Our Trip to Mala Cave with Nissa Croisieres

Our last day in Nice needed something easy, sunny, and memorable, and our 2:00 pm boat ride with Nissa Croisieres ended up being exactly that. It was a near perfect excursion and last activity for our time in the South of France.

This activity is great for an introduction to the South of France. It makes you feel like you're alert and really experiencing the vibe. You can book it here.

The trip gave us a fast ride out of Nice, a swim stop near Mala cave, slow coastal views past Èze and Beaulieu-sur-Mer, a Villefranche break, and then a speedy return to Port Lympia. If you’re short on time and want to see the coastline from the water without committing to a full-day tour or something expensive, I’d absolutely recommend booking it.

Leaving Nice by boat makes the city feel different right away.

A Fast Ride Away from Nice

The boat itself was an inflatable-style speedboat with rows of seats, two seats side by side. This isn’t a fancy yacht experience, but that took some pressure of. It felt casual, sporty, and simple. Everyone got a lifejacket before leaving, then the boat took off quickly from the harbour.

The ride to the cave area took about 20 minutes. I held on to my wig as the wind rushed through it. I felt like I could lose it, we were going very fast and it was quite bumpy. Once we were out on the water, Nice looked completely different behind us.

For anyone researching Nissa Croissieres or cruises in Nice, this is the kind of trip I’d recommend if the goal is a mix of swimming and sightseeing rather than a slow luxury cruise. It’s active enough to feel fun, but leaves lots of time in your day for other activities too.

Mala Cave was Underwhelming

The swimming stop was the reason I booked the activity. We arrived near Mala cave, and the crew handed out snorkeling equipment and pool noodles. I grabbed a noodle right away because snorkeling just isn’t fun for me.

Dean tried the snorkeling gear, but he didn’t love the goggles or the way the snorkel attached. That’s personal preference, and plenty of people are fine with standard tour gear, but if you’re picky about fit, bringing your own mask might make the swim more enjoyable.

I took my wig off, hopped in to the water with my noodle, and made an effort to swim into the cave. I couldn’t get very far inside, but I did notice the water felt much cooler in there. The cave itself was a little underwhelming for me. I think I expected something more dramatic, maybe it was the proliferation of boats around the entrance. However, we were the only group inside at the time.

Even though the cave didn't impress me, I’m glad we went. The water was clear, the setting was beautiful, and floating off the coast on a hot South of France afternoon is never a hardship.

The swim stop was simple, refreshing, and easy to enjoy at your own pace.

The Highlight Was Coastline Views

After the swim stop, I got back on the boat and sunned myself for the last bit of time there. Then we turned back towards Nice, but instead of speeding straight home, we slowed down and admired the coastline.

The French Riviera is gorgeous from land, but seeing it from the water gives it a whole different feel. We passed the coastline below Èze, and it brought back all the feelings from climbing up a few days before. Èze is perched high above the sea, so from the boat you really understand how whimsical the setting of that village is.

Then we passed Beaulieu-sur-Mer, which looked calm and elegant from the water. This stretch of coast is one of the reasons boat tours from Nice are worth doing. You can visit these towns by train, and you should if you have time, but the view from the sea connects them in a way that land tours don't.

The slow scenic return of the tour made it feel fuller and more thoughtful.

Barely Enough Time in Villefranche-sur-Mer

We also stopped in Villefranche-sur-Mer for about 45 minutes. I was really glad we’d visited the day before and had taken the time to see the Citadel properly, because this stop was short. It’s enough time for a quick wander, a drink, or a light bite, but not enough time to fully explore.

Since we’d already done our sightseeing there, we kept it simple. We went to DRY on the water for drinks and a quick bite, then headed back to the boat. It was exactly the kind of relaxed pause we needed.

If Villefranche is on your must-see list and you haven’t been before, I’d treat this boat stop as a taste, not the whole visit. If you do this activity early in your trip, you'll know if you want to go back. For us, it was neat to revisit the place we'd gone the day before. It really made us feel familiar with that coastline. In my opinion, the old town, waterfront, and Citadel deserve more than 45 minutes.

What I Liked About Nissa Croisieres

The biggest strength of this tour was the pacing. It moved quickly when it made sense, slowed down for the best coastline views, then gave us just enough time in Villefranche to step off the boat and enjoy the harbour.

I also liked that it didn’t eat up the whole day. A 2:00 pm sailing was ideal for our last day in Nice. We didn’t have to wake up early, rush breakfast, or plan around a long excursion.

The crew also kept thing straightforward. They explained what we were looking at in various points of the activity. Lifejackets were provided, snorkeling gear and noodles were available, and the route gave us a nice mix of swimming, scenery, and a town stop. It felt like a full day without being demanding.

Before You Book

This is a boat trip, not a luxury cruise. Expect an inflatable speedboat-style setup, close seating, and a more casual feel. If that sounds fun, you’ll probably enjoy it. If you’re hoping for a large shaded boat with lots of space to move around, this might not be your best match.

The cave may also depend on expectations. If you’re booking mainly for a dramatic cave experience, you might find it a bit underwhelming. If you’re booking for a beautiful afternoon on the water with a swim and Riviera views, it’s a great activity.

The Villefranche stop was short, but it added a lovely break to the afternoon.

My Nissa Croisieres Verdict

Yes, I’d book this boat ride again, and I’d recommend it to anyone spending a few days in Nice. It’s especially good as a first day activity because it feels special without being exhausting. You get the fun of a speedboat, the refreshment of a swim, the beauty of the coastline, and a quick stop in one of the prettiest towns near Nice.

For us, it was a really nice final memory of the trip. We left the boat sun-warmed and happy we’d done something more interesting than just wandering around until dinner.

After this activity, we went straight back to the hotel and ordered Mexican food through Uber Eats. We had a happy last day in Nice, but the whole day was bittersweet because we knew we'd be leaving soon. It really made us cherish the day.

I think this activity would have been better earlier in the trip. It would have given us a taste of Villefranche-sur-Mer and we would have known we wanted to go back, which would have made us plan that day more fully. I think of this tour as a great introduction into the south of France and what it has to offer.

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