Our Holland America cruise ship docks in Cherbourg for one day (May 23). All shipboard excursions to Normandy beaches are sold out already. I'm thinking about renting a car and driving ourselves. I rented a car in France 15 years ago and had no problem navigating. Leave ship by 8 am and return by 3 for 5 pm departure. Any ideas or suggestions?
Posted by
Normandie
302 posts
I guess I'm confused. Cherbourg is in Normandy. Other than sights in Cherbourg, what is it about Normandy you're hoping to see?
Posted by
Middletown, RI
1227 posts
If you can get a rental car near the dock and get moving quickly,
about all I would attempt is down to St Mer Eglise and Utah Beach and
back to Cherbourg.
Ditto. There's lots to see there and it is closer than the Omaha Beach area. Last I knew there was a Hertz office right by the docks. There is also a train that goes from Cherbourg to either Carentan or Bayeux, but that would be cutting it too close and you'd have to get from the train to sights you want to see.
Posted by
OP
Jacksonville, FL
5 posts
Thank you for your responses. I was not clear. We want to go to D-Day Beaches, American Cemetery.
Posted by
Middletown, RI
1227 posts
Of the American D-day beaches, Utah Beach is the closest to Cherbourg and Sainte-Mère-Église (base of American Airborne operations on D-day) is even slightly closer. As mentioned, even those would be very tight, so I wouldn't recommend going further afield to Omaha Beach or the American Cemetery sadly. But the Museum at Utah Beach is my favorite museum in the region, and you can walk the dunes North of there to see many remains of German bunkers and pill boxes. And SME has an Airborne Museum, the famous church in the center and a very festive atmosphere. There are a couple of basic places to grab a bite in SME and at a restaurant by the Utah Beach Museum.
My experience with French rental car agencies is they don't always have what you reserved (i.e., "it should be back here in an hour"), and aren't always quick in getting you out the door. It isn't like Hertz Gold at LAX for example. So do what you can to express the tight timeline you are on both when making the reservation and when arriving at the counter. And be prepared for a "plan B" if things don't work out when you arrive at the rental counter. Also, get very specific advice on getting out of the city, navigation, and returning the car before you leave. You simply won't have extra time to kill if you attempt this.
If you are interested in WWII history and can't risk missing your cruise ship, there is the Liberation Museum (Musée de la Libération) in a castle overlooking the city of Cherboug, the port and the train station. I'm not sure how to get there without a car, but maybe Über or a taxi. It is interesting, but honestly not as much as visiting the amazing Utah Beach Museum. But it and a nice lunch by the harbor may be a good plan B if the trek to Utah is too risky.
There is also a chance you can contact a different D-day tour operator ahead of time and see if they can do a custom trip meeting you at the dock. But you are two weeks before the large, 80th anniversary D-day events that will happen all over the area, so most will be getting busy. Good luck whatever you decide.
Posted by
Downingtown, USA
2449 posts
Try HQCompany tour. Started by four young men who had worked for another large Bayeau company.. We had a fantastic one day private tour and it was highlight of our trip to France. They pick up at the cruise terminals and we recommended to friends and they had highest praise for them. Before you go I highly recommend watching Longest Day filmed around the area. especially for the scenes in St..Mere Eglise. Good luck.