The Douglas Mawson of Aurora Expeditions made her maiden call at the Port of Caen-Ouistreham in France from June 5 to 7, coinciding with the 82nd anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy, according to the port.

The call took place alongside the Clio of Grand Circle Cruise Line, which was making a turnaround call as part of a Caen-Copenhagen itinerary, marking the first double overnight call at the port’s newly refurbished Nouveau Bassin quay.

The June 6 D-Day commemorations formed the heart of the shore program for both vessels, with guests also visiting the city of Caen and Mont-Saint-Michel during the Douglas Mawson’s final day in port.

A traditional plaque exchange ceremony took place onboard in the presence of Captain Artem Kolmykov and Romain Bail, president of the local cruise club and mayor of Ouistreham, alongside local port and tourism officials.

Complimentary shuttle services to the historic city center, free bicycles and tastings of local products on the quayside were offered to passengers and crew of both vessels.

The Port of Caen-Ouistreham is preparing for further infrastructure development with a new Colombelles Bridge scheduled for completion in summer 2027.

The swing bridge will replace the existing structure and provide a navigable width of 40 meters, allowing the port to accommodate vessels up to 185 meters in length.

Around 15 cruise calls have already been booked for the 2027 and 2028 seasons, according to the port.