Cannes, Alpes-Maritimes, France cruise port
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Cannes, Alpes-Maritimes, France

Synonymous with glamour and sunshine, Cannes delivers the full Riviera experience — a sweeping beachside promenade, a charming hilltop old town, and ferries to two pine-forested islands just offshore.

⚓ Tender port (most ships)🕒 Typical call: 8-10 hrs💶 Currency: Euro🗣️ Language: French🎬 French Riviera
Docking
Most cruise ships anchor offshore and tender to the Vieux Port; smaller vessels may berth at the Port de Cannes quays
Walk to center
Tender dock puts you directly in the Vieux Port — La Croisette is a 5-min walk
Best For
Riviera beaches, luxury shopping, the Lérins Islands, and the Palais des Festivals
Don't Miss
Ferry to Île Sainte-Marguerite and a stroll along La Croisette

Getting Ashore

Most cruise ships anchor in the Bay of Cannes and run tenders to the Vieux Port; the process is smooth and well-organised.

Getting Ashore in Cannes

  • 1
    Tender to the Vieux PortShip tenders land at the Quai Laubeuf dock in the Vieux Port (Old Port). Collect your tender ticket early; lines can build on busy port days.
  • 2
    From the dock to townYou arrive right in the heart of Cannes. La Croisette begins less than a 5-minute walk east of the tender dock. The Palais des Festivals is directly adjacent.
  • 3
    Getting further afieldTaxis queue near the port entrance. The Cannes train station (Gare de Cannes) is a 10-minute walk and connects to Nice (30 min), Monaco (1 hr), and Antibes (10 min).

💡 Pro move: Tender schedules depend on sea state. Last tender back to the ship is typically 30-45 minutes before all-aboard — check posted times.

Piers & Tendering by Cruise Line

Cannes has no dedicated cruise terminal; ships anchor and tender to the Vieux Port.

Cruise LineTypical Berth / ArrivalDock or Tender
Most cruise lines (mid-large ships)Anchor in Bay of Cannes — tender to Quai Laubeuf, Vieux Port📍Tendered
Small/luxury shipsMay berth at Quai des Îles or Quai Saint-Pierre, Vieux Port📍Docked

Top Excursions

Cannes rewards independent explorers — the best of the Riviera is reachable by ferry, train, or taxi from the port.

Iconic

La Croisette & the Palais des Festivals

Walk the famous palm-lined Boulevard de la Croisette past luxury hotels and boutiques to the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès — home of the Cannes Film Festival. Put your hands in the celebrity handprints on the Allée des Étoiles.

⏱ 2-3 hrs🚶 Easy📷 Iconic💰 Free
Book Cannes walking tours →
Nature

Lérins Islands — Île Sainte-Marguerite

A 15-minute ferry from the Vieux Port takes you to this car-free island cloaked in eucalyptus and pine. Visit the Fort Royal, where the Man in the Iron Mask was imprisoned, then swim in clear turquoise coves.

⏱ Half day🚤 Ferry ~15 min🏊 Swimming🌿 Easy walking
Book Lérins Islands ferry tours →
History

Le Suquet — the Old Town

Climb the narrow lanes of the hilltop Quartier du Suquet for panoramic views over the bay. The 11th-century Tour du Mont Chevalier and the Musée des explorations du monde (formerly Musée de la Castre — ethnographic and antiquities collections) sit at the summit.

⏱ 1-2 hrs🚶 Moderate (steep lanes)📷 Great views🏛️ Museum option
Book Le Suquet guided tours →
Culture

Antibes & Juan-les-Pins by Train

Hop the 10-minute train to Antibes to explore the medieval old town, the Picasso Museum housed in Château Grimaldi, and the Marché Provençal. Juan-les-Pins is a short walk for beach time.

⏱ Half day🚆 10 min by train🎨 Picasso Museum🏖️ Beach option
Book Antibes day tours →
Relax

Riviera Beach Day

Cannes has several public sandy beaches along La Croisette and near the Vieux Port (Plage du Midi, Plage de la Bocca). Private beach clubs line the Croisette for loungers, parasols, and lunch.

⏱ Flexible🏖️ Easy☀️ Seasonal (May-Oct best)💶 Beach clubs from €25
Book Cannes beach experiences →
Adventure

Monaco Day Trip by Train

The scenic coastal railway reaches Monaco in about an hour. Walk to the Prince's Palace, the Oceanographic Museum, and the Casino de Monte-Carlo — all within easy distance of the station.

⏱ Full day🚆 ~1 hr by train🎰 Casino🌊 Oceanographic Museum
Book Monaco excursions →

Self-Guided Walks & Hikes

Cannes is very walkable from the tender dock — the flat Croisette and the compact Vieux Port neighbourhood are both easy on foot.

La Croisette Promenade Walk

3 km | 45-60 min | Flat & easy

From the Vieux Port, walk east along Boulevard de la Croisette past the Palais des Festivals, grand Belle Époque hotels, and sandy beaches all the way to the Palm Beach casino headland. Turn around and retrace for a classic Riviera stroll.

  1. StartVieux Port de Cannes
  2. StopPalais des Festivals et des Congrès, Cannes
  3. StopHotel Martinez Cannes
  4. EndPalm Beach Casino, Cannes
🗺️ See full route in Maps →

Le Suquet Hilltop Loop

1.5 km | 45 min | Steep lanes

From the port, duck into the Quartier du Suquet via Rue Saint-Antoine, winding up past café terraces and flower-draped stairs to the Tour du Mont Chevalier. Descend via Rue de l'Hôtel de Ville for a different view of the rooftops.

  1. StartQuai Laubeuf, Cannes
  2. StopRue Saint-Antoine, Cannes
  3. StopTour du Mont Chevalier, Cannes
  4. EndMusée des explorations du monde, Cannes
🗺️ See full route in Maps →

Weather & Best Time to Visit

Climate normals for Cannes, Alpes-Maritimes, France (2014–2023 averages). Pack for the month you sail — highs, lows, and how many rainy days to expect.

MonthAvg HighAvg LowRainy Days
Jan54°F / 12°C42°F / 6°C7
Feb56°F / 13°C43°F / 6°C8
Mar60°F / 16°C45°F / 7°C6
Apr64°F / 18°C51°F / 11°C7
May70°F / 21°C57°F / 14°C8
Jun79°F / 26°C65°F / 18°C5
Jul84°F / 29°C70°F / 21°C3
Aug84°F / 29°C70°F / 21°C4
Sep78°F / 26°C64°F / 18°C6
Oct70°F / 21°C58°F / 14°C8
Nov62°F / 17°C49°F / 9°C10
Dec57°F / 14°C44°F / 7°C7

Source: Open-Meteo ERA5 (10-yr daily averages)

Insider Tips

  • Pick up your tender ticket early. On busy summer days the tender queue can delay going ashore by 30-60 minutes. Get your ticket at open and head out with the first wave.
  • 🚆
    The train is your best friend. Cannes station is 10 minutes' walk from the port and connects to Antibes, Nice, and Monaco cheaply and quickly — far easier than taxis on Riviera roads.
  • 💶
    Euros only. Withdraw cash before or use ATMs near the Vieux Port; many small cafés and the market stalls prefer cash.
  • 🏖️
    Public beaches are free. Plage du Midi (west of the port) is the best free sandy beach. The glam private beach clubs on La Croisette charge €25-50 for a lounger.
  • 🕒
    Allow extra time for the last tender. The last tender back is usually 30-45 minutes before all-aboard. Miss it and you're responsible for catching the ship at the next port.

Cruises Calling Here

Upcoming cruises that call at Cannes, Alpes-Maritimes, France. Dates, prices, and ports of call change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking.

Viking Vela
Viking Cruises
Piraeus-Athens → Barcelona
⚓ Calls 21 Feb12 nights11 portsDeparts 2027 Feb 12
View itinerary · 11 ports
12 days, one-way from Piraeus-Athens to Barcelona
  1. 12 FebDeparting from Piraeus-Athens, Greece
  2. 13 FebKusadasi, Ephesus, Turkey
  3. 14 FebSouda-Chania, Crete Greece
  4. 16 FebMessina, Sicily Italy
  5. 17 FebNaples, Italy
  6. 18 FebCivitavecchia-Rome, Italy
  7. 19 Feb - 20 FebLivorno, Florence-Pisa, Italy
  8. 21 FebCannes, France Riviera
  9. 22 FebMarseille, France Riviera
  10. 23 FebSete, France Riviera
  11. 24 FebArriving in Barcelona, Spain
Find this cruise to book →
$5898from / pp
Viking Vela
Viking Cruises
Civitavecchia-Rome → Barcelona
⚓ Calls 21 Feb6 nights6 portsDeparts 2027 Feb 18
View itinerary · 6 ports
6 days, one-way from Civitavecchia-Rome to Barcelona
  1. 18 FebDeparting from Civitavecchia-Rome, Italy
  2. 19 Feb - 20 FebLivorno, Florence-Pisa, Italy
  3. 21 FebCannes, France Riviera
  4. 22 FebMarseille, France Riviera
  5. 23 FebSete, France Riviera
  6. 24 FebArriving in Barcelona, Spain
Find this cruise to book →
$2999from / pp
Viking Vela
Viking Cruises
Round-trip from Civitavecchia-Rome
⚓ Calls 21 Feb14 nights12 portsDeparts 2027 Feb 18
View itinerary · 12 ports
14 days, round-trip 14 Night Jewels of the Mediterranean Cruise
  1. 18 FebDeparting from Civitavecchia-Rome, Italy
  2. 19 Feb - 20 FebLivorno, Florence-Pisa, Italy
  3. 21 FebCannes, France Riviera
  4. 22 FebMarseille, France Riviera
  5. 23 FebSete, France Riviera
  6. 24 Feb - 25 FebBarcelona, Spain
  7. 26 FebValencia, Spain
  8. 28 FebCagliari, Sardinia Italy
  9. 01 MarLa Goulette-Tunis, Tunisia
  10. 02 MarPalermo, Sicily Italy
  11. 03 MarSalerno, Italy
  12. 04 MarArriving in Civitavecchia-Rome, Italy
Find this cruise to book →
$6298from / pp
Oceania Sirena
Oceania Cruises
Lisbon → Civitavecchia-Rome
⚓ Calls 09 Mar 09:00 - 18:008 nights8 portsDeparts 2027 Mar 03
View itinerary · 8 ports
8 days, one-way from Lisbon to Civitavecchia-Rome
  1. 03 Mar 17:00Departing from Lisbon, Portugal
  2. 04 Mar 07:00 - 17:00Portimao, Portugal
  3. 05 Mar 07:00 - 19:00Cadiz, Spain, Sevilla
  4. 06 Mar 08:00 - 20:00Malaga, Spain Granada
  5. 08 Mar 07:00 - 16:00Barcelona, Spain
  6. 09 Mar 09:00 - 18:00Cannes, France Riviera
  7. 10 Mar 07:00 - 18:00La Spezia, Italy Riviera
  8. 11 Mar 08:00Arriving in Civitavecchia-Rome, Italy
Find this cruise to book →
$2160from / pp
Seven Seas Voyager
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Civitavecchia-Rome → Barcelona
⚓ Calls 27 Mar 08:00 - 18:0010 nights9 portsDeparts 2027 Mar 24
View itinerary · 9 ports
10 days, one-way from Civitavecchia-Rome to Barcelona
  1. 24 Mar 19:00Departing from Civitavecchia-Rome, Italy
  2. 25 Mar 08:00 - 20:00La Spezia, Italy Riviera
  3. 26 Mar 08:00 - 18:00Portofino, Italy Riviera
  4. 27 Mar 08:00 - 18:00Cannes, France Riviera
  5. 29 Mar 09:00 - 18:00Port Mahon, Menorca Island Balearic Spain
  6. 30 Mar 08:00 - 18:00Palma de Mallorca, Majorca Island Balearic Spain
  7. 31 Mar 12:30 - 23:00Ibiza, Ibiza Island Balearic Spain
  8. 02 Apr 08:00 - 16:00Valencia, Spain
  9. 03 Apr 07:00Arriving in Barcelona, Spain
Find this cruise to book →
$21598from / pp
See more cruises visiting Cannes →

Itineraries and prices change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking. Some links are affiliate links that may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.