Todd Todd saw things this way:
Overall
3
There are better ports in the south of France, August 26, 2010
Reviewer: Todd Todd
Pros: Good for excursions to Provence
Cons: The dock is located way out of town
Marseilles is a big, industrial port and you either have to focus on the inner harbor area, or take an excursion to Provence to get the most out of your stay. The ship docks way out of town. My cruise line didn't arrange for a "free" transfer so you must pay to go into town. On the dock there were some vendors who set up a small shop. It's a very long walk to the local bus stop. Once in town the area of interest centers on the inner harbor. There is an old fortification to walk around and over with some nice views of the harbor which is filled with boats and in season some big yachts. Up on the hill is a famous church with more stunning views of the ocean and the town. he church is easily recognizable due to it's unique tower. You can either catch a city bus up to the church or walk up. Around the harbor are seafood restaurants and cafes. There are no museums that "must" be visited. The Roman ruins are extremely uninteresting. The train station with the contrast between it's colonial period decoration (Marseilles was a major jumping off point) and the TGV trains is of minor interest. Wandering into the "Arab" market you can easily purchase two of the most famous products of the area, a rustic soap made from olive oil and the herb blend known as Herbes de Provence. There are boat trips to the small island right off the coast that was once used as a prison. The excursions to Provence leave from the ship very early. You could also catch a train to Provence from the train station but the times and the time it takes might make it not worth the effort. The ship-arranged excursions make sense because you can see the countryside and be assured that you will make it back in time. The bottom line is that Marseilles is not St. Tropez, nor Monaco.