Nice right off the Ship

Hi I am going on a cruise for my honeymoon and the first stop is Nice, France. Is a shore excursion nessesary? What can we do walking distance from the ships boarding pier?

I don't know why you would need a shore excursion just to spend time in Nice. But I suppose many people do ship excursions and use private guides (who of course are now their BFFs ;)) We didn't dock there. But I think the docks are pretty close to the Old Town. From there, Cours Saleya, Promenade des Anglais, and the Old Town. If you want to see the museums, like the Mattise or Chagall, you may want to take a taxi or a bus. The Chagall Museum is a good take. If the itinerary says Villfranche/Nice, you may need to take a bus into Nice. Only small ships dock directly in Nice. Oh, congratulations.

Sorry, I was mistaken it is Villefranche. Anything to do or see right off the ship? Thank you!

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1308718

I think most people use this port as a point to get to Nice, Eze, and Monaco. The above thread is decent and has a picture of a beach near where your tender boats dock.

But you may not want to pass up a bus ride to Nice, Eze, or Monaco. It's worth looking through the posts on this board and deciding what suits you best. I don't think you will need a shore excursion when you make your choice.