Var opens a new page in its maritime history

Indeed, the Costa company has chosen the La Seyne-sur-Mer terminal as its new departure port for Mediterranean cruises. Thus, the Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie du Var, the Ville de La Seyne-sur-Mer, and the Costa Croisières company presented the project to return homeports to the Toulon - La Seyne bay, at the Palais du Commerce et de la Mer in Toulon.

IN-DEPTH WORK

Starting April 16, the Var terminal becomes the homeport for 27 Mediterranean cruises. Until autumn, Costa Croisières will offer, mainly on the Costa Pacifica, a departure every Sunday for a 7-day circuit discovering the Baléares, with stopovers in Valence and Palma, the Côte d’Émeraude in Sardaigne, Civitavecchia and Savone. And Costa Croisières is already planning for two seasons (2025 and 2026). Basil Gertis, president of the CCIV, manager of the ports of the Toulon bay, declared: 'Anchored at the heart of the collective of port area stakeholders on whom it relies, the momentum sustained by the CCI du Var in its management of the port terminals, economic development tools serving and benefiting the territory, is taking shape with the announcement of the return of homeports departing from the Toulon – La Seyne bay, which we welcome. Because cruise activity means economic spin-offs and jobs, but it also, with this cosmopolitan clientele, means spin-offs in terms of reputation and influence for our territory, in France, in Europe and internationally. It is an opening to the world'! For her part, Nathalie Bicais added: 'A new page of the maritime history of La Seyne-sur-Mer is opening. With this choice of the second-largest city of Var as an alternative to the port of Marseille, it is recognition of the in-depth work that has been carried out in recent years to strengthen the status of La Seyne-sur-Mer as a four-season tourist resort. A family-friendly and authentic destination, turned towards our most precious asset: our coastline and its 27 kilometers of coast'. And, Luigi Stefanelli specified the objectives of Costa Croisières: 'The arrival of Costa Croisières marks a turning point for our company (...). Today, the accessibility of the Toulon – La Seyne-sur-Mer destination is a true added value also for French clients thanks to the TGV train connections as well as the Coste shuttle services from Nice and Marseille'. 'The destination enriches our itinerary proposals, thus strengthening our offer. This approach of innovation and continuous search for collaborations with new destinations where cruising is an added value, as is the case for Toulon – La Seyne-sur-Mer, is part of the diversification and differentiation plan of our product,' confirmed Daniel Caprile, vice-president Pricing and Revenue Management, Itinerary and Transportation Costa Croisières.

150,000 PASSENGERS IN 2025

Welcoming 150,000 passengers during the 2025 season will bring additional turnover to all stakeholders in the bay. On average, a homeport passenger spends €52, and the challenge is to offer a welcome that meets the expectations of cruise passengers. Laurent Jérome, president of the Office de tourisme métropolitain Provence Méditerranée, continued: 'This partnership highlights the growing attractiveness of our destination, where travelers can enjoy a wide range of authentic experiences within a preserved territory, off the beaten path.' For Nathalie Bicais, it is about 'being ready by creating the conditions for a true experience and becoming a benchmark for slow tourism, with a welcome right in the city center and transport by sea shuttle. And, not only by being the departure point of the cruise but being a pre- and post-cruise destination.' She also counts heavily on the electrification of the quays led by the Métropole Toulon Provence Méditerranée and supported by the Région Sud, the State, and Europe.