“Exceptional! », “wonderful”, “incredible!” »… The atmosphere is one of celebration and superlatives at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire. It must be said that the double ceremony which took place there on Tuesday is still in everyone’s minds. The latest born Celebrity Ascent, the new floating palace with 14 bars and twelve restaurants, was delivered with great fanfare to the American shipowner Royal Carribean before setting sail during the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, heading for Florida. A few hours earlier, it was the official construction of its fifth and final alter ego 327 m long, reserved for “refined travelers, who look at quality before price” which was launched to loud applause.
Two new “exceptional ships” which will not be the last to come out of the famous Saint-Nazaire shipyards, despite the health crisis, inflation, global warming or the geopolitical context. Because the sector, long uncertain and always up and down, is currently doing very well. “After the Covid crisis, there is a real recovery in the market, with excellent feedback on certain occupancy rates,” says Jean-Yves Jaouen, operations director at Chantiers de l’Atlantique. We have demand in all segments: large ships, which attract family customers in particular thanks to on-board attractions, premium, which target an audience with a slightly higher purchasing power, and then there is also luxury. »
A “super yacht” for next year
In this vast port area where nearly 3,800 employees work, you only need to look up to see that activity is running at full speed. From an average of two ships per year a few years ago, the company which achieved 2.5 billion in turnover this year is now building more than three. One of the next deliveries, scheduled for 2024, will not be the least. Commissioned by the American group Ritz-Carlton, the first “superyacht” baptized He had me is already establishing itself with its slender line and its promises of unrivaled services, for several tens of thousands of dollars per stay.
Private terraces are announced for each of the 228 suites, careful decoration inspired by that of private yachts, but above all a high level of service with “the highest service staff ratio per passenger in the luxury cruise category”, i.e. approximately one for a. Not far from there, the construction of theUtopia of the Seas going well. Delivery of this giant of the seas (362 m) is also planned for next year, again with new features. Both will run on LNG.
New fuels, “a crucial subject”
Because if cruising attracts more than ever, it must also respond to criticism, which sometimes borders on bashing, if she doesn’t want the tide to end up turning. At Celebrity cruises, we are already impatiently awaiting the fifth boat in the class Edge, for these new features in terms of comfort of course, but also because it will be the first in this area capable of sailing (at least partially) on methanol. “This is indeed an essential subject for the future of the industry,” recognizes Emmanuel Joly, general manager of Celebrity France, who assures that the cruise sector will continue to grow in the years to come.
In 2025, the Shipyards will also deliver a second yacht for the Ritz and a new ship for MSC, the World America, with a capacity of nearly 7,000 passengers. “We are currently having active commercial discussions,” smiles Laurent Castaing, the boss of the Chantiers.