Marseille Cruise Holidays

Marseille is one of Frances largest cities and has a fantastic location on the Cote d’Azur, so it is no surprise that it is also one of the countries busiest cruise ports.
Founded around 600 BCE by Greek settles, Marseille is one of the most historic cities in the country, but it has also undergone lots of redevelopment over the past few decades that allow visitors to the port to have lots to do no matter what their preferences.
That includes a good mix of beaches, history, architecture and culture that has helped the city to become one of Frances leading tourist destinations.
With so many reasons to visit and with so many ships offering the chance to do just that, if you are wanting to cruise the Western Med, why not pick an itinerary that calls into Marseille.
Cruises To Marseille
Marseille Cruise Guide
This Marseille cruise guide is for those who have already booked on a cruise holiday calling into Marseille and who are looking to make the most of their time in the southern French city.
It is also for those who are yet to book a getaway and are still researching which ports to visit and are trying to decide on whether a stop in the city is right for them or not.
Type of Cruises Available
The port features on numerous itineraries sailing around the western Mediterranean and as one of the world’s busiest cruise regions, that means there are lots of options for holidaymakers.
Most cruise lines have ships calling into the port with everything from the world’s largest and newest ships to the oldest and smallest stopping there.
To have the widest range, visitors will need to take a Fly Cruise and start their adventure in one of the Med’s leading turnaround ports such as Civitavecchia (Rome) or Barcelona.
From there, it is possible to choose from a huge range of Repositioning Cruises and closed loop cruises visiting many of the Meds top ports of call.
If you prefer not to fly, there is a good range of cruises that start of in the UK and call into the city with No Fly options for both loop cruises and Repositioning Cruises.
Marseille Cruise Port Location
The port of Marseille is vast and broken into numerous different sections including the Old Port, which is in the heart of city centre and is full of private boats and yachts, a huge commercial port and then there is the cruise and ferry docks.
The main cruise part of the port is known as the Marseille Provence Cruise Center (MPCC) and it is from its Mole Leon Gourret Pier that the majority of cruise ships dock at.
The pier is around 10km from the city’s old town but there will be shuttle buses provided.
If you are on a smaller ship, with a length of less than 200m, you may dock at the La Joiliette Pier, which offers a great location near to the Old Port and within a short walk of many of the city’s attractions.
Marseille Attractions
There is lots for visitors to see and do whilst in port, with many of its attractions based upon its long history.
Amongst the must-see historic sites are the Basilique Notre Dame de la Garde, the Cathedrale de la Major, the Chateau d’lf, the Palais Longchamp, the Palais du Pharo and the numerous old buildings found by simply strolling around the Old Town.
The Vieux Port is the town Old Port that was once the bustling centre of commercial and military ships but nowadays it is the locations of hundreds of private boats and yachts that can be viewed as you walk along the seafront between two forts.
One of the big attractions of the city is its beautiful beaches and whilst you will need to head away from the city centre to find a quiet and relaxing beach, there are numerous beaches just a short walk from the town centre.
That allows guests to spend the morning walking around the Old Town and visiting the many sights, shops, cafes and attractions of Marseille before spending the afternoon relaxing and enjoying the warm waters of the western Mediterranean Sea.
Football fans may want to visit the Stade Velodrome, the home of Marseille FC and one of the most iconic football stadiums in France.
As a large city, it can be difficult to get around and see all that you want to see, especially if you prefer not to use local transport but there are hop on hop off tour buses that take you to the majority of top tourist attractions.
Marseille Shorex
Many shore excursions offered by lines and local providers are tours of the city that also head to out of the way visitor’s attractions such as the Notre Dame de la Garde whilst some tour offers specialised day on shore such as food tours.
Other trip head out into the wider Provence region to visit some of Frances best wineries and vineyards or you can see some of the history of the region by heading to places such as the historical Avignon, fame for its Roman past and successful Rugby League team.
Best Time To Visit Marseille
The port of Marseille can be visited all year around and with the weather warm throughout the summer, it does make for a great end of year getaway but for the widest range of ships and itineraries, it is during the summer that you can do just that.
The months of July and August can not only be too hot to enjoy your time exploring but they are also the busiest months for tourists to head to the French Riviere and that can make it a frustrating experience exploring, so we would recommend visiting Marseille in either May, June or September for the best of warm weather, blue skies and less people.
Transport
The city is well connected to the rest of France and Europe via its airport, railway stations and ferry port but for visitors looking to explore from their cruise ship, it is the cities metro system, tramway or local buses that will be of most use.
Marseille Cruises From UK
The great news for those wanting to visit Marseille on a cruise directly from the UK is that there is a good range of itineraries that allow you to do just that.
Many of those are round trips that visit the port as part of wider trips of the Western Med whilst some are repositioning cruises that are heading to main ports in the western Med, the eastern Med and even the Aegean Sea.
Marseille Cruises From Southampton
If you are wanting to cruise from the UK, most options will be itineraries offered out of the UK’s leading cruise port in Southampton.