‘This sector featuring a mid-sized and all-French ship, between mainstream and luxury cruises, wasn't represented on the French market. There was [opportunity], and the passengers for it,’ explained Mousset, CFC’s president.
‘The product we decided to launch is tailored to our future passengers' expectations, which we are very attentive to.’ Targeted are travelers 55 and over, eager to discover new destinations and their cultures. Itineraries are varied, with calls lasting at least 13 hours. They do not feature the same route twice or open-jaw voyages but back-to-back itineraries from Le Havre and Marseille.
Onboard
‘With 560 crew members for 1,100 passengers, we offer a 1.9 ratio which is one of the best in the premium sector,’ GM Rivoire-Perrochat pointed out. French gastronomy is also planned as one of the highlights. ‘We dedicate €21 per day per passenger to this area.’
CFC hired Anthony Mauboussin as culinary advisor, who was recently in charge of culinary development for Viking and worked as executive chef for The World, Oceania Cruises and Azamara. He has also restyled recipes from legendary French ships which will be served at a large table in a 12-passenger private restaurant as part of an €89 menu, wines included. Moreover, CFC claims to be the only company dedicating, year-round, 100 solo cabins without any supplement in inside, outside and balcony categories.
New itineraries, Bordeaux as third French port of embarkation
Explained Rivoire-Perrochat, ‘As our guests asked for some shorter cruises, we have planned more eight- to 11-night itineraries from Le Havre or Marseille. Northern Europe and North Cape will be featured on 14-night cruises. Our northern lights itinerary from Le Havre, which we had to cancel this year, will take place from March 15 to 30. If the grand voyage around Africa is scheduled for 2025, it will be replaced next year – from January 7 to March 15, 2024 – by a 68-night cruise between Marseille and Le Havre visiting the Cape Verde Islands, French West Indies, Brazil and Caribbean islands.
‘Totally new are also two cruises leaving from the heart of Bordeaux on September 1 and 15, one of them featuring Madeira and the coasts of Spain.' Altogether, Le Havre will offer 16 departures between March 30 and August 27 (against 12 in 2023), with eight new itineraries. From Marseille there will be 12 departures (against 11 in 2023) from September 25 and January 5, with seven new itineraries.
CFC‘s ambitions
If the 40,000 passengers that were expected for Renaissance's first season will be reduced to 25,000 (representing 364,000 cruise nights) because of a three-month launch delay, mainly due to supply chain issues during Renaissance’s makeover at Damen Yards in Brest, the company expects 33,000 passengers for its second season, with a slightly reduced cruise duration.
‘We have also repositioned our average pricing, which is about €215-€220 per day. We want to settle our brand in as premium, cozy and affordable,’ the co-founders said. Even at a time of late bookings in the cruise sector, ‘Our current occupancy rate is 50% but should rise to 85% at the end of this year, which will be fine for us. Our Greece and Algeria cruises are very successful, so is our repositioning itinerary from Le Havre to Marseille next September. And the bookings for our autumn cruises are good.’
Two more ships?
This is CFC’s target for 2026 and 2027. Mousset asserted, ‘We have already started negotiations' for acquisitions.
Concerning building a ship, he said it will probably be necessary in 10 to 15 years, as the line wants to keep to mid-sized passenger ships which, he said, ‘will be hard to find.’
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