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Europe - Mediterranean Cruise Guide and Reviews

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Why Go?

The Mediterranean is a culture lover’s dream, with port after port full of important historic sites, gorgeous architecture, significant museums, unforgettable shopping, and some of the best food on the planet. Best of all, for travelers who have not yet seen much of this part of the world, a Med cruise allows you to sample some of the greatest cities the region has to offer. Think of it as the “pu pu” platter of European travel. You can explore, say, Spain, France, Italy, and Greece — and get enough of a taste of each to figure out which ones you would like to see in more depth.

Even for travelers who have spent time in the area, it’s hard to argue with the appeal of a day in Venice followed by one in Rome, then Monte Carlo, then Barcelona. In fact, if you’ve already seen the key historic sites and museums of one of these cities, then you’re free to shop and eat your way through town, which can feel like a luxury in itself, even for the most sophisticated cruiser.

One word of caution: With such exciting itineraries, and so much to see and do in each port, you may find yourself starting every day early in the morning, not returning to the ship until evening, and then having a late dinner onboard followed by drinks and perhaps catching a show. The result is a trip that’s action-packed and unforgettable, but not relaxing. If you plan to see every port to the fullest, you may need a vacation to recover from your vacation when you return home. Of course, you can always pick a day to stay onboard and hang out at the pool or spa to rejuvenate, but you’ll probably have to do so at the expense of seeing a world-class European city.

Because these itineraries are so intense, be sure to pay special attention to the number of shore days, as well as how they’re paced out on the cruise, and make it a point to fly into your embarkation port a couple days early to allow yourself time to get over any jet lag before you board the ship.

When To Go

While there are cruise ships that ply these waters year-round, it’s critical to pick your dates carefully. The peak season in Europe is late June through early September, and although that’s when the weather is warm enough to hit the beach at ports in the Greek Isles and along the coast of Italy, France, and Spain, it’s also when crowding can be unbearable. Shopping streets fill up during the daytime, and lines wrap around the block at important museums, like the Uffizi in Florence, as well as at sights like Rome’s Vatican. Reservations become critical, and booking shore excursions may be the only way to get into some otherwise booked sights. In addition, August brings summer closings at the best restaurants in some parts of the Med, including, for example, Barcelona.

Cruising in spring and fall may mean giving up the option of sunning on the shores, but it will enable you to explore the region without feeling like all of Europe is in town with you. Just consider yourself warned: Late fall brings the Meltemi winds to Greece, and like a hurricane in the Caribbean, these storms can prevent ships from pulling into ports that otherwise might have been the highlight of your trip.

A few cruise lines offer winter sailings in this part of the world, which certainly provide value and a feeling of having the place to yourself, particularly in towns designed to serve the summer crowds. In those ports, some things may be closed this time of year, and whether you would enjoy cruising then can best be determined by how you feel visiting American beaches in the offseason. Some people find this experience depressing, while others love the peace and quiet that the slow season offers. It’s also important to remember, though, that major cities — including Rome and Barcelona — are a pleasure to tour without crowds.

Routes

There Are Two Main Routes to Choose From:

Western Mediterranean:

Spain and France are inherently exciting places to visit, as is the west coast of Italy. In order to get a taste of the nightlife, or at least have dinner with the locals, look for itineraries that start and end in cities you’d like to add hotel stays in, or ones that overnight in key ports, a trend that is becoming increasingly common on small lines.

Good for: The food, beaches, and shopping are amazing, but don’t forget to set aside time to sit down with a glass of sangria or rosé and indulge in some people-watching.

Downside: Um, there isn’t one, right? This is just an amazing itinerary.

Eastern Mediterranean:

Italy, Croatia, Greece, and Turkey are spectacular places to cruise, and this route offers a mix of cool cities — Venice, Athens, Istanbul — woven in with charming little islands.

Good for: These ports are full of interesting historic sites and gorgeous scenery.

Downside: The landscape is less varied here than it is in the Eastern Mediterranean. That said, if you have the time and money, we suggest doing two back-to-back sailings in order to see both parts of the region. 

Europe - Mediterranean Cruise Itineraries

Europe - Eastern Mediterranean Cruises

Ports

  • Ravenna, Italy
  • Dubrovnik, Croatia
  • Piraeus (Athens), Greece
  • Santorini, Greece
  • Split, Croatia
View more ports

Ports

Ravenna, Italy - Dubrovnik, Croatia - Piraeus (Athens), Greece - Santorini, Greece - Split, Croatia - View more ports

Explorer of the Seas L

4.0
(2181 Reviews)

2026 sail dates: Jun 27, Jul 25,

$1035*
$148/night*
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Europe - Mediterranean Cruises

Ports

  • Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy
  • Corfu, Greece
  • Dubrovnik, Croatia
  • Kotor, Montenegro
  • NAPLES (POMPEII), ITALY
View more ports

Ports

Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy - Corfu, Greece - Dubrovnik, Croatia - Kotor, Montenegro - NAPLES (POMPEII), ITALY - View more ports

Enchanted Princess XL

4.4
(285 Reviews)

2026 sail dates: May 19, Jun 02, Jun 16, Jun 30, Jul 14, Jul 28, Aug 11, Aug 25, Sep 08, Sep 22, Oct 06, Oct 20, More

$1068*
$153/night*
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View All 2258 Europe - Mediterranean Cruises

Europe - Western Mediterranean Cruises

Ports

  • Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy
  • Naples, Italy
  • La Spezia, Italy
  • Portofino, Italy
  • Villefranche-Sur-Mer, France
  • Marseille (Provence), France
  • Barcelona, Spain
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Ports

Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy - Naples, Italy - La Spezia, Italy - Portofino, Italy - Villefranche-Sur-Mer, France - Marseille (Provence), France - Barcelona, Spain - View more ports

Celebrity Equinox L

4.3
(1914 Reviews)

2025 sail dates: May 13, Jun 10, Jul 08, Sep 02, Sep 30, More

$1101*
$122/night*
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$1101* directlinecruises.com $1101* luxurycruiseconnections.com $1100* cruisesonly.com $1115* americandiscountcruises.com $1100* cruises.com $1115* americandiscountvacations.com $1101* gotosea.com $1100* dreamvacations.com
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View All 860 Europe - Western Mediterranean Cruises

Best Europe - Mediterranean Cruise Excursions

A Taste of Sorrento

A Taste of Sorrento

$139/Adult

Acropolis, City and Museum Walking Tour from the Pier

Acropolis, City and Museum Walking Tour from the Pier

$175/Adult

$135/Child

Ancient Corinth, the Ruins of Mycenae and Epidaurus Theater

Ancient Corinth, the Ruins of Mycenae and Epidaurus Theater

$197.67/Adult

A Day in Chianti

A Day in Chianti

$210/Adult

Best Europe - Mediterranean Cruise Ports

Photo of Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy

Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy

4.3
(6032 Reviews)
Photo of Genoa, Italy

Genoa, Italy

4.1
(677 Reviews)
Photo of Livorno (Florence & Pisa), Italy

Livorno (Florence & Pisa), Italy

4.4
(3170 Reviews)
Photo of Valletta, Malta

Valletta, Malta

4.4
(1281 Reviews)

View All 58 Europe - Mediterranean Ports

Best cruise lines to Europe - Mediterranean

Disney Cruise Line

Sails 7 Ships

Average rating of:

4.4

Viking Ocean Cruises

Sails 16 Ships

Average rating of:

4.4

Windstar Cruises

Sails 7 Ships

Average rating of:

4.4

Crystal

Sails 2 Ships

Average rating of:

4.4

P&O Cruises

Sails 11 Ships

Average rating of:

4.3

Azamara Club Cruises

Sails 4 Ships

Average rating of:

4.3

Virgin Voyages

Sails 4 Ships

Average rating of:

4.3

Seabourn

Sails 10 Ships

Average rating of:

4.3

Marella Cruises

Sails 7 Ships

Average rating of:

4.3

Celebrity Cruises

Sails 18 Ships

Average rating of:

4.2

Oceania Cruises

Sails 8 Ships

Average rating of:

4.2

Cunard

Sails 4 Ships

Average rating of:

4.2

Royal Caribbean

Sails 29 Ships

Average rating of:

4.1

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Sails 6 Ships

Average rating of:

4.1

Silversea Cruises

Sails 15 Ships

Average rating of:

4.1

Carnival Cruise Lines

Sails 27 Ships

Average rating of:

4.0

Princess Cruises

Sails 18 Ships

Average rating of:

4.0

Holland America Line

Sails 11 Ships

Average rating of:

4.0

Norwegian Cruise Line

Sails 21 Ships

Average rating of:

3.8

MSC Cruises

Sails 23 Ships

Average rating of:

3.8

Costa Cruises

Sails 21 Ships

Average rating of:

3.3

View All 21 Cruise Lines

Expert advice about Europe - Mediterranean

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9140 Mediterranean Reviews

Write a Review
4.5
Verified review

Great itinerary! by Staubfamily

Sail date: / Traveled as: Family (older children)
Ship: Norwegian Pearl

Wonderful cruise and even more wonderful itinerary.

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Was this review helpful? 3
3 Comments
4.8
Verified review

Wonderful Itinerary and Great Comfortable Ship by tjemdk

Sail date: / Traveled as: Large Group
Ship: Norwegian Pearl

The cruise was very smooth. We booked excursions outside of the ship as what we wanted was not offered, and those were terrific. The service and food on the ship was as good as usual, and the entertainment in the lounges was very enjoyable. We loved this itinerary!

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Was this review helpful? 3
3 Comments
3.9
Verified review

It was a nice Mediterranean vacation, just a few days to long. by boykinspaniel1

Sail date: / Traveled as: Couple
Ship: Norwegian Pearl

The cruise line should have had good signage up to indicate where to go when you leave the ship and how to find entrance to the terminals when getting back to the ship in all the visited ports.

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1 Comment
4.5
Verified review

We had a wonderful trip! by Cathie254

Sail date: / Traveled as: Couple
Ship: Norwegian Dawn

We enjoyed this trip and I am looking forward to my next scheduled cruise to Norway and Iceland in June 2025.

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1 Comment
4.7
Verified review

Fabulous Trip by norfork2

Sail date: / Traveled as: Couple
Ship: Norwegian Dawn

We had a wonderful time, the people were friendly and we met people from all over the world.

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4 Comments

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