Mediterranean Cruise Guide: Best Itineraries Planning Tips And Things To Do
No two Mediterranean cruises are the same. Some bring travelers to the French and Italian rivieras for food, wine and cultural pursuits. Others head east to the Greek Islands, where passengers alternate days sipping ouzo at a beachfront taverna with trips to ancient sites. Each itinerary is a mix of urban tourist capitals Barcelona! Rome! Istanbul! Jerusalem! and sleeper gems, such as Portofino, Italy, or Kotor, Montenegro.
If youve never been to Europe, you may feel overwhelmed by destination choices. If you know which ports are on your must-see list, you might be more stumped by which cruise line to choose or which specific itinerary will be the best for you.
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Know that you cant see everything in one Mediterranean cruise even on sailings that run multiple weeks. Once you let go of your need to see and do it all and accept that youre on a sampler tour, you’ll be better able to make your cruise selections and enjoy the ports your ship does visit.
Get started with this Mediterranean cruise guide. You’ll learn the basics of itineraries, cruise lines, destinations, when to go and when to book your European adventure at sea.
What To Bring On A Mediterranean Cruise
The Mediterranean region has a temperate climate, but it still gets chilly in the spring and fall and can be brutally hot in the summer. Check the weather before your sail date and pack for the predicted temperatures with layers, in case the forecasters are wrong and its unseasonably hot or cold.
You’ll likely do a good deal of walking on a Mediterranean cruise, so a good pair of walking shoes is a must. Bonus if you can find cute options you can wear on sea days or sneakers that can do double duty in the ships gym.
If your tours take you to religious sites, especially in Israel and Egypt, you might need a modest outfit that covers shoulders, arms and knees. Ladies, a shawl is a versatile option you can toss over your shoulders , use for warmth with your strappy formal night attire or as a blanket on the airplane.
Of course, North Americans taking Mediterranean cruise vacations will need a passport to fly to and from their ships departure and arrival ports.
Experience A New Port Every Day Of Your Cruise
Norwegian’s itineraries have been designed to provide you the opportunity to explore the Mediterranean just the way you want to. Explore the highlights of this region in 7 days on one of our Western Mediterranean cruises. With fewer days at sea, you will get the most amount of time to explore some of the Mediterranean’s best hits. Looking for a longer adventure? Cruise from Rome, Athens, Venice or Barcelona and experience Italy, Croatia and Spain on one of our Grand Mediterranean cruises.
- Gaudis Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain
- Bay of Kotor, Kotor, Montenegro
- The Amalfi Coast, Naples, Italy
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Athens To Barcelona Celebrity Cruises
Route: 10 nights Athens, Mykonos, Santorini, Valletta , Rome, Florence/Pisa , Nice , Provence , BarcelonaCruise line: Celebrity CruisesCruise ship: Celebrity Apex
A 10-night cruise means more ports on your itinerary. This fantastic cruise offers stops in Greece, Malta, Italy, France, and Spain. Seeing so many places in the same vacation you only need to unpack your suitcase once is why many love cruise vacations. Not only that, you are traveling in style.
Elegant Celebrity cruise, a luxury cruise line, starts your cruise from Athens. We recommend at least three nights to enjoy the city before you start your cruise. Discover the magic of ancient Greece before you sail.
Mykonos and Santorini are two of the most beautiful Greek Isles in the Aegean Sea.
You then sail towards the western Mediterranean. You stop at the island of Malta and its tiny Baroque capital, Valletta. Malta is the sunniest spot in Europe and was rightfully voted the European Capital of Culture a few years ago.
In Rome, a one-day stop relies on good planning to see all the main tourist sights. A popular golf cart tour takes you to places of prominence, or book a guided tour with your cruise line.
Florence and Pisa can be visited from the port of La Spezia, as can Cinque Terre or Portofino. Florence is a gem. Its always a dilemma for many on which shore excursion to choose from in La Spezia, as the whole region is stunning.
Are You Available This June Have You Considered Cruising Around The Mediterranean
Reserve your cabin on the Celebrity Edge and prepare for seven days of exciting travel around the Mediterranean from Rome to Barcelona!
This cruise is particularly exciting because you will exclusively spend time in extremely rare ports such as Portofino, Corsica, and La Spezia. This route is a rare one for the Edge, As it sails it just once.
Our price is the total price, including all meals, entertainment, port charges, and taxes.
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When To Book A Mediterranean Cruise
Its a good idea to book your Mediterranean cruise early, even nine to 12 months in advance. You can take advantage of early booking discounts and promotions and have the widest selection of available cabins and suites and dining times . An early booking is ideal if youre planning on using miles to book your flights or points for a pre-cruise hotel. Look for fall sales when the current Mediterranean season is winding down.
Another smart time to book a Mediterranean cruise is during January or February when cruise lines run their wave season sales, often with lots of extra freebies thrown into the cost of the sailing. You might find last-minute deals on spring cruises to Europe or still be considered early for fall itineraries.
Learn From Our Guests Ask & Answer
Even the most seasoned travellers have questions. With Ask & Answer, you don’t have to go far to get those questions answered. The bonus – the questions and answers come from fellow cruisers!
Learn about the latest ships and destinations by browsing hundreds of questions posted by real cruisers. If you happen not to find what you’re looking for, you can even post a question of your own.
Real questions. Real answers. All from real cruisers.
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Barcelona Romebarcelona To Rome
| Adorned with GaudÃâs surreal architecture, Barcelona is alive with color and whimsy. | ||
| Barcelona brims with history, stunning architecture and vibrant Catalonian culture. | ||
| Scenic Montpellier, built on two hills along the Lez River, brims with historic treasures. | ||
| Franceâs oldest city, Marseilleâs rich historic treasures include its scenic Old Port. | ||
| Monte Carlo exudes chic, from the Princeâs Palace to the renowned Casino. | ||
| Florence brims with architectural brilliance and fine art such as Michelangeloâs David. | ||
| Tuscanyâs rolling hills lead to Florence, a living museum of Renaissance treasures. | ||
| Rome, Italy | From the Colosseum to the Forum, Rome is a rich repository of the ruins of empire. |
| Rome, Italy | From the Colosseum to the Forum, Rome is a rich repository of the ruins of empire. | |
| Florence brims with architectural brilliance and fine art such as Michelangeloâs David. | ||
| Tuscanyâs rolling hills lead to Florence, a living museum of Renaissance treasures. | ||
| Monte Carlo exudes chic, from the Princeâs Palace to the renowned Casino. | ||
| Franceâs oldest city, Marseilleâs rich historic treasures include its scenic Old Port. | ||
| Scenic Montpellier, built on two hills along the Lez River, brims with historic treasures. | ||
| Barcelona brims with history, stunning architecture and vibrant Catalonian culture. | ||
| Colorful, artistic Barcelona boasts cutting-edge galleries and innovative architecture. |
Best Mediterranean Cruise Lines
Most major cruise lines send at least one ship to the Mediterranean every year. Even Carnival Cruise Line, known for its affordable cruises out of U.S. home ports, offers some Mediterranean sailings, as does Disney Cruise Line, which typically bases its ships near its theme parks.
If youre looking for a bigger ship, Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean are the best choices as they base a handful of ships in the Mediterranean each year, arriving in the spring and departing in the fall. These lines offer a variety of itinerary choices, so you can find the Mediterranean ports you most want to visit. Youll also find lots of restaurant choices and evening entertainment options to keep you occupied at night when the ship is sailing.
Couples or families with grown children looking for longer sailings and a destination focus should consider Viking, which offers eight- to 15-night cruises through the Mediterranean, including three- and four-week voyages for retirees who have the time for a most thorough exploration of the region.
Which luxury line is best for your Mediterranean cruise will come down to what youre looking for in a luxury ship and a European itinerary. However, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Silversea Cruises stand out for including a large variety of shore excursions in their cruise fares. If youre a foodie, these two lines plus Oceania Cruises are notable for their culinary tours in port, plus destination-themed cooking classes on board.
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Barcelona To Rome Royal Caribbean
- Route: 7 nights Barcelona, Cannes, Nice, Genoa, Portofino, Florence/Pisa , Rome
- Cruise line: Royal Caribbean
- Cruise ship: Enchantment of the Seas
Royal Caribbean offers port-intensive Mediterranean cruises throughout the summer. One of the most popular itineraries starts in Barcelona, Spain, and visits Cannes and Nice in France, Genoa, Portofino, and Florence, then onwards to the last port of call in Italy, Rome.
Barcelona: Start your vacation by spending a few nights in fantastic Barcelona. You will find a guide to a cruise from Barcelona here. The article will help you choose a hotel and has lots of tips for transportation and sightseeing.
Cannes: Your ship is tendered, and Celebrity will transport you into Cannes on small tender boats. Visit guest services early in the morning before breakfast to get your tender boat ticket. If you have not booked a ship excursion, you may have to wait for a tender boat.
The ship, however, stays tendered in the port for a full day, allowing you to explore Cannes. Stop by the local market, shop on Rue Meynadier, walk the famous La Croisette, or have lunch at a seafood restaurant. Alternatively, experience a fantastic shore excursion to, for example,
Nice, on the classy French Riviera in the Côte-dAzur region, it is in a class of its own with a beautiful promenade and beach. And nearby, you can visit glamorous Monte Carlo with a bus excursion or a short 25-minute train journey.
Things To Do In The Mediterranean
Sightseeing is a big component of Mediterranean cruises, whether thats exploring a historic site like the Roman Forum or the walled city of Dubrovnik, Croatia visiting cathedrals in Florence and Barcelona or touring medieval villages, forts and old towns. You might want to skip the formal tours and merely wander around the port town, browsing local shops or grabbing a coffee or snack in a local cafe.
Culinary tours are also popular here. You can choose from roving food tours, cooking classes, winery visits and tastings, and meals made with local produce and cheeses in beautiful villa or farmhouse settings.
Travelers looking to stretch their legs might want to sign up for cycling tours in city and country settings, hike around a volcano on Santorini or Sicily, or even take a kayak for a spin in Croatia or Greece.
A beach day is possible in the Greek Islands or along the French Riviera, and many ports will have sightseeing cruises.
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Explore Frances Riviera & Tuscany
Frances famed southern coast and Italys Renaissance treasures take center stage on this eight-day Mediterranean sojourn. Immerse yourself in Catalonian and Tuscan art, architecture and history during overnights in Barcelona and Tuscany. In the South of France, call on historic Montpellier and picturesque Marseille, and visit Monte Carlo, Monacos glamorous city by the sea.
Frances famed southern coast and Italys Renaissance treasures take center stage on this eight-day Mediterranean sojourn. Immerse yourself in Catalonian and Tuscan art, architecture and history during overnights in Barcelona and Tuscany. In the South of France, call on historic Montpellier and picturesque Marseille, and visit Monte Carlo, Monacos glamorous city by the sea.
Rome To Barcelona Seabourn
Route: 10 days Rome, Sardinia, Corsica, Portofino, Monte Carlo, Cavalaire-Sur-Mer, Sete, Valencia, Palma, BarcelonaCruise line: SeabournCruise ship: Seabourn Sojourn
Start your vacation with an exciting four days of sightseeing before your cruise from Rome. This allows you plenty of time to soak up the history and culture of this awe-inspiring city.
The smaller ships of the luxury cruise line Seabourn allow an exciting cruise itinerary. Destinations such as Sardinia and Corsica will enable you to visit some of the lesser-known ports in the Mediterranean. Stunning towns and villages give you a glimpse of authentic Mediterranean culture and sun-drenched landscapes.
The beautiful town of Portofino rivals the destinations of Italys Amalfi coast and will have you rushing to book your next vacation to Italy as soon as you return hotel. Further up the curve of the Mediterranean coastline, Cavalaire-Sur-Mer is your first port of call in France. This stunning, sun-soaked family destination is a little paradise with bays, beaches of fine golden sand, and incredible underwater fauna and flora.
Further along, the coast, before you reach Spain, is the port of the fishing town of Sete. Lively and cosmopolitan, enjoy the many small restaurants and cafes lining the small canals of this authentic French Mediterranean port.
You must book an open-jaw flight ticket to Rome and home from Barcelona for this cruise.
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When Do Cruises Go To The Mediterranean
You might be surprised to learn that cruise ships sail the Mediterranean year-round.
The majority of ships, however, arrive in the spring and depart in the fall, choosing warmer climes like the Caribbean for holiday sailings. Only a few hardy stalwarts remain through the winter months. Most of those are European-based lines, such as Costa Cruises, MSC Cruises and Celestyal Cruises, but Viking also braves chilly weather for its destination-focused itineraries in Europe.
Discover Europe By Cruising The Mediterranean
There is no better way to experience the warm and vibrant Mediterranean than on a Norwegian cruise. Explore the sights, sounds and flavours of different cultures – all on your own terms. Visit a wide variety of ports from glorious Rome, to glamorous Cannes, all while enjoying the freedom and flexibility Norwegian offers. Travel through the coast of Italy while indulging in traditional flavours and admiring iconic landmarks. Discover Barcelona’s unique Catalan identity while taking in its stunning architecture and delectable dining. Do all of this and more while enjoying spectacular onboard entertainment, luxurious spa services, and no set dining times.
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Health And Safety Protocols
Disney has a comprehensive plan that outlines protocols for managing illness and closely follow the guidance of public health officials. In light of COVID-19, Disney Cruise Line is operating at elevated cleaning and sanitation levels. Among the procedures currently in place include:
- Training for all of Disney’s Crew Members on how best to prevent the spread of illness on board.
- A health screening completed by all Guests and Crew Members to check for illness before they board the ship.
- Extensive cleaning and sanitation of high-traffic areas and childrens facilities.
- Cleaning of all staterooms twice a day and additional disinfection when necessary.
- Discontinuing self-service at buffet locations.
- Regular communication with Guests and Crew Members regarding how to prevent illness.
- Hand-washing stations and sanitizing wipes conveniently located throughout the ships.
- Medical clinics on ships staffed with experienced doctors and nurses and stocked with supplies and medications to treat a variety of illnesses.
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