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Author: News from the Royal Caribbean
The Royal Caribbean Cruise line is expanding in Europe.From May next year they will have a French cruise ship which will cater for French tourists.
Operating under the likelihood that any ship geared toward European passengers isn’t, well, French enough for people from France, Royal Caribbean has started a new cruise line as “a custom-tailored brand for French cruisers.”
The new company, CDF Croisières de France, plans to give Pullmantur‘s Holiday Dream (752 passengers) a $30 million makeover, a new name and “a cultural transformation wholly adapting the brand experience to French tastes,” according to a statement from Royal Caribbean. The experience onboard the renamed Bleu de France, the company said, “will be totally French, from cuisine to entertainment to decor.” French will be the primary language onboard.
The revamped ship will begin sailing the Mediterranean out of Marseille in May, and in the Caribbean out of La Romana, Dominican Republic, the following winter. Booking details were not available at press time. For now, images of the ship are on www.pullmanturcruises.com (click on the British flag and “Holiday Dream”). Royal Caribbean bought Pullmantur, based in Madrid, back in November.
Cruise Briefing appears every other Sunday in Travel. Deputy Travel Editor Spud Hilton travels anonymously and doesn’t accept complimentary trips or special rates from the cruise lines. To comment, go to sfgate.com/travel.
Posted in Cruise News
