Cruises from Marseille 2026–2027 — page 23

The port of Marseille is the departure point for 1,085 ocean cruises in the 2026–2027 season, operated primarily by MSC Cruises and Costa Cruises — two Italian mass-market lines for which Marseille serves as a home port. Marseille is the second-largest cruise port in Europe in the Center Cruises catalogue, second only to Barcelona. Entry-level pricing starts at €150 per person for a short open-jaw cruise of 3–4 nights (Marseille — Genoa — Civitavecchia); a standard 7-night Western Mediterranean cruise calling at Italy, Spain and Tunisia starts from €600. The main advantage of starting from Marseille is the option to combine the cruise with a trip to Provence (Aix-en-Provence, Arles, the lavender fields of Lubéron) — a region that cannot be explored during a single port-of-call stop.

Cruise itineraries from Marseille: where the ships go

Four main itinerary types depart from Marseille in 2026–2027, differing in duration, geography and price.

A standard 7-night cruise follows the loop Marseille — Genoa — Naples — Palermo — La Goulette (Tunisia) — Barcelona — Marseille. This is the most popular format, operated on MSC Seaview, MSC Meraviglia, MSC World Europa, Costa Smeralda and Costa Toscana. From €600 per person in an inside cabin.

A short 3–4 night open-jaw cruise is a Marseille speciality. The ship sails Marseille — Genoa — Civitavecchia (Rome), passengers disembark in a different city and continue overland. From €150. The format suits travellers who want to combine a pre-cruise stay in Provence with a post-cruise stay in Tuscany or Rome.

A Balearic cruise of 4–5 nights runs Marseille — Valencia — Ibiza — Cagliari (Sardinia). From €250 per person. A good option for sea-and-island holidays without a two-week commitment.

Grand Voyages and transatlantic crossings of 11–15 nights are repositioning itineraries that MSC and Costa run between the Mediterranean and northern seasons. For example, MSC Opera sails Marseille — Malaga — Cadiz — Lisbon — Alicante — Mahon — Olbia in 10 nights from €999. Longer crossings reach A Coruña, Bilbao, La Rochelle, Brest and Warnemünde (Berlin) — from €700.

Cruise lines departing from Marseille: MSC Cruises and Costa Cruises

The two main cruise companies operating from Marseille are MSC Cruises and Costa Cruises. Both belong to the Italian mass-market segment and use Marseille as a home port during the Western Mediterranean season.

MSC Cruises is represented in Marseille by five ships: MSC Seaview, MSC World Europa, MSC Meraviglia, MSC Splendida and MSC Opera. The base fare includes the cabin, meals in main dining rooms and the buffet, soft drinks with meals, the entertainment programme, pools and the fitness centre — this is a full-board format, not a full all-inclusive. On MSC World Europa and MSC Seaview, the premium MSC Yacht Club zone is available — a ship-within-a-ship concept with a private lounge, dedicated restaurant, personal butler service and priority embarkation and disembarkation.

Costa Cruises operates two next-generation ships from Marseille — Costa Smeralda and Costa Toscana. This is Italian mass-market with a gastronomic emphasis: contracts with Michelin-level chefs, the Piazza concept on board, locally sourced ingredients on the menu. Costa positions itself for the European traveller and adapts its entertainment to Italian and French tastes.

Provence before or after the cruise: what to see

This is the main reason to choose Marseille over neighbouring Barcelona or Genoa. Provence is a compact cultural region with five key destinations within 30 minutes to 2 hours from Marseille by car or train.

• Aix-en-Provence — 30 km, 30–40 minutes by car, 35-minute train from €8. The city of Cézanne, cobbled streets, fountains, the Cours Mirabeau, the produce market on Place Richelme.
• Arles — 75 km, 1 hour 15 minutes. The 1st-century Roman amphitheatre, Van Gogh sites, the ancient Alyscamps necropolis, the annual Rencontres d’Arles photography festival.
• Les Baux-de-Provence — 90 km, 1 hour 30 minutes. A clifftop village and the Carrières de Lumières media quarry with digital projections of Klimt, Van Gogh and Dalí inside a former bauxite mine.
• Lubéron lavender fields — Sénanque, Valensole, 130 km, 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours. Flowering season is late June to late July.
• Cassis and Calanques National Park — 30 km, 30 minutes. Limestone fjords on the Mediterranean coast, accessible by boat from the sea or on foot.

If the goal of the trip is to see Provence, it makes sense to take a cruise specifically from Marseille and arrive in advance. A single-day port call during the cruise does not give enough time to reach these destinations. The optimal pre-cruise programme is 2 days: one for Aix-en-Provence and Arles, the second for Calanques National Park and the fishing village of Cassis.

How to get to Marseille: flights and alternatives

Direct flights to Marseille from Eastern Europe and the CIS are limited — the main transit hubs are Paris (CDG, Orly), Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Istanbul. From Tel Aviv, Israeli carriers run direct seasonal flights.

An alternative route is to fly into Nice or Lyon and take a TGV train to Marseille. From Nice (NCE) — 2 hours 40 minutes, from €30. From Lyon (LYS) — 1 hour 40 minutes, from €30. From Paris, the TGV runs in 3 hours 10 minutes, from €50.

Marseille Provence Airport (MRS) is located 30 km from the cruise terminal. The Navette Aéroport shuttle bus runs to Saint-Charles railway station in 40 minutes (€10); a taxi to the cruise terminal costs around €50.

Cruise prices from Marseille: from €150 for a short trip to €3,500 for luxury

Prices reflect the 2026–2027 season and depend on cruise duration, cabin category, season and cruise line.

Prices are per person based on double occupancy (DBL). The base fare includes the cabin, full board, onboard entertainment, pools and fitness centre. Not included: port charges (~€80–150), the service charge (~€10–15 per day), alcohol, shore excursions, speciality restaurants and the spa.

Best months for a cruise from Marseille

High season runs from June to September: sea temperatures 22–25 °C, air 28–32 °C, prices around 30 % above average. This is peak season both in Marseille and in the ports of call (Palermo, Naples, Barcelona).

Mid-season covers April–May and October: 18–22 °C, more moderate prices, fewer tourists at the ports, easier day excursions. This is the optimal window for active programmes in Provence and at the Calanques.

Low season runs November–March: MSC and Costa operate a reduced schedule, with Christmas and New Year short cruises available from Marseille across the Western Mediterranean.

If the goal is the Lubéron lavender fields, the best window is the last ten days of June to mid-July. If price is the priority, choose departures in April, early May or late October.

The Marseille cruise terminal: MPCT and logistics

Marseille Provence Cruise Terminal (MPCT) is the second-busiest cruise terminal in the Mediterranean after the Port of Barcelona. It is located in the northern part of the port of Marseille, in the Mourepiane district, approximately 10 km from the city centre and the Vieux-Port.

The Cruise Shuttle from MPCT to Place Joliette in the city centre costs €7; a taxi is around €25. Check-in begins 3–4 hours before departure and boarding usually opens from 12:00. Disembarkation after the cruise runs from 7:00 to 10:00, organised by colour-coded luggage tags.

Who a Marseille cruise suits

• Families with children — both main lines run children's clubs (MSC Kids Club for ages 3–11, MSC Teens Club for teenagers, Costa Squok). Under the MSC Kids Sail Free promotion, children under 18 can travel free in a cabin with two adults.
• Travellers from southern France, northern Italy and Switzerland — Marseille is accessible by land and does not require a flight.
• Culturally inclined travellers — Provence as a pre-cruise programme, Arles's Roman heritage, the digital exhibitions at the Carrières de Lumières.
• Budget travellers — open-jaw mini-cruises from €150; flights and hotels in Marseille are typically cheaper than in Barcelona.
• Experienced cruisers looking for premium — MSC Yacht Club on MSC World Europa and MSC Seaview, the ship-within-a-ship concept.

Conclusion

Marseille is a rational choice for travellers combining a Western Mediterranean cruise with a Provence trip, looking for a weekly itinerary that calls at Tunisia, or planning a short open-jaw cruise. The page lists 1,085 cruises from MSC Cruises and Costa Cruises for the 2026–2027 season with online booking. Use the filters by duration, ship and departure date to refine your selection.