By
Laura Hyde |
Marseille Provence Croisière has marked its 30th anniversary with a celebration onboard MSC Cruises’ MSC Meraviglia. The event brought together cruise industry stakeholders to reflect on the organisation’s role in transforming Marseille, France, into a leading Mediterranean cruise destination.
Approximately 100 guests, including past and present members of the non-profit organisation, cruise lines, port stakeholders, public institutions and economic partners, attended the event to celebrate three decades of achievements.
“When we created the Club de la Croisière in 1996, we were convinced that Marseille had everything it needed to become a major cruise destination,” said Jacques Truau, founding president of Marseille Provence Croisière. “But we could never have imagined how far it would come in 30 years. From a few thousand passengers and just a handful of calls, Marseille has become a leading Mediterranean destination. What makes me especially happy today is seeing how an idea championed by a few pioneers has become a truly collective achievement.”
Over the years, Marseille has attracted international cruise lines and expanded the port’s infrastructure. In 2012, Marseille hosted Seatrade Med.
Cruise passenger numbers to the region passed the one million mark in 2013. By 2025, Marseille Provence had welcomed 2,634,780 ocean cruise passengers during 660 port calls, as well as 165,616 river cruise passengers on the southern Rhône.
“We have inherited a remarkable legacy, built by successive generations of stakeholders who helped make Marseille a major cruise destination,” said Jacques Hardelay, president of Marseille Provence Croisière. “Our mission now is to evolve that model, prioritising the quality of port calls, their integration into the local community and a reduction in their environmental impact. Through Horizon 2030, we aim to chart a new course for cruising in Marseille Provence: one that is more responsible, better integrated and creates value for the region.”