Port Napolean/Napolaon. Port St Louis Du Rhone

Drove through last September out of interest; didn't see anything that would make me use or not use the place. Itjust seemed very desolate if that is the right term...very un-inviting...but there were quite a few spaces.

All the industry so close does spoil the area and you can smell the refineries.


Phil
 
We had a week in Port Napoleon last June as we were waiting for our mast to catch up with us, and found that despite its size it was a friendly helpful place to be.

Whilst we were there the Jeanneau commissioning team were behind schedule due to some faulty masts so there was a lot going on as they raced to catch up and some customers got pushy. That just added to the entertainment.

We tended to spend the morning tinkering or in town and in the afternoon went to the beach which was a 20 minute bike ride away.
Without our bikes it would have seemed more cut off. I seem to remember the gates were locked at dusk. We were never out that late but there must be some way round it.

Mozzies were a pain. Showers and toilets were basic for the size of the place, though I think they had plans for those. Bar/resturant with daily happy hour and WiFi. Small selection of groceries in the morning. Well stocked chandlery on site, plus another on the way to town.

All in all we could have been stuck in far worse places and whilst we were initially unhappy about being delayed we enjoyed our 'holiday'.

One word of caution. Everything is booked through the reception and last year the girls running it, though keen to help and painfully gorgeous, lacked a little attention to detail. Not a problem as long as you know in advance so you can double check everything.

I take it you have seen their website. Marc the manager responded quickly to e mails last year if you have any specific queries.

If you want to be nearer town Port St Louis may be more to your liking.


Steve
 
Yes the prices are now very in keeping with the med!!

Its cut off very safe though, On the plus side their priceing will at the moment mean you should find a place.

I prefer port St Loise even though it now(and for quite some years,how time flies)a "marina" with a port office and capitain!!

Port St Louis is still in a time warp with the abandond industrial landscape a small village plus a veiw of the Rhone!

I like being there in winter or spring for a short stay
 
Currently in Port Saint Louis, it is convenient for the grocery shopping and has a really helpful chandler at U-Ship. Lift out facilities and marine services may be found at Navy services. Port Napolean is expensive 200 Euros for restepping 2 masts, compared to Navy Services 75 Euro per half hour. It has been a good stop to get my boat ready for the next stage, but the Mistral is a pain. Most people now just waiting for a good weather window to leave.
 
Thanks to everyone who has responded. I have emailed PN with a query and got a favourable response. A guy called Marc seems ok. I looked at the Martima Martigues web site too but maybe it was my previous good experience with PN that made me think in terms of returning this autumn.

Thanks again.
 
Hi,

yes my Yacht is on the hard at port nap & I have been there for a year. I just got back to UK so update as follows:

Facilities: All the normal boat facilities are there but PM me regarding prices & local knowledge.
Showers etc. They now have a new restaurant & shower block working, along with a good laundry. Also they have a happy hour from 6 to 7 where they give you 2 beers for 1......oh dear!!! stay away from the german larger, very addictive.
Berths; plenty of hard standing, water berthing - ok now but gets filled quickly in early spring.

There was some negative comments but I have had no problems down there & in fact I think they are a friendly bunch. The area is not the Solent but a bike ride away is Port St Louis with most of the normal supermarkets, retaurants cafes etc.
A 30min car ride is Arles with another 10/15 mins to Nimes airport with good connections to UK via Rynair. I also understand that Flybe will be going into Marseilles for the summer from Southampton, there are also connections from Liverpool.

anything else send a PM /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

poter
 
"Freya", our new Jeanneau was commissioned there in January and is spending the next three months there whilst we make sure everything works, before leaving for Barcelona.

Marc is the Port Director - A Belgian who is really tuned in to customer service...prices are a little steep though, although we got a good discount because we had Yacht Services who are based there (great outfit BTW) commission "Freya"

Nice bar, very friendly folks but as someone said, a little desolate and a long way from the shops.

They run a taxi service to/from Nimes BTW if you want to save some money.

Nick & Pam
 
As your there could you post the current daily rate now and in summer for perhaps an 8m 10m&12m boat to stay there.
When ever ive been there its been very full!! perhaps you could ask if there are sometimes places in summer still?? Please

There was last year an old grey wreck of a car a van almost but not quite striped P17 opposite the capitanerie behind the house in the "garden" is it still there??

All these questions! but i havent managed to get there plans dont always go as they are planed!at least mine /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Can I add to your questions? What price is it for a lift to Nimes? You also said prices were a bit steep for services Worse than elsewhere on the soF? And someone asked about room for another boat. Is there plenty of dry storage space in you opinion? In 1998 it was half full, to be positive.

[/ QUOTE ]

They charge (I think) €75 each way - a taxi is €100 each way.
I wouldn't say that prices were any worse than the rest of the MED, but unlike a lot of French marinas, this one is not municipally owned, so they are free to charge "private marina" prices which are much less than (for example) Port Camargue.
There is still a lot of dry storage available (at least it looks like it to me) and they market that hard - I demanded and paid for an afloat berth and they keep telling me how much cheaper it would be to keep our boat ashore because they want the space...they struggle for floating space in the summer...we'll be gone by then - heading west!!
 
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