While there are many itinerary variations, the more typical 7- to 10-day Western Mediterranean cruise is between Barcelona and Rome, while Eastern Mediterranean cruises generally operate between Rome or Venice and Istanbul. Longer itineraries of 12 or more days offer even more. There are cruises into the Black Sea, visiting Russian and Eastern European ports. Other Mediterranean cruise itineraries may include ports of call in Israel and/or Egypt.

When selecting it’s important to keep in mind your priorities and expectations. While some ports of call are located along the sea, others are inland and require a considerable commute. Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Dubrovnik and Venice are easily accessible from their cruise ports. However, Rome, Florence, and Taormina are inland, limiting the time available to enjoy them on a typical one-day port visit. While some cruise lines, like Azamara Cruises, stay overnight in select ports, most ships are in port for part of a day. Our team of travel experts can help you select the perfect Mediterranean cruise itinerary to make your trip as enjoyable as possible

COMBINE A EUROPE CRUISE WITH A LAND PACKAGE

For the best of both worlds, consider adding a few days ashore before or after your Mediterranean cruise so you have time to enjoy one or two cities more in depth. At the end of a cruise, a hotel stay provides some down time from traveling, along with better opportunities for some sightseeing and enjoying more of the local cuisine before flying home. We can customize your visit and can often save on airfare costs over what the cruise line charges.

Alternatively, you may wish to consider inclusive European river cruises as a vacation option.