Cruises and ferries

As the second-largest port on the French Mediterranean coast, Sète is much more than just a stopover: it is a true gateway to the sea. From the quays of the Gare Maritime Orsetti, thousands of travellers set sail each year for Morocco, Algeria, Corsica, the Balearic Islands or Sardinia. Others, aboard luxury cruise ships, discover the town from the sea and stop to stroll amongst the canals and fishing quays. Whether you’re a resident of the Thau Archipelago on your way to the Maghreb, or a cruise passenger passing through the Mediterranean, Sète has something to offer you.

Sète, a port with 350 years of maritime history

Built in 1666 as the maritime outlet of the Canal du Midi, the port of Sète celebrated its 350th anniversary in 2016. Now owned by the Occitanie Region, it is the second-largest port on the French Mediterranean coast after Marseille. Its geographical location, in deep water, in the heart of Languedoc, between Montpellier and Béziers, makes it a strategic hub for cross-Mediterranean connections.

What sets Sète apart from the major ports is its human touch. The port is literally within the town: the quays are within walking distance of the centre, and cruise ships are moored just a few metres from the restaurants at Pointe Courte. It is this authentic proximity that has earned Sète the title of ‘hidden gem’ from international shipping companies.

GNV — Grandi Navi Veloci: sailing to Morocco all year round

GNV is the long-established ferry operator at the port of Sète for services to Morocco. It offers regular crossings all year round to two destinations:

Sète – Tangier-Med: direct crossing of 38 to 40 hours
Sète – Nador: direct crossing of 29 to 34 hours
Sète – Tangier via Barcelona: a stopover in Spain is possible on the outward or return journey, ideal for combining both destinations.

The GNV fleet carries passengers and vehicles (cars, motorbikes, caravans, motorhomes). The company regularly offers promotions of up to 40% off, and its Pets Welcome scheme allows you to travel with your pets.

On-site ticketing: Gare Maritime Orsetti, Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 6 pm (no departures), or until the ship’s departure on stopover days. Tel.: +33 4 67 43 35 30 — Email: booksete@gnv.it

See the website

Corsica Ferries (Corsica Sardinia Ferries): Corsica, the Balearic Islands and Sardinia

Since 2024, Corsica Ferries has been operating new routes from Sète, significantly expanding its Mediterranean network. The available routes are:

Sète – Alcúdia (Majorca): a largely overnight crossing (departure around 6pm, arrival around 9am)
Sète – Ciutadella (Menorca)
Sète – Île Rousse (Corsica): a night crossing of less than 12 hours, since July 2024
Sète – Ajaccio (Corsica)
Sète – Porto Torres (Sardinia)

These routes allow you to reach the islands of the western Mediterranean without going via Marseille or Nice, which is a real advantage for residents of Languedoc and Occitanie.

See the website

Corsica Linea: Algeria in summer

Corsica Linea, a French company, offers seasonal crossings to Algeria, exclusively during the summer months. The company focuses on providing a family-friendly and attentive service, with particular care for passengers travelling with children and senior citizens.

Destinations served:

Algiers
Bejaïa (ideal for travelling to Kabylie)
Skikda (gateway to eastern Algeria)

See the website

Algeria Ferries (ENTMV): the national ferry company

The Algerian national ferry company operates services to Sète during the peak summer season (from around 15 June to 15 September). It offers connections to several Algerian ports: Oran, Algiers, Bejaïa, Skikda and Annaba.

Practical tip: tickets to Algeria in the summer sell out very quickly, and prices rise significantly as the season approaches. It is strongly recommended that you book as soon as tickets go on sale, usually at the start of the year.

See the website

Cruises Sète, an exceptional port of call for luxury cruise ships

Alongside its ferry services, Sète is home to a booming cruise industry. The town has carved out a niche for itself: medium-sized cruise ships (between 150 and 250 metres), which are better suited to mooring in the heart of the town than the behemoths found in major ports.

In 2026, 82 port calls are scheduled at the port of Sète, representing over 60,000 passengers. This is a spectacular increase compared to the 2000s, driven by the general growth of the Mediterranean market (+25% over ten years). The record year remains 2019, with over 115,000 cruise passengers welcomed.

The cruise lines that call at Sète on a regular basis represent the top tier of the global cruise industry:

Viking dominates the schedule with over 50 port calls a year (Viking Star, Viking Vesta, Viking Neptune, Viking Saturn, Viking Sea)
Azamara (Azamara Journey, Azamara Quest)
Silversea (Silver Muse, Silver Shadow, Silver Spirit)
Seabourn (including the Seabourn Venture)
Oceania Cruises (including the Nautica)
Windstar, Crystal Cruises (Crystal Serenity), Hapag-Lloyd
Le Ponant, SeaDream Yacht Club, Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection

Where do cruise ships dock?

Ships call at several berths depending on their size: the Quai d’Alger (in the heart of the city, for smaller vessels), as well as berths P35 and M2. The quays are open to the public, subject to safety zones — watching a cruise ship arrive from the shore is a spectacle in its own right for both locals and visitors.

To view the detailed cruise port of call calendar with dates, times, ship names and cruise lines:

See the website

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