Bleu de France’s makeover revealed

**Ally** · 05-16-2008, 08:15 AM

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The ex-Pullmantur-operated Holiday Dream is nearing completion of a €30m refit at Union Naval Barcelona shipyard to transform her into Bleu de France.

The 700-passenger ship is scheduled to depart from Spain tomorrow after a month-long refurbishment and will head for Marseille and her introduction to the French market under the CDF Croisières de France brand, launched last year by Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.

According to Eric Davaille, Bleu de France’s hotel operations manager who oversaw part of the refit and has been working with Pullmantur since 2001, ‘the ship is really stunning and the decor, conceived by Irish designer Glynis Humphreys, who got her inspiration from the South of France, has been done tastefully conveying a warm and modern feeling, without being overstated,’ he told Seatrade Insider.

The cabins, ranging in size from 22 to 25 sq mtr, have been made over in a soft turquoise blue (terra cotta for the inside ones) and fitted with new bedding, sofas and curtains. Different colour schemes in the corridors, differentiate the port and starboard sides of the ship, as well as front and back, for easier orientation.

The main restaurant, named Les Flamboyants and the Panorama buffet at the stern of the ship have both received a facelift. A new space - the Olive Bistro - will serve light Mediterranean food from 11am until 10pm. The main lounge, partly raised for a better view, now also houses a library. The new Millesime bar will offer cigars and quality spirits whilst Le café-crème bar is designed on a charming old bistro with a zinc counter.

Health-wise the ship sports a 800sq mtr spa, a sea-water swimming pool and three saunas (Finnish, hammam and herbal). There are 12 rooms for treatments and a fitness and cardio-training space.

Madrid-based Bernard Echevarria, vp sales and marketing for Pullmantur, who also supervises sales and marketing for CDF in France says: ‘This new ship, dedicated to the French passenger, is part of a global strategy from RCCL, in order to develop an additional market with potential growth for our different brands. This is a very challenging project, as it is the first time such an initiative has been launched specifically for this country. The results so far are encouraging and show we are on the right track.’

After being showcased to the public and travel agents, the 700-passenger Bleu de France will be officially inaugurated during a mini-cruise on May 23, and then leaves Marseille on 25 for the first of 23 weekly cruises in the Med, with calls in Barcelona, Tunis , Naples, Civitavecchia and Livorno.

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