Marseille

Classic port of call for European companies like Costa and MSC for western mediterranean cruises, Marseille shares importance with neighboring french ports like Cannes and Villefranche, which are typical ports of call for American companies like Celebrity Cruises, Carnival and Royal Caribbean.
Marseille has a small cruise ship terminal, but the port itself is far away from the city center (Port Vieux), so it is necessary to take the shuttle service if you want to explore Marseille.
The shuttle service provided by the companies is the most expensive I've ever seen in the Mediterranean, but justified by the distance.
The only alternative is to go to the exit of the port located about 10-15 minute away from the cruise terminal. Once there you will find a bus stop where you can take line 35 "La Joliette" that leaves you in the square of the same name 10 minutes away from Port Vieux. If there are other cruises docked in Marseille it is possible that the bus stop will be full of people waiting for the bus. I also know cases of bus drivers who saw the crowd at the bus stop and didn't stop...
So if you want the comfort and puctual shuttle service you'll have to pay the price...

OFFICIAL TOURS: A panoramic tour of Marseille, Aix en Provence, Avignon and Cassis

ALTERNATIVES: If we decide to go to Marseille, the best place to start our visit is in Port Vieux. This historic port is currently populated with fishing and pleasure boats, where you'll find an area where fishermen sell their captures. From there we can choose different routes:

• LE PANIER. Near the Hotel de Ville we'll find a red line on the floor that will help us to visit Le Panier without getting lost. Le Panier is the the oldest part of Marseille. The purpose of this excursion is to get to the Cathedral and the Vielle Charité (the archaeological Mediterranean museum). I've done it and I don't recommend it as it passes through old houses and dirty steets


• PORT VIEUX. You will find almost everything like shops, restaurants and souvenir shops, where you can buy typical soap the typical "Navettes". Near rue Republique you can find stores like H & M or Lafayette Gallery

• BUS TOURISTIC. It is not the same quality as City Sightseeing, but it is Hop On Hop Of. The frequency is so poor (every hour and a quarter) that if you pick it it's worth stopping only at Notre Dame de la Garde and make the rest of the tour without stop. The tour starts at the east side of Port Vieux, but if there are many cruise ships in Marseille you'll find endless queues. It is better to catch the bus at the stop 11 in front of Port Vieux, as you can get on and pay at any stop.

• TRAIN. It  goes straight to Notre Dame de la Garde where you can jump down and then take another one back. It is better organized, it is cheaper and starts every 20 minutes, but with less explanation of Marseille.

WHERE TO EAT: In Port Vieux there are many restaurants anf fast foods with free WIFI for clients (I recommend to eat at Quick's)

SHOPPING: In the Rue de Republique, Canebiere and Rue de Rome there are shops of all kinds

LINKS:
Tourist Bus
Tourist Train