The Europe CruiseFor the American voyager

Your voyage begins in Genoa

From the airport to the gangway, every way there and back.

Photo: Abldecn, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The short answer

Genoa is one of the easiest ports. The cruise terminals (Ponte dei Mille and Ponte Andrea Doria) are about 1 km from the city center and about 400 m from Genova Piazza Principe train station. The airport is about 5 km away.

I · Arrive by airGOAGenoa Cristoforo Colombo Airport
II · Airport to shipAbout 5 km to the terminals (port authority); MSC gives 6-10 km
III · Ways to travel4compared below
IV · BoardGenoacruise terminal
The timetable

Every way from the airport to the ship

Tap any way for step-by-step directions.

The wayFromTimeCost
TaxiGOAAbout 15 minutes in good trafficNot verified
Volabus airport busGOAAbout 30 minutes to Principe station, then a short walkNeeds an AMT 'Met Daily' 24-hour ticket (price not verified)
Train from CorniglianoGOAAbout 10 minutes by train, plus a 10-minute walk to Cornigliano stationNot verified
Cruise line transfer (e.g. MSC)GOAAbout 15-20 minutesSet by your cruise line
On the chart

Where Genoa lies

Antique-style chart of Western Mediterranean with ports markedGenoaAvignonBarcelonaRomeMarseilleRavennaSavonaVallettaAjaccioAlicanteAlmeríaAmalfi and PositanoBastiaBilbaoCadizCagliariCannesCartagenaCataniaGibraltarIbizaLa SpeziaLivornoMahón, MenorcaMalagaMessinaMonacoNaplesOlbiaPalermoPalma de MallorcaPortoferraioPortofino / Santa Margherita LigurePulaRovinjSaint-TropezSalernoSèteŠibenikSorrentoTarragonaToulonValenciaVillefranche-sur-Mer and NiceZadar
Step by step

From Genoa Cristoforo Colombo Airport (GOA)

About 5 km to the terminals (port authority); MSC gives 6-10 km

Taxi

Time About 15 minutes in good trafficCost Not verified
  1. Take a taxi from outside arrivals.
  2. Ask for 'Stazione Marittima, Ponte dei Mille' (or Ponte Andrea Doria).

Volabus airport bus

Time About 30 minutes to Principe station, then a short walkCost Needs an AMT 'Met Daily' 24-hour ticket (price not verified)
  1. Board Volabus at Aeroporto Arrivi.
  2. Get off at Principe FS.
  3. Leave the station on Via Andrea Doria, take the stairs by the Principe metro, cross to the main road, turn right then first left. The terminal is ahead.

Buy the ticket on board by contactless card, in the AMT app, or at the airport machine.

Train from Cornigliano

Time About 10 minutes by train, plus a 10-minute walk to Cornigliano stationCost Not verified
  1. Walk about 10 minutes from the airport to Genova Cornigliano station.
  2. Take a train to Genova Piazza Principe.
  3. Walk to the terminal.

Not ideal with heavy bags.

Cruise line transfer (e.g. MSC)

Time About 15-20 minutesCost Set by your cruise line
  1. Book through your line or travel agent.

MSC calls this the easiest option.

Already in town

From the city or your hotel

Walk from Piazza Principe station

Time About 6 minutes (400-500 m)Cost Free

Taxi takes about 2 minutes.

Bus or taxi from Brignole station

Time Not verifiedCost Not verified

Brignole is about 4 km away.

The night before

Where to stay

Arrive a day or two early. A delayed flight on sailing day is the most common way travelers miss the ship.

Near Piazza Principe station

Walk to the ship.

Old town / Porto Antico

Historic center and aquarium; a short taxi to the terminal.

All aboard

Sailing day

Terminals & docks

Stazioni Marittime runs the cruise terminals: Ponte dei Mille (three levels, two large ships, up to 10,000 passengers a day) and Ponte Andrea Doria (two 300 m berths, up to 8,000 a day). MSC uses Ponte dei Mille for luggage drop and valet parking.

Check-in

  • MSC: follow the ship signs to the luggage drop at Ponte dei Mille.
  • MSC valet parking runs about €70 (4 days) to €160 (13 days) for a car.

What trips people up

  • Genoa has no US nonstops; you will connect in Europe, or fly to Milan or Nice and transfer (not verified times).
  • Do not confuse Genoa with Savona, Costa's main port about 45 km west (distance approximate).

Do this

  • Stay near Principe and you can walk with bags.
  • Genoa's old town is one of Europe's largest medieval centers; worth a day.
Homeward bound

Leaving the ship: back to the airport

The same routes run in reverse. On the last morning everyone leaves at once, so lines for taxis and buses are at their longest. Book flights home for the afternoon or later, and arrange your ride in advance if you can.

The wayToTimeCost
TaxiGOAAbout 15 minutes in good trafficNot verified
Volabus airport busGOAAbout 30 minutes to Principe station, then a short walkNeeds an AMT 'Met Daily' 24-hour ticket (price not verified)
Train from CorniglianoGOAAbout 10 minutes by train, plus a 10-minute walk to Cornigliano stationNot verified
Cruise line transfer (e.g. MSC)GOAAbout 15-20 minutesSet by your cruise line
Linger a while

Before or after your cruise

Sources & what we could not confirm · 4 sources · checked 2026-11
Still being confirmed
  • Taxi fare from the airport.
  • Met Daily ticket price.
  • Distance Genoa-Savona.
  • Which other lines (besides MSC) use each terminal.