Ports on the French Atlantic coast capitalise on the many festivals and events that take place in the region to enhance their offering to the cruise industry.
At Le Havre, which is expecting ocean going ships on 135 calls to bring 350,000 passenger to the port, with 133 river cruise vessels adding 16,700 passengers to the total, the Terminal 12 has been expanded to cover 2,400sqm compared to just 600sqm before the expansion. New security check equipment has been installed and a pedestrian walkway has been built to the centre of the city. The waterfront of the city has undergone a face lift as well to improve the experience of visitors a beach promenade is now linked to the port area.
Among the numerous events and festivals the region, the Normandy Impressionist Festival will from 3 April to 6 September next year, while music lovers will find Dixie Days and an Offenbach Festival on the menu. Christmas markets will also take place in the city.
Le Havre has a dedicated team to work with the cruise industry and the port authority offers incentives to repeat visitors, with a decreasing fee system as soon as a cruise line calls three times a year. This can reduce the port fees up to 90 %. The Cruise Department of Le Havre Etretat Normandy Tourism manages the cruise terminal in Le Havre with an agreement with the Port Authority.
“Besides the organisation of the operations and security, we care for the welcome of cruise passengers in the Cruise Terminal and downtown, at the shuttle arrival, with the Cruise Welcome Team who is easily recognisable thanks to their red jackets marked with our cruise logo. A flyer, Le Havre Highlights is specially adapted to our cruise visitors, the cruise team said in a statement.
Crew members working onboard cruise ships have not been forgotten either: in conjunction with the Seamen’s Club, the Tourist Office pays special attention to providing a welcome for sailors calling at Le Havre and ensuring their welfare.
The emulation around the cruise activity has strengthened since the establishment of the Le Havre Cruise Club in 2012. The Le Havre Cruise Club gathers over 50 members including official entities (the port of Le Havre, the Le Havre Town Council, Urban District Council and Chamber of Commerce) and private partners who decided to become involved in the development of the activity,” the cruise team said.
River cruises are also developing fast on major French rivers - the Seine, the Loire and the Garonne – flowing into the English Channel and the Atlantic Ocean, offering cruise guests new experiences of the French Art de Vivre.
Each region of the French Atlantic Ports offers a wide range of excursions, experiences and unique UNESCO sites to visit. Themes to explore are as diverse as culture, World Heritage, nature, history, shopping, traditions, gastronomy, events and leisure.
Normandy is the natural gateway to Paris. It has always been a source of inspiration for painters and the Impressionists made it their homeland. A triennial Normandy Impressionist Festival that will be held again next year is a flag ship event in the region. Meanwhile, the Cherbourg cruise terminal will have its car park modified to better handle vehicles. Other cruise ports in Normandy are Rouen, Honfleur and Caen-Ouistreham.
Brittany that is located further west from Normandy stands apart from the rest of France, with its impressive medieval fortress towns, its beautiful preserved coastlines and its Celtic traditions. It is the location of several festivals, which include Dinard British Film Festival, International Maritime Festival (end of September), Folk festival music of the world (beginning July every year) and Cornwall Festival with its 2 000 dancers and pipers in the heart of the historic city of Quimper that is held each year. And 13 to 19 July 2020 the Brest’s International Maritime Festival that is held every four years will welcome visitors again.
As far as facilities are concerned, Saint Malo will invest €700,000 in a new pedestrian bridge or corridor to access its terminal in Saint Malo at the end of 2019. Brest and Lorien also receive cruise ships in the region.
In the Loire Valley that is home to many UNESCO world heritage sites, another one will join their ranks in September 2019 with the launching of the Heron's tree project: this new site will feature the most beautiful urban gardens in the world. To facilitate calls, a pontoon is being planned at St Nazareth to receive large ships, a city that is a gateway to the castes and vineyards of the Loire Valley.
The South West region of France is homie to a mix of medieval ports, Vauban fortifications, fascinating architecture from the 18th century, castles, or half-timbered houses and towns with narrow streets, as well as gastronomy and worldwide renowned vineyards.
Events in the region include the 2019 Médoc Marathon in the vineyards (the only marathon where you can taste the finest Bordeaux wines), opening of MECA during summer 2019, an iconic building which will host Bordeaux new contemporary art museum and the 2020 Bordeaux Wine Festival.
Right into the beautiful gardens of the city of Cognac alongside the river Charente, the Cognac Blues Passion Festival is a yearly festival - it will run from 7 January to 7 May next year, with internationally renowned artists and also young talented swingers and first-time bands. Bayonne festival (les fêtes de Bayonne in French), with over a million visitors, it is one of the most attractive and popular events in France. Facilities are also being improved for cruise visitors: in Pauillac (one hour from Bordeaux) for large cruise ships under project Destination La Rochelle. Bordeaux and Bayonne are the other cruise ports to South-Western France.
