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Every month of the year offers something unique for anyone embarking on a Mediterranean cruise. The region's moderate climate allows passengers to enjoy comfortable weather year-round. As shown in this guide, each season offers its unique set of qualities, from the liveliness of the summer to the fewer crowds in the fall and winter.
Winter Mediterranean Cruises
Top things to do in Barcelona on a shore excursion include tours to see Gaudi's art nouveau architecture, the Picasso Museum, culinary tours and cooking classes. You can also find tours where the highlight is visiting FC Barcelona's stadium, a bucket-list item for many soccer fans. You can choose from roving food tours, cooking classes, winery visits and tastings, and meals made with local produce and cheeses in beautiful villa or farmhouse settings. Barcelona, for example, sees daily highs in the mid 70s and low 80s in September, whereas in October the daily highs tend to be in the low to mid 70s.
When to cruise Northern Europe for the best weather
That being said, if you’re spending your days in port lounging on a beach chair next to gorgeous turquoise water, we’re guessing you won’t really care. Most of the winter offerings cruise the western ports of Italy, plus France, and westward to Barcelona. There are a handful of longer sailings that sail from Athens or include Istanbul, western Turkey, Israel and even Alexandria, Egypt. Among popular cruise lines, only Viking includes stops in Santorini in winter, and only Costa offers cruises that include Venice in the winter. Norwegian's winter Mediterranean itineraries are focused on Spain and Portugal.
12 Best Mediterranean Cruise Destinations for 2024–2024 - Reader's Digest
12 Best Mediterranean Cruise Destinations for 2024–2024.
Posted: Mon, 20 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Your Guide for the Best Mediterranean Cruises
These festivals can also affect the opening of attractions, restaurants, banks and other venues you might want to visit ashore. Fares for seven-night cruises in May 2024 are as low as $499 per person on an MSC cruise sailing round-trip from Miami and even less expensive at $399 per person come September. January is the beginning of the dry season, so the humidity is lower, and the temperatures are in the 70s and 80s. Some of the Caribbean's nicest weather is in May, at the start of shoulder season.
Budget-minded travelers may be inclined to book shore excursions on their own to save money, and if this is you, you may want to reconsider. With the heavy traffic in Rome that frequently causes long travel delays, even the best planners may arrive back at the ship late. Ships only delay embarkation for passengers on excursions booked through the cruise line.
The 8 Best Mediterranean Cruises Of 2024 - Forbes
The 8 Best Mediterranean Cruises Of 2024.
Posted: Tue, 23 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
An ocean view balcony stateroom for 2 adults on a 7-night Western Mediterranean cruise on Wonder of the Seas in mid-June is priced at $3501 total. The same sailing and stateroom category on a cruise in mid-July is priced at $4,360 total. In the early season you can expect pleasant temperatures that are ideal for exploring the Mediterranean’s cities.
Sometimes flight delays or other problems out of your control happen on even the most well-planned vacations. By arriving one night in advance, you create a buffer that helps ensure you won't miss your cruise embarkation. You can also purchase cruise insurance to protect yourself from unforeseen problems. If your budget allows, consider arriving a few days before your embarkation date.
July/August
Further south in Cyprus, expect daily highs in the mid 80s in September and low 80s in October. You may encounter some businesses and restaurants closed during August, but this is unlikely to significantly impact your cruise experience. Major tourist sites and the majority of businesses within cities will remain open in August.
Because of the long flight, I always like to have at least two weeks when I travel to Europe, but you'll have to decide what your schedule and budget allow. At a minimum, I recommend taking a Mediterranean cruise that's at least seven days to make the most of your journey. We have the answers so your first time will be nothing but smooth sailing. If you've never been to Europe, you may feel overwhelmed by destination choices. If you know which ports are on your must-see list, you might be more stumped by which cruise line to choose or which specific itinerary will be the best for you.
Seven-night cruises are best if you're short on time or want to tack on a few days in Barcelona, Rome or Athens before or after your cruise. Longer itineraries are ideal for experiencing a greater variety of destinations and traversing more of the Med. October sees slightly chillier weather than September, but is also considered one of the best months for a Mediterranean cruise, and a bit of a “hidden secret” among those cruising to Europe in the fall. Royal Caribbean’s Mediterranean season continues to late October or early November, at which point ships return to the Caribbean for the winter season.
The summer crowds are beginning to thin out as European schools have gone back and the family holiday season is over. The sea is blissfully warm and perfect for swimming; in fact, this is one of the best months for watersports. The sea is blissfully warm for swimming, and you can expect long, hot, sunny days, tempered by the occasional thunderstorm. May is one of the very best times to cruise the Mediterranean, with long, sunny days, al-fresco dining, comfortable temperatures, and manageable crowds. The month kicks off with Labour Day, on May 1, which is celebrated as a national holiday all over the Mediterranean, so expect locals to be out and about. The Mediterranean is a vast region consisting of numerous countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea and is typically split between the subregions of Southern Europe and North Africa/Middle East.
If the ship docks in a secondary location and you have to travel to the big tourist destinations, I always book excursions through the cruise line. For instance, the day my family and I explored Rome, the ship docked in Civitavecchia, Italy, and we had to take a two-hour bus ride into the city. New Zealand's beaches are also a top attraction in the summer, along with outdoor activities and water sports. The cruise season in Canada and New England begins in May and ends in October, with a few ships even making the voyage in April. You'll find more ships in this region between August and October as it gets closer to peak leaf-peeping season. For example, in May 2023, you can sail on a seven-night Western Mediterranean voyage from Barcelona to Rome with Princess Cruises starting at $699 per person.
Regent Seven Seas offers itineraries with stops in Albania, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Israel, Monaco, Montenegro, Turkey and Spain. Some optional upgrades on excursions and onboard programs are an additional charge. It's a good idea to book your Mediterranean cruise early, even nine to 12 months in advance. You can take advantage of early booking discounts and promotions and have the widest selection of available cabins and suites and dining times (if applicable). An early booking is ideal if you're planning on using miles to book your flights or points for a pre-cruise hotel. Look for fall sales when the current Mediterranean season is winding down.
This allows you to relax, adjust to the time zone, and explore the departure city before embarking on your Mediterranean adventure. In addition to Disney Cruises, you may consider “Adventures by Disney” which offers smaller ship sizes, fewer guests, local guides, and tours of some of the most impressive sights on Mediterranean waters. Adventure by Disney includes overnight stays in some locations, fine dining, and tours of the major religious sites in the area. Celestyal Cruise Line is the premier cruise line for discovering Greek and Turkish ports of call.
In Barcelona, expect highs of around 70°F throughout most of May, with temperatures rising toward the end of the month. If you’re traveling further south to Athens, though, expect highs around 75-80°F. Embarking on a Mediterranean cruise is a dream come true for many travelers.
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