Day 14 - Fri - 10/10/2025 - LeHavre

 After three days at sea we woke up in darkness around 7am docked in LeHavre.  We were here a few years ago on the Regal Princess and explored the town pretty thoroughly.  So this trip we decided to take the train to Rouen which is about an hour away.  Following breakfast we met up with Darrell and Sherry at 8:15am at the International Cafe on deck 5.

We scanned off the ship; well at least 3 of the 4 of us did.  When I scanned off, an alert went off and they asked where was my luggage and was I leaving the ship?  I said no and told them that I had reported that to the front desk last night.  A security officer radioed to someone and I got clearance to depart the ship and catch up with the others.  So that meant that the front desk person last night was in error saying to ignore the letters we received in the stateroom last night.  

I rejoined the others and we found a cab for 10€ or about $12US to whisk us to the train station.  At the train station, we purchased tickets for the 9:02am train.  There we met another couple who were doing the same trip and they joined up with us for most of the day.

After the one hour train ride we were in Rouen where we were dropped into this very compact appearing French village with many stunning and varied architectural designs of buildings. Plus there were dozens and dozens of ornate cathedrals in a very small area.  We used the app, GPS MY CITY once again and did a walking tour to guide us around to cathedrals, monuments, and the high point was the Joan of Arc museum.  At the museum there is a multimedia presentation about the account of Joan of Arc's trials and burning at the stake.  It was very well done, and English headsets provided the audio for the hour long tour.  

We discovered the large clock display on our way to the very contemporary Joan of Arc cathedral.  It didn't open until 2pm, so we found a food truck selling ham & cheese crepes.  They were tasty.  We met up with Jackie and her husband George and ate our lunches together out on a small town square before touring the cathedral.  After touring it, we walked back to the Notre Dame Cathedral to tour it.  Along the way we purchased a begneit. It's a huge traditional cathedral.  Jackie and her husband made their way back towards the train station as we had a 4pm train back to LeHavre.  

We made our way back to the train station and met up with Darrell & Sherry.  Jackie and George were already there as well.  The train was 5 minutes late and packed.  Some kids were in our seats but we pressed the issue that we had reservations and they finally relented and gave up the seats.

It was quick hour back to the train station.  Darrell, Sherry, Angela, and I chose to walk back to the ship as it was only a mile.  It was a very level but twisty walk back.  At the taxi stop Jackie was chatting with a taxi driver about the cost to drive to Mont Saint Michel which I overheard and volunteered to join in to help split the cost.

 I was able to scan back on board but my name was missing from our stateroom entry wall and my medallion would not work to open the door.  That led to multiple trips to the front desk to get straightened out, but nothing worked.  

There was only one Princess Theater performance of the Voice of the Ocean at 8:30pm.  A grandmother won with over 80% of the vote.  Even more surprising was her 16 year old grandson belted out a tune with as much vigor.  

Afterwards I helped Jackie for three hours plan Sunday's excursion to Mont Saint Michel.

When we got back to the room a photo package for someone was under our door.  I took the package down to the front desk and the addressee was the prior occupants of our cabin.  

This front desk clerk gave me a key card to scan into the room and that worked. I don't know why the earlier clerks didn't offer this.  I will check in the morning after the new roster is loaded.  I'm not optimistic. I find it humorous that the medallion is good enough to scan on to the ship, but I can't get into my stateroom.

Tonight we gain back the hour but give it up the following night when we return to LeHavre.  It's rather silly but I understand the need.