July started on a high with the maiden call of TUI Discovery in Toulon on the 7th, followed by two simultaneous Regent Seven Seas maiden calls on July 9 as both the Navigator and Explorer called in Ports of Toulon Bay(Toulon/La Seyne-sur-Mer), a first for the region.
And 14 calls are scheduled at Var-Provence ports this week as July 18-24 proves to be a busy seven days. Seven Seas Explorer is visiting three ports: St Tropez today, and Sanary on Friday. Earlier in the week the company's newest ship called at Saint-Raphaël, on July 19.
Other ships calling this week are Costa Classica (partial homeporting) on Saturday and Independence of the Seas on Sunday at Ports of Toulon Bay; SeaDream 1 (overnight), Star Pride in Sanary-sur-Mer, and Seabourn Sojourn in Bandol (Sunday).
Last week, Jacques Bianchi, president of the Var Chamber of Commerce and Industry (managers of the Ports of Toulon Bay), presided over the inauguration of the newly refurbished Cruise Terminal in Toulon city centre.
Earlier in May, a new cruise terminal was opened in La Seyne-sur-Mer.
Laurence Cananzi, elected member of the Var CCI and president of the Var Provence Cruise Club, commenting on the region's cruise appeal said, 'If the Ports of Toulon Bay are the leader in Var-Provence in terms of infrastructure and number of scheduled calls (50%), cruise ships also have the possibility to call at anchor in smaller but typical Provençal ports.
Having a large range of options is the strength of Var-Provence, as we are close to everything, Cananzi enthused.
August also promises to be as busy with 40 cruise calls expected; among them, The World which will stay for 3 days in Sanary (August 6-8), and Ports of Toulon Bay will welcome three simultaneous calls on August 19 with Mein Schiff 3, Costa Riviera and Sovereign all visiting on the same day.
In total, 12 Var-Provence cruise destinations of Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer, Bandol, Sanary, Les Embiez, Ports of Toulon Bay (Toulon/La Seyne-sur-Mer), Hyères, Porquerolles, Le Lavandou, Cavalaire, Saint-Tropez, Fréjus and St-Raphaël will welcome 300 calls and 450,000 passengers in 2016.
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