the cultures that intrigue them. The inclusive night touring experiences are bespoke and authentic to the destinations in which they take place. 

The new season also marks the inclusion of boutique wines, international beers and select standard spirits in the ships' restaurants, bars and lounges when open. Travellers eager to experience Europe can also take advantage of up to $2,000 credit per stateroom against the voyage fare when booking flights through the line’s ChoiceAir feature. 

The twin ships will sail European waters through November, calling at familiar favourites such as Monte Carlo, Ibiza and Santorini, as well as some of the more hidden gems such as Sochi in Russia, host to the 2014 Winter Olympics; Cassis in France; and Propriano and Palamos in Spain. For an even more culturally-rich experience, guests can combine two, three or more consecutive sailings that repeat almost no ports and multiply their choices of AzAmazing Evenings and destination immersion.

Throughout the season, guests may also pair their holiday with a sailing that coincides with some of the region’s top cultural events, including the Monaco Grand Prix on 23 May or the British Open on 14 July.  For example, Azamara Quest’s seven-night, Seville April Fair sailing includes an opportunity for guests to experience Seville’s annual spring celebration, including a spectacular midnight fireworks show.  The ship, which sails to many destinations that larger ships cannot get to, docks in the heart of the city, just a short walk from all the festivities.

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line, the UK's luxury cruising specialists.

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

If you haven't already, subscribe to the World of Cruising magazine today.