La France en Mer, á bord de BLEU DE FRANCE - a swan song. I have made a wonderful cruise in spring 2009 on board BLEU DE FRANCE, which started her life as HAPAG-LLOYD´s EUROPA in 1981.
by Earl of Cruise
BLEU DE FRANCE in Barcelona - own photography © Earl of Cruise
Deep rain clouds hang over Marseille. The radiant white city, the gateway of France to the south, shows itself grey. The roads, trotoires and buildings still are wet from the last rainshower. Our car turns into the entrance of the Gare Maritime in the new port. And there she is, the BLEU DE FRANCE. Darkblue hull, white, wet glistening superstructure. The ship seemed to be covered with a layer of laquer. We are unloading the luggage at the check-in and have the boarding, we're early.
A steward leads our small group of travellers to the final formalities at the reception in the cabins. that friendly "Bon voyage" from the reception is still echoing in the ears, and the steward opens the door to our Rich for the next seven days. After their seizure of the property is followed by a first tour through the Ship. Friendly, open-minded people of the Grande Nation meet us everywhere with a Bonjour Messieurs / Mesdames ". All the way through the journey we enjoy this Kindness. So much openness is rarely found on a German ship.
BLEU DE FRANCE, as he was born, EUROPA of HAPAG-LLOYD - Source: Wikipedia
With this EUROPA the cruise tour operator HAPAG-LLOYd had its last "liner lifestyle" cruise vessel
Who is it now, the BLEU DE FRANCE? An old friend from Bremen! It was put into service by Hapag-Lloyd in 1981 as the fifth Europe. In 1999 she went to Asia as MEGASTAR ARIES. Then she returned to her birth continent Europe and came to Spain as HOLIDAY DREAM. And now it has been crossing for the French market since 2008. It is, by the way, the second Europe under French aegis. The first was the BLUE RIBAND Greyhound of the LLOYD in 1930, which sailed as LIBERTÉ on its original route to New York after the catastrophe of 1939-1945.
The coldness of the the early 80s design disappeared completely. Warm earthy colours and a lounge atmosphere welcome us in all rooms. And often the old LLOYD logo welcomes as well - at the glass doors and in mirrors: anchor and key in the oak wreath.
BLEU DE FRANCE light installement in Salon Acajou - own photography © Earl of Cruise
Let's start at the top with the tour: The solarium on deck 12 has remained, only becoming more Mediterranean. The Club Belvedere on deck 11, Pont Outremer, is now the Salon Acajou. The swimming pool under the glass roof is now equipped with a first-class bistro, the Bistrot L' Olive. Here is also the Petits Loups Club, the kindergarten. At the end there are two Jacuzzis on the extended deck, with a view of the Hecksee - wonderful to lie here. Deck 10, the old sports deck is now the Pont Horizon. The officers' and crew cabins of the bridge deck became passenger cabins. The once open deck was equipped with the buffet panorama. Deck 9, now the Pont Turquoise, the old sun deck, where the front suites are furnished with verandahs and the aft Clipper Bar has been completely redesigned. This is port side of a casino. Starboard and midships the disco, the Nox Club. But what was done astern here is successful. The Zan-Zi-Bar connects inside and outside and makes you think of St. Tropez because of the pool and the look into the wake line.
BLEU DE FRANCE one deck above the outdorr pool aft - own photography © Earl of Cruise
Deck 8, now called Pont Cobalt, once the upper deck. The three shops remained, including the aquarium amidships. The Great Salon, now Grand Salon, gave some space to the new library and the Bar Millesimes. A new small salon, the Dj' Jeun's Club for the kids, was added the day after. Deck 7, Pont Sapphire, the main deck at that time. The restaurant here was cleared out of the clouds, creating space and elegance - Le Flamboyant. The lunch is now served in two sessions at 6.45 and 9.15 p. m.
Mediterranean. In between there is a show à la Montmartre. Harry's New York Bar became Le Café Creme, and the travel agency became more open, but still offers excursions. Here is the redesigned reception. Deck 6, formerly the Atlantic deck, now known as Pont Cyan, Deck 5, now known as Pont Marine, once the Pacific deck, Deck 4, Pont Indigo, then the B deck with theatre, now known as the Salle de Réunion and with new cabins of 15 square metres, have retained their pure residential character. Deck 2, then C Deck, now Pont Lagon, still houses the SPA. Here, the Mediterranean colour scheme was not spared. The old splendour became the lightness of the Côte d' Azur's attitude to life.
Mediterranean. In between there is a show à la Montmartre. Harry's New York Bar became Le Café Creme, and the travel agency became more open, but still offers excursions. Here is the redesigned reception. Deck 6, formerly the Atlantic deck, now known as Pont Cyan, Deck 5, now known as Pont Marine, once the Pacific deck, Deck 4, Pont Indigo, then the B deck with theatre, now known as the Salle de Réunion and with new cabins of 15 square metres, have retained their pure residential character. Deck 2, then C Deck, now Pont Lagon, still houses the SPA. Here, the Mediterranean colour scheme was not spared. The old splendour became the lightness of the Côte d' Azur's attitude to life.
BLEU DE FRANCE outdorr pool aft - own photography © Earl of Cruise
Yes, we are actually in France á bord de BLEU DE FRANCE. Everyone of the crew on board speaks French, but also is fluent in English - albeit with a French accent. The Cruise Director Dimi Kovsky from Ukraine speaks also German. So even in Le Flamboyant the card is explained to you, if it doesn't work that way with understanding. The service is 'nonchalant' and the Mauritian stewards are cordial, just as the Bali stewards impressed us with their calmness. If you have a good command of the language and love the 'Savoir Vivre', you are in the right place here onboard 'France en mer'!
BLEU DE FRANCE, Thierry Cherronnet and his brigade - own photography © Earl of Cruise
Food is always an issue on board of each ship. Some even say that the chef is the most important man on board. It could be true here! Francis Lévèque, who runs the Michelin rated restaurant Du Marché near Porte de Versailles in Paris, is responsible for the menus. His chef de cuisine on board BLEU DE FRANCE, Thierry Cherronnet, achieves extraordinary things. Twice a day, dishes of consistent star quality are served twice a day at Le Flamboyant, which leave you amazed. You know a little bit about the kitchen and you can only applaud the work behind it, just like in the cooking shows that are everywhere aiting on TV. At the end of the cruise the applause didn't want to end with the presentation of the kitchen brigade. To serve bad food to the French would be an unforgivable Faux Pas! Just for the food on board, in Le Panorama or L' Olive, a trip with the BLEU DE FRANCE is worthwhile. And for a Kir Royale, offered in the All-In beverage menu, they really use champagne and not simple sparkling wine ... The ports of destination are almost negligible.
One last for the food quality: scambled eggs had been made of real eggs and not egg-powder, or other things called eggs ...
BLEU DE FRANCE outdorr atop of the outdoor pool aft - own photography © Earl of Cruise
We sailed from Marseille via Barcelona to Palma de Mallorca, then on to Malaga and Gibraltar. After two days we then anchored in Ajaccio on the Ile de Beauté, Corsica, which we did smell across the Mediterranean miles before we could see land. But in turn ...
With our first port a sun-drenched Barcelona awaited us. Here we experienced an Easter mass in the Basilica Sagrada Família. You don't have to be religious to feel this aura.
BLEU DE FRANCE in Barcelona, Basilica Sagrada Família - own photography © Earl of Cruise
Our hotel sailed us during the night to Palma de Mallorca, which isn't overcrowded from morning till noon, which makes strolling through the old town very pleasant. Small shops, boutiques, cafés, tapas bars - the German's favourite island alone is far more than the Baleanos.
BLEU DE FRANCE leaving Palma de Mallorca - own video © Earl of Cruise
We were allowed to see the entrance into the harbour of Malaga on the bridge. The pilot came a little later with Mediterranean calmness, but neither the captain nor his first officer Christophe Deschodt was on board the bridge. The pilot was greeted by the staff captain on the bridge and reported to the captain with a slightly raised eyebrow.
BLEU DE FRANCE, on the bridge in Malaga, all hands awaiting the pilot - own photography © Earl of Cruise
Malaga clearly shows its Moorish roots. The old fortress towers high above the town and is well worth a visit. But also the old town shows its renovated splendour. It was once again a little cloudy, but the "Liquid Sunshine" didn't take long. Cafés and shops offer protection, and in doing so they made one or two additional sales. In Gibraltar, it is imperative that the monkeys' condition, because as long as they are here, the British - however - will dominate the rock. And from this rock you have a magnificent view over the strait and the harbour. Only you should keep all your pockets closed, otherwise you're poorer by a few things... our cousins jump around and on us, always curious.
BLEU DE FRANCE anchoring in Gibraltar - own photography © Earl of Cruise
For a long time Franco and the Empire argued over who owns the rock, and the controversy has now been resolved since the EU. They've arranged themselves in the positive. Shopping in the city is duty-free and thus surprisingly inexpensive - a paradise for smokers and jewellery lovers.
After the tanker left, we went back to sea. Almost two days of sea voyage lay ahead of us. At some point during the full day at sea, Las Islas Baleares (in catalán: Illes Balears) appeared on portside Eivissa (Ibiza), Mallorca and then Menorca. Far away nearly unrecgnizable on starboard was Formentera to be seen in the haze, where horizon and sea merge.
BLEU DE FRANCE anchoring in Ajaccio - own photography © Earl of Cruise
The afternoon of the second day after Gibraltar belonged to Ajaccio. The marvelous, undiscribable smell of the Ile de Beauté hit our nostrils already a miles ahead from the harbour. This particular perfume laid himself beguilingly over the sea air and ousted it increasingly. The Corsicans, proud of their independence, seem to a North European like a blend of Italians, Spaniards and Frenchmen. But don´t let us us forgett the others that settled here too, Greek, Saracenes, Normans, etc. and created this special and unique European cultural universe. Here France is the Mediterranean, a little more 'laissez faire' than on the Côte. Her international unloved son, L' Empereur Napoléon, had his statue erected in every major city. Like a Roman emperor, he looks over the harbour in Ajaccio in all his majesty.
BLEU DE FRANCE, touring in Ajaccio, Monument to Napoléon as First Consul Ajaccio, place Foch - own photography © Earl of Cruise
We reached Marseille again under cloudy skies, as if the sky wanted to recreate our mood, because a wonderful experience came to an end. But it can be repeated at any time. This ship, this product can only be successful - Vive la France en mer!
Unfortunately CROISIERES de FRANCE sold its marvelous French-German demoiselle in November 2010, and chartered it back for the program published, to SAGA HOLIDAYS. SAGA invested some £ 90,000,000.00 and created far more balcony cabins for its British guests. Similar to those ideas the then president of CROISIERES de FRANCE was palning for a refit of BLEU DE FRANCE, when I had the chance for an interview with him.
SAGA SAPPHIRE, ex BLEU DE FRANCE, ex HOLIDAY DREAM, ex MEGASTAR SRIES, ex EUROPA, 1991 - Source:Wikipedia
BLEU DE FRANCE was sold in November 2010, as the success of the French cruise brand of PULMANTUR, was overwhelming, and the company did search for a similar sized vessel to accompany BLEU DE FRANCE.
At PULMANTUR, a 100% subsidiary of ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES Inc., tranfered instead the double capacity HORIZON to its French brand to sail in the French market.
When PULMANTUR annouced terminating CROISIERES de FRANCE it came as a shock to me. CROISIERES de FRANCE reported an average of 100,000 cruise passengers on board their then two cruise ships - HORIZON and ZENITH. CDF was in 3rd place in the French cruise market after COSTA (CARNIVAL subsidiary) and MSC CRUISES (Italian, based in Switzerland). Both are surprisingly are everything but not French - their food is acceptable Mediterranean and the cruises are cheaper ...
The French drapeau will only be flown by upscale PONANT.
BLEU DE FRANCE leaving Ajaccio - own photography © Earl of Cruise
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