The French port of Nantes received six transit calls at the Nantes Wilson Cruise Terminal (pictured) and two at the Montoir Container Terminal this year carrying a total of 2,800 passengers. First time calls came from Delphin and Funchal of Classic International Cruises at the latter. For 2010 the numbers are looking the same according to Laurence Paitel, cruise manager at the port.
There are three terminals at varying distances from the high sea. The Nantes Wilson Cruise Terminal can take ships up to 205m in length and has a depth of 7.5m. It is four hours from the high sea. The container terminal is just one and a half hours away and can take ships up to 290m length and 12.5m depth. Direct from the high sea is the Saint-Nazaire Terminal which can take ships up to 180m length and 8.5m depth.
A free shuttle bus is provided for passengers and crew into Nantes or Saint-Nazaire town centre and a tourism hospitality desk is provided on board. Paris is two hours by train and the Nantes International Airport is within easy reach of the port.
