Marseille is a major port city on the Mediterranean coast of Provence, founded by Greek settlers as Massalia more than 2,600 years ago around the Vieux-Port. More about Marseille →
October 2026 · from today · all times local (Central European Time)
Showing 10 of 29 calls in October
Today and the next 7 days · all times local (Central European Time)
49% quieter than a typical day in Marseille. Busiest 09:00 – 18:00, when 1 ship is alongside.
Thousands of people in port, guests plus crew. Crowd level compared with a typical Marseille day.
The crowd calendar shows every ship and how busy the port is, hour by hour, plus the quietest and busiest days for the next 90 days.
Most ships dock at the Marseille Provence Cruise Terminal (MPCT) on Mole Leon Gourret, in the commercial port north of the city centre and about 6 km by road from the Vieux-Port. Terminals A to F are on the mole, reached through Gate 4 (A55 exit 5), and walking into town is not practical.
A free port shuttle runs from Gate 4, about 5–12 minutes' walk from the ship along a green line, to Place de la Joliette.
Smaller ships use Terminal J4, beside the Mucem in the city centre, about 1.5 km (20 minutes) on foot from the Vieux-Port. Berths are assigned by ship and day.
19 km · ~15 min by car
Most embarking passengers take a taxi, an Uber or a cruise-line transfer along the A7 and A55 to Gate 4 (exit 5). The taxi rank is outside Terminal 1. There is no direct public transport to the cruise port; the A1 airport bus only goes to Saint-Charles station.
Typical prices, approximate. Fares change with demand, traffic and time of day.
Typical prices, approximate. Fares change with demand, traffic and time of day.
MPCT is reached by the A55 coastal motorway, exit 5 (Les Ports / Gate 4), then signs for 'Croisiere'; J4 is off exit 4 (La Joliette). Inside the port, display boards show which terminal each ship is using, and a green line on the ground guides pedestrians. Saint-Charles to J4 is about 2 km (7 minutes) by car. Vitrolles Aeroport Marseille Provence TER station is linked to the airport by bus 13, but the A1 bus is the main airport link to the city.
2 terminals
The main cruise complex on Mole Leon Gourret, run by Marseille Provence Cruise Terminal (MPCT) and reached through Gate 4; Terminals A, B and D handle embarkation and transit, E and F serve smaller calls, and C is being remodelled. Large ships from MSC, Costa, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Princess, P&O, AIDA, TUI and others use it, with terminals assigned by day.
A city-centre cruise station on the J4 esplanade (Boulevard Jacques Saade), next to the Mucem, Fort Saint-Jean and La Major cathedral, a few minutes' walk from the Vieux-Port. It generally serves smaller ships; in October 2026 these included Ponant, Windstar, Club Med, Orient Express, CroisiEurope and some Viking and Oceania ships. Ships planned for J4 are sometimes moved to MPCT.
Daily rate · per vehicle · confirm before travel
Marseille Provence Cruise Terminal (MPCT) runs a guarded car park, open 24/7, at the cruise terminal, under 5 minutes' walk from the ships. It costs EUR 15 per 24 hours for cars, motorcycles and motorhomes, with no height limit, or EUR 150 per month for stays of 10 to 30 days. Short stays are free up to 45 minutes, then EUR 2 up to 1 hour, EUR 0.30 per 15 minutes from 1 to 9 hours and EUR 0.20 per 15 minutes from 9 to 12 hours. Booking online is possible, and bookings are not refundable. The J4 terminal by the Mucem has no dedicated cruise car park listed.
Disabled parking spaces are available in the MPCT car park. There are no special parking rates for people with reduced mobility.
Pick the area first. Typical nightly prices, approximate.
Closest to cruise terminals
Typical hotel
Modern business district next to the port, the shortest taxi ride to MPCT.
Sightseeing and dining
Typical hotel
The historic harbour with restaurants and sights, about 20 minutes from the terminals.
Arriving by TGV train
Typical hotel
Hotels by the main railway station for arrivals from Paris or elsewhere in France.
Late arrivals and early flights
Typical hotel
Airport hotels for late flights in or early flights out.
A city tourist tax is added per person per night.
Prices are approximate. Coffee from official menus: Café des Arts (Quai de Rive Neuve) café EUR 2.00, Maison Nosh (Place aux Huiles) espresso EUR 2.50. Soft drink: Café des Arts Coca-Cola EUR 4.00. Service is included in French menu prices.
Brasseries and seafood restaurants along Quai du Port and Quai de Rive Neuve.
Old quarter of cafes and small restaurants between the port and La Joliette.
Shopping centre with restaurants right next to the cruise terminals.
Marseille is a major port city on the Mediterranean coast of Provence, founded by Greek settlers as Massalia more than 2,600 years ago around the Vieux-Port. The harbour is still the city's heart, with a morning fish market on the Quai des Belges and Norman Foster's mirrored Ombriere.
Above it, the basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde looks out from a 154 m hill over the city, the islands and the sea. At the harbour entrance, Fort Saint-Jean and the Mucem link the old Panier district to the modern J4 waterfront, and the cliffs and coves of the Calanques begin at the city's southern edge.
Marseille is France's leading cruise port, with about 2.6 million cruise passengers and 660 calls in 2025, and a major turnaround port for MSC and Costa.
Marseille's historic harbour, where the Greeks founded Massalia, with Norman Foster's mirrored Ombriere, a morning fish market on the Quai des Belges and boat departures to the Calanques and islands. It is easy to reach from J4 on foot, or from MPCT by the free shuttle to Joliette.
The Romano-Byzantine basilica on a 154 m hilltop, topped by a gilded statue of the Virgin more than 11 m tall, with a 360-degree view over the city, islands and sea. Bus 60 runs up from the Vieux-Port and the Mucem; it is about 8 km (20–25 minutes) from MPCT by car.
The Museum of Civilisations of Europe and the Mediterranean, in Rudy Ricciotti's lattice-clad cube on the J4 waterfront, joined by footbridges to the 15th-century Fort Saint-Jean and on to the Panier old quarter. The fort's gardens and outdoor areas are free; the museum is closed on Tuesdays.
Boat trips from the Vieux-Port follow the coast past the Frioul islands to the white limestone cliffs and turquoise coves of the Calanques National Park, such as Sormiou, Morgiou, Sugiton and En-Vau. Several authorised operators run trips of different lengths, so pick one that fits your all-aboard time.