BOAT-COMPARATOR Guide
A boat weekend from Marseille to Cassis: the 2-day itinerary
Saturday the Frioul, Sunday the calanques: the perfect rental weekend out of Marseille — night in port, full budget and the weather plan B.
Two days afloat beat one rushed day: the Marseille-Cassis weekend is THE formula for tasting cruising without taking leave. Here is the well-tried itinerary, budget included.
Saturday: the Frioul and the southern harbour
Boat pick-up at 9 am in Marseille (Old Port or Pointe Rouge), course for the Frioul: swim at the Crine inlet, lunch at Frioul harbour, lap of the Château d'If. In the afternoon, the southern roadstead and Les Goudes, anchoring under Maïre island. Night at the home port or, for cabin boats, in the calm of Frioul harbour — sleeping aboard is half the pleasure.
Sunday: the calanques to Cassis
Off at 8:30 (morning sea, always), the calanques parade: Sormiou, Morgiou, En-Vau for the mythical swim stop, Port-Pin, and lunch at anchor off Cassis. Home in the afternoon along Cap Canaille and the Côte Bleue if weather allows — lines ashore at 6 pm, memories banked for winter.
The full budget (6-8 people)
A cabin motorboat or big RIB over two days: €600-1,100 by season, fuel €150-250 (the calanques are cruised slowly, which helps), optional harbour night €30-60, provisioning your way. That is €120-220 per person for the whole weekend — festival money, for a memory with unlimited replay value.
The weather plan B
Mistral forecast for Saturday? Invert: calanques Saturday morning before it arrives, Frioul on Sunday (the archipelago shelters better). Mistral set in for both days: the southern roadstead often stays workable, and Marseille operators — used to it — offer rebooking or refunds. Book flexible; the region demands it.