Minibus Hire Across France

Off the Ship in Marseille, Together

Most ships calling at Marseille berth behind Gate 4, among terminals ringed by motorway, so nobody strolls out into town. A minibus waiting for your party turns that into a short hop to the Vieux-Port, or a day out in Provence.

First, find out where you dock

Your cruise papers name the terminal. The Marseille Provence Cruise Terminal at Gate 4 groups terminals A to F, about 6 km from the centre, reached from exit 5 of the A55.

Some ships use Terminal J4 instead, beside the Vieux-Port, a few minutes' walk from the old harbour. Then the minibus is mainly for outings further afield.

Minibus interior with individual seats
Minibus interior with individual seats

Port shuttle, city bus or your own minibus

When a ship is in, the port runs its own shuttle, half-hourly between 09:00 and 17:00, while city buses head to La Joliette. That suits a couple travelling light.

For a family of ten with grandparents, or friends after Notre-Dame de la Garde and the Corniche by lunch, a minibus leaves when you are ready, not when a timetable says.

Cruise lines you may be sailing with

  • Costa Cruises
  • MSC Cruises

The cruise terminals

  • Terminal J4: Esplanade J4, Boulevard Jacques Saade, next to the Vieux-Port; cruise passengers reach the city centre on foot in a few minutes
  • Terminals E and F: small terminals for ships in transit and ships with few passengers
  • Terminal D: about 6,000 m², for transit calls and for embarkation and disembarkation
  • Terminal C: a large terminal of about 9,000 m², under renovation
  • Terminal B: about 6,000 m², linked directly to a covered car park, for turnaround calls and large ships
  • Terminal A: about 6,000 m², with a baggage hall on the ground floor and an embarkation hall upstairs
  • Marseille Provence Cruise Terminal (MPCT), Port of Marseille, Gate 4, Chemin du Littoral, 13015 Marseille: Terminals A, B, C, D, E and F

A Provence day that fits the sailing time

The Vieux-Port is about 15 minutes from Gate 4 in light traffic. Cassis lies about 24 km from central Marseille and Aix-en-Provence about 31 km, each roughly half an hour away.

Two local rules shape the route. Tourist coaches may no longer enter Le Panier or the north side of the Vieux-Port, so you are set down at a permitted point and walk in. And from 1 May to 15 October, vehicles over 3.5 tonnes are kept out of central Cassis: ask whether yours is affected.

In summer, access to the Calanques depends on the daily fire-risk level, so keep a second plan up your sleeve.

Flights at either end

Marseille Provence airport is about 21 km from Gate 4. On a turnaround day, send flight numbers and a count of cases: with every seat taken, a minibus has little room at the back, and a midi-coach may fit better.

Your questions, answered

Can we walk into town from the Gate 4 terminals?

No. Motorway surrounds them, so you leave by shuttle, bus or vehicle. J4 is the exception.

Where will the driver meet us?

At the pickup point set out in your booking, which also records the ship's name and when your group expects to come ashore.

Does Marseille have a low-emission zone?

Yes, a central zone that runs day and night. Anything showing Crit'Air 4 or 5, or carrying no sticker at all, is kept out, whether moving or parked. It is current and could change, so it is checked before your day.

How much margin should we leave before all-aboard?

Be back well ahead of the time your cruise line prints. Traffic around the Vieux-Port can slow the last few kilometres.

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