Car rental in Port Réunion (cruise calls)

Where the vehicle handover takes place at the port

There is no Tropiloc desk at the port: each agency states on its listing how it hands over the vehicle. Depending on the agency, an agent meets you with the contract and the keys at the agreed meeting point, or a shuttle takes you to the agency, where the handover takes place. From the quay, passengers make their way to the Port Est passenger terminal (gare maritime); the quay itself lies within a restricted port area, so the meeting point is set outside it. When you book, give the ship's name and its scheduled berthing time in the message to the agency. The option you chose is repeated on your booking voucher, together with the agency's phone number.

Planning your day ashore

Allow time for disembarkation and keep a comfortable margin before the all-aboard time set by the cruise line: the ship does not wait for latecomers. From the port, Saint-Paul is about fifteen minutes away, the beaches of Saint-Gilles-les-Bains and the L'Ermitage lagoon 25 to 30 minutes, and Saint-Denis and the Barachois about 25 minutes via the New Coastal Road. The Maïdo, a balcony over the Cirque de Mafate, is about 1 hr 30 by road: set off early, before the clouds rise. The Piton de la Fournaise and Cilaos are two hours' drive or more each way; on a one-day call, they are best kept for another trip. On weekdays, the New Coastal Road and the way into Saint-Denis get busy in the morning and late afternoon.

How much a rental for a cruise call costs

Handover at the port is free with some agencies and charged by others: the amount is shown on each listing as soon as you choose “Grand Port Maritime de la Réunion” as your pick-up location, and it is included in the total price you see before paying. Some agencies also charge a supplement when the handover takes place early in the morning or late in the evening, shown in the same way. For a single day, the daily rate is usually higher than on a longer rental, and some agencies require a minimum rental length: their vehicles then do not appear for a one-day rental. So compare the total for the day, handover fees included, rather than the headline price.

What to see and do around Port Réunion (cruise calls)

• Saint-Paul and its open-air market, on Friday and Saturday morning
• The beaches of Saint-Gilles-les-Bains and the L'Ermitage lagoon
• Saint-Denis: the Barachois and the Creole houses of rue de Paris
• The Maïdo and the view over the Cirque de Mafate
• Dos d'Âne and the Cap Noir viewpoint, above La Possession

Tips for renting a vehicle in Port Réunion (cruise calls)

• Book before your cruise, giving the ship's name and berthing time.
• Choose the port as your return location and keep at least an hour's margin before the all-aboard time.
• Keep the agency's number, printed on your booking voucher, with you.

Frequently asked questions