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Its all about ships
and more
PORTS OF CALL
CRUISING TO

NORTHERN FRANCE
Photo Tour*

OVERVIEW

THE DESTINATION

Northern France offers visitors a variety of unique
experiences.  There is the intellectual interest of its many
historic places; the spiritual experiences of its cathedrals
and Mont St. Michel; the emotion of the D-Day Beaches;
the association of Giverny, Rouen, Cherbourg and other
places with the work of great artists; the wines and
cuisine offered in its cafés and restaurants.  Include the
city of Paris and there is fashion, art, commerce and more
history.

The French countryside is charming..  Much of the area is
rural and there is a great deal of greenery.  Despite having
been a battleground many times, much of the historic
architecture has been preserved.   While there have been
modern improvements, they are often interesting for their
uniquely French style.
.  
The weather along the coast can be stormy.  However, on
days when a storm is pounding the port towns, it can be
sunny in Paris.  Even in summer, temperatures tend to be
cooler than in the United States.  Thus, these ports
generally  do not lend themselves to a Caribbean-style
day at the beach.   

The French people are very proud of their language.  
Some feel slighted if a foreigner presumes that they can
communicate in another language when in France.   
Accordingly, attempts to speak French are often
appreciated.   In the tourist areas, many people do speak
English.   

France is part of the European Union and subscribes to the
Euro currency.  U.S. Dollars and Sterling are not widely
accepted.  However, major credit cards are generally
accepted.
Above:  Celebrity Eclipse in Le Havre.
Below:  The port in Le Havre.
Cruise ports - photo tour - Northern France- page 1

There are two cruise ports in Northern France.

The largest of these is Le Havre.  It is located in the
Seine estuary off of the English Channel.  A fishing
village until 1517, King Francis I transformed the town
into a port because the ancient ports of Honfleur and
Harfleur were silting up.  It has continued to be an
important port ever since.  Heavily bombed during the
Second World War, few of its historic buildings
survive.  However, Le Havre was named a World
Heritage site  because of the reconstruction done in the
modernist style by August Perret.

Le Havre is France’s second largest port and is quite
busy.  Numerous large container ships and other cargo
ships use the port and there are seemingly miles of
cargo facilities surrounding the piers.  While there is a
cruise terminal, cruise ships often dock in the
commercial port.  Access to the center of town is by
taxi or by shuttle bus when one is provided by the
cruise ship.

The vast majority of passengers do not stay in Le
Havre during the port calls but rather use it as a
jumping off point for exploring Normandy or for
traveling to Paris.  There is a railroad station in the
center of the city.

A few cruise ships call in Cherbourg on the Colentin
Peninsular.  Cherbourg was a frequent port of call for
transatlantic ocean liners and Queen Mary 2 calls at the
port a few times each year at the beginning or end of
Atlantic crossings.  Passenger  ships usually berth at
the Gare Maritime Transatlantique on the Quai de
France

While there was considerable fighting in and around
Cherbourg, more remains of the historic town than in
Le Havre.  Nonetheless, it too is usually a jumping off
point for exploring Normandy or traveling to Paris.        
NORTHERN FRANCE CRUISES OVERVIEW........................................Page One

PLACES OF INTEREST - - NORMANDY AND VICINITY....................Page Two

PLACES OF INTEREST - - THE D-DAY BEACHES..............................Page Three

PLACES OF INTEREST - - PARIS ...........................................................Page Four

PLACES OF INTEREST - - BAYEUX.......................................................Page Five
* This photo tour and the accompanying commentary should only be viewed as a general guide that is based upon one writer's research
and experiences.  Accordingly, readers should do their own research prior to their journey.  Beyondships is not affiliated with any of the
entities depicted or mentioned herein and assumes no responsibility for their actions and for the products and/or services they provide.
Nor is inclusion in this photo tour a recommendation of the entity shown, its products, services or facilities.
Beyondships' profiles of some of the cruise ships that  
cruise to Northern France

Arcadia
Celebrity Constellation
Costa Atlantica
Crown Princess
Celebrity Eclipse
Dawn Princess
Eurodam
Grand Princess
Independence of the Seas
Jewel of the Seas
MSC Poesia
Ocean Princess
Prinsendam
Queen Mary 2
Queen Victoria
Ventura

France Guide (official government site)
France Tourism
Normandy Tourism
Le Havre Tourism
Celebrity Cruises
Cunard Line
Princess Cruises
Royal Caribbean International

These links are provided as a service.  
Beyondships is not affiliated with any of these
sites and has no control over their content, the
accuracy of their information or over any
products or services they offer.
See some of the places of interest that are often
visited from Cherbourg and Le Harve.

CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
NORTHERN FRANCE PAGE !

NORTHERN FRANCE PAGE 2

NORTHERN FRANCE PAGE 3

NORTHERN FRANCE PAGE 4

NORTHERN FRANCE PAGE 5
Above left:  The cruise terminal in Cherbourg.
Above right:  Holland America's Prinsendam in Cherbourgh.