In short
Without flying, Marseille is easier: a direct TGV from Brussels takes 5.5–6 hours, or about 8 from Amsterdam via Paris. Genoa is easier once you arrive: the terminal is six minutes from the station, and you fly to Genoa or to Milan and continue by train. Both ports have sailings all year, and many ships call at both.
Sailings by month
- Busiest months
- Apr, Aug, Oct
- Where ships go
- Western Mediterranean
- Usual length
- 6–9 nights
- Round trips
- almost all
Which port suits you
You want to go by train
A direct TGV from Brussels takes about 5.5–6 hours, or about 8 from Amsterdam via Paris. Or fly in two hours from Amsterdam or Brussels. There are more sailings for most of the year, and November brings the most Atlantic crossings. Bear in mind that large ships berth in the commercial port, 7 km from the centre.
Marseille port guide →You want the ship close at hand
The terminals are a six-minute walk from Piazza Principe station, with the old town and the Old Harbour 15–20 minutes away. There is a direct flight from Amsterdam, but more people fly to Milan and take the train for about an hour and a half. The season runs steadily from April to September and peaks in October.
Genoa port guide →Point by point
| What we compare | Genoa | Marseille |
|---|---|---|
| Flying from the Netherlands and Belgium | A direct flight from Amsterdam, about 2 hours. There are far more flights to Milan — from Amsterdam, Eindhoven and Brussels — then a train of about 1.5–2 hours. Allow half a day for the whole trip via Milan. | Direct flights from Amsterdam and Brussels, about 2 hours. Marseille Provence airport is in Marignane, about 25 km from the port. |
| By train from the Netherlands and Belgium | Possible, but long: more than 12 hours, changing via Switzerland or Paris. Works well with a night in Milan. | A direct TGV from Brussels — just a couple a day, about 5.5–6 hours. From Amsterdam, the Eurostar to Paris and a TGV from Gare de Lyon, about 8 hours. |
| Station and airport to ship | About 400 m from Piazza Principe station, a six-minute walk. From the airport (6 km), 15–20 minutes by taxi, or the Volabus to Principe. | From Saint-Charles station, about 20 minutes by taxi, or metro M2 to Joliette and bus 35T. No direct public transport from the airport: about half an hour by taxi. |
| Terminal to city centre | The Stazione Marittima terminals are right in the city: the Old Harbour and the old town are a 15–20 minute walk. | The MPCT terminal is in the commercial port, entrance Porte 4, about 7 km from the centre; a shuttle runs on cruise days, or 15–20 minutes by taxi from the Old Port. Smaller ships sometimes use J4, by La Major cathedral. |
| Season | All year. Steady from April to September, most sailings in October; fewer in winter, around 10–13°C by day. | All year, with more sailings in almost every month; peaks in May, October and November. Around 12–15°C in winter, and the mistral can blow hard. |
| Typical itineraries | 7 nights: Marseille, Barcelona, Civitavecchia, Naples, Sicily, Malta, the Balearics. The occasional 10–14 nights from April to September; Atlantic crossings in October and November. | 7 nights: Genoa, Civitavecchia, Naples, Sicily, Malta, Barcelona, the Balearics. 10–14 nights and short cruises in spring and autumn; Atlantic crossings from October to December. |
| City before or after | A huge old town, the palaces of Via Garibaldi (UNESCO), the aquarium and the Galata maritime museum — all close to the terminal. Focaccia and pesto on home ground. | The Old Port, MuCEM, La Major cathedral, Notre-Dame de la Garde and the Château d’If. Provence and the rocky calanques are on the doorstep. |
| Where to stay | Around Principe station and Via Balbi, a walk from the terminal; the Old Harbour, the old town or De Ferrari, 10–15 minutes by taxi. | La Joliette, closest to the port; the Old Port, Le Panier or around Saint-Charles station, 10–20 minutes by taxi in the morning. |
One route, two places to board
Genoa and Marseille are neighbours on the same loop: week-long Western Mediterranean cruises often call at both, as well as Barcelona and Civitavecchia. You can board at any port on the route, and a cruise of the same length brings you back to where you joined. So the difference lies less in the sea than in the journey, the terminal and the city around it.
- The journey decides. If you would rather not fly, Marseille is easier, with a direct TGV from Brussels. If you fly, both ports are two hours away, but in Genoa the ship is right by the station, while in Marseille you still have a ride to a terminal in the commercial port.
- Similar seasons, different peaks. Marseille has more sailings in almost every month, especially in May and in autumn. In Genoa, week-long cruises leave steadily from April to September, with the most sailings in October. Both ports have fewer sailings in winter, but week-long cruises carry on.
- Atlantic crossings in autumn. From Genoa, Atlantic crossings leave in October and November; from Marseille, from October to December, most of them in November. These are one-way voyages of 15 nights or more, with a flight home.
- Short cruises. Sailings of 2–5 nights leave Marseille mostly in April and October, and Genoa in March, October and November — a good option for a first short cruise.
- Genoa or Savona? Some cruises along the north of Italy leave not from Genoa but from nearby Savona, about 50 km to the west. Check the port in your booking before you buy tickets or book a hotel.
Weighing up other ports on the same loop? See our comparison of Barcelona and Civitavecchia.
By train, there and back
Without flying, Marseille is the simplest: the direct TGV from Brussels arrives at Saint-Charles station, about 20 minutes by taxi from the port. Arrive the day before and stay near the station or in La Joliette. Genoa works by train with a night in Milan — and from Piazza Principe station it is a six-minute walk to the ship. On the way home, take an afternoon train: disembarkation runs until about 9–10 am. More ideas in cruises without flying.
Common questions
Which is easier to reach by train, Genoa or Marseille?
Marseille. A direct TGV runs from Brussels in about 5.5–6 hours, and from Amsterdam you change in Paris and arrive in about 8 hours. Genoa takes more than 12 hours by train from the Netherlands, changing via Switzerland or Paris, so most people fly to Milan and take the train from there, about 1.5–2 hours.
Which port has the terminal closer to the city centre?
Genoa: the Stazione Marittima terminals are a six-minute walk from Piazza Principe station, and the old town is 15–20 minutes away. In Marseille, large ships berth in the commercial port about 7 km from the centre, reached by taxi, port shuttle or bus 35T.
Do the same cruises leave from Genoa and Marseille?
Often, yes. Many week-long Western Mediterranean itineraries call at both Genoa and Marseille, and you can board at any port on the route — a week later the cruise brings you back to where you joined. So it makes sense to choose your boarding port by how you travel.
Which port has more sailings, and when?
Marseille has more sailings in almost every month, especially in May, October and November. Genoa has a steady season from April to September, with the most sailings in October. Both ports have fewer sailings in winter, but week-long cruises leave every month.
How the club fits in
Cruises from Genoa and Marseille that are available in the club work on the same terms as any other route. You choose one way to pay per booking: the member price (INsider Pricing), roughly 17% below the listed price, or your Reward Points, which can cover up to half of the cruise price. They do not add up. To pay up to 100% with points, you need to have accumulated enough points and book 270 days or more before departure.
Not every cruise line can be booked through the club: check the specific sailing in the club's search, or ask us and we will tell you which Genoa and Marseille dates are available in the month you have in mind.
How booking with points works →
Seasons and destinations are summarised from cruise line schedules for 2026–2027 and may change; check the current itinerary and terminal information before you travel. Percentages describe the club's rules and are indicative. Reislite is an independent information site run by partners, not a website of inCruises.