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The same sailing and stateroom category on a cruise in mid-July is priced at $4,216 total. Many Royal Caribbean ships cross the Atlantic in April each year, traveling from the Caribbean to Europe in preparation for the cruise season. Ships arrive at the end of April or early May, the start of the spring’s shoulder season in the Mediterranean. The slightly cooler climate of the fall season doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy the beaches of the Mediterranean — but it does make sightseeing more comfortable. Stroll through Rome and toss a coin into the promising waters of Trevi Fountain. Or relive history in the medieval city of Dubrovnik, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Best Time to Cruise the Mediterranean
Everyone has their favorite list of the best Mediterranean cruise ports (as evidenced by the discussion I just had with TPG's cruise team about which to include). Some travelers want to hit all the most popular cities, while others prioritize the ability to walk right off the ship into the heart of the town. Some ports are better for historical attractions, others for cafe culture or outdoor activities. You can find a variety of weeklong Mediterranean cruises, but if you've got the time, nine- to 14-night sailings are not uncommon.
The best time for a Mediterranean sailing based on prices and crowds
Not actual snow; this is almond blossom season, the beginning of spring, and is a wonderful time to visit. In these winter months, you’ll have museums and galleries virtually to yourself. Restaurants and bars remain open in port cities, and the atmosphere is, if anything, more relaxed than at the height of summer.
Rome, Italy
Fans of the TV show "Game of Thrones" will be delighted to find that there are tours focused on taking travelers to the TV show's film locations in Dubrovnik. My biggest tip for any cruise — but especially for Americans traveling to Europe for a Mediterranean cruise — is to arrive at your embarkation city at least a day before your sailing starts. Going early or late in the season usually means you'll have more tolerable weather and smaller crowds in some of the big destinations like Athens. As someone who's taken over 50 cruises all over the world, I know firsthand how popular cruising is this year. But one seabound itinerary people often forget to add to their bucket lists is a Mediterranean cruise.
Best Time for Mediterranean Cruises
There are also ouzo tastings as well as sightseeing in the villages on the island of Santorini. The picturesque, whitewashed buildings and the black sand beaches make this a favorite port for many visitors. If you wish to avoid the crowds or just spend more time in the water, catamaran tours sail around the island, offering a chance to swim (if traveling when temperatures allow) and view the beaches and caldera. Do you want to visit the Mediterranean to lie on the beach and swim at most ports you visit?
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The Grape Harvest Festivals in regions known for winemaking, such as Peloponnese in Greece or Tuscany in Italy, are excellent for wine lovers. You can also pay a visit to Mediterranean towns with German influences, like Palma de Mallorca, which host Oktoberfest festivals with beer, food and live music. Regent Seven Seas offers itineraries with stops in Albania, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Israel, Monaco, Montenegro, Turkey and Spain.
This region of Europe is one of the most fun places to go in the summer for families, and the best time of year to visit the Mediterranean is during the school summer break. If you’re searching for winter sun as well as the cultural pleasures of a Mediterranean cruise, choose a voyage that combines the Canary Islands with Mediterranean ports. July is one of the busiest and hottest months to visit the Mediterranean, with summer in full swing. It’s not quite as busy as August, when the whole of Italy, Spain, and France heads for the coast, but plan your sightseeing carefully. You’ll need to pre-book for visits to places like the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona and the Uffizi in Florence.
Adriatic Sea
The cruise season in the Mediterranean usually begins in April and ends in November, with peak season falling between June and September. You can usually find the best prices for an Alaska cruise during the shoulder season months of April, May, September and October. For example, starting rates are as low as $603 per person for a seven-night Inside Passage cruise sailing round-trip from Seattle with Royal Caribbean in May 2024. However, by the peak summer season in late June and July, the starting price is $921 per person.
Mediterranean cruises in Fall Fall is a considered the best time to cruise the Mediterranean for cultural excursions without the crowds. September and October are part of the shoulder season, when kids go back to school and vacation prices dip. The sun won’t be quite as fierce, which makes walking the hills of Santorini or the winding streets of Rome a much more enjoyable experience. The crowds will have thinned out and you’ll have more space to enjoy popular attractions such as Las Ramblas in Barcelona. Due to comfortable temperatures, the early shoulder season in the Mediterranean is a nice time to explore ports that can get uncomfortably hot in the peak summer months. Long days touring ancient sites like the Colosseum or walking through the cobblestone streets of Dubrovnik can be a lot nicer when temperatures are still comfortable.
Research the specific destinations and ports of call you’d like to visit during your cruise. Cruising in the Mediterranean during spring offers the advantage of comfortable temperatures, allowing you to explore ports of call without being overwhelmed by summer heat. Before diving into the best time to embark on a Mediterranean cruise, let’s explore why this region is a top choice for travelers.
Cruise lines that sail the region all year include Viking, MSC Cruises, Costa, Celestyal and Norwegian Cruise Line. But while you might be able to cruise the Mediterranean in winter, your choice of ports is somewhat limited. We found no sailings to the popular ports of Corfu, Dubrovnik or Koper, Slovenia in December or January. Early to mid-September can be looked at as an extension of summer in most Mediterranean cruise ports, with hot, sunny temperatures. Temperatures begin to cool down in late September and early October, but still remain relatively pleasant.
She loves to get active while at port, whether cycling through mountains in the Caribbean or scuba diving under the sea. As the school calendar comes to an end and families prepare for summer vacation, expect crowds and prices to rise. The summer months are also the best time to see several species of whales off the coast of Newfoundland, including humpback whales. You'll find moderate temperatures (in the mid-70s to low 80s) and drier weather in January and February.
However, many travelers choose to cruise to Canada and New England specifically for the fall foliage. If fall colors are your goal, resign yourself to cooler temperatures on your sailing, especially in the evenings. The summer months and early fall will have some of the best rates, but you'll need to take into consideration the hotter temperatures in the summer that can reach into the 90s – and with high humidity. It's also the rainy season, and it's possible to have hurricanes during these months. The advantage of traveling in the shoulder season is that you can experience the towns without the summer crowds and with cooler temperatures. The cruise line prides itself on its low guest-to-crew member ratio, ensuring your every need is easily met.
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