There is no “best” cruise line in the absolute: it all depends on the type of ship you are looking for. MSC and Costa run large ships carrying several thousand passengers, with regular departures from Marseille and Le Havre. Ponant and Club Med 2 focus on small, upscale vessels. CroisiEurope specialises in river cruising, and Royal Caribbean in very large ships packed with activities, mostly from Barcelona, Rome or the United States.
This comparison relies only on information published by the lines on their official sites, consulted on 5 October 2026: fleet, embarkation ports in France, what the packages include. We did not sail on board for this article and we publish no ratings or passenger reviews. For the basics (types of cruise, choosing a cabin, budget, what is and is not included), start with our guide to choosing a cruise.
Comparison table of the main cruise lines
| Cruise line | Type of cruise | Departure ports in France (checked) | Positioning |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSC Cruises | Ocean, large ships (about 2,600 to 6,800 passengers according to the official sheets) | Marseille, Cannes; Le Havre in winter (Northern Europe) | Mainstream and family cruising, with atmosphere packages (Bella, Fantastica, Aurea) and a private area, MSC Yacht Club |
| Costa Cruises | Ocean, large ships (about 2,800 to more than 6,500 passengers) | Marseille, Le Havre | Italian line (Italian flag, headquartered in Genoa), Carnival group; My Cruise base fare with packages to add |
| Ponant | Expedition and luxury cruising on small ships (12 to 264 passengers, 330 on Paul Gauguin) | Occasional departures depending on the itinerary, for example Bordeaux (Atlantic coasts); Nice and Marseille are among its Mediterranean ports | Upscale “all inclusive” (open bar, Wi-Fi, one activity per port), French and English spoken on board |
| CroisiEurope | River (and a few coastal and canal cruises) | Paris (Seine), Lyon (Rhône and Saône), Nantes – Saint-Nazaire (Loire), among others | French river-cruise specialist since 1976, drinks included on board |
| Royal Caribbean | Ocean, very large ships (Icon, Oasis, Quantum classes) | No departure from France highlighted on the French site; European departures from Barcelona or Rome (Civitavecchia) | Large thrill ships (water parks, activities), family clientele |
| Club Med 2 | Five-masted sailing ship, 187 m (614 ft), 164 cabins | Nice, Villefranche-sur-Mer, Marseille depending on the itinerary | Club Med all-inclusive package, Mediterranean from April to October, Caribbean from November to March |
The big lines sailing from France
MSC Cruises
MSC Cruises is part of the MSC group, headquartered in Geneva. Its fleet page lists 25 ships, from MSC Lirica (2003) to the World-class ships, such as MSC World Europa (delivered in November 2022) and MSC World Asia, announced for December 2026. In France, the line highlights three ports: Marseille all year, Cannes from spring to autumn and Le Havre in winter for Northern Europe. The base price includes full board, the shows and the ship’s facilities; hotel service charges are compulsory and included in the total price shown. Full details are on our page MSC Cruises: ships, packages and tips.
Costa Cruises
Costa Cruises presents itself as the only cruise line flying the Italian flag. It belongs to Carnival Corporation & plc and is headquartered in Genoa. Its fleet page shows eight ships, including Costa Toscana (more than 6,500 passengers, liquefied natural gas propulsion) and Costa Smeralda. French departures are from Marseille and Le Havre. The My Cruise fare includes full board and entertainment; drinks (My Drinks) and excursions (My Land) are offered as packages. See our page Costa Cruises: ships, packages and tips.
The small-ship lines
Ponant
Ponant, now PONANT EXPLORATIONS GROUP, is headquartered in Marseille and belongs to Artémis, the Pinault family’s company. Its ships carry from 12 to 264 passengers (330 on Paul Gauguin, in French Polynesia). The line is known for its polar cruises, with Le Commandant Charcot, a hybrid polar exploration ship powered by liquefied natural gas. The package includes the open bar, Wi-Fi and one activity at each port (except Paul Gauguin). Fares are markedly higher than those of the big lines. Details on our page Ponant: expedition and luxury cruises.
Club Med 2
Club Med 2 is a five-masted sailing ship, 187 m (614 ft) long, completely refitted in 2023, with 164 cabins. She sails in the Mediterranean from April to October and in the Caribbean from November to March, with mini-cruises of a few days. In 2026 and 2027, the published itineraries mostly leave from Nice, but also from Villefranche-sur-Mer or Marseille. The package follows the Club Med “all-inclusive” principle, with water activities from a platform at the stern of the ship.
CroisiEurope: the river specialist
CroisiEurope is a French family-owned company, in business since 1976. It reports a fleet of 50 boats, with capacities from 16 to 200 passengers, on Europe’s rivers and further afield (Mekong, Lake Kariba, Egypt…). In France, its cruises embark notably in Paris for the Seine, in Lyon for the Rhône and Saône, and in Nantes – Saint-Nazaire for the Loire. Its “All inclusive on board” package includes full board and drinks, at meals and at the bar. This type of trip suits a short first cruise, without a long journey to the port.
Royal Caribbean: the biggest ships
Royal Caribbean, founded in 1969, claims 30 ships in classes (Icon, Oasis, Quantum…), with family-oriented features: water parks, attractions, many restaurants. Its private island Perfect Day CocoCay, in the Bahamas, is part of many Caribbean itineraries. The French site does not highlight a departure from a French port: for Europe, the embarkations offered are mostly in Barcelona or Rome (Civitavecchia). French ports such as Marseille, Villefranche or Le Havre are among the possible ports of call.
Which cruise line should you choose?
- You want to start from France without flying: MSC (Marseille, Cannes, Le Havre) and Costa (Marseille, Le Havre) offer the most dates. For river cruising, CroisiEurope embarks in Paris, Lyon or Nantes.
- You are travelling as a family: the big ships of MSC, Costa and Royal Caribbean offer kids’ clubs, pools and entertainment. Ponant accepts children from the age of one, but in an atmosphere that remains adult.
- You want calm and small ports: Ponant, Club Med 2 and river cruising dock where the big ships do not go, with fewer people on board.
- You want a controlled budget: compare the total price, not the headline price. Check whether drinks, Wi-Fi, excursions and service charges are included. With MSC, service charges are included in the total price shown; with Ponant, the open bar is included.
- You are aiming for the polar regions: among these lines, it is Ponant’s speciality, with naturalist guides on board and Zodiac outings.
What really changes from one line to another
Ship size. A 6,000-passenger ship offers more facilities, but embarkation, ports of call and restaurants are busier. A 200-passenger ship has fewer activities on board but simpler access ashore.
What is included. With MSC and Costa, the base price covers full board and entertainment; drinks are sold as packages (Easy or Premium Extra with MSC, My Drinks or My Drinks Plus with Costa). With Ponant and CroisiEurope, drinks are part of the package. Club Med 2 follows Club Med’s all-inclusive logic.
Language on board. Ponant states that the languages spoken on board are French and English. On the big lines, the staff are multilingual and the clientele international; excursions in a given language depend on the ports. That multilingual staff keeps every ship running: our page on working on a cruise ship details jobs, contracts and recruitment.
Ports of call. A single port (Barcelona, Genoa, Naples…) may last only a few hours. Look at the arrival and departure times in the itinerary before you book, especially if you want to explore on your own.
Also read: the biggest cruise ships, the cruise from Le Havre and our tips for a cheap cruise.
Frequently asked questions
Which cruise lines leave from Marseille?
According to their official sites consulted in October 2026, MSC Cruises and Costa Cruises offer regular departures from Marseille. Club Med 2 also embarks there on some itineraries (Marseille – Málaga in 2026, for example). Check the exact date: programmes change with the seasons.
Which cruise line should I choose for a first cruise?
For a first try, a mini-cruise of a few nights from Marseille (MSC offers round trips) or a short river cruise with CroisiEurope lets you test the format without a big budget or a flight. Then choose according to the ship size that suits you.
What is the difference between MSC and Costa?
Both run large ships from Marseille. MSC (MSC group, headquartered in Geneva) has the widest fleet and “atmosphere” packages. Costa (Carnival group, Italian flag) has a smaller fleet and a base-fare system with packages to add. Compare itineraries and the total price for your date.
Are tips compulsory?
It depends on the line. With MSC, hotel service charges are compulsory and included in the total price. With Ponant, gratuities are left to passengers’ discretion. Read the terms of your booking.
Is Ponant suitable for children?
Ponant accepts children from the age of one on its classic cruises, with a limited number of children on board. The ships do not have the entertainment offer of a big family ship; find out about the itinerary before you book.
What are the main cruise lines sailing from France?
MSC Cruises (Marseille, Cannes, Le Havre in winter) and Costa Cruises (Marseille, Le Havre) for large ships; Ponant for small upscale ships, with occasional departures; CroisiEurope for river cruising, notably with embarkation at Paris, Lyon or Nantes – Saint-Nazaire.
Our sources
- Official sites consulted on 5 October 2026: MSC Cruises (msccroisieres.fr: fleet, atmospheres, drinks packages, departures from France, FAQ), Costa Cruises (costacroisieres.fr: fleet, packages, ports, group), PONANT (ponant.com: ships, FAQ, group), CroisiEurope (croisieurope.com: company, fleet, cruises in France), Royal Caribbean (royalcaribbean.com, French site), Club Med (clubmed.fr: Club Med 2 cruises)
- Our methodology
Updated October 2026.
