Royal Caribbean Launches French Cruise Line Croisieres de France

Following on from Carnival (starting Spanish cruise line Iberocruceros) Royal Caribbean Cruise has announced the creation of a new cruise line, to be based in France called Croisieres de France (CDF for short). Croisieres de France will have just one ship initially, the Bleu de France which currently cruises with Pullmantur, the Spanish cruise line purchased by Royal Caribbean in 2006 as Holiday Dream.

After starting life as the original M/S Europa for Hapag Lloyd, its replacement the M/S Europa II is currently the best cruise ship in the world, according to the Berlitz guide to cruising, Holiday Dream was sold to Star Cruises. In 1999 the Europa was renamed M/S SuperStar Europe and a year later M/S Superstar Aries. In 2004 Star Cruises sold the ship to Pullmantur where she became the Holiday Dream. The Holiday Dream will be given a € 30 million refit in spring 2008, with its interiors being rebuilt to suit French cultural tastes, and renamed M/S Bleu de France. Currently Holiday Dream carries 752 passengers and at 37,012 tons is small by modern standards.

M/S Bleu de France will sail in both the Mediterranean from Marseilles and in the Caribbean from the Dominican Republic port of La Romana. Bleu de France will be marketed to French-speaking travellers with Royal Caribbean stating that “the onboard experience of Bleu de France’s guests will be totally French, from cuisine to entertainment to decor. French will be the language used on the ship as well.”