Mediterranean

Mediterranean Cruise Guide

Mediterranean Cruise Guide

A Mediterranean cruise is a voyage through history and culture, where you can explore ancient ruins, savor delicious cuisine, and soak up the sun along the stunning coastlines. From the iconic cities of Rome and Barcelona to the picturesque Greek islands, there's a wealth of destinations to discover. These cruises offer the perfect balance of sightseeing and relaxation, allowing you to immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Mediterranean life. It's a journey that promises a taste of Europe's finest offerings in one unforgettable adventure.

Tunis
Barcelona

Key Mediterranean Cruise Information

Ships & Cruise Lines

The Mediterranean is served by a diverse fleet of ships, from massive, resort-style mega-ships to smaller, more intimate vessels. Lines like MSC and Norwegian Cruise Line deploy some of their largest ships here, offering a vast array of onboard activities like water parks, multiple specialty restaurants, and Broadway-caliber shows, making them a great choice for families and those who enjoy vibrant, high-energy sea days. On the other end of the spectrum, boutique lines like Azamara operate smaller ships such as the Journey, Onward, and Pursuit. The main advantage of these smaller vessels is their ability to dock in tinier, more central ports that are inaccessible to larger ships, such as in the heart of the Amalfi Coast or closer to city centers, allowing for deeper destination immersion on an average 8-night voyage.

Ships in this region are often designed to maximize the stunning scenery and beautiful weather. Vessels from Holland America and Costa, like the Costa Deliziosa, feature expansive sundecks, poolside grills, and al fresco dining areas, allowing guests to live an indoor-outdoor lifestyle. Special features that enhance the Mediterranean experience include destination-focused programming. Some lines offer expert-led lectures on Roman history, regional wine-tasting sessions, or cooking classes that use local ingredients. Ships that are particularly well-suited for the Mediterranean often prioritize longer port stays and even overnights, giving passengers the chance to experience the local nightlife and culture more fully, turning the cruise into a more authentic European exploration.

Last updated on June 20, 2025

Best Time to Cruise

The best times to take a Mediterranean cruise are during the shoulder seasons of spring (April - May) and fall (September - October). During these months, the weather is pleasantly warm and sunny without the oppressive heat of mid-summer, making it ideal for sightseeing and exploring ancient ruins. The crowds are also thinner, and pricing for both cruises and airfare is generally more affordable than in the peak season. In spring, the landscape is lush and dotted with wildflowers, while fall brings harvest festivals and a rich palette of autumnal colors. Packing layers is key, as mornings and evenings can be cool, especially on the water.

The peak season runs from June through August and is defined by hot, sunny weather, long daylight hours, and a bustling, energetic atmosphere in every port. This is the most popular and expensive time to cruise, with ships and attractions at their fullest capacity. While perfect for beach lovers and sun worshippers, the high temperatures can be intense for extensive walking tours. Be sure to pack lightweight clothing, a wide-brimmed hat, high-SPF sunscreen, and a reusable water bottle to stay hydrated. This is the time for vibrant festivals and late-night alfresco dining, fully embracing the Mediterranean summer lifestyle.

The off-season, from November through March, sees a significant reduction in cruise traffic, although some lines offer itineraries, particularly in the warmer Eastern Mediterranean or to the Canary Islands. The weather is cooler and can be unpredictable, with a higher chance of rain and choppy seas. The major benefits are the lowest prices of the year and the opportunity to experience iconic sites like the Colosseum or the Acropolis without the crowds. However, be prepared for many tourist-oriented shops, restaurants, and some attractions to have limited hours or be closed for the season.

Last updated on June 20, 2025

Who Should Go

Mediterranean cruises appeal to a wide array of travelers, particularly history buffs, art lovers, and foodies. This destination is a floating lesson in Western civilization, making it perfect for intellectually curious couples and active retirees who want to see iconic sites in cities like Barcelona, Marseille, and Tunis without the logistical hassle of coordinating hotels and transportation. With a median price of around $140 per person per day, it's an accessible vacation for many budgets. Families also find great value, as a cruise offers a mix of educational shore excursions, from Roman ruins to Renaissance art, and relaxing fun on the ship's pool deck. The blend of culture, cuisine, and coastline has near-universal appeal.

While wonderfully diverse, these cruises are best suited for those with a moderate to high activity level. Many shore excursions in historic ports involve extensive walking on uneven cobblestone streets and climbing numerous stairs, which can be challenging for travelers with mobility issues, though cruise lines do offer accessible tour options. Travelers who prefer to immerse themselves deeply in one or two locations for an extended period might find the 'sampler' nature of a cruise itinerary too fast-paced. Conversely, anyone who loves efficiency, variety, and the convenience of unpacking only once while visiting multiple countries will find a Mediterranean cruise to be an ideal and highly rewarding vacation.

Last updated on June 20, 2025

Best Mediterranean Cruise Deals

7 Night Barcelona to Barcelona cruise
December 13, 2025
7 Night Mediterranean Cruise
CruiseScore™ (4.01/5)
MSC Splendida
S M L XL
Barcelona Marseille Portofino Naples Palermo Tunis Barcelona
$484
$69 per day
Inside
1 Night Marseille to Barcelona cruise
November 7, 2025
Costa Fascinosa
S M L XL
Marseille Barcelona
$66
$66 per day
Inside
7 Night Barcelona to Barcelona cruise
February 21, 2026
7 Night Mediterranean Cruise
CruiseScore™ (3.98/5)
MSC Splendida
S M L XL
Barcelona Marseille Portofino Naples Palermo Tunis Barcelona
$560
$80 per day
Inside
4 Night Catania to Palermo cruise
September 20, 2025
Costa Fascinosa
S M L XL
Catania Taranto Valletta Tunis Palermo
$413
$103 per day
Balcony
7 Night Barcelona to Barcelona cruise
November 29, 2025
7 Night Mediterranean Cruise
CruiseScore™ (3.95/5)
MSC Splendida
S M L XL
Barcelona Marseille Portofino Naples Palermo Tunis Barcelona
$600
$86 per day
Inside
7 Night Barcelona to Barcelona cruise
December 6, 2025
7 Night Mediterranean Cruise
CruiseScore™ (3.99/5)
MSC Splendida
S M L XL
Barcelona Marseille Portofino Naples Palermo Tunis Barcelona
$600
$86 per day
Inside
24 Night Cape Town to Trieste cruise
March 18, 2026
Costa Deliziosa
S M L XL
Cape Town Walvis Bay Mindelo Las Palmas Barcelona Marseille Savona Rome Corfu Bari Trieste
$1,946
$81 per day
Inside
7 Night Barcelona to Barcelona cruise
January 3, 2026
7 Night Mediterranean Cruise
CruiseScore™ (3.95/5)
MSC Splendida
S M L XL
Barcelona Marseille Portofino Naples Palermo Tunis Barcelona
$600
$86 per day
Inside
7 Night Portofino to Portofino cruise
January 11, 2027
7 Night Mediterranean Cruise
CruiseScore™ (3.94/5)
MSC Euribia
S M L XL
Portofino Naples Palermo Tunis Barcelona Marseille Portofino
$566
$81 per day
Inside
7 Night Portofino to Portofino cruise
January 25, 2027
7 Night Mediterranean Cruise
CruiseScore™ (3.94/5)
MSC Euribia
S M L XL
Portofino Naples Palermo Tunis Barcelona Marseille Portofino
$566
$81 per day
Inside

Last Minute Mediterranean Cruises

4 Night Catania to Palermo cruise
September 20, 2025
Costa Fascinosa
S M L XL
Catania Taranto Valletta Tunis Palermo
$413
$103 per day
Balcony
6 Night Palermo to Genoa cruise
September 28, 2025
Costa Fascinosa
S M L XL
Palermo Naples Tunis Palermo Naples Genoa
$650
$108 per day
Balcony
5 Night Naples to Genoa cruise
September 29, 2025
Costa Fascinosa
S M L XL
Naples Tunis Palermo Naples Genoa
$479
$96 per day
Inside
4 Night Naples to Naples cruise
September 29, 2025
Costa Fascinosa
S M L XL
Naples Tunis Palermo Naples
$449
$112 per day
Inside
4 Night Palermo to Palermo cruise
September 28, 2025
Costa Fascinosa
S M L XL
Palermo Naples Tunis Palermo
$470
$118 per day
Inside
4 Night Taranto to Naples cruise
September 21, 2025
Costa Fascinosa
S M L XL
Taranto Valletta Tunis Palermo Naples
$445
$111 per day
Inside
1 Night Tunis to Palermo cruise
July 31, 2025
1 Night Mediterranean Cruise
CruiseScore™ (3.75/5)
MSC Seaside
S M L XL
Tunis Palermo
$102
$102 per day
Inside
14 Night Barcelona to Athens cruise
September 20, 2025
Holland America Nieuw Statendam
S M L XL
Barcelona Valletta Alexandria Limassol Rhodes Bodrum Istanbul Athens
$1,799
$129 per day
Outside
28 Night Barcelona to Athens cruise
September 20, 2025
Holland America Nieuw Statendam
S M L XL
Barcelona Valletta Alexandria Limassol Rhodes Bodrum Istanbul Athens Olympia Catania Valletta Rhodes Ephesus Istanbul Mykonos Athens
$3,439
$123 per day
Inside
7 Night Florence to Florence cruise
September 21, 2025
7 Night Mediterranean Cruise
CruiseScore™ (3.75/5)
MSC Seaside
S M L XL
Florence Marseille Barcelona Tunis Palermo Naples Florence
$946
$135 per day
Inside

Monthly Mediterranean Cruise Prices

On average Mediterranean Cruises are moderately affordable compared to other types. Check out the illustration below for the monthly average cost per day. Mediterranean Cruises leaving during the the peak season of summer are considerably more expensive than the low seasons of winter, spring, and fall.

Jan
$158
Feb
$157
Mar
$162
Apr
$149
May
$157
Jun
$195
Jul
$189
Aug
$206
Sep
$156
Oct
$211
Nov
$141
Dec
$175

Monthly Mediterranean Cruise Prices

On average Mediterranean Cruises are moderately affordable compared to other types. Check out the illustration below for the monthly average cost per day. Mediterranean Cruises leaving during the the peak season of summer are considerably more expensive than the low seasons of winter, spring, and fall.

Jan
$158
Feb
$157
Mar
$162
Apr
$149
May
$157
Jun
$195
Jul
$189
Aug
$206
Sep
$156
Oct
$211
Nov
$141
Dec
$175

Monthly Mediterranean Cruise Prices

On average Mediterranean Cruises are moderately affordable compared to other types. Check out the illustration below for the monthly average cost per day. Mediterranean Cruises leaving during the the peak season of summer are considerably more expensive than the low seasons of winter, spring, and fall.

Jan
$158
Feb
$157
Mar
$162
Apr
$149
May
$157
Jun
$195
Jul
$189
Aug
$206
Sep
$156
Oct
$211
Nov
$141
Dec
$175

Monthly Mediterranean Cruise Prices

On average Mediterranean Cruises are moderately affordable compared to other types. Check out the illustration below for the monthly average cost per day. Mediterranean Cruises leaving during the the peak season of summer are considerably more expensive than the low seasons of winter, spring, and fall.

Jan
$158
Feb
$157
Mar
$162
Apr
$149
May
$157
Jun
$195
Jul
$189
Aug
$206
Sep
$156
Oct
$211
Nov
$141
Dec
$175

Monthly Mediterranean Cruise Prices

On average Mediterranean Cruises are moderately affordable compared to other types. Check out the illustration below for the monthly average cost per day. Mediterranean Cruises leaving during the the peak season of summer are considerably more expensive than the low seasons of winter, spring, and fall.

Jan
$158
Feb
$157
Mar
$162
Apr
$149
May
$157
Jun
$195
Jul
$189
Aug
$206
Sep
$156
Oct
$211
Nov
$141
Dec
$175

Monthly Mediterranean Cruise Prices

On average Mediterranean Cruises are moderately affordable compared to other types. Check out the illustration below for the monthly average cost per day. Mediterranean Cruises leaving during the the peak season of summer are considerably more expensive than the low seasons of winter, spring, and fall.

Jan
$158
Feb
$157
Mar
$162
Apr
$149
May
$157
Jun
$195
Jul
$189
Aug
$206
Sep
$156
Oct
$211
Nov
$141
Dec
$175

Monthly Mediterranean Cruise Prices

On average Mediterranean Cruises are moderately affordable compared to other types. Check out the illustration below for the monthly average cost per day. Mediterranean Cruises leaving during the the peak season of summer are considerably more expensive than the low seasons of winter, spring, and fall.

Jan
$158
Feb
$157
Mar
$162
Apr
$149
May
$157
Jun
$195
Jul
$189
Aug
$206
Sep
$156
Oct
$211
Nov
$141
Dec
$175

Monthly Mediterranean Cruise Prices

On average Mediterranean Cruises are moderately affordable compared to other types. Check out the illustration below for the monthly average cost per day. Mediterranean Cruises leaving during the the peak season of summer are considerably more expensive than the low seasons of winter, spring, and fall.

Jan
$158
Feb
$157
Mar
$162
Apr
$149
May
$157
Jun
$195
Jul
$189
Aug
$206
Sep
$156
Oct
$211
Nov
$141
Dec
$175

Monthly Mediterranean Cruise Prices

On average Mediterranean Cruises are moderately affordable compared to other types. Check out the illustration below for the monthly average cost per day. Mediterranean Cruises leaving during the the peak season of summer are considerably more expensive than the low seasons of winter, spring, and fall.

Jan
$158
Feb
$157
Mar
$162
Apr
$149
May
$157
Jun
$195
Jul
$189
Aug
$206
Sep
$156
Oct
$211
Nov
$141
Dec
$175

Monthly Mediterranean Cruise Prices

On average Mediterranean Cruises are moderately affordable compared to other types. Check out the illustration below for the monthly average cost per day. Mediterranean Cruises leaving during the the peak season of summer are considerably more expensive than the low seasons of winter, spring, and fall.

Jan
$158
Feb
$157
Mar
$162
Apr
$149
May
$157
Jun
$195
Jul
$189
Aug
$206
Sep
$156
Oct
$211
Nov
$141
Dec
$175

Monthly Mediterranean Cruise Prices

On average Mediterranean Cruises are moderately affordable compared to other types. Check out the illustration below for the monthly average cost per day. Mediterranean Cruises leaving during the the peak season of summer are considerably more expensive than the low seasons of winter, spring, and fall.

Jan
$158
Feb
$157
Mar
$162
Apr
$149
May
$157
Jun
$195
Jul
$189
Aug
$206
Sep
$156
Oct
$211
Nov
$141
Dec
$175

Monthly Mediterranean Cruise Prices

On average Mediterranean Cruises are moderately affordable compared to other types. Check out the illustration below for the monthly average cost per day. Mediterranean Cruises leaving during the the peak season of summer are considerably more expensive than the low seasons of winter, spring, and fall.

Jan
$158
Feb
$157
Mar
$162
Apr
$149
May
$157
Jun
$195
Jul
$189
Aug
$206
Sep
$156
Oct
$211
Nov
$141
Dec
$175

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