For a cruise from Marseille, almost all ships starting or ending their cruise dock at the Marseille Provence Cruise Terminal (MPCT), on the Môle Léon Gourret in the 16th arrondissement. Access is through gate 4 of the port, from exit no. 5 “Les Ports” of the A55 motorway. The official cruise passenger car park is right next to the terminals and can be booked online.
Marseille is France’s leading cruise port. According to the Marseille Fos port authority (GPMM), it welcomed more than 4 million passengers in 2025, including 2.6 million cruise passengers. MSC Cruises and Costa Cruises, which together created the MPCT company in 2009, embark their passengers there; MSC announces departures all year round. Here is what to know for departure day.
Embarking at Marseille at a glance
- Terminal Marseille Provence Cruise Terminal (MPCT), Môle Léon Gourret, terminals A to F
- Access address Port de Marseille, gate 4, chemin du Littoral, 13015 Marseille
- By car A55, exit no. 5 “Les Ports”, then “Croisière” signs
- By bus RTM lines 35, 36 and 36 barré, stop at gate 4
- Parking MPCT car park staffed 24 hours a day, less than a 5-minute walk from the terminals, online booking possible
- Main lines MSC Cruises, Costa Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line
- Second terminal J4, near the Old Port, mainly used for ports of call
The Marseille cruise terminals
The port of Marseille Fos has two sites for cruise ships: the Marseille Provence Cruise Terminal, north of the city (Môle Léon Gourret), the main place for departures, and the J4 cruise terminal, in the city center, near the MuCEM.
Marseille Provence Cruise Terminal (MPCT)
MPCT runs the cruise terminals on the Môle Léon Gourret. Some buildings are connected directly to the ships, and each has a car park with spaces for reduced-mobility passengers.
| Terminal | Area | Features |
|---|---|---|
| A | 6,000 m² (64,583 sq ft) | Two levels: baggage handling on the ground floor, boarding hall upstairs; 60 check-in desks |
| B | 6,000 m² (64,583 sq ft) | Baggage handling and check-in of 3,000 m² (32,292 sq ft) each; linked to a 10,000 m² (107,639 sq ft) covered car park; handles the largest ships |
| C | 9,000 m² (96,875 sq ft) | Future large terminal with baggage handling, boarding hall and adjoining car park; being redeveloped |
| D | 6,000 m² (64,583 sq ft) | 40 check-in desks; transit, embarkation and disembarkation |
| E | about 300 m² (3,229 sq ft) | Ships in transit; embarkation possible via terminal A |
| F | about 200 m² (2,153 sq ft) | Ships in transit and small passenger volumes at the start of a cruise |
The terminal assigned to your ship varies by day and by port call. The GPMM says that inside the port, display boards show which terminal your ship is moored at and that a green line painted on the ground leads to the terminals.
The J4 terminal, near the Old Port
The J4 cruise terminal is on boulevard Jacques Saade, on the J4 esplanade. The GPMM presents it as the cruise terminal “in the heart of the city”: the Old Port, the Panier district and the MuCEM are a few minutes’ walk away. According to the Marseille tourist office, it is mainly an arrival point for ships calling in.
How to embark: the steps at the terminal
MPCT describes a three-step process, identical for most cruise lines:
- Baggage handling: staff greet you and take your suitcases. They are checked, then delivered straight to your cabin. Knives, weapons and explosive devices are banned from luggage.
- Boarding hall: show your valid identity documents and cruise documents, check in, then go through the security check (same bans for hand baggage).
- Boarding the ship. For special requests, check with your agency or cruise line.
Getting to the Marseille cruise port
By car
The terminal is directly linked to the A7 (from the north), A55 (the coastal motorway) and A50 (from the east) motorways. Take the A55 to exit no. 5 “Les Ports”, then follow the “Croisière” signs. The entrance is through gate 4 of the Grand Port Maritime, chemin du Littoral (13015). GPS: 43.338916, 5.348054. If someone is dropping you off, there is a drop-off area in front of the terminal; the tourist office notes that you then have to walk a few minutes.
By train
Marseille Saint-Charles station receives TGV high-speed trains. The GPMM gives a journey time of about 3 hours for Paris–Marseille and 1 h 30 for Lyon–Marseille. Note: the tourist office reminds visitors that there is no direct link between Saint-Charles station and the port. You need to take a taxi, a transfer offered by your cruise line, or public transport with a change.
By air
Marseille Provence airport is about 20 minutes by road from the port, according to the GPMM and the tourist office. Again, there is no direct link: count on a taxi or your cruise line’s transfer.
By public transport
RTM buses 35, 36 and 36 barré serve gate 4 of the port. A ticket machine is installed at the bus stop. Timetables are on the RTM website.
Cruise parking at Marseille: options and booking
The official car park is the MPCT one, on the terminal site itself. It is staffed 24 hours a day and is less than a 5-minute walk from the boarding buildings. Terminal B is even linked to a covered car park. The table summarizes the terms shown on the MPCT website as of 5 October 2026; check current rates on the MPCT parking page before you travel.
| Point | What MPCT says |
|---|---|
| Cruise rate | €15 per 24-hour period (cars, motorcycles, motorhomes) |
| Long stay | €150 per month, for 10 to 30 days; beyond that, contact MPCT |
| Booking | Optional; possible online from 360 days to 15 minutes before arrival |
| What booking guarantees | An available space in one of the cruise passenger car parks, not a specific spot |
| Entry | Number-plate reading or QR code received by email |
| Exits | Any exit is final during the booked period |
| Payment on site | Bank card, check, cash (holiday vouchers refused) |
| Height | No limit: motorhomes and minibuses accepted |
| Reduced mobility | Reserved spaces, at the same rate |
This car park is reserved for cruise passengers: vehicles of passengers on ferries to Corsica and North Africa are not accepted. MPCT states that no refunds are made. If your return is delayed, the booked period must in principle be respected, with some tolerance before and after the planned times.
MSC Cruises mentions a free parking option, to be added when booking, on some cruises from Marseille, under conditions: check this at the time of booking.
Which cruises leave from Marseille?
Several lines embark at Marseille. The tourist office names MSC Cruises, Costa Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line as the main ones. The first two are behind MPCT; MSC announces departures from Marseille all year round.
| Cruise line | What it offers from Marseille (according to its website) |
|---|---|
| MSC Cruises | Departures all year round; 7-night Mediterranean cruises; 2- to 5-night mini-cruises (Genoa, Barcelona, Rome); MSC Grands Voyages transatlantic crossings |
| Costa Cruises | Mediterranean (including Barcelona and Valencia); mini-cruises; longer cruises to the United Arab Emirates, transoceanic and world cruises |
| Norwegian Cruise Line | Named by the tourist office among the lines present in Marseille; program to check on its website |
The most common itineraries
According to the tourist office, ships mainly head for Spain, the Balearic Islands, Italy and Malta, but also the Adriatic and the Greek islands. The longest voyages, of 3 to 4 weeks, reach the Atlantic (the Canary Islands, Portugal), South America, the Caribbean, Northern Europe or the Middle East. To compare ports of call and season, see our guide to Mediterranean cruises.
Example noted on the Costa website on 5 October 2026: a 4-day mini-cruise on Costa Fascinosa, Marseille – Savona – Barcelona – Marseille, from 11 to 14 October 2026, shown from €279 per person, excluding the compulsory onboard stay package of €11 per night per adult. On its dedicated Marseille port page, Costa shows cruises “from €203” per person. These prices vary by date.
Arriving the day before: where to sleep near the port
If you are coming from far away, sleep in Marseille the night before. Three areas are convenient:
- La Joliette and Euroméditerranée: the district closest to the port area, with the Terrasses du Port shopping center and the J4 nearby.
- Around Saint-Charles station: practical if you arrive by train late in the evening, then a taxi in the morning to gate 4.
- Near Marseille Provence airport: useful for an early-morning flight on the day you return, less so for visiting the city.
The Old Port is nicer for an evening, but further from the Môle Léon Gourret.
Practical tips for departure day
- Check the terminal the day before on your documents or the cruise line’s app: in Marseille, several buildings operate at the same time.
- Prepare your papers: valid identity document, or a passport if your itinerary requires it. Requirements depend on the ports of call and your nationality; your cruise line sets them out when you book.
- Keep a margin for traffic delays, especially if you first have to return a rental car or go through the station.
To choose your cruise line or type of cruise, our complete cruise guide details packages, service charges and budget. And if you are hesitating between several French ports, compare with departures from Le Havre, which look to Northern Europe.
Also read: the world cruise from Marseille, cruises to Dubai and our cruise line comparison.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Marseille cruise terminal?
The Marseille Provence Cruise Terminal (MPCT) is on the Môle Léon Gourret, in the 16th arrondissement. Access is through gate 4 of the Grand Port Maritime, chemin du Littoral (13015), via exit no. 5 “Les Ports” of the A55 motorway.
How much does cruise parking cost at Marseille?
As of 5 October 2026, MPCT showed €15 per 24-hour period and €150 per month for a stay of 10 to 30 days. Rates may change: check them on the parking page of croisiere-mpct.com.
Do you need to book the terminal car park?
No, booking is optional: you can pay at the automatic pay stations or at the exit terminal. Booking online does, however, guarantee a space in one of the cruise passenger car parks.
How do you get from Saint-Charles station to the cruise port?
There is no direct link. Take a taxi, the transfer offered by your cruise line, or public transport: RTM buses 35, 36 and 36 barré serve gate 4 of the port.
Which cruise lines leave from Marseille?
The main ones are MSC Cruises, which announces departures all year round, and Costa Cruises. The tourist office also names Norwegian Cruise Line. Other lines call at Marseille during their itineraries.
Which destinations leave from Marseille?
According to the tourist office, mainly Spain, the Balearic Islands, Italy and Malta, but also the Adriatic and the Greek islands. Voyages of 3 to 4 weeks reach the Canary Islands, Portugal, South America, the Caribbean, Northern Europe or the Middle East.
Our sources
- Marseille Provence Cruise Terminal (croisiere-mpct.com): Presentation, The terminals, Parking and FAQ pages, viewed 5 October 2026
- Grand Port Maritime de Marseille (marseille-port.fr): “Cruise passengers” page, viewed 5 October 2026
- Marseille tourist office (marseille-tourisme.com): “Cruises from Marseille” page
- MSC Cruises (msccroisieres.fr): “Cruises from Marseille” and “Cruises from France” pages
- Costa Cruises (costacroisieres.fr): Marseille port page and cruise sheet for 11 October 2026
- Our methodology
Updated October 2026.