Marseille Calanques Cruise: Is It Worth It? A Detailed Review

The Calanques National Park near Marseille is, apparently, a seriously stunning spot where dramatic limestone cliffs meet the turquoise Mediterranean Sea. Very many people rave, like your travel buddies may, about how experiencing it by boat is an amazing way to, you know, soak in the beauty. So, naturally, I was super excited to try the ‘Marseille Calanques National Park Sailing Cruise with Lunch.’ You get me? Very possibly, you are trying to decide if this cruise is, like, worth the time and money, right? That, I get. This detailed review covers, at length, pretty much everything you should know to help you decide!

Setting Sail: What to Expect on the Boat

Right from the get-go, what strikes you is the boat itself, almost always a sailboat or a smaller catamaran. Depending on the specific tour and the operator, the size is sometimes different. You could be, I guess, one of a bunch of maybe 10 to 20 fellow travelers. Very frequently, the vibe is, sort of, intimate and personal, which I think is pretty awesome. Too it’s almost the antithesis of some huge, impersonal tourist boat. The boat very often offers a shaded area, and sometimes sundecks too, that are spots for lounging, with viewpoints all the time. What seems pretty important is checking whether or not there is a toilet onboard before you book, right? Too, ask if they have snorkel gear if, as an example, you’re anticipating a swim stop.

A little after leaving the Old Port of Marseille (Vieux-Port), you instantly begin gliding past the coastline. Initially, you will go past city sights but after, very rapidly, natural beauty dominates. Depending on which way you went you will soon see gorgeous creeks, rugged cliffs, and, obviously, the intensely azure sea. Some operators tend to give details as to the different points along the coastline, too it’s almost always cool insights into the area’s history. A good guide always enriches the trip.

The Calanques Experience: Beauty and Nature Up Close

The real star of the show is, naturally, the Calanques. What seems like an incredible, beautiful stretch of coastline contains a ton of mini-fjords that formed from ages and ages of wind and water erosion of limestone. Some, the notable ones, like Sormiou, En-Vau, and Sugiton, are pretty striking because they have impossibly blue water set beside seriously dramatic cliffs. Sailing along, that almost makes for postcard-level scenery. You feel super close to it, you see. Unlike trying to get to some of these viewpoints by, say, land (which demands tricky hikes, that, too it’s almost like hours worth!) seeing them from the boat offers you a laid-back way of experiencing them.

Many times the tour companies stop to permit people to, as an example, swim right into some isolated cove. The water is generally super clear, the Mediterranean sun beams, and, so, taking a dip seems totally rejuvenating. What, I guess, might appeal to you is snorkeling! So, explore what lies just beneath the surface! Usually, what is possible to see isn’t crazy outstanding; maybe a scattering of marine life and rock formations. Just being out there in the ocean is super neat though. One possible hiccup, that said: The water is really cold even around summer. So, I hear you may prefer a wetsuit (though none tend to offer them; if you want that kind of thing then plan on bringing one).

Lunch on Board: A Taste of Provence

Let’s get down to a really crucial element; what food can you expect? Lunch is normally included in these Calanques boat trips. Is that correct? Typically, anticipate food and drinks of the local flavors. Very very, you might get something like a variety of grilled fish and meats (prepared simple but fresh), alongside Provencal side salads. The meal very often has a vegetarian choice or some other dietary choice but checking while booking seems quite useful. Local wine — Provence is, as an example, world famous because it makes rosés — will very likely be part of the feast. The wine served is always, more or less, good (you are in France!), so savoring the tastes as you gently sail with the Mediterranean, you get me? Is one very amazing moment.

That being said, how outstanding or awful the food depends. Certain tours partner with top food places or catering outfits. On others, you might find stuff isn’t crazy or creative — something simpler or more like a picnic, actually. I guess most people tend to find what is supplied tastes wonderful, you see. Partly, like your hunger probably plays a role there too! At times, the eating experience tends to be self-serve buffet. The times are rather good since being close to the Mediterranean weather improves it.

Choosing the Right Cruise: Factors to Consider

Selecting your precise sailing boat trip, sometimes demands really looking very much at certain details. Time is often crucial here; tours generally tend to be three hours, or, in some cases, all-day types. Obviously the latter give much time for relaxing but three hours might be a sensible way to, say, quickly experience the views if pressed for time. It’s useful to work out what your goal happens to be.

Costs may range quite wildly. At what point do discounts or prices rise? As a basic rule you must pay more for those that provide much better ships, meals, guides (such as licensed ecotourism guides), etc. Read traveler reviews! Seemingly many offer feedback about sailing the Marseille Calanques!

Lastly, it appears vital to find out the cancellation/refund policy just so you do not lose money in case the weather looks really bad (which can ground tiny boat tours sometimes) or some situation turns up. Typically tour companies permit full refunds or, instead, booking at some other time when there are situations such as extreme mistral winds that create dangerous seas. Make sure there’s travel insurance, and this can help a whole lot.

Is It Worth It?: My Verdict

As I said at the beginning, it’s likely you’re thinking hard about it. My final thoughts concerning this, really, hinge mostly on personal inclination but, if this is for you, it gives a cool approach for soaking up some pretty dramatic sights of the Calanques without intense levels of energy. Are the tours worth it? Very possibly so, so long as you research carefully. When looking through different operator types be seriously attentive towards cost factors balanced along factors like customer comments or features provided by those outings offered there, very much impacting final thoughts for these points.

Assuming things look positive towards them, then reserve your trip! Are the benefits enough in terms of relaxing out with Provence alongside lovely scenery of some fairly amazing bays. Sailing out makes, actually, many tourists delighted over those sights viewed here, really causing that journey itself into being really meaningful towards someone who wishes for experiencing something memorable from southern France! As a matter of fact?