For the second and final online meeting of 2025, AIVP’s Working Group on River Port Cities worked on the topic of cruises in river cities. In order to present a case similar to that of the Port of Seville (Spain), we chose to highlight the example of Bordeaux, France.

A historic city located about 100 km from the Gironde estuary; Bordeaux faces challenges like those of Seville. This online meeting allowed the Port and the Metropolitan Area of Bordeaux to exchange views on the integration of cruises into a historic city and busy waterways.

This joint presentation clearly illustrated how port and local authorities can work together to ensure the harmonious development of activities on waterways.

It allowed us to observe intense efforts to engage in dialogue with stakeholders in the sector, as well as strong governance and strategy.

We note in particular:

  • The creation of a body dedicated to cruise activity
  • The relevance of a “River Master Plan”
  • The challenges related to hydrology and infrastructure costs
  • The need for internal and external communication

The working group will meet in person in London (United Kingdom) on March 4 and 5, 2026, to continue its activities!

For more information on our work, please contact Noémi Mené (nmene@aivp.org), working group coordinator.