In order to escape the Parisian cold and to fill up on vitamin D before winter, we organized a week of telecommuting in Marseille with friends. When it comes to weekend activities, finding group activities that suit everyone can be more difficult than it seems. But if there's one consensus option that's sure to delight everyone, it's a boat rental. The promise of a colorful day.
A boat rental agency in the Old Port of Marseille
Ze Boat's splendid agency on the Old Port of Marseille, which could almost be mistaken for an artistic gallery of maritime photographs, was already announcing the quality of service. It took us only 5 minutes to fill out the rental contract and to set up the appointment for the next morning, a very appreciable flexibility made possible by the off-season period.
Ze Boat's pontoon is ideally located at the entrance to the Old Port of Marseille. This location greatly facilitates the laborious maneuvers for the exit and return of the boat.
Assisted handling
We had an appointment at 10:30 am to pick up the boat and were warmly welcomed on our arrival by José, one of Ze Boat's employees, nicknamed "blue eyes" by his colleagues. Two boats had been prepared beforehand, and we were able to choose the one that suited us best. Being a novice in the field, our captain had just obtained his boating license a few weeks before, we asked him many questions before making our choice. He knew the different models very well and was able to advise us perfectly according to our skills and the route we planned to take that day.
If the second RIB was longer than the first one, it did not have a sunbathing area at the front. On his advice, we finally decided to leave on a Tempest 700 Sun powered by a 225 hp Yamaha. He explained us the functioning of the electric windlass and the different instruments on board. We also did a quick inspection of the boat, which was in perfect condition, with no defects or signs of wear.
The boat was clean, the cushions were already installed and the gas tank was filled, all we had to do was leave! Not being very comfortable with harbor maneuvers, the Ze Boat employee offered to help us and did the necessary maneuvers to get the boat out of the pontoons, leaving us in open water to go out to sea.
Tips for a perfect day
We followed the itinerary in the harbor of Marseille and its Calanques which had been advised to us. A maritime map had been provided to us, on which José had indicated the "hidden pearls" and unmissable spots of the area. If the whole course was splendid, we particularly fell under the charm of the Riou island and the Morgiou cove. The first one, for its heavenly white sand beach, the second one for the adorable little village it shelters. And although the calendar was officially mid-November, we all went swimming several times during the day in 20°C water. Masks and snorkels can be provided at no extra charge by Ze Boat if needed. The rest of the time, the boat's sunbeds were ideal for sunbathing and picnicking to the sounds of the lapping water. The view of the creeks from the sea is well worth the reputation!
We had not planned a specific time for the return trip and José was very flexible: we just had to send him a message about 30 minutes before our scheduled arrival and he would be available to welcome us. When we returned, he was waiting for us at the end of the platform to take over. He accompanied us to the fuel station to refuel and helped us with the necessary maneuvers back at the dock.
An unforgettable day
In the end, a day at sea like this one, which offered us the discovery of the Calanques from the sea, came back to us at the cost of the boat rental, 480 euros for a Tempest 700 capable of carrying up to 12 people on board, and a full tank of 50 liters of fuel.
Ze Boat's service for this service is ideal. We were well advised on the choice of boat and the service in general was impeccable, we felt welcome and safe with a boat in perfect condition.
