Private Shore Excursion or Ship Excursion on the French Riviera?
For most guests, a private shore excursion is the better way to spend a port day on the French Riviera. Every tour is fully customized to you: it is your day, and everything is possible. You leave as soon as you are ashore, travel with your own local guide in a vehicle reserved for your party, and choose your stops. For cruise guests, we will always do what it takes to bring you back to your ship at least one hour before departure or the last tender. A ship’s excursion makes sense if you prefer the cruise line to handle every detail.
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How does a private shore excursion compare with a ship excursion?
| Private with Riviera Come True | Typical ship excursion | |
|---|---|---|
| Who is in your group | Your party only | A shared coach with many other passengers |
| Itinerary | Fully customized and designed personally for your party: it is your day | Fixed route |
| Pace | Linger where you love, skip what you don’t | Set times at every stop |
| Your guide | A local French guide with more than 15 years of experience, never a seasonal driver from abroad. Our guides speak English, French, Spanish, Russian, Ukrainian, Arabic and Chinese. | Assigned by the tour operator |
| Stops | No tourist traps, no commission stops, and no factories or olive mills unless you ask | Set by the cruise line |
| How you travel | Luxury 8-seater van with Wi-Fi, water and air conditioning, or on foot; another car on request | Coach |
| Getting back aboard | Back at least one hour before departure or the last tender | Cruise lines generally wait for their own tours if they run late |
| How to book | By enquiry, with a reply in under 24 hours | Through the cruise line |
What about getting back aboard?
For cruise guests, we will always do what it takes to bring you back to your ship at least one hour before departure or the last tender. We have never made a guest miss their ship.
In fairness, cruise lines generally wait for their own excursions if those run late, and independent tours do not carry that promise. That is exactly why we make this commitment on every port day.
Which ports do you serve, and what can we see?
We meet guests at every cruise port on the French Riviera and in Provence. Each port has its own guide:
- Villefranche-sur-Mer. A tender port. Nice is about 10 minutes away, Eze about 15 and Monaco about 20, so Eze, Monaco, Nice and Cap Ferrat fit into one day.
- Monaco. Smaller luxury ships dock at Port Hercule. The Prince’s Palace, Casino Square and the Grand Prix circuit, then Eze, La Turbie or Menton.
- Nice. Smaller ships dock at Port Lympia, below Castle Hill. The Old Town, the Cours Saleya market and the Promenade des Anglais, then Eze or Monaco.
- Cannes. Mostly a tender port. Most of our guests choose Monaco, Nice and Cannes in one day.
- Antibes. Tenders land in Port Vauban beside the walled Old Town, the Picasso Museum and Cap d’Antibes.
- Saint-Tropez. A tender port. The Old Port, the Citadel, Ramatuelle, Gassin and Pampelonne.
- Marseille. A docking port and the gateway to Aix-en-Provence, Cassis and the Calanques.
- Toulon. Two docking terminals, with Bandol, Le Castellet, Cassis and Porquerolles within reach.
All ports on one page: private shore excursions on the French Riviera and in Provence.
Why go private on the French Riviera?
Because the Riviera rewards those who see it with someone who knows it. Our guides are exclusively local, with more than 15 years of experience, and they walk with you rather than dropping you off with a meeting time. There are no tourist traps and no commission stops, just the great highlights and the secret spots most guides never show their guests. We have more than 300 five-star reviews on Tripadvisor, and discretion is part of everything we do.
Frequently asked questions
Is a private shore excursion worth it on the French Riviera?
Yes, if you want to see more and wait less. The Riviera’s highlights sit close together along steep, winding roads, and a private vehicle with a local guide combines Monaco, Eze, Nice or Cannes in one day without gathering points or crowds.
Will we get back to the ship on time?
Yes. For cruise guests, we will always do what it takes to bring you back to your ship at least one hour before departure or the last tender. We have never made a guest miss their ship.
Which cruise ports do you serve?
Every cruise port on the French Riviera and in Provence, including Villefranche-sur-Mer, Monaco, Nice, Cannes, Antibes, Saint-Tropez, Marseille and Toulon.
How far in advance should we book a shore excursion?
For July and August, book at least four to six weeks ahead. For spring and autumn, two to three weeks is usually comfortable. We sometimes have availability at shorter notice, so it is always worth asking.
What should we tell you when we enquire?
Your ship, your port, your arrival and departure times, the number of guests and their ages, any mobility needs, and what you would most love to see. We reply personally in under 24 hours.
Can we share the day with friends from our ship?
Yes. Your tour is private to your party, so traveling with friends from your cruise is a natural way to enjoy the day together. For a larger party, another vehicle can be arranged on request.
Plan your private day in port
Tours are by enquiry only. Email info@rivieracometrue.com, call or WhatsApp +33 7 88 88 88 01, or send us your enquiry online. Tell us your date, your ship or where you are staying, your group size and what you love, and we will reply in under 24 hours with an itinerary designed personally for your party.
Not on a cruise? We design private days from five-star hotels and private villas too. See why travelers choose Riviera Come True and our private tours.