Cruise Europe
Cruise Europe
04/28/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/28/2026 04:20
Le Havre opens Verrazzano Cruise Terminal
The new Le Havre Verrazzano Cruise Terminal complex is due to be commissioned in autumn 2026, bringing together three modern terminals designed to welcome ships and passengers efficiently.
Terminals 2 and 3 have been fully operational since 1 April 2026 and are already welcoming 2026 season cruise calls in excellent conditions. Delivered in February 2026, they entered service at the beginning of April, marking a key milestone in the phased commissioning of the new complex. Terminal 1 will complete the overall project upon its delivery later this year."
Alexandra Ruiz, chief executive officer of Le Havre Croisieres, comments: "The opening of the Le Havre Verrazzano cruise terminal represents a major milestone for our destination and for the French cruise industry. Thanks to these new facilities, Le Havre strengthens its position as a leading port of call and turnaround port in Northern Europe, combining operational excellence, passenger comfort, and a strong commitment to sustainable port development. "
Terminal 1, the architectural centrepiece of the project, is located facing the city centre of Le Havre, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The 7,295m3 terminal area can service 4,500 passengers a day. The Roger Meunier Quay has a usable length of 380m, a depth of 10m and no air draught limit. It will have shore power by the end of 2026 and will be LNG-ready.
The phased terminals delivery marks the culmination of a major project initiated in 2019-2020 with preliminary studies. Following the launch of the tender process in July 2021 and the selection of the winning consortium in June 2022, construction work officially began in June 2024.
A further important milestone was reached in October 2025 with the commissioning of shore power supply on the Quai Pierre Callet (Terminal 2).
Since the opening of Terminals 2 and 3, the new facilities have already welcomed a wide range of vessels, including AIDAsol, Ambition, Majestic Princess, Nieuw Statendam, MSC Virtuosa, Norwegian Sky, MSC Preziosa, AIDAperla and Sapphire Princess.
These initial calls, including several double-call days as well as transit operations, partial turnarounds and full turnarounds, illustrate the operational flexibility and the immediate success of these new infrastructures.
Despite the complexity of the construction site, the GIP Le Havre Croisieres, project lead, has managed to maintain cruise operations throughout the works, continuing to accommodate all scheduled calls at two berths.
In 2026, Le Havre is expecting 141 calls, compared with 137 in 2025, including 17 double calls, one triple call, six full turnarounds, as well as numerous partial turnaround operations. The season will also include six inaugural calls.
The official inauguration date has not yet been announced, but it is expected to take place after the completion of Terminal 1 in autumn 2026.
Terminals 2 and 3 have been fully operational since 1 April 2026 and are already welcoming 2026 season cruise calls in excellent conditions. Delivered in February 2026, they entered service at the beginning of April, marking a key milestone in the phased commissioning of the new complex. Terminal 1 will complete the overall project upon its delivery later this year."
Alexandra Ruiz, chief executive officer of Le Havre Croisieres, comments: "The opening of the Le Havre Verrazzano cruise terminal represents a major milestone for our destination and for the French cruise industry. Thanks to these new facilities, Le Havre strengthens its position as a leading port of call and turnaround port in Northern Europe, combining operational excellence, passenger comfort, and a strong commitment to sustainable port development. "
Terminal 1, the architectural centrepiece of the project, is located facing the city centre of Le Havre, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The 7,295m3 terminal area can service 4,500 passengers a day. The Roger Meunier Quay has a usable length of 380m, a depth of 10m and no air draught limit. It will have shore power by the end of 2026 and will be LNG-ready.
The phased terminals delivery marks the culmination of a major project initiated in 2019-2020 with preliminary studies. Following the launch of the tender process in July 2021 and the selection of the winning consortium in June 2022, construction work officially began in June 2024.
A further important milestone was reached in October 2025 with the commissioning of shore power supply on the Quai Pierre Callet (Terminal 2).
Since the opening of Terminals 2 and 3, the new facilities have already welcomed a wide range of vessels, including AIDAsol, Ambition, Majestic Princess, Nieuw Statendam, MSC Virtuosa, Norwegian Sky, MSC Preziosa, AIDAperla and Sapphire Princess.
These initial calls, including several double-call days as well as transit operations, partial turnarounds and full turnarounds, illustrate the operational flexibility and the immediate success of these new infrastructures.
Despite the complexity of the construction site, the GIP Le Havre Croisieres, project lead, has managed to maintain cruise operations throughout the works, continuing to accommodate all scheduled calls at two berths.
In 2026, Le Havre is expecting 141 calls, compared with 137 in 2025, including 17 double calls, one triple call, six full turnarounds, as well as numerous partial turnaround operations. The season will also include six inaugural calls.
The official inauguration date has not yet been announced, but it is expected to take place after the completion of Terminal 1 in autumn 2026.
Cruise Europe published this content on April 28, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on April 28, 2026 at 10:22 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]