Le Havre, with its exceptional geographical location at the mouth of the Seine, was for many years the preferred port of departure for transatlantic connections with America.
The Second World War, the development of aviation and the end of major migratory movements towards America, however, got the better of the “French Line”. Since that time, the people of Le Havre have always maintained a very strong link with passenger ships and maritime activity in general. Many come to greet the arrival and departure of the cruise ships as they pass between the seawalls.
For around fifteen years, Le Havre has positioned itself on developing cruise itineraries in northern Europe with an attractive offer. Le Havre is now the leading French port on the Channel-Atlantic coast for cruises. Voted “Cruise Destination of the Year 2017 by Seatrade”, Le Havre “the ocean gateway to Paris” has become a cruise destination in its own right. It is also the starting point for emblematic destinations in Normandy and nearby, generating more than 40 million euros in economic benefits for the region.
Cruise traffic in Le Havre reached record figures of 145 stopovers and 420,000 passengers in 2018. Despite the health crisis which had a strong impact on the global cruise market, activity resumed in 2022, at a pace equivalent to that of before the crisis. The traffic outlook for the years to come is promising: 172 calls are scheduled for 2024, which constitutes a new record for the port of Le Havre. Taking into account traffic projections on a European scale and the growth of the cruise market, nearly 600,000 passengers are expected to pass through the port of Le Havre in 2030 (+ 44.7%).
In this context, and to support the international development of maritime cruising, the Urban Community and Haropa Port are investing 100 million euros in an ambitious work program which will enable the delivery of 3 new, more comfortable and environmentally virtuous reception terminals, by 2026. These new terminals will make it possible to welcome cruise passengers to Le Havre in much better conditions, raising themselves to the level of the largest European ports, and will be accompanied by new electrical connection infrastructures for ships at the quay which will make it possible to carry out “zero-emission” calls ". The new cruise port of Le Havre will thus make it possible to comfortably accommodate around 13,500 passengers per day, in transit and to operate complete or partial turnarounds.
In addition to significant landscaping of the site to improve connections to the city center, these new facilities will also include event or walking facilities, to which the public will have access, including on call days. The objective is to further strengthen the links between Le Havre residents and maritime cruising and thus perpetuate the tradition of welcoming liners to Le Havre, with the support of the population.