Coach Transfers at Four French Cruise Ports
Marseille and Le Havre take ships at the quay. Villefranche-sur-Mer and Cannes are tender ports, where passengers come ashore by boat. The coach plan differs for each.
Quay or tender: why it matters
At a quayside terminal the group walks off the ship and onto the coach. At a tender port passengers land by boat in batches, so allow time for the whole group to gather before the coach leaves.
Marseille's main terminals are reached through Gate 4 of the port, from exit 5 of the A55, about 6 km from the centre. Le Havre is the call for Paris, about 197 km away by road: close to five hours of driving there and back in light traffic. Cannes caps cruise arrivals at 6,000 passengers a day.
Organisers ask
What do you need for a cruise pickup?
The ship's name, the call date, the all-aboard time and the number of passengers. For a turnaround, add the flight or train times.
Can we walk into Marseille from the ship?
Not from the Gate 4 terminals, which are surrounded by motorway. Terminal J4, next to the Vieux-Port, is a few minutes' walk from the centre.
Can a coach take us from Villefranche to Monaco?
Yes, as a shore excursion of about 15 km. Vehicles registered outside Monaco and the Alpes-Maritimes cannot drive up to Monaco-Ville, so coaches are advised to use the Parking des Pêcheurs.