Toulon (France Riviera, La Seyne-sur-Mer)

Toulon is a Mediterranean cruise port and France's principal naval base. The city has population around 165,000, ranking it France's 15th largest city and the country's 9th largest urban area (population around 560,000). On the Mediterranean coast, Toulon is France's 3rd largest city - following Marseille and Nice.

Smaller-sized luxury cruise ships and superyachts may alternatively dock at La Seyne-sur-Mer (to the southwest across the bay). The distance between Toulon and La Seyne is just 5 km (3 mi) across the bay, and ~7 km (4 mi) by road (travel time ~10 min).

The list of French Riviera (Cote d'Azur) ports also includes Antibes, Bandol, Cannes, Cassis, Marseille, Sanary-sur-Mer, St Raphael, Villefranche-sur-Mer (Nice) and Monte Carlo (Monaco).

Despite the post-war reconstruction, Toulon's traditional charm survived amid the narrow winding streets of the old town behind Vieux Port and the waterfront. Places of interest include 11th-century church of Saint Marie Majeure, the church of Saint Louis, and a large military hospital. Forts dating from the 17th century are found in the hills surrounding Toulon. Tourists are able to enjoy the fine views from Mont Faron and the flower market.

The town was strongly fortified by kings Henri IV (1553-1610) and Louis XIV (1638-1715). In 1707, during the War of Spanish Succession (1701-1715), the town withstood the allied fleets of England and Holland. During the French Revolution, in 1793, the Royalists handed over the control of the city to the Anglo-Spanish naval force.

Toulon also has a military port which is the French Navy's principal base. Here are most of the country's naval forces (over 60% by tonnage), including the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier and all nuclear submarines. The military port is divided into 4 main zones, each with its own Mediterranean Sea access. The main (Castigneau) zone has 2 main entrances - one located next to the civilian port, and one at the west entrance to downtown Toulon.

Port Toulon (locode FRTLN), being a naval port, remains open the whole year round, Cruise ship tourism in the region has quadrupled since 2008 when Var Provence Cruise Club (abbrev VPCC) was established. VPPC grouped several large French Mediterranean ports and intensively promotes and develops the Mediterranea cruising vacation travel in the region, resulting in increased cruise shipping traffic in both port Toulon City and La Seyne sur Mer.

For season 2017, the cruise port had scheduled a total of 100 ship visits and handled ~280,000 passengers. These numbers showed a decline over 2016, with 33% fewer ship calls and 10% fewer passengers.

In 2016 was inaugurated the new cruise terminal in La Seyne-sur-Mer. Also in 2016 was completely refurbished the passenger terminal in downtown. Annually, Port Toulon handles 1,6+ million ship passengers (ferry + cruise) and ~1300 passenger ships (ferries and cruise vessels).

Following the 2-year pause in cruise shipping operations due to the COVID crisis, in 2022 Port Toulon had scheduled 87 ship calls (booked berthings from 18 different cruise line brands) with estimated ~170,000 tourists.

Since 2023, the Port provides shore-power connectivity/cold ironing for cruise vessels. ABB's Shore Connection technology allows berthed ships to make 50 or 60Hz power connections to the city's power grid for the electricity they need for the onboard operations (instead of using their diesel generators) thus reducing in-port air pollution and noise levels. The project was developed by a consortium including ABB Group (equipment provider), Eiffage SA (construction company/contracted for the engineering works) and Electricite Industrielle JP Fauche (electrical engineering services/contracted for the equipment's installation).

Toulon cruise terminal

Toulon tours, shore excursions, hotels

City Tours and Shore Excursions

Since 2017, Toulon cruise port offers a new shore excursion - guided tour of the racing circuit Paul Ricard and an outdoor go-kart ride on Karting Test Track (KTT). The tour can be combined with a Le Castellet village visit.

• The Circuit Paul Ricard racing circuit was opened in 1970, welcoming 14 F1 Grand Prix of France, 22 Bol d’Or and 12 Moto Grand Prix.
• The cruise excursion includes guided touring of the racing circuit, Paddock, Pit Building Hall, Track Video Control Room, Telemetry Room, Medical Centre, the security lane, as well as a ride on the Karting Track, followed by lunch at ‘High Speed Club’ Brasserie.