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Unique Cruise Solutions The news you need to know |
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Cruise News for the Corporate Travel Professional |
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A legendary cruise brand is back |
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With its first cruise on board chartered 400-cabin
Costa Allegra, the legendary Paquet made its comeback Friday in Marseille with
its relaunch by Jean-Maurice Ravon, founder and gm of the locally based TMR
travel and cruise agency. The French brand—more than a century old—was bought by Costa in 1996 and dormant for more than 10 years since its last ship, Mermoz, was sold. The event took place in presence of Gianni Onorato, corporate president of Costa Crociere; Georges Azouze, president of Costa Croisières France, and several officials from the town and port, among with Mayor Jean-Claude Gaudin and Jacques Truau, president of the Marseille Provence Cruise Club. This year 12- and 13-night charter cruises—four in spring and six in autumn, with the last departure on Nov. 1—will sail the Mediterranean to 19 countries and 48 destinations. All depart from Marseille. Each promotes the French art de vivre through the language (French captain, cruise director, chef, maître d’s and receptionists) and enhanced gastronomy (famous Mermoz chef Abauzit is to be on board), and offers themes such as jazz, opera or French songs. The revival is managed by TMR, which holds the financial responsibility for the endeavor and its marketing, whereas Costa keeps the ship under its banner and handles the technical aspect of the charters according to TMR requests. ‘Paquet means a 100% French-speaking cruise, with a human-sized ship, a cultural content and a French gastronomy,’ underlined TMR’s Ravon, whose agency is celebrating its 20th anniversary. ‘Paquet’s notoriety remains quite strong.’ He said the first three spring cruises are full and the fourth one is at 70% occupancy. The comeback is an important event for the city’s image, as Jacques Truau commented: ‘Paquet is part of Marseille’s history. This revival honors again an ambassador of the French culture and gastronomy. It is also part of the cruise industry expansion in Marseille, which has become the leading French port in this sector.’ This was acknowledged by Mayor Gaudin, who thanked Costa for trusting Marseille since 1996. |
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Worldwide Travel & Cruise Assoc., Inc. 150 S. University Dr. Ste E, Plantation, FL 33324 - USA Tel: +1 954 452 8800 Fax: +1 954 252 3945 EMail: sales@cruiseco.com |
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