Mediterranean Cruises – why you should add one to your bucket list
Picture this – Today is the day you have been waiting for, you and your family/friends are boarding a luxury cruise ship in Barcelona, Spain. Over the next 7-12 days you are going to explore the French Riviera, visit 4 ports of call in Italy, with a final stop in Mallorca, and you only have to unpack once! Oh and let’s not forget the amazing food, service, and entertainment you will enjoy while cruising from port to port.
Sound good? Keep reading
A Mediterranean cruise can be an affordable, relaxing, and an unforgettable way to experience some of the most beautiful and historic places in the world. From the romantic canals of Venice, to ancient Greece, to the French Riviera and beyond, these cruises offer something for every type of traveler.
In recent years Mediterranean cruises have become increasingly popular, in part because they offer the opportunity to experience multiple destinations that, for many, may not be affordable otherwise. In fact, the industry is growing so fast that some ports of call are struggling to handle the crowds during their peak season.
So how do you choose the cruise that is right for you?
Well there are many options and research is key! Most major cruise lines offer both eastern & western Mediterranean itineraries typically 7-14 days in length. Below are some of the ports included in both Mediterranean itineraries.
Eastern Mediterranean cruises usually embark from Rome or Venice, Italy and include stops allover Greece and the Greek Islands, Montenegro, Malta, Croatia, Turkey, Slovenia, Spain andItaly depending on the route, cruise line, and length of the cruise.
Western Mediterranean cruises include, depending on your itinerary, several stops in Italy,France and Spain. In addition, some cruise lines also include stops in Monte Carlo, Mallorca, and Corsica. Many western Mediterranean cruises embark from Barcelona, Spain.
Which cruise fits your style?
That depends on how you like to travel and the voyage you are searching for. Are you looking for a very high-end experience? Budget friendly or family friendly? Adults only? Are you traveling solo? The best part is your options are endless!
Mid-sized cruise ships (1500-3000 guests) can offer a more intimate and more relaxed experience, but still provides daily activities and entertainment. The mega cruise ships, (typically 3500-5500+ passengers) are much larger in size (hence the word mega), with so many on-board options there is something for every type of traveler. These ships offer a wide range of entertainment, from Broadway shows to live music of all types. They also provide limitless on-board activities. Bingo anyone? Or maybe a little Karaoke?
Note that many cruise lines offer pre and post cruise land tour packages allowing you to extend your visit to major port cities such as Barcelona, Rome, and Venice. We have done this each time we have cruised (not always with the cruise line) and we have always been glad we did. Plus, it is important to always arrive at the port the day before your ship leaves just in case you encounter bad weather, flight delays, etc. For more on that, press here to read my 11 things to consider when planning a cruise!
Another option is to take a river cruise, again a more intimate trip with much smaller crowds. However, the amenities are amazing and the itineraries on these ships can take you to ports that the larger ships typically cannot reach.
Whatever your preference, there are different packages available on every cruise line offering a variety of budget friendly options for every budget.
When is the best time to travel?
High travel season in this region is the summer months (June-August). You can expect larger crowds throughout all of Europe during this time. Also, you may experience longer wait times to see major attractions such as the Vatican in Rome. Be aware that the pricing for excursions, food, souvenirs, etc. tend to be inflated during these months too.
Spring (May – June) and early fall (September – October) are great times to visit Europe. Crowds are smaller, overall travel costs are typically reduced, and the weather is more mild (summer months can be very hot in some areas of Europe).
Our experience….
My husband and I have taken a couple Mediterranean Cruises and we absolutely loved them. We have traveled as a family, with our kids, and also with a group of friends. I personally highly recommend it! We have also traveled in both the spring (late May) and in the fall (October). Both times of year were great! The weather was mid 70’s most of the time with lower temp in the evening.
We have cruised the Mediterranean on a large mega-ship and a midsized ship. We enjoyed both. On the larger ship we never felt crowded and really enjoyed all the options available to us. We were never bored and the food, entertainment, and service was wonderful. We also enjoyed the midsized ship, there was still plenty to do and many areas where you could go slip away and read a book and take in the sea air.
You may be thinking, and I have been asked this before, do you really get to see everything when you have a shorter time in each port? So, these are my thoughts: Cruising is meant to give you a taste of a particular port or region. Cruise excursions are created to give you the best possible experience while visiting. Whether you are a history buff, foodie, love wine (who doesn’t), or are you looking for adventure, the cruise lines are very good at planning excursions tailored to every type of traveler.
We are in the midst of planning our next Mediterranean 9-night cruise to Greece next fall on the brand-new Odyssey of the Seas and are counting the months until we leave!
Where is your next adventure?
Happy Sailing!
