On September 5 Costa Cruises’ Costa Magica called Le Havre’s new cruise terminal for the eleventh time this year, ending the 2011 series of turnarounds at the French port.

In its first season, 7,724 passengers embarked and 8,356 disembarked via the new terminal.

Partial turnarounds on Costa Magica took place every 10 days from May 28 to September 5. Also using the new terminal were Hurtigruten’s Fram, Windstar Cruises’ Wind Spirit, the Princess Daphne and the Oceanic.

2011 paves the way for a strong 2012 with 116 calls and 220,000 passengers expected compared to 96 calls and 180,000 passengers this year.

Cunard Line’s Queen Elizabeth, Royal Caribbean International’s Brilliance of the Seas and Oceania Cruises’ Nautica will all be undertaking partial turnarounds at the French port next year while Costa will continue with another season but this time of 12 calls.

This year passengers on Costa Magica were welcomed by a lady who seemed to have missed the ship’s departure in the 1930’s recalling the prestigious past of the city at the time of the French Line.