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Nice: when your ship stops here

A 7 km seaside promenade, a flower market in the old town, and a painted fishermen chapel at Villefranche.

Facts checked Nov 6, 2026, each with its source. No prices on this page.

Nice is the prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes department on the French Riviera, with 357,737 people (2023), the 5th largest city in France. Ships list the stop as Nice (Villefranche). A cruise port guide says big ships anchor in the bay and bring passengers ashore by tender, and that smaller ships dock in Nice at Bassin Lympia in the Old Town. Shuttle buses run between Port Nice and Port Villefranche, about 10 minutes, and the distance between the two is about 5 km (3 miles) by bus or train.

Sources: Wikipedia: Nice; CruiseMapper (a cruise port guide site): Villefranche-sur-Mer (Nice)

Top 3 things to do

  1. 1. The Promenade des Anglais

    A beach boulevard that runs along the Mediterranean for about 7 km (4.3 miles), from Nice Cote d Azur Airport in the west to the Quai des Etats-Unis in the east. It began as a walkway paid for by English residents after 1820 and was first called the English Way in the local dialect.

    Tip: Our sources do not give a walking time from the berth or the tender pier.

    Sources: Wikipedia: Promenade des Anglais; Wikipedia: Nice

  2. 2. Old Nice and the Cours Saleya

    Old Nice is home to the Opera de Nice, built at the end of the 19th century. The Cours Saleya, which runs parallel to the Quai des Etats-Unis, hosts a daily market with flowers, art vendors and antiques.

    Tip: Our sources give no market hours, so check on the day.

    Source: Wikipedia: Nice

  3. 3. Villefranche-sur-Mer: the citadel and the Cocteau chapel

    A seaside town of 5,008 people on one of the deepest natural harbors in the Mediterranean, 98 metres (320 feet) deep. Its citadel, built in 1557, now holds the town hall, a convention center, three museums and an open air theatre. The 16th century Chapelle Saint-Pierre was restored in 1957 and Jean Cocteau added murals of the life of the saint and of local fishermen. The Rue Obscure, a covered passage under the harbor front houses, dates to 1260.

    Tip: A cruise port guide says the nearest train station is above the beach and reached by a stairway, with regular trains to Nice, Cannes and Monte Carlo. It gives no train times.

    Sources: Wikipedia: Villefranche-sur-Mer; CruiseMapper (a cruise port guide site): Villefranche-sur-Mer (Nice)

What to skip

Before you go ashore

You do not have to book a tour: you are free to go ashore on your own. Royal Caribbean sets the all aboard time about 30 minutes before the ship sails, posts it near the gangway, and says the ship does not wait for guests touring on their own.

Source: Royal Caribbean FAQ: Do I need to book a shore excursion?

Back-to-backs that stop in Nice

Back-to-back cruises from these home ports have a stop in Nice, from the Royal Caribbean sailings we track:

Sources

Read on Nov 6, 2026. Opening days, hours and rules change: check with the place itself before you go. legtolegcruises.com is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by Royal Caribbean International or any place named here.

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