With the Bay of Saint Jean de Luz and the Port of Bayonne, the Basque Coast has at its disposal two privileged ports of call for cruise ships. This is an area of development in which actors of the port, tourism and the Basque Country communities are involved.

There is strong potential in the cruise ship activity which contributes to the strength of tourism in the Basque Country all the while lending an attractive image to our region on an international scale.

In the Port of Bayonne the liners moor at Edmond Foy Quay. This quay, situated just a few hundred meters from the historical city is equipped with the necessary services to welcome passengers and has an access reserved for taxis, minibuses and coaches. The liners benefit from the excellent moorage conditions as well as from the entire port services.

At Saint Jean de Luz the liners stay in the bay and the passengers join the town in just a few minutes thanks to a tender service that ferries the passengers to and from land. From there they can visit the City of the Pirates, which has also preserved all the charm of a traditional fishing port, or even participate in excursions around the rest of the Basque Country.

In rough weather the liners can easily take shelter in the Port of Bayonne that is only twenty or so nautical miles from Saint Jean de Luz.

The cruise activities are coordinated with other French Atlantic and Channel ports, notably Bordeaux, Nantes / Saint Nazaire, Lorient, Brest and Saint Malo that operate under the name of Association Croisières Atlantiques.

During the last five years, twenty-six liners have called in at Saint Jean de Luz and Bayonne.

Hendaye – welcoming cruise liners in 2005

The Basque Country as a stopover point for international cruise liners increases its possibilities during 2005. In addition to the Ports of Bayonne and St. Jean de Luz, the Port of Hendaye will also figure on the area’s list of ports of call.
The inaugural stopover for this new destination will take place on 8th July 2005 with the arrival of the deluxe liner World which will lay anchor for 3 days.
The World, with a total capacity of 620 passengers, has in fact been sold by suite and is today the property of very rich owners from all over the world, 60% American, 30% European and the remaining 10% come from South Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Three French families comprise the co-ownership committee that chooses each year the destinations. In 2005 the World will stop over in only two places in France, Belle-Ile and Hendaye. 
An auspicious beginning to Hendaye’s life as a port of call !

http://www.port-of-call.com

List of Liners