Cherbourg Cruise Club
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After having welcomed thirty cruise ships in 2011, our port will receive 22 calls reprezenting about 30000 passengers next year. 14 different cruise companies will call at Cherbourg and 4 cruise ships have never been before (Empress, Discovery, Astor, Grand Voyager).
I - 2012 - The Titanic year
2012 is the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. This famous cruise ship, called at Cherbourg on the 10th of April 1912. La Cité de la Mer, a tourist attraction located in the transatlantic terminal (where are welcomed cruise passengers today) offers a special exhibition divided in two parts. These are :
- Emigration from Cherbourg : more than 4 millions of people came to Cherbourg at the beginning of the 20th century to get a better future in America.
- The atmosphere aboard the cruise ship when she came to Cherbourg.
II - Cherbourg’s advantages
Cherbourg has a deep sea port with easy acess (with no limit of tide). Because of this advantage, each year our city receives unplanned calls for cruse ships that are unable to reach their scheduled destination because of bad weather conditions.Quay of France, measures 600 m long and can receive accomodate the modern cruise “mega” ships.
III - An exceptional transatlantic terminal
On desembarkation of the cruse ship, passengers cross our famous gangways to go to the terminal classified among the biggest French Art Deco buildings of the 30’s. Our Transatlantic terminal is the last European terminal of this type still in operation. This terminal was built during the Transatlantic period by an architect called René LEVAVASSEUR, and the interior designer was Marc SIMON, a famous man specialised in decoration of cruise ships (including the Normandy cruise ship).
IV - Close to the twon-centre
Quays and Transatlantic terminal are located less than 1 mile from the town centre. For disabled passengers, or those who do not wish to walk, taxis and shuttle buses are put on their disposal to link to the town centre. During the summer (from May to September) a small train also provides a guided tour. Another very romantic way to discover the town centre is by horse and carriage. This is available when small cruise ships call at Cherbourg on Sundays or for maiden visits.
V - A special welcome
A special welcome is offered to all passengers arriving in Cherbourg. Two information desks are open during all the call period. The first is located in the Transatlantic terminal, the second is located in the town centre. In order to bring a personal welcome, the Tourist Office organises a cruise greeters network including Cherbourg inhabitants volunteers, who are in love with their town and wish to share their hospitality. Five of these volunteers are presents for each call and their service is free. Some artcrafts exhibitors selling local products are in the terminal for each call. In order to passengers come back with a nice feeling of the area, a free local tasting with drink (cider, apple juice…) and biscuits is proposed. A handing out of flowers is sometimes planned for female passengers of small cruise ships.
VI - A large choice of shore excursions
Cherbourg has a large choice of shore excursions that can be done in a half day or in a full day. To be noted, among these are 3 Unesco world heritage sites: Mont-Saint-Michel, Bayeux’s tapestry and Vauban towers located at Saint-Vaast La Hougue.
a) Half day shore excursions
- Cap de la Hague : where you can discover a landscape of hills, dunes, and footpaths very wild.
- Val de Saire where you can see Guillaume Fouace’s famous paintings, small fishing ports and the famous Vauban towers
- An itinerary including parks and gardens
- An itinerary “gourmand” based on making and tasting of local products
b) Full day shore excursions
- The World War 2 landing beaches, museums, cemetaries, bunkers and artificial ports that you can still see today.
- The Bayeux tapestry is a masterpiece of the 12th century depicting the battle of Hastings and the victory of Guillaume the Conquerant, the first French man to become King of England
- The Mont-Saint-Michel
