In 1996 when Norway (ex France) sailed into Le Havre waiting on the quayside was Gilbert Conan who was then with Humann & Taconet and was the shipping agent who arranged her call. Also involved with her arrival was Valerie Dubuc, cruise coordinator for Le Havre Tourist Office, and a well-known and active member of Cruise Europe.
Over the years the two have often worked side by side on the quayside in a professional capacity and always enjoyed chatting. In 2007 the deputy chairman of tourism asked Gilbert to go to Seatrade Miami with Valerie, in his capacity as Mayor of Epouville and vice president of the greater Le Havre community.
A month later, Gilbert was sent on another mission, this time to the Cruise Europe conference in Bornholm. Valerie says they were sent as “observers” to make a decision about Le Havre’s membership of the Association. It was here that the pair realised that their “lives would change dramatically” as Valerie puts it.
Since then Gilbert has retired and travels with Valerie on business as much as possible. He often mans the Le Havre or Cruise Europe booths and the couple are “very motivated in developing the cruise business and advertising Le Havre”. Valerie comments: “This is one of the topics that makes every day happy together.”
It could be said that Cruise Europe was instrumental in bringing them together, it certainly helped. The most exciting news is that they are delighted to announce to the cruise community that they are getting married on March 31 2012. (The photograph was taken in Cappadoce, Turkey, last year.)
