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CFC spends millions on marketing campaign to support Renaissance’s first season

‘France is unique … CFC too’ is the slogan by the all-French Compagnie Française de Croisières (CFC), which has just launched a several million euros publicity campaign to support the inaugural season of its first ship, Renaissance.

Michèle Valandina, French correspondent

March 6, 2023

3 Min Read
Credit: Seatrade Cruise News

Created by the Redpill agency and under way since February 27, the wide-ranging campaign centres on CFC’s philosophy. It will run for 10 weeks on the main French TV national channels, TF1, France 2, France 3 and France 5, whose audiences correspond to the company’s target market: those aged 55 and over, with a culture/leisure profile. 

The channels are available in Belgium and Switzerland, too.  

Television/print advertising

The TV campaign includes spots, series and program sponsorship. A national and regional advertising campaign spanning daily newspapers, weekly and monthly magazines plus posters will also be rolled out.  

Regarding French-speaking Canadians in Quebec, CFC hired Frenchman Nicolas Bilek (ex-Ponant) as official commercial representative in charge of developing partnerships with the local and network agencies. 

Francophile passengers welcome

To satisfy requests coming from non-Francophone passengers, menus in English will be provided on a permanent basis and the mainly digital daily logbook translated from 20 passengers (10 double-occupancy cabins.) Some TV channels in English should also be available. ‘International Francophile and non-Francophone clients are of course welcome on board Renaissance,’ Compagnie Française de Croisières’ GM Cedric Rivoire-Perrochat explained. ‘All our staff and crew members speak French, of course, but also have to speak English. However, the official language on board for entertainment, conferences and shows will be French, in order to offer all our passengers a true experience of the French Art de Vivre.’          

Special inaugural prices

Special inaugural prices are available until March 31 on a selection of cruises from Le Havre (between May 14 and September 3) and Marseille (from November 11 to December 9), including on cabins. The line will offer a discount of up to 50% for the second passenger, as well as 50% for the third and fourth passengers sharing the cabin of two adults. Drinks packages will also be reduced by up to 20%.

Dry dock/inaugural itinerary 

Co-founded by Rivoire-Perrochat and Clément Mousset, president of the cruise line, CFC is a Marseille-based start-up which envisions a modern and all-French premium version of the traditional croisières à la française, sailing exclusively from Le Havre and Marseille on mainly 12-day varied itineraries and catering to travellers seeking discovery, culture and time to enjoy the ship. 

Currently in dry dock at Damen yards in Brest for a technical refit, makeover and upgrade under the supervision of Tomas Tillberg Design, Renaissance is scheduled to be christened on May 9 in Le Havre. Its inaugural cruise, ‘Celtic Rhythms and Legends,’ will leave on May 14 and charts Ireland and some of the British Isles. Renaissance will then head to Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands from May 28 to June 11.

100 cabins for solo travellers, no additional supplement

Under the French flag, the ship (ex-Maasdam of Holland America Line) can host 1,100 passengers and 560 crew. The accommodation consists of 80% outside cabins. Some 100 cabins will be dedicated to solo travellers all year round without any supplement in the inside, outside and balcony categories. 

About the Author

Michèle Valandina

French correspondent

A graduate from Lyon University, where she specialised in foreign languages and American literature, Michèle worked as an interpreter/translator (English, German and Italian) for major international events before entering the diplomatic world for a few years. As a Paris-based freelance travel and lifestyle writer, she has been a contributor to a host of publications and has long specialised in two sectors: cruising and wellness. Her features have appeared in, among others, Le Monde, Le Figaro, Le Figaro Magazine, Les Echos Week-end and periodicals dedicated to the MICE sector. She has also featured on radio and TV travel programmes and, since 1992, has been the author of the only French cruise guide, Croisières Passion.

 

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