Ship docks 2 or 3 miles from Marseille, but will organise a free or low-cost shuttle into centre at the Marina area. It is easy enough to walk round the town, or take the open-top bus tour (hop on-off) available from the Marina area.

There is a cathedral on the hill-top overlooking Marseille, and some folks consider it worth a visit...the bus-tour has a stop there.

Cannot advise for Genoa.

We walked from the dock in Genoa to the centre- it took about 20 minutes but was an easy walk. Apparently there was a shuttle bus provided by the port but only a few people were aware of it. The aquarium is at the entrance to a large market square from where you can either walk into the old part of town or get the open top bus, which was a good little tour. Genoa was quite interesting and had a lot of charm, very narrow streets in the old town with some lovely squares and parks. Main attractions are the aquarium, the big O (a futuristic elevator ride on the quayside) and Columbus' house. There is also the pirate ship used in Polanski's "Pirates", a rain forest in a big glass dome, and the oldest working lighthouse in the world (or europe!).