Le Havre, the premier French cruise port of the European West Coast holds major assets to develop cruise tourism.

1st French port for external trade & containers traffic, 5th European port, Le Havre enjoys a privileged geographical and nautical situation. Gateway between the Northern Seas and the Atlantic Ocean, the port of Le Havre is accessible 24 hours a day.

Le Havre, cruise destination

Le Havre de Grâce was established in 1517 by Francis I, King of France.In September 1944, 80% of the city centre was destroyed and the port was completely devastated.

It has taken twenty years for Le Havre to find a new lease of life. In July 2005, UNESCO added the city centre, rebuilt by Auguste Perret, to its World Heritage List. Le Havre city centre is the first 20th century urban settlement in Europe to be added to the World Heritage List.

Le Havre, World Heritage, birthplace of impressionism: more than a city, a site, to be discovered!

The modern city of Le Havre, is also a city of Art and History with an outstanding heritage: the Malraux Museum (first impressionist collection in France after Orsay Museum in Paris), the Historic showflat, the shipowner’s mansion, the Hanging gardens….

The old docks harbour site is coming to life again with a huge project. The restored area which will connect the port to the city is rising step by step. The aquatic complex designed by the famous French architect Jean Nouvel has been delivered in 2008. The shopping mall “Les Docks” will open mid-October 2009. The Ocean and sustainable development centre from Jean Nouvel is also part of the project: it will be composed of a 120m high metallic structure dominating Le Havre with panoramic restaurant allowing visitors a 360° view over Le Havre and the bay of the Seine river.

Le Havre, in the heart of Normandy

Normandy offers you its own special version of France, with its local dishes, verdant landscapes, historical towns, and friendly people. With its 350 miles of coastline and richly varied regions, Normandy gives the visitor a wonderful choice of landscapes, sceneries and culture: the stunning beauty of the cliffs at Etretat or the long sandy beaches, steeped in history, from Caen to Arromanches, the Seine Valley winding between wooded hills and chalk escarpments, and the patchwork of fields and hedges of the Calvados region with its orchards and timber-framed cottages. Le Havre is the right stopover to discover Normandy.

Le Havre, the gateway to Paris

The city of love and fashion is one of Europe’s largest capitals. Churches, squares, markets and museums, including the Louvre, the world’s largest museum with the famous ‘Mona Lisa’ portrait. And finish the day on the Eiffel Tower! Paris is the most popular excursion for cruise passengers calling at Le Havre (53 % of the excursions sold on board in 2008).

Le Havre has launched a new trade mark to reinforce its position as the port to the French Capital: Le Havre, the gateway to Paris. The brand new mark and logo were launched during Cruise Shipping Miami 2009 and received a great recognition from the international media.

Cruise Development:

Le Havre Tourist Office, has been developing and promoting cruise activity for 15 years. Within this period, the number of cruise passengers calling at le Havre have increased fivefold reaching 90 000 in 2009 (50 calls).

The port of Le Havre has the capacity to host the biggest cruises ships in service in the world, round the clock. No doubt this, added to the exceptional geographical position of Le Havre, will attract more and more cruise lines.

Another great season has started since March, 24th with the maiden call of the AIDALuna and will end up November 24th with the maiden call of the Independence of the Seas. Other maiden calls : Tahitian princess, Eurodam, Emerald Princess, Oceanic, Costa Luminosa, Equinox, Dawn Princess, Mein Schiff, Vision of the Seas.

The cruise centre which opened in 2007 already offers numerous touring and practical services. New amenities will be added during the autumn 2009 to allow turnarounds up to 500 passengers. The project will be completed by March 2010, for an approximate cost of 1 million euros.

The new TGV train service between Le Havre and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (July 2009) will enable easy transfers to / from the French capital.

Le Havre aims to meet the cruise lines’ expectations to draw the French customers on the cruise market. Cruise Lines have already shown their interest to operate turnarounds from Le Havre. Costa Cruises will organize 2 partial turnarounds from Le Havre in September 2009 on the Costa Atlantica and Costa Mediterranea.

Le Havre Tourist Office is a member of Cruise Europe and of the Atlantic Alliance.