Monday, April 20, 2015 - 09:25 by ce-press
Bordeaux is celebrating doubling its call numbers in the ten years since 2004 to 40 and passengers visiting from 5,000 to 40,000. It is also celebrating being named Europe’s Best Destination this year. A title that will undoubtedly see visitor numbers arrive as well as income to the city.
Nevertheless Cruise Bordeaux, a network of active members lead by the port, is working hard to promote the city to the wider world. Cruiseships up to 255m in length can be accommodated at Port de la Lune right in the city centre. It is just five minutes walk to the museum and the shops.
Laurence Bouchardie, head of development and marketing department, Atlantic Port of Bordeaux, said: “Bordeaux has one of the highest ratings in the world for Holland America Line passenger satisfaction thanks to all the events the city has made to improve the area near the river. Now it is a park where you can walk and cycle.”
Almost all the ships stay overnight paying just a single day’s port charge. Of the 40 calls, 30 will call in the city centre. In a survey conducted by GP Wild (International) during 2014, it was found that 95% of passengers get off the ship and almost 90% buy a tour from the cruiseline. Passengers spend over E150 a day each and the crew E30.
Le Verdon nearer the ocean is where larger ships such as Queen Mary 2 can dock. It is almost two hours by bus to Bordeaux but only one hour to Pauillac famous for Bordeaux wine.
There is now a plan to build a new quay and terminal in Pauillac which would be able to accommodate ships up to 330m in length. Bouchardie commented: “The development studies will take a long time, at least two years, because the legislation is very strict on the environmental assessment every time you build something in a ‘natural space’ and a quay is always in a such a space [being in the water]”. From there it is only, for example, 15 minutes to Chateau Margaux and 50 minutes to Bordeaux.
Bouchardie says cruiselines are interested but the plan is to conduct a market survey as well as the technical and environmental studies which will take a few years. “We really need to have a solution for larger ships because they represent 50% of fleet worldwide but only 10% of our business in Bordeaux. If we get a quarter of those passengers we think we can really develop our activity.
“We have been talking about the idea with all the local authorities and everybody says it is a good project and want to go for it. I am pretty sure it will get financing. In Le Verdon there is a big project to develop container shipping which would make it difficult for cruiseships to call.”
