Every year, Corsica attracts nearly half a million cruise passengers to one of the six commercial ports managed by the Corsican Chamber of Commerce and Industry: Ajaccio, Bastia, Bonifacio, L’Ile-Rousse, Porto-Vecchio and Propriano.
The Port of Bastia It also benefits from the facilities provided by the island’s major transport infrastructure, including the international airports at Bastia-Poretta and Calvi-Sainte Catherine, which now offer direct flights to numerous European destinations.
The Port of Bastia is a « port in the city »… and offers passengers and crew the luxury of being able to reach city centres in just a few minutes’ walk.".
A cruise to Corsica is based on a relationship of trust that has been built up over several years with the largest international cruise lines including many companies offering very high-end holidays.
Between 450 and 500 port calls each year, with more than 30 international cruise lines calling at the port during seasons lasting up to eight months, involving more than 50 different ships – including, every year, new ships making their maiden calls, the industry’s flagship vessels equipped with all the latest technologies (scrubbers, clean fuels, waste and wastewater recycling facilities, etc.)!
The passengers we welcome on board these ships are international, mainly European, with Germans and British passengers accounting for two-thirds of the total, amongst whom there are also Italians and Spaniards. Americans, who are very keen on cruises, make up the majority of the remaining third, which also includes other nationalities such as Canadians, Australians and South Americans…
A day in Bastia
As the gateway to Corsica, Bastia offers visitors its authentic beauty: its colourful buildings with slate roofs, its way of life, its traditions and its immense artistic and cultural heritage all combine to make it a city with a deeply Mediterranean charm. From the vast Place Saint Nicolas to the Place du Marché, in the shade of century-old plane trees, it is a pleasure to stroll through the pedestrianised streets lined with trendy boutiques where Corsican creativity is brilliantly showcased.
The characteristic narrow streets of Terra Vecchia wind their way down to the cove of the Old Port, the city’s unmissable birthplace and a popular spot for fishermen and yachting enthusiasts. The lively terraces of the restaurants and cafés invite you to take a relaxing break before heading to the peaceful Romieu Gardens, which lead directly to the Citadel district. Here you’ll find the Governors« Palace, home to the museum’s collections, offering a superb panoramic view from its »hanging gardens’.
Cruise Corsica: the closest of the faraway islands
Corsica, a mountain in the sea, the ‘Island of Beauty’, wild and mysterious, with its shades of green and blue, a breath of fresh air on your Mediterranean itinerary… will live up to its promise of being a relaxing and exotic stopover.
Thanks to the great diversity of the surrounding landscapes, all our stops offer a wide range of outdoor activities, whether focused on the sea, the mountains, culture or even gastronomy. So whether it’s food tastings, hiking, horse riding, cycling or quad biking, white-water sports such as rafting or canyoning, water sports such as diving, snorkelling and kayaking, as well as many other unique activities such as tree-top adventure courses or «via ferrata» rock-climbing routes… every time of year has its own charm and offers a wide range of options for the whole family.
We’ve put together a few ideas for you to explore Corsica, its natural beauty, its history and its people, so that you can make your stopover an unforgettable experience!