Saint-Nazaire (France)
Cruise Port schedule, live map, terminals, news
Region
Western Europe - Azores - Canary Islands
Local Time
2021-01-23 19:31
5.2°C
3 m/s
36 °F / 3 °C
Saint-Nazaire is port city in Loire-Atlantique (Brittany, western France). Port St-Nazaire has a large harbour waterway, located on Loire River estuary's right bank and close to the Atlantic Ocean. The city covers a total area of approx 47 km2 (18 ml2). and has population around 70,000.
St Nazaire port's close proximity to Nantes and its deep-water harbor makes it a preferable and often visited cruise port of call in France. The town is located to the south of France's 2nd-largest swamp ("la Briere"). Given its location, St Nazaire has long traditions of commercial fishing and shipbuilding. Chantiers de l'Atlantique (fka STX France) is one of world's largest shipyards. Here, among many other cruise vessels, were constructed the iconic liners RMS Queen Mary 2 (operator Cunard, owner Carnival Corporation) and Harmony of the Seas (operator Royal Caribbean) - currently world's 2nd largest passenger ship ever built.
The small village developed quickly into a large town in 19th century's 2nd half. The growth was due to the seaport's development and construction of connecting railways. St Nazaire increasingly replaced Nantes. Being an important naval base for the Nazis, during WW2 (1939-1945) the town was heavily bombed by the British in 1942. Until 1945, it was also heavily bombed by the Allies as one of Europe's last territories liberated from Nazi Germany (on May 11, 1945).
Port's largest liner so far is Marella Cruises ship Marella Discovery (docked here in May 2018).
- The port is managed by Nantes Saint-Nazaire Port Authority.
- In 2017, the port received 12 ship calls and around 9,000 passengers.
- In 2018, the cruise port handled a total of 8 ship calls and around 5,500 passengers.
Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard St Nazaire (STX France)
St nazaire's Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard is currently part of the shipbuilding corporation STX France. Most of this business (66,6%) is owned by STX Europe (former Aker Yards). The balance 33,34% stake is state-owned (by France). Being one of world's largest shipbuilding yards, Chantiers de l'Atlantique constructs a wide range of marine vessels - passenger, commercial and naval.
The shipyard was acquired by Aker Aker Group in 2006. The South Korean "STX Corporation" acquired Aker Yards in 2008 and Chantiers de l'Atlantique became part of STX Europe. The company STX Europe is headquartered in Oslo Norway and operates over a dozen large shipyards located in South America (Brazil), Asia (Vietnam) and Europe (STX France, Norway, Romania).
Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard is prefered for large cruise shipbuilding projects mainly due to its know-how, but also for its convenient location at Loire River's mouth and Atlantic's deep waters.
In the mid 20th century, Chantiers de l'Atlantique started building French Transatlantic ocean liners. Its first vessel was the famous SS France (launched 1961) - then world's largest passenger ship. Yard's expansion included building a large drydock facility (Basin C), which was purposefully constructed for large vessels.
The first cruise liners were ordered by Holland America - ms Noordam (launched 1983, link to the 2006 ship) and ms Nieuw Amsterdam (launched 1984, link to the 2010 ship). The yard's first RCI ship was Sovereign of the Seas (launched 1987) - then the world's largest passenger ship.
In July 2017 started a project that expanded the pre-assembly area by 17,000 m2 (183,000 ft2), or around 30%. The EUR 30 million project was completed in late-November 2018. Following the expansion, now the shipyard can move simultaneously 22 mega-blocks (16 previously). The project also included lengthening of the rail track (by 135 m / 443 ft) of the 1400-ton gantry crane. This allows 6 more cruise ship blocks to be assembled at the same time.
On February 2, 2018, Fincantieri signed with STX France a share purchase agreement for 50% of the shipyard's stock capital (valued EUR 59,7 million) previously owned by France (via the Government agency APE). Following this deal, STX France's stockholding structure is Fincantieri (50% plus 1% borrowed from APE), France (34,34% via APE, of which 1% lent to Fincantieri) and Naval Group (10%), employees: (2,40%) and French companies (3,26%).
In 2019, the shipyard inaugurated a training facility (named L’Ecole / The School) that offers courses in metal works, welding, pipefitting, carpentering. The new 450 m2 sized school was designed to provide training and skills to both current and new employees. Around 80% of the training is practical, with classes led by shipyard's professional workers.
In 2022 will start operations shipyard's new EUR 30 million 1440-ton gantry crane with lifting capacity 1050 tonnes. The new crane will replace the old (1968-built) 750-ton crane which will be dismantled in 2021-Q3.
Saint-Nazaire cruise terminal
There are plans for building a floating pier (with capacity to handle larger-sized cruise vessels), with completion by 2022-23.
CruiseMapper's list of cruise ships built in St Nazaire (in and after the year 2000) includes:
- Azamara Journey (2000)
- Azamara Quest (2000)
- Azamara Pursuit (2001)
- Celebrity Apex (2020) company's largest
- Celebrity Beyond (2022) company's largest
- Celebrity Constellation (2002)
- Celebrity Edge (2018) company's largest
- Celebrity Infinity (2001)
- Celebrity Millennium (2000)
- Celebrity Summit (2001)
- Crystal Serenity (2003)
- RMS Queen Mary 2 (2004)
- MSC Armonia (2001)
- MSC Bellissima (2019), MSC Grandiosa (2019)
- MSC Divina (2012)
- MSC Fantasia (2008)
- MSC Lirica (2003)
- MSC Magnifica (2010)
- MSC Meraviglia (2017)
- MSC Musica (2006)
- MSC Opera (2004)
- MSC Orchestra (2007)
- MSC Poesia (2008)
- MSC Preziosa (2013)
- MSC Sinfonia (2002)
- MSC Splendida (2009)
- MSC Europa (2022), MSC tbn (2024)
- Norwegian Epic (2010)
- Oceania Nautica (2000)
- Coral Princess (2002)
- Island Princess (2003)
- Seven Seas Mariner (2001)
- Harmony Of The Seas (2016), Symphony Of The Seas (2018) - world's largest
- ms Europa 2 (2013)
- (paddlewheel riverboats) ms Elbe Princesse (2016), ms Elbe Princesse 2 (2018), ms Loire Princesse (2014)
The list of shipowners of vessels constructed by STX France includes:
- Azamara Club Cruises
- Celebrity Cruises
- Cunard Line
- MSC Cruises
- Royal Caribbean International
- Princess Cruises
- NCL Norwegian Cruise Line
- P&O Cruises UK
- Oceania Cruises
- Crystal Cruises
- Regent Seven Seas Cruises
- Hapag Lloyd Cruises
- CroisiEurope (river cruise line)
The following CruiseMapper links are for all our news related to STX France and shipbuilding.
Other related CruiseMapper pages are themed on cruise ship design-construction-shipbuilders and newest cruise ships (on order / under construction).
Port Saint-Nazaire cruise ship schedule shows timetable calendars of all arrival and departure dates by month. The port's schedule lists all ships (in links) with cruises going to or leaving from Saint-Nazaire, France. To see the full itineraries (ports of call dates and arrival / departure times) and their lowest rates – just follow the corresponding ship-link.
Day | Ship | Arrival | Departure |
---|---|---|---|
3 April, 2021 Saturday | ![]() | 18:00 | 03:00 |
8 April, 2021 Thursday | ![]() | 18:00 | 13:00 |
27 April, 2021 Tuesday | ![]() | 18:00 | 03:00 |
- Cruise Industry
Keel laid for Celebrity Cruises newest ship, Celebrity Beyond
On Thursday, November 19, at STX France/Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard (St Nazaire France) was held the official keel-laying ceremony for...
November 19, 2020 - Cruise Industry
Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Apex welcomed by 5 sisterships in the Bahamas
Celebrity Cruises' newbuild Celebrity Apex was ceremonially welcomed by her sisterships off CocoCay Bahamas - an anchorage site near Royal Caribbean...
October 15, 2020 - Cruise Industry
VIDEO: Float out of the world's largest cruise ship - Wonder of the Seas
On Saturday morning, September 5, at 7 am, the world's largest cruise ship - RCI-Royal Caribbean International's Wonder of the Seas - was...
September 5, 2020 - Cruise Industry
Ponant’s Le Commandant-Charcot enters final stages of construction
PONANT’s forthcoming hybrid electric-LNG polar exploration ship, Le Commandant Charcot, arrived in Saint-Nazaire France to be fitted with her...
August 5, 2020 - Cruise Industry
Debut of the world's largest cruise ship delayed by the Coronavirus crisis
The construction of the world's biggest cruise ship was delayed. Citing the impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the future shipowner...
July 20, 2020 - Cruise Industry
Keel laid for MSC Cruises’ first LNG-powered ship MSC World Europa
On June 29, at Chantiers de l’Atlantique Shipyard (Saint-Nazaire, France) was held the keel-laying / coin ceremony for the first LNG-powered...
June 30, 2020 - Cruise Industry
European cruise ports beginning to open giving hope of recovery amid Coronavirus crisis
European cruise ports are beginning to open, giving hope of recovery. A survey of a total of 113 seaports (produced by two trade associations...
May 2, 2020 - Accidents
Celebrity Apex delivered online, 29 Coronavirus-positive crew
The French shipbuilder Chantiers de l'Atlantique (STX France, St Nazaire Shipyard) officially delivered to Celebrity Cruises the second Edge-class...
March 29, 2020 - Cruise Industry
Celebrity Apex Successfully Completes Sea Trials
Celebrity Apex returned to Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint Nazaire over the weekend following a successful first sea trial. The...
February 12, 2020 - Cruise Industry
First Steel Cut for Celebrity Beyond
Celebrity Cruises announced that its 3rd Edge-Class vessel will be named Celebrity Beyond at an official steel-cutting ceremony. Celebrity...
January 29, 2020 - show more news