After delays during the renovation at Damen's shipyards in Brest, the first ship of the Compagnie Française de Croisières, the Renaissance, was christened on June 28 in Le Havre.
About 500 passengers sailed aboard the former Holland America Line ahead of the festivities, during a trial cruise from June 23 to 26 with a stop in Zeebrugge.
“In a way, the Renaissance is mocking these last three atypical years, and also those who didn't believe in this venture,” declared Clément Mousset, president of the CFC. “It is a powerful symbol of the great entrepreneurial spirit of the French maritime industry, marked by a remarkable capacity for resilience.”
Rivoire-Perrochat, the shipping company's CEO, described the venture as "an act of faith and a huge risk-taking to bring our project to life," adding that the company required perseverance, commitment, and financial and human investment. "It was also a vision that created jobs, something we are very proud of. In Marseille, our office started with a staff of 10; we will soon be 40."
Jean-Baptiste Gastinne, First Deputy Mayor, representing Edouard Philippe, former French Prime Minister and Mayor of Le Havre, said: “For 500 years, our port's mission has been to welcome all types of ships… We have great ambitions for our cruise terminal, currently located at Pointe de Floride. A port of call for cruise ships for the most part, we want to make Le Havre a port of embarkation. Our new cruise terminal will make this possible. The port also aims to provide electricity to three berths in the near future.”
Godmother Anne Parillaud, best known for her role as Nikita, the main character in the French cult film, expressed her excitement at lending her name to a ship that represents “creativity, audacity and courage”, and at having been chosen “to assume this symbolic role for a company with an authentic and timeless universe”.
The decks are named after French islands and feature numerous works of art throughout the ship. “We have great respect for Holland America Line: we have preserved the soul of the Maasdam, but given it a new lease on life,” Mousset stated.
Renamed La Belle Epoque, the theater retains its Art Nouveau/Art Deco ambiance. The main restaurant remains the same, but has been renamed Vatel, in honor of the 17th-century French chef François Vatel.
Throughout the ship, new upgrades have been introduced, primarily in the furnishings, upholstery, and fabrics, featuring more contemporary colors. The vessel also boasts a library and a spa.
Following a cruise through the Scottish Highlands that began on June 29, Renaissance will sail to the North Cape (July 9-23), Iceland (July 23-August 6), Denmark, and Sweden and Norway (August 6-20). These Northern cruises will be followed by a UK and Ireland itinerary (August 20-September 3) before the ship heads south to Portugal, Morocco, Gibraltar, and Spain (September 3-14).
