What I Didn't Expect to Feel in Normandy

I'm not the type of person who gets emotional about history. Seriously. My idea of a perfect vacation involves a beach, a frozen drink with an umbrella, and zero responsibility. So when I booked the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise for a seven-day European cruise, I was expecting exactly that—sun, sand, and the kind of relaxation that makes you forget what day it is. The itinerary listed Normandy as one of our ports, and I honestly didn't give it much thought. I figured we'd maybe walk around a charming French town, grab some crepes, take a few Instagram photos, and be back on the ship by dinner. The Paradise is exactly what you'd want from a Margaritaville cruise—casual, fun, no pretense. From the moment we boarded, there were Jimmy Buffett vibes everywhere. The 5 O'Clock Somewhere bar had my name on it, the crew was laid-back and genuinely friendly, and the whole vibe said, "Stop worrying and start relaxing." I spent the first couple days doing exactly that. I hit the LandShark Pool, tried every daiquiri variation they had, and basically convinced myself that life's greatest mystery was whether the frozen lime or frozen pineapple version was superior. My husband Mike kept laughing…