Le Havre heard a week ago that it will be hosting 24 river cruise calls this year from Croisieurope’s Renoir and Seine Princess and Grand Circle Cruise Line’s Bizet.
“These river ships were expected in Honfleur and, due to maintenance works on the lock for several months, they will come to Le Havre,” explains Valerie Dubuc, cruise director Le Havre Tourism Office.
The longest call is on Bizet which will last six days with others lasting between one and three days giving the port a “good opportunity to show Le Havre’s attractiveness” says Dubuc.
The last call is from Renoir on May 31 when the ships will return to Honfleur provided the works are completed. However the hope is “that their experience with Le Havre will open it up to other opportunities as we are really open to attract river cruise ships”.
The port aims to develop the river cruise activity in the newly rebuilt inner docks area in the city centre. The river ships will tie up at Quai de Marseille in Bassin (dock) l’Eure with a length of 140m or at Quai des Antilles in Bassin Paul Vatine where there are four berths.
As far as cruiseships are concerned, AIDA Cruies’ AIDAcara will be the first call of the season on March 9 to Pointe de Floride. This marks the beginning of an outstanding season for Le Havre which is expecting 90 calls and 170,000 passengers this year, an increase of 80% and 97% respectively on 2009.
This year is the first time that a cruise line will operate a season from Le Havre. Costa Cruises will have 11 turnaround calls at the new cruise terminal which was completed in 2010.
