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Europe - Eastern Mediterranean Cruise Guide and Reviews

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Why Go?

Once the cradle of ancient civilization, the Eastern Mediterranean still bustles: Centuries- and millennia-old monuments embed modern-day cities; mosques and markets stand on grounds that sultans once ruled; and further afield, crumbling ruins command cliffs, and whitewashed villas cascade down to sandy beaches.

The Eastern Mediterranean stretches from the Adriatic Sea — east of Italy to Croatia —southeastward to the Greek Isles and Turkey, and into the Holy Land and Egypt. Though the Western Mediterranean has traditionally been recommended for first-time cruisers, passenger numbers have been growing on this route.

Despite the fact that some of the region's sights attract throngs of camera-bearing tourists, the Eastern Med harbors off-the-grid hideaways if you delve further inland or anchor at whispered-about ports.

Touring the Eastern Mediterranean by ship is also convenient and efficient. You won’t have to deal with inter-island ferries in Greece or brave high-season traffic on Croatia’s coastal roads.

The ports serve a wide variety of interests: History buffs can explore the colonnaded library and well-preserved temples at Ephesus or revel in the ruins of stadiums at Olympia. The beautiful churches, palaces, and fountains of 13th-century sea-power Dubrovnik have justifiably been registered in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The more adventurous travelers have plenty of terrain to explore, too. Ride a four-by-four on Corfu’s stony roads through olive groves, or mount a quad vehicle and traverse the dusty hills of Cyprus.

Relaxation is an option here as well. Though itineraries can be jam-packed with sights, you can choose to take things at a slower pace: Lounge on gorgeous beaches, poke around sleepy village shops, or sip a glass of wine from a vineyard.

Foodies will also find something to write home about. The region has an abundance of fertile farmland and fruit groves. The results are delectable, and famous local specialties (think grilled octopus, spit-roasted lamb, spinach burek) taste better here than anywhere else.

When To Go

Cruise season in the Eastern Mediterranean runs from April to October, with the majority of sailings scheduled from May through August — when resorts are in full swing, waters warm enough for swimming, and the forecast (more often than not) sunny.

In Greece, Easter is also peak season, and August is particularly crowded. Shore excursions book up fast in the summer, so reserve early if you’re sailing then.

By September, soaring temperatures have cooled down and tourist throngs thinned. This is the time — along with early spring — to save some money or score a good deal.

And remember: The strongest of the regional “Meltemi” winds coincide with the high-traffic months, and they can create rough sea waters and even change the course of sailings.

Routes

Adriatic Sea: Itineraries typically leave from Venice and sail to southern Italy, as well as along Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast. It’s a scenic voyage of fishing villages, islets, and coves. Smaller ships anchor at off-the-beaten-track destinations, such as Pula and Korcula, Croatia; or Kotor, Montenegro, while other sailings integrate ports in Turkey, Greece, or Italy.

Greek Isles: Popular with honeymooners and couples, these cruises embark from Venice, Athens (Piraeus), or Istanbul and frequently hit the islands of Santorini, Mykonos, or Corfu. Some routes focus on antiquity, with stops in Olympia (Katakolon) or Ephesus (Kusadasi). These itineraries are a good choice for those who want to mix relaxation and culture.

Holy Land: The ports of Nazareth (Haifa) or Jerusalem (Ashdod) often figure into longer itineraries that also include stops in the Greek Isles, Turkey, Malta, or southern Italy. These cruises often take on an ancient civilization theme. 

Europe - Eastern Mediterranean Cruise Itineraries

Europe - Eastern Mediterranean Cruises

Ports

  • Ravenna, Italy
  • Kotor, Montenegro
  • Mykonos, Greece
  • Santorini, Greece
  • Split, Croatia
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Ports

Ravenna, Italy - Kotor, Montenegro - Mykonos, Greece - Santorini, Greece - Split, Croatia - View more ports

Rhapsody of the Seas L

4.0
(1241 Reviews)

2021 sail dates: May 08, May 15, May 22, Jun 05, Jun 19, Jul 03, Jul 24, Jul 31, Aug 14, Aug 21, Aug 28, Sep 11, Sep 18, Sep 25, Oct 09, Oct 16 More

$561*
$80/night*
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View All 256 Europe - Eastern Mediterranean Cruises

Best Europe - Eastern Mediterranean Cruise Excursions

Opatija, Moscenice and Olive Oil Tasting

Opatija, Moscenice and Olive Oil Tasting

$99/Adult

Grand Diocletian Tour

Grand Diocletian Tour

$34/Adult

Private Best of Santorini with Lunch

Private Best of Santorini with Lunch

$330/Adult

Half Day Byzantine and Ottoman Marvels

Half Day Byzantine and Ottoman Marvels

$62/Adult

$29/Child

Best Europe - Eastern Mediterranean Cruise Ports

Photo of Dubrovnik, Croatia

Dubrovnik, Croatia

4.6
(1486 Reviews)
Photo of Kotor, Montenegro

Kotor, Montenegro

4.5
(1167 Reviews)
Photo of Mykonos, Greece

Mykonos, Greece

4.4
(1826 Reviews)
Photo of Split, Croatia

Split, Croatia

4.3
(571 Reviews)

View All 78 Europe - Eastern Mediterranean Ports

Best cruise lines to Europe - Eastern Mediterranean

Crystal Cruises

Sails 4 Ships

Average rating of:

4.4

Viking Ocean Cruises

Sails 11 Ships

Average rating of:

4.3

Windstar Cruises

Sails 6 Ships

Average rating of:

4.3

Azamara Club Cruises

Sails 3 Ships

Average rating of:

4.2

Seabourn

Sails 9 Ships

Average rating of:

4.2

Oceania Cruises

Sails 6 Ships

Average rating of:

4.1

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Sails 5 Ships

Average rating of:

4.1

Celebrity Cruises

Sails 15 Ships

Average rating of:

4.0

Royal Caribbean

Sails 28 Ships

Average rating of:

3.9

Holland America Line

Sails 15 Ships

Average rating of:

3.9

Silversea Cruises

Sails 13 Ships

Average rating of:

3.9

Norwegian Cruise Line

Sails 17 Ships

Average rating of:

3.5

MSC Cruises

Sails 19 Ships

Average rating of:

3.3

Costa Cruises

Sails 18 Ships

Average rating of:

3.2

View All 14 Cruise Lines

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1837 Eastern Mediterranean Reviews

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4.7
Verified review

Worth to do by celestescheeper

Sail date: / Traveled as: Singles/Friends
Ship: Costa Deliziosa / Destination: Europe - Eastern Mediterranean

Lively cruise in the Mediterranian, despite the winter and a few bad weather days. Make sure you participate in activities onboard.

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3.3
Verified review

Underwhelming by traci45031234

Sail date: / Traveled as: Couple
Ship: MSC Magnifica / Destination: Europe - Eastern Mediterranean

Pretty underwhelming. I think I have gotten too used to Viking, where many things are included, like wine and beer and excursions. When you add that up, it's worth the extra money.

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4.2
Verified review

Good Sample of Greece by edajr13

Sail date: / Traveled as: Singles/Friends
Ship: MSC Magnifica / Destination: Europe - Eastern Mediterranean

Cruise was a good sample of Greece and all things Mediterranean. The staff is great and friendly. The food was not memorable just ok.

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Was this review helpful? 20
2 Comments
3.7
Verified review

Mediterranean Odyssey by DMRuiz101

Sail date: / Traveled as: Couple
Ship: MSC Lirica / Destination: Europe - Eastern Mediterranean

European style cruising for a good price. Recommend if you are used to traveling on your own outside of USA.

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1 Comment
3.6
Verified review

Change of itinerary - Information the day of the cruise - Disaster by AdrianaL

Sail date: / Traveled as: Family (older children)
Ship: Norwegian Star / Destination: Europe - Eastern Mediterranean

very dissappointed with the lack of information related to the change of itinerary. Wished they had let me known in advance. I was quite upset and did not have as much fun as I had expected due to this. Also, since the weather was so bad, we had two days inside the boat so we lost 2 days of fun. Not sure I want to do this again. Hope information is better and we had the opportunity of postponing the trip. Since we were already in Venice it did not make too much sense the change the plans

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