9 nights · England · Departs Portsmouth UK · Visiting Caen-Ouistreham, Rouen, Honfleur, Dunkirk, IJmuiden, Antwerp · Aboard Azamara Cruises on the Azamara Journey
Image courtesy of Azamara Cruises ©
| Cruise line | Azamara Cruises |
|---|---|
| Ship | Azamara Journey |
| Duration | 9 nights |
| Port calls | 7 |
| Departures | 1 sailings |
| From fare | $3,159 per person |
| Year built | 2000 |
| Guests | 781 |
| Cabins | 355 |
| Crew | 408 |
| Length | 181 m |
| Beam | 25 m |
| Cruising speed | 18.0 kn |
Portsmouth is Britain’s great naval city, where the nation’s maritime story remains vividly present. At the Historic Dockyard, step aboard Nelson’s HMS Victory and visit the Mary Rose Museum. The Tudor warship, lifted from the Solent after 437 years, reveals extraordinary detail of life at sea. Beyond the waterfront, find lively cafés, independent shops and views from the 170-metre Spinnaker Tower. Portsmouth rewards those who want history close at hand beside a working seafront.
Caen, in the heart of Normandy, pairs medieval landmarks with the region’s defining wartime history. William the Conqueror founded the Abbaye-aux-Hommes and built Caen’s castle. Its ramparts still overlook the old town. The Caen Memorial traces the Second World War and the road to peace, while the D-Day beaches lie within reach. Normandy’s cider and cheeses reward a pause at the market.
Rouen rewards travelers who leave the ship and walk straight into its history. Half-timbered houses line narrow streets, while the soaring cathedral once drew Claude Monet back to paint its changing façade. At the old marketplace, Joan of Arc was executed in 1431; today, a church commemorates her. Pause for Normandy’s butter-rich cuisine, then follow the Seine-side quays for a quieter view of this working port.
Honfleur’s old harbour is one of Normandy’s most distinctive waterfronts, framed by narrow, slate-fronted houses. Walk its quays, then step into Sainte-Catherine, France’s largest wooden church, built by local shipwrights. Art belongs here: painter Eugène Boudin was born in Honfleur, and its light helped inspire the Impressionists. Beside the Seine estuary, this compact port invites an unhurried visit, with excellent seafood and Normandy’s rich local produce.
Dunkirk is a working port with a story that reaches far beyond its busy quays. Its broad beaches witnessed Operation Dynamo, the 1940 evacuation of Allied troops. The Dunkirk 1940 Museum tells that story with clarity and memorable detail. In town, explore the rebuilt centre, Flemish-influenced architecture and the 58-metre belfry, a UNESCO-listed landmark. Allow time for the waterfront and a plate of local seafood before returning to the ship.
IJmuiden sits where the North Sea meets the canal leading inland to Amsterdam, about 25 kilometres away. Watch ocean-going ships pass the sea locks, a striking reminder that this is one of Europe’s busiest ports. Choose Amsterdam’s museums and canal houses, or explore Haarlem’s historic centre. IJmuiden aan Zee offers broad sands and a bracing North Sea walk. This is a practical gateway with a distinctly coastal edge.
Antwerp pairs a major working port with a rewarding historic center. At the Cathedral of Our Lady, Rubens’s paintings share space with centuries of Gothic stonework. Nearby, the Grote Markt frames guild houses and the ornate City Hall, with cafés offering an easy pause between visits. The Museum aan de Stroom explores Antwerp’s history and its enduring relationship with the river. Make time for a meal; Antwerp’s food culture is as compelling as its maritime heritage.
Portsmouth is Britain’s great naval city, where the nation’s maritime story remains vividly present. At the Historic Dockyard, step aboard Nelson’s HMS Victory and visit the Mary Rose Museum. The Tudor warship, lifted from the Solent after 437 years, reveals extraordinary detail of life at sea. Beyond the waterfront, find lively cafés, independent shops and views from the 170-metre Spinnaker Tower. Portsmouth rewards those who want history close at hand beside a working seafront.
Published September 12, 2026
Last updated October 3, 2026
Author: J. Richard
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