According to French media reports, CDF (Croisières de France) is preparing to add a second ship starting in June 2014.
The French line, operated under Pullmantur – which is owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises – recently upgraded tonnage in 2012, going to a bigger second-hand ship in the L’Horizon, with 720 cabins, as opposed to the former Bleu de France with 374 cabins.
CDF carried roughly 50,000 passengers in 2012, according to the Cruise Industry News Annual Report, showing nearly 100 percent growth over 2011.
The question of course, is what ship will CDF get.
It is entirely possible Pullmantur will transfer the Zenith (sister to the L’Horizon) to CDF as the Spanish brand adds more capacity in 2013, and could be set to add even more tonnage as Royal Caribbean International takes new ship deliveries in 2014 and 2015.