Battlefield Tours founder Mat McLachlan has completed a research voyage aboard AmaWaterways’ AmaLyra, sailing Paris to Normandy as he finalises the itinerary for the D-Day Anniversary Cruise 2027: Paris to Normandy.
Sharing highlights from the journey, McLachlan gave an overview of the ship and content from along the Seine, including the ruins of Château Gaillard – Richard the Lionheart’s 800-year-old fortress – and the village of Les Andelys.
He also visited key sites along the D-Day beaches, including Omaha Beach, a German bunker responsible for destroying six Allied tanks on D-Day, the remains of the Mulberry floating harbour at Arromanches, a tank knocked out in the opening hours of the invasion, the Canadian landing beach at Juno, and the Bayeux Commonwealth War Cemetery.
“My experience on AmaLyra was fantastic, and the extra layer of history we will add with our Mat McLachlan History Cruise experience will make this an exceptional journey,” McLachlan said.
With cabins already selling quickly, the 2027 cruise will mark the anniversary of D-Day in June, with two full days dedicated to the D-Day beaches, offering guests access to significantly more historic sites than a standard itinerary. The eight-day cruise will be fully escorted throughout by an expert historian, combining the comfort and hospitality of an AmaWaterways river cruise with the depth of storytelling Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours is known for.
The fully escorted D-Day Anniversary Cruise 2027: Paris to Normandy is over eight days, departing June 2027, starting from $10,763 per person, twin share.
