With 2024 marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day, Scenic guide Ben Baillie talks to Adam Shaw about combining history and cruising
Q. What does your role with Scenic involve?
A. I’ve been working with Scenic since 2018 as a tour guide in Normandy. My speciality is themed tours, which means I’m in costume. For example, if you come on a cruise that stops in Les Andelys, you get to hike up to Château Gaillard with Richard the Lionheart.
This is something completely different to what you normally find on river cruises in France. It makes the history come to life. You’re an ambassador for the history that you’re talking about. I’m very privileged in that sense because, here in Normandy, we’ve got history going back to the Romans right up to D-Day.
Q. Tell us more about the history you can find on a river cruise.
A. There’s cultural heritage around the Seine in Normandy. And it’s linked to the UK, because a lot of our history involves characters from this region – Richard the Lionheart, William the Conqueror, Joan of Arc.
When you’re on the Seine, you’re in the tracks of those personalities. You’ve got a great choice and you can go on several excursions a day. That’s one of the great things about the cruise option. You can go to the Bayeux Tapestry and see the ‘comic book-style’ depiction of the Norman invasion of England in 1066. Then, of course, there are the beaches and battlefields of the Second World War.
Q. What can guests experience on a D-Day trip?
A. You can split the excursions up. If you’re interested in Canadian history, you can go to Juno Beach, while those who want to learn about the American impact can go to Omaha Beach and Utah Beach, as well as Sainte-Mère-Église where the paratroopers landed.
And to learn more about British history, there is an excursion to Pegasus Bridge [which was taken by the Allies to prevent a German counter-attack] and Sword Beach. We’ve also had repeat visitors, British people returning and visiting the American beaches, for example.
Q. Next year marks the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings. What will it be like?
A. When you come to Normandy, and see those beaches, it’s an emotional occasion. And it’ll be all the more emotional next year on the 80th anniversary. This will probably be the last major anniversary where we get to see and hear from veterans.
In 2024, there will also be an interactive session called ‘Deception and Dangers of D-Day’, which I’ll be presenting on Scenic Gem. I can only describe it as a very exciting lecture – other than that, it’s top secret! So, you’ll have to book on for next season to find out.
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