Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV), the UK based destinational cruise operator, said it will launch a dedicated cruise ship and product for the French market and open a new sales office in Marseille. The company already has operations in the UK, Germany, Australia, the US and Mexico.
The 1987 built Astor which has been serving both the Australian and German cruise markets with complementary summer programmes since being acquired by CMV in 2013, will be re-deployed to the French market commencing cruise operations in Le Havre on Saturday 1 May 2021.
Astor will be re-named Jules Verne in 2021 operating year-round under the Croisières Maritimes et Voyages (CMV) brand from both Le Havre and Marseille. Its maiden 2021-22 French season will include a programme of 18 sailings to Northern Europe, the Mediterranean & Black Sea, a Christmas & New Year Canaries cruise and the winter season concluding with a 123 night Round the World cruise sailing from Marseille on 8 January and returning to Le Havre on 11 May 2022.
Jules Verne will be re-named at an overnight Gala Event in Le Havre on Thursday 29 April 2021 followed by a second Gala Event in Marseille on Thursday 16 May.
Jules Verne will be exclusively dedicated to the French-speaking premium cruise market offering a stylish and elegant 'modern vintage' cruise experience for discerning guests seeking attentive and exemplary service standards, fine culinary French cuisine and a more traditional destination-rich voyage experience. She will target the adult-only market apart from selected three-generation family cruises operating during the school holidays.
Chris Coates, Group Commercial Director commented at the Paris media launch "We are delighted to be entering the French market with Jules Verne and firmly believe that there is a real gap in the market to exploit between the larger mega-resort ship operators and niche luxury cruise lines with an affordable premium positioned product.
We are confident that Jules Verne and our new French product will prove to be a big hit in France and other French-speaking markets and under the leadership and expertise of Clement Mousset, we have assembled a highly experienced management and sales team ready to launch the program in the New Year".
At 21,000grt Jules Verne will carry 500 guests accommodated in 289 well-appointed staterooms including 42 de-luxe suites, 28 singles for the growing solo's market and a ratio of almost 70% of accommodation with an ocean view. All the public lounges and decks will follow a French theme and all the suites will be named after famous Chateaux.
Clement Mousset, Director Générale of CMV France added, "The ship is in great condition and a truly perfect fit for the French market. She is aimed at discerning guests looking for a more intimate, premium positioned, boutique 'modern vintage' style cruising experience seeking new friendships with like-minded passengers eager to broaden their cultural horizons, enrich their time onboard and explore great and exciting new places not always accessible to larger ships. Exciting times ahead!"
The CMV Group have much experience in serving the French cruise market having operated the 500 passenger Astoria under summer charter since 2016, to the much-respected Paris based cruise and tour operator, Rivages du Monde. This arrangement concludes in September 2020 and during the past four years, the product has received high levels of customer satisfaction.
A dedicated and refurbished new CMV sales office in Marseille, close to the Port will open for business on Thursday 2 January 2020. A new website with a booking engine facility will also be unveiled followed by an 80page special edition launch brochure.
