Marseille old town to Cruise Port

[framboesa]

Hello!

Is the cruise shuttle from Marseille old town to the cruise port working?

if not, do you know how much is a taxi or tvde car from old town to the cruise port?

Thank you 🙂

[Hlitner]

4 hours ago, framboesa said:

Hello!

Is the cruise shuttle from Marseille old town to the cruise port working?

if not, do you know how much is a taxi or tvde car from old town to the cruise port?

Thank you 🙂

Shuttle services (whether they exist, are free, of have a price) vary by cruise line.  A taxi will probably want about 20 Euros (for the taxi) which, given the distance, is somewhat of a rip-off.  Shared taxis (which you can sometimes find loading in the old port area, are the best deal as the larger van/taxis may cost as little as 5 Euros per person.  We honestly do not even worry or think about any of this and just do our own thing.  If and when we need to get back (from the Vieux Port area) we simply grab a taxi, shuttle, or allow plenty of time so we could walk/crawl if necessary :).

 

Hank

[Dancer Bob]

The Port has a free shuttle service, from the area of Joliette Metro. Not easy to find, runs 1/2 hourly, very crowded. RTM 35T runs from Joliette to Port. Both end at the port gate for document check on entry, then a long walk to the terminals. Taxi isn't cheap, I'm thinking maybe 40 euros or more,  but a lot more convenient. Walking is not practical.

Edited November 14, 2023 by Dancer Bob

[edinburgher]

5 hours ago, framboesa said:

is the cruise shuttle from Marseille old town to the cruise port working?

It isn't clear which shuttle you are referring to as you didn't say, but unless things have changed, these were the options.

 

Cruise port shuttle which runs from  the terminal at Fos, free, but there have been reports of lines of as many as a couple of hundred passengers depending on the number of ships in that day  so you may have a long wait. it would be a matter of luck on the day and at the time you arrive at the stop.

 

Cruiseline shuttles are offered by most lines and usually run to a location alongside or close to the Vieux Port.  There is usually a charge for this.

 

My understanding is that there is also a public bus which runs along the main road outside of the port, but you would need to know which stop to board and to get off at and the port at Fos is huge so depending on where your ship is docked you could have a long walk both to and back from that main road.

 

You could take a taxi all the way, or consider one to take you between Fos and la Joliette, a transport hub  between port and city, and from there you could take a metro, bus or walk to the centre.

 

 

If the "shuttle" you were referring to is a cruiseline shuttle you could ask for info on the forum for your cruiseline where others who have used it would be more likely to see it..

 

Or,

If the "shuttle" you were referring to is the port bus cruise  shuttle, you might have to contact Port of Fos authorities or the official Marseille Tourist Office and ask.

 

Just now noticed you are Lisbon based and Lisbon is one of our favourite cities.  We ported there a number of times but enjoyed the city so much on those days that we booked a city breal for several days in Feb 2020 just before the world closed down.

Edited November 14, 2023 by edinburgher

[edinburgher]

46 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

or allow plenty of time so we could walk/crawl if necessary :).

Hope that is a joke Hank, as I am "guesstimating" the distance must be a good 4, 5 or maybe 6 miles from the Vieux Port area, somewhat challenging at the best of times, but after a day sightseeing even worse.

Edited November 14, 2023 by edinburgher

[Hlitner]

Just now, edinburgher said:

Hope that is a joke Hank, as I am "guesstimating" the distance must be a good 5 or maybe 6 miles from the Vieux Port area, somewhat challenging at the best of times, but after a day sightseeing even worse.

No joke for us (a 5 mile walk would be fine) but agree that most cruisers would grab a taxi.  The truth here is that shuttle buses are "cruise line specific."  Some lines provide free or low cost shuttle buses at most ports while other lines prefer to coerce their charges into booking very expensive excursions.   Since the OP did not specify the cruise line...hence the answer.

[edinburgher]

6 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

Since the OP did not specify the cruise line...hence the answer.

Part of my reply above

 

If the "shuttle" you were referring to is a cruiseline shuttle you could ask for info on the forum for your cruiseline where others who have used it would be more likely to see it

 

 

 

 

.I would hate to walk alongside that road as it is really busy and would be unpleasant.

Edited November 14, 2023 by edinburgher

[framboesa]

Thank you very much for your answers.🙂

I was talking about the cruise shuttle provided by marseille port. 

It seems that even with that shuttle it's a pretty long walk 😉

because they will stay in marseille one day before the cruise, near a Metro station, I was thinking of travelling to metro station Joliette and then walking to the cruise shuttle stop. But the information provided by google maps is that they have to walk all the way back to the beginning of the street to enter one private area to catch the shuttle 😏

Edited November 14, 2023 by framboesa

[framboesa]

29 minutes ago, edinburgher said:

 

 

Just now noticed you are Lisbon based and Lisbon is one of our favourite cities.  We ported there a number of times but enjoyed the city so much on those days that we booked a city breal for several days in Feb 2020 just before the world closed down.

Thank you for your words!

We were in Edinburgh for Christmas in 2018 and loved it (I mean...really loved it). Such nice people and nice food 🙂

[edinburgher]

3 minutes ago, framboesa said:

Thank you for your words!

We were in Edinburgh for Christmas in 2018 and loved it (I mean...really loved it). Such nice people and nice food 🙂

Thank you.  I think we are both fortunate to live where we do.😀

Edited November 14, 2023 by edinburgher

[Oriolesfan8]

Has anyone done this recently with Royal? I saw on a cruise planner that the Royal shuttle from port to city center is $20/roundtrip. Trying to figure out if that is worth it or if the free shuttle offerred by the port is good. Thanks!

[edinburgher]

15 hours ago, Oriolesfan8 said:

I saw on a cruise planner that the Royal shuttle from port to city center is $20/roundtrip. Trying to figure out if that is worth it or if the free shuttle offerred by the port is good.

As the port of Fos is several miles out of the city.I would say that $20pp is worth it as cruise shuttles usually run all the way to an area very close to the Vieux Port, Fort St Jean or MUCEM,  same location for the return to ship.

 

You would need to check the following yourself unless someone else can give you a definite answer.

 

OTOH, my understanding is that the free port shuttle runs only as far as la Joliette, a transport hub from where you can catch a bus, metro,  or taxi or walk the remainder into the city proper. And depending on how many ships are in on the same day as yours there could be long lines for the free shuttle.and  depending on where you re docked, you may have quite a long walk to the bus stop for the free shuttle bus.

 

Once in the area of the Vieux Port there are a number of sightseeing options within the immediate vicinity.

The following is a copy/paste of a reply I gave earlier last year with some minor tweaks.

 

It is easy to spend time around the Vieux Port, itself worth a visit in its own right And if already in the area next to the Vieux Port, you could wander into the historic  Fort St Jean,at one end of the VP, part of which is free entry. From here you can cross a footbridge to the ultra modern MUCEM complex.on the waterside which is worth visiting.  (as an aside, your shuttle bus may drop off and pick up from here or  close to it) It is mostly outdoors with walkways and terraces, and some lovely views of the Vieux Port, Notre Dame de la Garde and the Med.  It is a public space and can be enjoyed free of charge by anyone whether local or visitor unless you choose to enter any of the paying exhibitions.  There are seating areas, and cafes and restaurants  and it is a lovely place to stroll  or sit whilst admiring the views of both city and sea.  And from there you will be able to see the huge Cathedral de la Major a 5 minute walk away across the road. one of the largest cathedrals in France,  it merits a short visit and has free entry. 

 

There are also short  boat trips on offer from the Vieux Port going to the Chateau d'If (think Count of Monte Cristo) and a couple of other tiny islands, and longer ones to the Calanques of Cassis.  And one of those little tourist trains which tootles around and it goes up to the Basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde for the wonderful views, and  a couple of HOHOS. The little train and HOHOS leave from alongside the VP close to the historic building with the flags outside which is actually the Hotel de Ville. Also a few museums close by too. . And the shopping is excellent.

 

These suggestions would be the easiest to do  given their very close proximity to each other, but at the same time offer a number of sights/attractions

 

Do read about the city and include the official Marseille Tourist Information website which I think is excellent (click for english version), Marvellous Provence, Tripadvisor and others,

 

 

 

Edited May 28 by edinburgher