Seasoned pros sign on with Bleu de France

**Ally** · 03-10-2008, 05:26 AM

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In order to provide an all-French experience to its passengers, CDF Croisières de France – the new brand operated by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. – has selected long-time professionals for its first ship.

The master will be Jean-Marie Guillou, a captain who has worked for lines including Paquet, Windstar Cruises, Star Clippers, Regent Seven Seas, Commodore and Oceania Cruises. Hotel manager Jean-Lou Rodot brings Relais et Châteaux training, and chef Thierry Cheronnet will be backed by Francis Lévêque, a talented young chef formerly associated with Jean-Pierre Vigato and who runs his own restaurant in Paris, Le Marché. Carole Dagorne, head of the Aqua-Marine Spa, has already managed similar facilities for Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Regent.

Bleu de France, which is concluding its Caribbean season as Pullmantur’s Holiday Dream, is scheduled to arrive in Barcelona during the second week of April for a €30m refurbishment which will include carpets, cabins, corridors, deck equipment and the spa.

The ship is due in Marseille around May 13 and will be introduced to the French market before leaving on May 25 for the first of 23 weekly Mediterranean cruises.

Demand is strong for July and August sailings, the main holiday period in France, when the new line is offering a family package with children under 17 paying only taxes, plus attractive early booking discounts, said Nick Sharp, who heads CDF’s Paris office. ‘We are very proud of this type of product we have been waiting for on the French market: an elegant, refined and all-inclusive all-French formula,’ he added.

Distributed through travel agencies, Bleu de France cruises are also found in Mundicolor (summer) and Marsans (winter) brochures.

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