This year has been described by Var Provence as one of ‘gentle recovery’ for cruising in the region, with the arrival of ClubMed’s Club Med 2 at the Port of Bandol heralding a return to cruise operations locally.
In contrast, 150 calls are announced for 2022 – including several inaugural calls – with nearly 200,000 passengers expected.
Club Med 2
Club Med 2’s stopover on July 12 at Bandol port marks the first time a cruise vessel has called in Var Provence this year.
The 392-occupancy vessel, which sailed from Nice early this month, carried 100 mainly French passengers.
France gave the go-ahead for domestic cruising to resume from June 30.
Bandol
69 shopkeepers in Bandol have agreed to sign the ‘Cruise Friendly’ quality charter, stipulating they will keep their stores open during cruise calls, provide a welcoming atmosphere for passengers, speak English and offer a special discount or gift upon any purchase.
A dedicated website – www.cruise-friendly.com – lists the Cruise Friendly establishments.
An expanding network
Almost 800 merchants in Var Provence are signed up to the website, including in Saint-Raphael, Frejus, Cavalaire, Le Lavandou, Hyeres, Toulon, La-Seyne-sur-Mer, Sanary, Bandol and Le Castellet.
According to Var Provence, La Reunion and La Martinique, the ports of Yokohama and Sete are part of the network of Cruise Friendly destinations.
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