Yesterday, Thursday, September 16, 2021, the Port of Toulon Bay welcomed its first cruise ship in over 18 months, the TUI Cruises Mein Schiff 2, at the Seyne Cruise Terminal. However, the docks of Toulon Bay did not remain empty during the crisis, as the port and the local community continued to welcome cruise ships for their lay-up calls. At a rate of two to three ships docking continuously since spring 2020, there have been 15 calls in Toulon Bay, with stays ranging from a few days to several months.
Yesterday was a very special day, marking a milestone in the history of cruise activity in Toulon Bay with the return of cruise passengers. Despite a complete halt in cruise passenger arrivals, the Port of Toulon Bay continues to refine its promotion as a cruise destination. Work has been done to develop the onshore offerings, especially for independent travelers, promoting a "slow" destination positioning—that is, offering "slow-paced tourism," a choice that respects the local environment and also responds to visitors' desire to slow down and enjoy more leisurely moments during their cruise.
It appears that this positioning and all the work it entails is well-received by cruise lines, and the 2022 calendar is promising, with an average of 90 port calls from 16 different companies expected, for approximately 200,000 cruise passengers. Furthermore, it is interesting to note that this strategic shift seems to be impacting market segmentation, as 84% of the cruise calls scheduled for 2022 are expected to come from the premium and luxury segments.
