Inside CFC Cruises: A conversation with its President, Maëlysse Pierrot-Guibourt

As a Green Marine Europe participant and Impact Sponsor of the Green Shipping Industry Day, CFC aims to bring together the tradition of French cruising and the challenges of the environmental transition. In this interview, President Maëlysse Guibourt reflects on the company’s identity, its social and environmental commitments, and its vision for the future.

CFC presents itself as carrying on the tradition of French-style cruising. What does that mean in practice today?

For us, French-style cruising is first and foremost a travel experience infused with elegance, art de vivre, and conviviality. It means attentive service, refined cuisine, and francophone culture on board and ashore — but also a strong sense of quality, restraint, and hospitality. At CFC, we want to keep that tradition alive while giving it a contemporary spirit: more responsible, more sustainable.

The Renaissance has become an emblematic ship. How does it embody CFC’s vision?

The Renaissance perfectly reflects our vision: a human-scale vessel, far removed from the excesses of gigantism, where intimacy, comfort, and real connections between passengers, crew, and destinations take precedence. Carefully renovated, it combines maritime tradition with innovation to meet today’s challenges — particularly environmental ones. It’s a ship with soul, charting a course for the future.

Environmental responsibility often gets the spotlight, but CFC’s approach goes further. How do you view social responsibility?
For us, responsibility goes beyond the environment. It’s also about people — our passengers, of course, but also our crews, partners, and suppliers. We emphasize inclusivity, well-being at work, and an ethical value chain. A responsible cruise should create joy without causing harm — neither to the planet, nor to people.

Why did you decide to join the Green Marine Europe certification program?

We wanted a rigorous and credible framework, one that fits our reality as a cruise operator. Green Marine Europe stood out as both demanding and constructive. It helps us measure what we’re doing, identify areas for improvement, commit to continuous progress, and engage with other committed players. It’s a valuable tool to structure our efforts and move beyond declarations.

Continuous evaluation and transparency are central to this program. What does that mean for you as a shipowner?

It keeps us accountable. Continuous evaluation drives progress — it pushes us to act, measure, and adjust, rather than just posture. Transparency, in turn, strengthens our credibility with clients, partners, and the wider public. For us, it’s both a lever for trust and a pathway to ongoing improvement.

What concrete benefits have you seen from this dynamic of voluntary progress — in terms of continuous improvement or team engagement?

The first is collective ownership: our teams, at sea and ashore, are more engaged and better trained around clear goals. This approach also boosts our capacity to innovate — in technical choices, procedures, and partnerships. Most of all, it gives meaning to what we do: everyone knows why they’re involved and what difference it makes.

CFC has recently partnered with the British company Ambassador, also committed to a “no-fly cruise” model. What does this cooperation bring?

It’s built on a shared business model and common values: departures and returns from our respective home countries, smaller ships, slow sailing, respect for the sea, operational sobriety, and the ambition to offer a more responsible, more human cruise. The cooperation with Ambassador creates mutual enrichment, particularly through operational synergies: supplier management, shared itineraries, and environmental best practices. It’s an alliance that strengthens us without diluting our identity.

Could this alliance pave the way for further cooperation or shared innovation in responsible cruising?

Definitely. We believe the future of cruising lies in smart collaboration between shipowners who share the same ambitions. That could mean logistics, onboard technical solutions, crew training, or relationships with ports. Pooling resources means moving faster, further, and in a more coherent way. Together, we can invent a new way of traveling by sea.

How do you imagine the future of French-style cruising in a world in transition?

We imagine it as more restrained, more committed, and more mindful of its impacts. A cruise that values proximity, carefully chosen stopovers, slower rhythms, and the quality of the experience. All while preserving elegance and the spirit of travel. French-style cruising has all it takes to become a model for transition: culturally rich, technically adaptable, and deeply human.

If you had to sum up CFC’s mission today in a single sentence, what would it be?

To offer an authentic, respectful, and inspiring cruise experience — one that reconciles the pleasure of discovering the world by sea with respect for the world itself.