Packing For A Winter Mediterranean Cruise
Packing for a Mediterranean cruise in the winter takes a little planning ahead. You definitely want to consider layers since the weather is unpredictable. Depending on the ports you visit, it can be very cold during the winter, so you want to be prepared while not over-packing. For women, consider sticking to one color palette, which will help you mix and match items. Some winter essentials:
Have you experienced a Mediterranean cruise before? What’s your favorite time to visit? Let us know in the comments! And be sure to sign up for emails and stay up to date with the latest cruise deals.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Regent are the most inclusive of all the all-inclusive lines; aswell as your meals, drinks, gratuities and taxes, your fare alsoincludes your flights, overseas transfers and a selection of shoreexcursions in every port. These included excursions are aparticular boon if you’re visiting archaeological sites, museums orgalleries where you need a guide to really understand what you’reseeing, and they’re great if you’re visiting a port where thepoints of interest are some distance away, such as Livorno . Regent also offer excursions themed around foodand drink, wellness and off-the-beaten track ‘Go Local’experiences. Ships range in size from 490 to 750 guests, and theaccommodation is particularly spacious.
How Do We Get To Port Do I Need To Take Some Kind Of Transportation To The Popular Sights
Barcelona’s city center is an hour walk from the port.; – Photo by Shutterstock
At major embarkation ports like Barcelona, Venice, and Civitavecchia , your ship will dock right at the pier. But at many other ports, your ship might anchor in the harbor and you’ll board a tender that takes you to the cruise terminal. That’s especially true if you’ve booked passage on a very large ship that isn’t able to dock at smaller ports.
From the cruise terminal, you may be able to walk to the center of town or take local transportation. Luxury lines usually offer complimentary transportation from the tender drop-off to the center of town, which is usually not far.
A few caveats exist, though. Some Mediterranean itineraries have Florence as a port of call, but the nearest cruise terminal to Florence is Livorno, so you’ll need to travel 70 minutes from there to the sights in Florence. Likewise, Civitavecchia is the cruise terminal for Rome, which is an 80 minute drive away. In most other cases, however, your cruise ship will get you very close to the action.
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What Are Popular Regions Of The Mediterranean
Europe’s Mediterranean region can be broken down into two sub-regions: Eastern Mediterranean and Western Mediterranean. The Western Med offers a well-rounded mix of culture, history, beaches and shopping, featuring popular ports in Italy, Spain and France.
The Eastern Med is known more for its beaches and ancient historical sites, offering calls on ports in Turkey and Greece, as well as occasional visits to Croatia, Montenegro, Israel and Russia.
How Is A Mediterranean Voyage Different From A Caribbean Cruise
Food and wine tours are some of the highlights of a mediterranean cruise.;– Photo by Regent Seven Seas Cruises
In European ports, you’ll have a variety of options for shore excursions that typically don’t involve swimming with sea creatures or zip-lining in jungles like you would expect in the Caribbean. Excursion options can vary, and include a walking tour of an old town, a museum exploration, a visit to a monument, or a beach day. You’ll see families on both Caribbean and Med cruises and there’s definitely less of a party atmosphere on European voyages. The passengers are a blend from all over the world with a large percentage being from Europe, Canada, and the U.S. and even this will vary a bit depending on the cruise line.
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Silverseas Barcelona To Civitavecchia
Luxe mid-size ship Silver Cloud takes you on an 11-day float along the coastlines of Spain, France, Monaco and Italy in what might be the most stylish corner of the Mediterranean. There are stops at the regions expected port highlights such as Barcelona, posh Monte Carlo and utterly gorgeous Portofino, but the cruise is particularly interesting for its meander around some of the Mediterraneans most beautiful islands. Mallorca, Ibiza, Corsica and Sardinia are all on the itinerary, each strikingly different but equally interesting.
Best Food And Wine Of The Season
Food and wine is another highlight for Mediterranean cruises in the fall. Of course, Mediterranean food and wine is available all year round, but the fall signals harvest season and many cities celebrate by hosting unique festivals for true food lovers.
Depending on the specific cruise itinerary you choose, Barcelona is a great port of call to visit during a fall Mediterranean cruise. Aside from architectural gems like La Sagrada Familia and Parc Güell, the city hosts the Sitges Wine Harvest and Cavatast Festival in October drawing from nearby Rioja and Ribera regions.
Insider Tip: Dont miss the street food festivals in Barcelona! Try the Moscatel sweet wine or roam the city for fresh seafood, roasted sweet potatoes, pumpkin soups and marzipan.
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Crowne Plaza Hotel Quarto D’altino Italy
IMPORTANT NOTICE – The Crowne Plaza Hotel is located on the Italian mainland in the town of Quarto d’Altino – approximately 30 minutes by train from the island of Venice. The hotel is not located on the island of Venice. Train station is a one minute walk from hotel. The Crowne Plaza is an ideal hotel for the price conscious guest.
IMPORTANT NOTICE – The Crowne Plaza Hotel is located on the Italian mainland in the town of Quarto d’Altino – approximately 30 minutes by train from the island of Venice. The hotel is not located on the island of Venice. Train station is a one minute walk from hotel. The Crowne Plaza is an ideal hotel for the price conscious guest.
The Crowne Plaza Quarto d’Altino hotel, with its comfortable and fashionable rooms, is ideally located at just 30 minutes by train from the magic of Venice and provides easy access to Venice Marco Polo airport. All rooms offer high speed internet access and interactive TVs. For those leisure moments, clients can unwind in the Minigym & Sauna and enjoy the “Il Campiello” restaurant and bar where authentic cuisine blends perfectly with innovative and creative dishes.
The hotel offers complimentary shuttle service to the airport. You’re also walking distance to the rail station, where it’s only 20 minutes to Venice by train.
Distance/ Airport: 7 minutes
Transfers between Airport and Hotel Transfers between Hotel and Pier
Seabourns Greece And Dalmatian Delights
Settle into the luxury charms of Seabourn Odyssey for a seven-day sail in the Adriatic and Ionian seas, finishing on a high note in Venice, where you arrive to spectacular outlooks over domes. The cruise beings in Piraeus and visits the Greek fortress town Monemvasia, Katakolon and the charming island of Corfu. It also calls at Dubrovnik and Primoten in Croatia, where you can tour World Heritage sites and kayak on peacock-blue seas.
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What Is The Best Way To Cruise The Mediterranean
Mediterranean Cruise is one of the most popular destinations in the world. Cruises in the Mediterranean tend to be intense but can offer you limitless. To experience the best Mediterranean cruise, it is very important for you to consider the following three factors:
1. Best destinations; ;2. Best time; ;3. Best cruise lines
The Best Small Ship Cruises To The Mediterranean
The Mediterranean has a timeless appeal, with its winningcombination of historical treasures, charming port towns, balmysummer weather and fantastic food and drink.
It’s an incredibly diverse region, and here in the UK we’relucky enough to have the Med right on our doorstep, so it’s nosurprise that it remains the most popular destination for Britishcruisers year after year. Every major cruise line sends its shipsto the Mediterranean during our summer months, though theexperience on offer can vary dramatically. There are certain portsthat appear on every cruise line’s Mediterranean itineraries, andrightly so: the likes of Venice, Barcelona and Dubrovnik arepopular for a reason. But a small ship cruise opens up a wholedifferent side to the Mediterranean, allowing you to visit thesmaller ports and secluded bays that a bigger ship just can’treach.
At Mundy Cruising we specialise in ships that carry guests inthe hundreds, rather than the thousands, which makes for a verydifferent atmosphere on board: more intimate, more spacious, with alevel of personalised service that has more in common with aboutique hotel than a mainstream cruise ship carrying 5,000passengers. Even within the small ship category you have afantastic breadth of choice in the Mediterranean, from resort-styleships offering dining choices and entertainment venues aplenty, totiny 100-guest vessels that are more like travelling on your ownprivate yacht.
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Best Time To Cruise To The Mediterranean
Wondering what time of year is best for a Mediterranean cruise? While the primary Mediterranean cruise season runs during the warmer months of the year, you can still enjoy plenty of what the region has to offer during the winter months. There are pros and cons to cruising during each season, depending on your preference. But there’s never a bad time to cruise to the Mediterranean.
Full of art, culture, romance, and iconic landmarks, each season offers its unique take on the Italian and Spanish ports that make up these beautiful itineraries in Europe. If you’re ready to plan your next cruise vacation, read on for our take on the best months and seasons to cruise The Mediterranean.
Ready to start planning? Explore all Mediterranean cruises.
Best Thing About A Western Mediterranean Cruise
Cruising on the Med will get you completely different experiences day by day. The pristine beaches in Italy, the volcanic islands in Spain, the wine regions and the jetset life style in Southern France and of course the ancient ruins of the Roman Empire in Italy. If you are looking for reasons to go on a western Mediterranean cruise then I think I just gave you a bunch.
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Buy A European Sim Card
Only since last year roaming in Europe is free with any European sim card. Calling internationally within Europe is often still chargeable but using data is free. It is recommended to get a European sim card on arrival. Click here for a guide buying a sim card at Rome airport. For a Barcelona airport sim card click here.
Best Value: Norwegian Cruise Line
Courtesy of;Norwegian Cruise Line
- Ship Name: Norwegian Epic
- Itinerary: Naples, Italy; Rome, Italy; Livorno, Italy; Cannes, France; Palma de Mallorca, Spain
For an affordable and fun-filled cruise ship from a convenient departure port, consider the Norwegians Epics round-trip voyage from Barcelona. Norwegian Epic is one of the cruise lines most popular ships, with more than 20 dining venues and unique activities and entertainment.;Cruisers can experience Cirque Dreams and Dinner show, the Aqua Park with the largest bowl slide at sea, a boxercise ring at the fitness center, a bowling alley, an adults-only lounge and an array of teens and kids clubs. Theres also a variety of cabin choices from solo traveler studios, family staterooms and spa suites. In addition, the cruise visits France, Spain and three stops in Italy.;
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What Is Considered In Season And How’s The Weather
Beach days are less common in the Med, but ports like Mallorca can still give you a day of sun and sand. –
While you’ll find some ships sailing the Med yearlong, high season is from May to September . Ports in Greece and Turkey enjoy clear, sunny days throughout the summer, with temperatures in the high 80s and low 90s. Ports in the French and Italian Rivieras can be a bit cooler, but you’ll still be wearing short sleeves and shorts.
Western Mediterranean Cruise Tips
A couple weeks ago the moment was finally there: after endless travel adventures around the world in more than 100 countries in 7 years I finally did my first cruise. Obviously super excited I boarded one of those bigger ships in the world: the Crown Princess in Barcelona. On this western Mediterranean cruise I explored in total 6 different ports in 4 different countries. In this blog I will give you tips for a cruise around the med and everything you need to know when you are about to book this trip. Also included is the itinerary of my 7 day Mediterranean cruise and excursion tips.
Last October 2019 I was one of the few lucky ones that was able to sail on the brand new Sky Princess cruise ship of Princess Cruises. An amazing adventure from Trieste to Athens on the Sky Princess inaugural cruise, click on the link to read all about it.
So amazingly happy I got the change to go on a cruise. Whoever thought that my passion for traveling would turn into a full time job and would become a full time travel blogger. When going on this cruise it was like a dream coming true and I when you read all my first cruise tips you know that I was over moon with this trip.
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Best Cruise In The Med For Island
If youre hankering after the Greek islands but need a no-fly cruise, Saga Cruises has just the thing: a 22-night return-trip from Southampton to Athens. This voyage will be only the fourth outing for Sagas new boutique ship, Spirit of Adventure, which launches in late August, and along the way it will call at ports where history was made. Theres Malaga, founded by Phoenicians, where you can see Roman ruins and The Alcazaba a Moorish fortress; Valletta, Maltas capital, which was built by the Knights of St John and still has buildings from that period; Heraklion in Crete has a Venetian fortress, and during an overnight stay in Piraeus there are Greek ruins galore in Athens. The cruise also includes a spot of Greek-island hopping, calling at unspoilt Karpathos, UNESCO-listed Patmos and lovely Lesbos.
*The Tales from the Ancient Mediterranean cruise on the Spirit of Adventure departs 10 October, with prices from £5,928pp, based on two people sharing, and is all-inclusive with no on-board gratuities .
What Can We Expect To See From The Ship And In Port
The Uffizi Gallery in Florence.; – Photo by Shutterstock
From the Ship:
Sailaways from certain Mediterranean ports like Venice and Istanbul are some of the most beautiful in the world. You’ll be treated to magnificent views of some of the most compelling architecture in the world as the sun sets in the background.
Once in Port:
- Culture and/or History: You might find major museums housing collections by European Baroque artists like Rubens and Rembrandt, and Renaissance masters such as da Vinci, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo.
- Art and Architecture: Architectural Wonders, usually in the form of cathedrals and mosques, are also popular tour options in the Mediterranean.
- Beaches and Boutiques: Beautiful beaches are yet another attraction, as are the boutiques and shops selling just about everything, like Murano glass in Venice, marbled paper in Florence, kumquat liqueur in Corfu, and leather handbags in Rome.
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What Are Holy Land Cruises
Cruises to the Holy Land, are simply cruises to Israel and may but not often anymore, include Egypt as well. ;Usually these cruises include both Israeli ports of Haifa and Ashdod. Cruise ships are adding longer visits and overnight stays to allow enough time for extended tours to Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and even the mountaintop fortress of Mosada. Often, Holy Land cruises are combined with several Greek Islands and Turkey.
No matter which itinerary you choose, there is something of interest for everyone. From culinary delights to ancient history and religious significance, the entire Mediterranean;region, from north to south, is a diverse, intriguing and memorable cruise experience.
The best rates and added-value amenities can be found from April to late November. However, you will need to be prepared for sudden changes in weather.; By fall, many tourists have gone plus youll have none of the sweltering heat of summer. ;Personally, my favorite time of year to cruise the Med is through September and October.
Almost all cruise lines have a variety of Mediterranean cruises from late spring until late fall. ;Because the Mediterranean Sea can be very unpredictable in the late fall, my suggestion would be to choose your Mediterranean cruise for no later than mid to end of October.; You really dont want to be caught in a storm on the Mediterranean in November.
Best Mediterranean Cruises For Wine Connoisseurs
Oenophiles who would like to explore southern France before a day at the seaside in Marseille should try Avalons enchanting nine-day river cruise. This Rhone-Saone itinerary is a foodies delight, leaving from charming Saint-Jean-de-Losne with a Master of Wine lecturer on board. Theres also a visit to a Chardonnay cellar in Macon for wine tasting, two days in Frances gastronomic capital, Lyon, plus a walking tour of medieval Tournon with wine and chocolate tasting at Valrhona, and a trip to the wine cellars of Chateauneuf-du-Pape from Avignon. Dont forget to book an Avalon Your Way one-night stay in Marseille so you can soak up the Mediterranean sun.
*The Marseille for Wine Lovers river cruise departs 27 October, with prices from £2,897pp, based on two people sharing, including flights and one night in Marseille .
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