Marseille One Day Tour Designed for Cruise Passengers

A good tour however the...

A good tour however the guide came from another country and was a bit hard to understand. We had a large group and the guide moved rather quickly through tight streets and we had some tourist that had a hard time keeping up. Fortunately I’m 6’5 and I’m used to guiding people and I helped to make sure no one was left behind. It was informative and generally a good tour

via Viator

Great Experience for Cruise Passengers

I was skeptical of this tour at first. The ratings are suspiciously high and when you dig deeper into the reviews, you'll see that many of them use the same kind of language and mention the same things over and over giving the impression that they're fake or "bought". The reviews also only go back a couple of months so this tour operator definitely hasn't been around long. The tour also seemed to be too perfectly targeted (hey cruise people! This tour is just for YOU!) We would have had to book 3 different tours with our cruise line in order to see the things this tour covers. In fact, I was so skeptical that I almost canceled - and would have had the free cancelation window not already closed. I'm really glad I didn't. It is a legit tour and whether or not the reviews are fake doesn't matter. BTW - this review isn't fake! Ha! The operator contacted me several times before the tour to confirm the details and indicate that the tour would still take place. He also contacted me by WhatsApp the day before to provide detailed instructions (photos, map, GPS coordinates, etc) on where to meet the bus. We were picked up exactly on time. Our tour guide Olga was fantastic! She was super knowledgeable and had a great sense of humour so her delivery was really entertaining. It made me actually want to listen to what she had to say. We went directly to Aix en Province and walked through the streets, had pastries and coffees. Keep in mind that snacks and meals are not included. We then went to Marseille, saw the university, notre Dame de la Garde, old port, lc corniche. etc. We loved it! The tour lasts about 5h including pick up and drop off so you don't get a lot of time to wander around on your own. We had about 20-30 minutes at each stop. I like structure and don't like to wander so this suited me just fine but if you want to be dropped off and left to your own devices for hours this might not be the tour for you. Following the tour, we were dropped off at about 3pm - well before the "all aboard" call of 4:30 The only thing I would advise you about is the pick up location. They do not come into the port waving a sign around with your name written on it like other tours. You have to walk about 10-15 minutes to a location outside the security gates. It's really easy to find - follow the green walking path across the parking lot. But there are barriers along the way (locked gates, cement blocks. etc) that make it seem that you can't pass. Just speak to the security guards and they will give you permission to go around. All in all, if you're a cruise passenger with limited time in port and want to see the main parts of Marseille, I would definitely recommend this tour. We loved it! 👍

via Tripadvisor

How to Ruin your single day in Marseille

We booked this tour several months ago because we wanted to see the itinerary listed. The vendor rep, Dimitria, was quick to respond to my booking but then did not respond to my further inquiries concerning the size and type of vehicle would be used or how many passengers would be the maximum or minimum. It should have been a red flag, and I should have cancelled then. We received confirmation of the trip, two days and then again one day before. Then within 14 hours of the tour I get a notification stating our tour had been canceled and a refund was being issued. Our disappointment is beyond measure! So, instead, we spend several hours walking around Provence and trying to not focus on our canceled tour. Certainly the vendor knew before last evening that they were not going to be making that tour. If we had more time I could have gotten a private driver and still made the trip. I suspect they don’t even own vehicles and we’re just being middlemen. They should be banned from advertising their services here. I know I will never use Viator again, and I suggest you seek more experienced professionals, because this vendor has no concern about discomfiting a customer. Bob Green

Response from the operator: Your booking was cancelled in full accordance with TripAdvisor’s cancellation policy, which is available on the website at any time. Please take a closer look at the policy, which clearly states: “This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.” You received a full refund and had sufficient time to book an alternative activity. For future bookings, if you prefer to avoid the risk of cancellation due to minimum participant requirements, we recommend choosing activities that do not depend on the number of participants, such as private tours. Safe travels!

via Tripadvisor

A Relaxed Way to Explore Marseille with Kids

Traveling with children from a cruise can sometimes feel rushed, but this day worked out really well. Everything started on time at the port, and the transportation was comfortable with good air conditioning, which made a difference in the summer heat. Our guide shared interesting local stories without making it feel like a history lesson. We also had enough free time to grab lunch, browse a few shops, and enjoy the waterfront at our own pace. We returned to the ship exactly as scheduled, so there was never any stress. Overall, it was a very enjoyable family outing.

via Tripadvisor

Enjoyed Seeing More Than We Expected

We covered several highlights that would have been difficult to organize on our own in the limited time available. The guide had a friendly personality and shared useful information about local culture as well as history. We especially enjoyed wandering around the city center afterward and taking plenty of photos. The organization was smooth from pickup through the return journey, making the whole day feel easy and enjoyable.

via Tripadvisor