Passenger

Cruise Tourism: Marseille Aims to Better Manage Passenger Flows

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L'équipe de Marseille Provence Croisière fêtera les 30 ans de l'association à la fin de l'année - Photo : MPC

CroisiEurope


“Our aim is not to run more cruises, but to do better.”

One year after his election as president of Marseille Provence Croisière (MPC), Jacques Hardelay reiterates the direction he intends to give the association: to better integrate cruise activity into the region and maximize its local economic impact.

This strategy notably involves a better understanding of the passengers.

MPC has strengthened its statistical observatory to analyze nationalities, maritime and riverine flows as well as the itineraries of cruise passengers in the city.

The objective is in particular to anticipate saturation risks in certain neighborhoods.


Targeting the Mainline Passengers

These data should also feed a joint strategy with Marseille Provence Airport to develop direct air links and attract more passengers boarding or disembarking in Marseille.

A clientele known as the ‘head of line’, deemed more beneficial for the local economy since they are likely to stay in the city before or after their cruise.

In the same spirit, Marseille Provence Croisière is preparing the promotion of the future J4 maritime terminal, which should allow the destination to strengthen its positioning in the luxury small-cruise market.

On the environmental front, the on-quay electrical power supply installations, officially inaugurated in April 2026, are now operational. A commissioning phase is nonetheless necessary: each vessel must carry out its own tests and adjustments before regularly using the equipment.

According to MPC, several shipowners are choosing Marseille to carry out these technical tests.


Marseille Provence Croisière Will Celebrate Its 30th Anniversary

The association is also working on developing short provisioning circuits for ships, with initial direct contracts between inland shipowners and regional wine producers, and similar efforts undertaken for maritime cruising as well.

The association also plans to strengthen dialogue with local stakeholders. Working groups bringing together hoteliers, merchants and tourist sites have been created, while a strengthening of territorial governance is scheduled for July.

This new phase comes a few months before Marseille Provence Croisière’s 30th anniversary. Created in 1996 under the name Club de la Croisière Marseille Provence, the association adopted its current name in 2023.

Cruise Deal: Save Up to 60% on the Second Passenger for 2026 Departures

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An Exclusive Promotion on CentralCruise!

Visuel généré par IA © CentralCruise

CroisiEurope


On CentralCruise’s site, an exceptional offer is highlighted that allows you to obtain up to 60% off the second passenger, accompanied, depending on certain cruises, by a discount of up to €200 per cabin.

As with any limited-time offer, this will only be possible on certain cruises. Thus, the cabins benefiting from this reduction can be booked quickly, especially on the most sought-after itineraries. In other words, if you wait too long, the discount is likely to no longer be available!

With more than 15 years of experience, CentralCruise supports its clients before, during, and after their booking, with a dedicated advisor and no processing fees. Among the agency’s advantages, in addition to the 60% reduction on the second passenger, you have the option to travel with more than 30 partner companies for a wide choice of destinations, and bookings with no processing fees.


How to Take Advantage of This Great Plan for Your Future Cruise?

Not sure how to take advantage of this great deal? No worries, this offer is accessible in just a few steps. Before booking, however, it is advisable to verify that the cruise you want to book indeed meets the promotion’s conditions to benefit from your discount.

Choose a cruise on CentralCruise

The first step is to choose an itinerary that matches your wishes. CentralCruise offers cruises to numerous destinations, with different companies, several departure ports, and a wide variety of stay durations. Regardless of your budget, you can thus select a trip tailored to your departure period and your desires.

Check cruise availability and application of the promotion

Not all cruises are covered by this discount, which is why it is necessary to verify that the cruise appears among the promotional offers, and that cabins are still available.

Moreover, remember that promotions are offered on a selection of cruises, so their availability changes hour by hour with bookings!

Book your cruise

Once your choice is validated and the promotion confirmed, all that remains is to finalize the booking. For this, when necessary, CentralCruise supports travelers during this step, and even offers several payment options.



Visuel généré par IA © CentralCruise


And you, what will be your destination of choice?

2026 is a dream opportunity to set off on a world cruise. Whether you’re seeking sunshine, natural landscapes, or a culturally rich itinerary, many destinations are within reach.

The Mediterranean

The Mediterranean remains a must-see destination for a first cruise. It allows you to discover several countries in one trip, with stops in historic cities and renowned seaside resorts. Departures from Marseille, Barcelona, Genoa, or Venice offer numerous itinerary possibilities on CentralCruise.

The Caribbean

For those who dream of white-sand beaches, turquoise waters, and a tropical climate, the Caribbean remains a highly appreciated destination. On CentralCruise, you’ll find companies offering departures throughout the upcoming winter season, with different itineraries to better explore the islands within a single cruise.

The Fjords and Northern Europe

Travelers drawn to spectacular landscapes can favor the Norwegian fjords or Northern Europe. Between mountains, waterfalls, coastal villages, and long summer days, these itineraries offer an experience completely different from Mediterranean cruises.

The Greek Islands

Finally, the Greek islands captivate with their historic heritage, whitewashed villages, and crystal-clear waters. This destination will let you alternate between cultural sightseeing, seaside relaxation, and discovering several islands during the stops, all while enjoying particularly pleasant weather conditions.

When Flying: These 10 Bad Passenger Habits Annoy French Travelers

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On solid ground as well as at altitude, it remains difficult to get everyone to adopt proper manners, as demonstrated by a new Booking.com study, unveiled to the press on Wednesday, July 8. Among the reservation site’s respondents, 61% of the French, drawn from 1,000 adults who had taken an international flight in the past twelve months, feel that some travelers exercise a bit too much leeway in the air.

65% Cut in Air Passenger Tax: Here Are the 26 Affected Lines

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Baisse de 65 % de la taxe sur les billets d'avion : voici les lignes 26 lignes concernées ! - depositphotos.com Auteur ilixe48

IFTM


The government is implementing, from June 1, 2026, a reduction in the passenger air transport tax (TSBA) for certain air routes deemed essential to territorial development.

Announced by Philippe Tabarot, Minister of Transport, this measure targets routes operated under a public service obligation (PSO) and under a public service delegation (DSP).

The scheme reduces by 65 % the amount of tax applied to each ticket, dropping it from 7.40 euros to 2.63 euros.

Planned by the initial 2025 finance law, this reduction was conditioned on the prior agreement of the European Commission. French authorities had begun talks with Brussels since the law’s enactment. Following these exchanges, the Commission confirmed the measure’s compatibility with EU law, thus paving the way for its entry into force.


The government is working to extend the scheme to overseas territories.

The measure covers, notably, several metropolitan routes serving towns such as Aurillac, Brive, Le Puy-en-Velay or Rodez. It also includes connections between Corsica and the mainland, notably to Paris-Orly, Marseille and Nice, as well as the links connecting Strasbourg to various European metropolises and the Brest–Ouessant line. In total, 26 air routes are affected.

The decree implementing this reduction was published on May 31, 2026.

“By making these routes more financially accessible, this measure reflects the Government’s will to support the connectivity of the least-served territories and to ease the cost of air travel to and from these destinations,” stated Philippe Tabarot.

The minister also indicated that the government would continue its work to extend a similar scheme to overseas territories.

The European Commission, however, regarded the mechanism provided for in the finance law for Overseas routes as not legally retainable in its current form. “We therefore actively pursue the work started to find a solid and appropriate legal solution for our Overseas Territories,” he added.


Here are the 26 routes affected by the air ticket tax reduction:

– Aurillac – Paris ;

– Brive – Paris ;

– Le Puy – Paris ;

– Castres – Paris ;

– Rodez – Paris ;

– Limoges – Paris ;

– Tarbes – Paris ;

– Brest – Ouessant ;

– Limoges – Lyon ;

– La Rochelle – Lyon ;

– Poitiers – Lyon ;

– Strasbourg – Madrid ;

– Strasbourg – Munich ;

– Strasbourg – Copenhagen ;

– Ajaccio – Paris (Orly) ;

– Bastia – Paris (Orly) ;

– Calvi – Paris (Orly) ;

– Figari – Paris (Orly) ;

– Bastia – Marseille ;

– Bastia – Nice ;

– Calvi – Marseille ;

– Calvi – Nice ;

– Ajaccio – Marseille ;

– Ajaccio – Nice ;

– Figari – Marseille ;

– Figari – Nice.


Passport Without a Given Name: Why This Passenger Was Denied Boarding [ABO]

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Passeport sans prénom : pourquoi ce passager a été refusé à l’embarquement - Depositphotos.com Auteur LP2tudio

CroisiEurope


A passenger filed a complaint with Mediation following a boarding denial on a flight from Paris to the United Arab Emirates, the first leg of a journey aimed at reaching Chennai. He sought reimbursement for the costs incurred to modify his trip, as well as compensation for a service he lost at the destination.

The travelers held a confirmed booking for two successive flights operated by the same airline. They planned to spend four days in the Emirates to celebrate a family event and had even booked a table at a restaurant.

On the day of departure, the passenger’s boarding was refused because the prenom on his passport was “ Xxx ” and his passport contained no other given names, but only a surname.

Forced to adjust his itinerary, the passenger incurred costs to reserve a direct new flight to his final destination. He also had to pay cancellation fees related to the booking made in the Emirates.



What the texts say:

Legally, the airline’s General Conditions of Carriage remind that it is the passenger’s responsibility to verify entry requirements for the countries visited and to ensure the compliance of their travel documents.

Moreover, information published by French authorities indicates that since December 2023, the United Arab Emirates have been denying entry to travelers whose passports contain incomplete or atypical information, notably when entries such as “X” replace a name, a given name, or a date of birth.

UAE authorities’ guidance also confirms that travelers whose passport contains only a surname, with no given name, are not allowed to enter the territory.


What the Tourism and Travel Mediation recommends:

In this context, the boarding denial appears justified, as the passenger did not possess documents that conform to the local authorities’ requirements.

Consequently, the costs incurred to modify the ticket cannot be reimbursed. Similarly, the loss of the restaurant reservation does not constitute compensable harm, as it did not correspond to a damage foreseeable at the time the contract was formed, in accordance with Article 1231-3 of the Civil Code.

In light of these elements, the Tourism and Travel Mediation concluded that there was no legal basis to require the airline to reimburse the claimed sums.


Find all the practical cases of the Tourism and Travel Mediation by clicking HERE.


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