Toulon (France Riviera, La Seyne-sur-Mer)

Cruise Port schedule, live map, terminals, news

Rating:
Toulon cruise port

Region
Mediterranean - Black Sea

Local Time
2024-12-25 00:35

min: 38 °F (3 °C) / max: 55 °F (13 °C) 46°F
7.5°C
Wind: 36°/ 3.8 m/s  Gust: 3.8 m/sWind: 36°/ 3.8 m/s  Gust: 3.8 m/sGentle breeze
3.8 m/s
Min / Max Temperature55 °F / 13 °C
38 °F / 4 °C
  Port Map

Port Toulon cruise ship schedule shows timetable calendars of all arrival and departure dates by month. The port's schedule lists all ships (in links) with cruises going to or leaving from Toulon, France Riviera, La Seyne-sur-Mer. To see the full itineraries (ports of call dates and arrival / departure times) and their lowest rates – just follow the corresponding ship-link.

DayShipArrivalDeparture
19 November, 2023
Sunday
Oceania Cruises Cruises cruise lineOceania Nautica08:0018:00

Toulon is a Mediterranean cruise port and France's principal naval base. The city has population around 165,000, ranking it France's 15th largest city and the country's 9th largest urban area (population around 560,000). On the Mediterranean coast, Toulon is France's 3rd largest city - following Marseille and Nice.

Smaller-sized luxury cruise ships and superyachts may alternatively dock at La Seyne-sur-Mer (to the southwest across the bay). The distance between Toulon and La Seyne is just 5 km (3 mi) across the bay, and ~7 km (4 mi) by road (travel time ~10 min).

The list of French Riviera (Cote d'Azur) ports also includes AntibesBandolCannesCassisMarseilleSanary-sur-MerSt RaphaelVillefranche-sur-Mer (Nice) and Monte Carlo (Monaco).

Despite the post-war reconstruction, Toulon's traditional charm survived amid the narrow winding streets of the old town behind Vieux Port and the waterfront. Places of interest include 11th-century church of Saint Marie Majeure, the church of Saint Louis, and a large military hospital. Forts dating from the 17th century are found in the hills surrounding Toulon. Tourists are able to enjoy the fine views from Mont Faron and the flower market.

The town was strongly fortified by kings Henri IV (1553-1610) and Louis XIV (1638-1715). In 1707, during the War of Spanish Succession (1701-1715), the town withstood the allied fleets of England and Holland. During the French Revolution, in 1793, the Royalists handed over the control of the city to the Anglo-Spanish naval force.

Toulon also has a military port which is the French Navy's principal base. Here are most of the country's naval forces (over 60% by tonnage), including the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier and all nuclear submarines. The military port is divided into 4 main zones, each with its own Mediterranean Sea access. The main (Castigneau) zone has 2 main entrances - one located next to the civilian port, and one at the west entrance to downtown Toulon.

Port Toulon (locode FRTLN), being a naval port, remains open the whole year round, Cruise ship tourism in the region has quadrupled since 2008 when Var Provence Cruise Club (abbrev VPCC) was established. VPPC grouped several large French Mediterranean ports and intensively promotes and develops the Mediterranea cruising vacation travel in the region, resulting in increased cruise shipping traffic in both port Toulon City and La Seyne sur Mer.

For season 2017, the cruise port had scheduled a total of 100 ship visits and handled ~280,000 passengers. These numbers showed a decline over 2016, with 33% fewer ship calls and 10% fewer passengers.

In 2016 was inaugurated the new cruise terminal in La Seyne-sur-Mer. Also in 2016 was completely refurbished the passenger terminal in downtown. Annually, Port Toulon handles 1,6+ million ship passengers (ferry + cruise) and ~1300 passenger ships (ferries and cruise vessels).

Following the 2-year pause in cruise shipping operations due to the COVID crisis, in 2022 Port Toulon had scheduled 87 ship calls (booked berthings from 18 different cruise line brands) with estimated ~170,000 tourists.

Since 2023, the Port provides shore-power connectivity/cold ironing for cruise vessels. ABB's Shore Connection technology allows berthed ships to make 50 or 60Hz power connections to the city's power grid for the electricity they need for the onboard operations (instead of using their diesel generators) thus reducing in-port air pollution and noise levels. The project was developed by a consortium including ABB Group (equipment provider), Eiffage SA (construction company/contracted for the engineering works) and Electricite Industrielle JP Fauche (electrical engineering services/contracted for the equipment's installation).

Toulon cruise terminal

Cruise ships to Toulon dock at 2 ports: Toulon (Port Marchand in downtown) and Port La Seyne-sur-Mer (to the southwest across the bay).

La Seyne-sur-Mer is regarded French Mediterranean's most sheltered harbor port, being well protected in the winter from the Mistral wind. Mistral is a strong and cold northwestern wind blowing into the Gulf of Lion from southern France. Sustained winds (most common during winter and spring) often exceed speeds of 66 kph (41 mph), with the strongest winds (between seasons) reaching speeds of 456 kph (283 mph).

The new cruise terminal at La Seyne-sur-Mer was inaugurated in 2016.

At both cruise ports, VPCC (Var Provence Cruise Club) has a welcome desk with professional hostesses who provide disembarking cruise ship tourist with information, advice and maps. The club also started a "cruise friendly" campaign by which arriving tourists are given maps of participating in the campaign restaurants, bars, shops, tour operators, transport providers, art galleries, museums. All businesses and establishments participating in this program are open during cruise ship visits and give passengers discounted deals, free gifts, special services.

Toulon Center Cruise Terminal

Toulon cruise port is located in the city centre and can accommodate 3 smaller-sized cruise vessels at a time, Additional ships are anchored in the bay. The port's terminal buildings also serve the ferries to the islands of Corsica (France), Sardinia (Italy) and Elba (Italy).

At the terminal there are welcome desk, snack bar, public phones and toilets, vending machines, large-scale city map (showing most popular points of interest), small craft market.

Outside the terminal there are 3 car parks with total capacity up to 75 tourist (shuttle) buses. At the terminal there is also a board showing taxi ranks and another one listing taxi prices to nearby destinations (flat fares are offered exclusively for cruise ship passengers).

This cruise port has 3 quays / docking areas:

  • Quai Fournel - length 345 m, max draft 7 m, ground area 7000 m2, bollards (17)
  • Quai Minerva - length 165 m, max draft 7 m, ground area 3000 m2, bollards (8)
  • Corsica Quai - length 184 m, max draft 6,4 m, ground area 8300 m2, bollards (7)
  • The max LOA length allowed is 300 m (984 ft).

La Seyne-sur-Mer Toulon Cruise Terminal

At the La Seyne port dock large-sized cruise ships. The port's terminal buildings were extensively refurbished in 2016. The port now features an enlarged car parking and bus parking areas, free wi-fi service, craft market. A large leisure complex is planned to be build in the terminal's area.

The Seyne cruise terminal's facilities include Comptoir office ((multilingual hostesses, reception, tour and city information), cruise line desk, accessible toilet, drinks dispensers, seating areas.

The options to go from La Seyne-sur-Mer to Toulon include:

  • Private boat shuttles leave from the cruise ship terminal (about 15-min ride).
  • Public water buses (line 8M) leave from a bus stop located at ~5 min walking distance from the cruise ship terminal.
  • Enter La Seyne to catch public bus (lines 8 or 18), The ride to the city takes ~1/2 hour.
  • Other options at the terminal include car rental or bicycle rental.

The La Seyne cruise terminal is located at ~20-min walking distance from the town centre. Bus line 81 goes from the terminal to the city, and there is a small tourist train too. The train also visits Les Sablettes (beach area).

Toulon tours, shore excursions, hotels

City Tours and Shore Excursions

Since 2017, Toulon cruise port offers a new shore excursion - guided tour of the racing circuit Paul Ricard and an outdoor go-kart ride on Karting Test Track (KTT). The tour can be combined with a Le Castellet village visit.

  • The Circuit Paul Ricard racing circuit was opened in 1970, welcoming 14 F1 Grand Prix of France, 22 Bol d’Or and 12 Moto Grand Prix.
  • The cruise excursion includes guided touring of the racing circuit, Paddock, Pit Building Hall, Track Video Control Room, Telemetry Room, Medical Centre, the security lane, as well as a ride on the Karting Track, followed by lunch at ‘High Speed Club’ Brasserie.
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