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If you’re cruising the Mediterranean for the first time, then I’ve put together a bumper list of top tips to help you get the most from your cruise. If you’ve visited the Mediterranean before on a land-based holiday, exploring it by cruise ship can be quite different.
I’ve been on cruise holidays in the Mediterranean for the past 20 years and visited many of the ports on popular itineraries, so let me share some of the tips I’ve picked up along the way to help you make your cruise to the Mediterranean as stress free as possible.
Getting there
To fly or not to fly?
If you are travelling from the UK, then you have the option to take a no-fly round trip cruise to the Mediterranean. You will tend to have a few more sea days are the start and end of your two-week Mediterranean cruise as a result.
This will mean you route will also cross the Bay of Biscay where conditions can be unpredictable. My top tip is if you are prone to seasickness then think about whether a fly-cruise might be better for you.
Alternatively, if you don’t like flying then choose to sail to the Mediterranean on one of the larger, more modern ships (Such as P&O Cruises Arvia) with the latest stabiliser technology – and stock up on sea-sickness pills as a back-up.
When to cruise to the Mediterranean
The main Mediterranean cruise season generally starts in spring. At this time, you can expect mild conditions and smaller crowds which makes it an ideal time to visit. The autumnal months are another good time to visit to avoid the crowds and fierce heat. The summer is peak season, and it can also be very busy and blisteringly hot.
Which is the best cruise line for a Mediterranean cruise?
If you want to explore smaller ports, then opt for smaller ships. Larger ships tend to be restricted to larger ports such as Civitavecchia, Naples and Barcelona. Smaller ships will have itineraries with stops at smaller ports and your time in port may be less crowded as a result.
It’s always useful to check cruise mapper or the port schedule to see how many other ships will be in port on the same day to help you see how busy it might be and plan your day ashore accordingly (popular attractions will get booked up very quickly as a result). For example, when we visited Barcelona at the height of the summer season in 2018, there were 8 different ships in port with a combined total of over 20,000 passengers.
It may take you a while to get the main sites
Some Mediterranean ports can be quite a distance from the towns or cities they are famously linked to. In Italy, Civitavecchia is around a 90-minute drive from Rome, Livorno is similar distance to Florence as is Athens from Piraeus.
Some ports are also tender ports (such as Sorrento, Monte Carlo, Cannes, St Tropez, and sometimes Kotor) when ships transport guests ashore by tender. This can cause a delay in getting ashore as at busy times there may be long waits for the tenders. Tender ports can also be difficult for passengers with mobility issues, so it is best to check your itinerary for tender ports before you book to avoid disappointment.
A bit of advance preparation will save you money.
Doing even small bit of research on each port in advance of sailing can help you to decide where best to take cruise ship excursions or where you can strike out on your own.
My advice is that if the port is more than an hour away from your ship or if you are a tentative traveller then opt for the cruise lines shore excursion. However, many European ports are walkable from the ship (Cadiz, A Coruna, Gibraltar, Lisbon and Dubrovnik to name a few) and it is quite easy to organise your own (often cheaper) shore excursion – I use GetYourGuide to help me plan (and save money).
Exploring Ashore
You don’t have to do it all.
Don’t fall into the trap of booking too many full-day tours on consecutive days – believe me, you will be exhausted. Pace yourself and mix and match activities. It’s ok to have a ‘fake sea day’ and stay on ship if you want to need to – you don’t have to explore every port.
You don’t even have to spend ALL day in port. If you want to explore port in a more relaxing way, then the trusty Hop on Hop Off (HOHO) buses which are a ubiquitous site in many of the major European cruise ports, are a wonderful way to see most of the sites from the comfort of an open top bus with Wi-Fi and audio commentary.
Know where the great sail-ins are and get up early
I know it can be tempting to stay in bed as long as you can – you’re on holiday after all – but some sail ins on Mediterranean itineraries and breathtaking and you will be rewarded from dragging yourself away from your comfy cruise bed. The sail into to Kotor, Santorini, Naples, Dubrovnik, and Istanbul are worth getting up for.
Use your sea days wisely
Some Mediterranean cruises can be port intensive, one-week Mediterranean sailings generally have just one sea day. It’s best to use your sea day(s) to recharge – book a spa session to ease tired feet and legs, have a leisurely breakfast on your balcony or find a shady spot to relax and keep hydrated.
You don’t have to go to bed early but getting a great night’s sleep before your next day in port will help you to feel refreshed and ready to explore. Getting up for breakfast at 7am with just a few hours’ sleep to go on an 8-hour shore excursion with a raging hangover and sunburn is not a good look. (I’ve learned the hard way).
Pick the right shore excursion for your needs
If you have restricted mobility or are travelling with kids in pushchairs or then opt for a cruise line shore excursion. These will have been carefully planned and tailored to your needs and can help you to explore port in the most stress-free way.
Traffic can be unpredictable
If you’re planning your own shore excursion, then plan for traffic delays, and rail strikes. Do your research in advance of sailing and if you’re worried about getting back to the ship in time, then book on to a cruise line shore excursion. They are more expensive but if it gives you peace of mind, then this helps you to enjoy the port more and help you relax. Even on a cruise line shore excursion, you can experience traffic delays, so a bit of patience during delays is always helpful.
You may have to pay to use the toilets/restrooms
This is why it’s always a good idea to keep some lose change in Euros always handy. Expect to pay between 1-2 Euros. And if you can, take advantage of free restrooms when you din in certain restaurants. (or why don’t you buy a cooling drink in a McDonalds and use the code you get on your receipt to visit the restroom here at the same time – now that’s smart travelling).
Learn a bit of the language
You don’t have to be fluent or have a 1000+ day streak on Duolingo. Just brush up on key words and phrases can make things a lot easier – for example knowing how to translate signs such as ‘exit’, ‘toilets’, ‘tickets’ and ‘no entry’ and ‘danger’ can save you a lot of time or keep you out of trouble. Even just learning “I’m sorry I don’t speak [xxx language]”, can help. Google translate is also your friend too – so download the app before you sail.
What to Pack for a Mediterranean Cruise
Comfortable shoes are essential
You will be doing a lot of walking on your cruise in port. For some excursions you might be dropped off and picked up in a parking area which is approximately 10-15 minutes walking from the entrance.
Shade may be limited
In some major tourist sites at the peak season, you may have to queue or there may not be many shady places to retreat to. To avoid sunburn, wear light, long clothing suitable for use as a cover-up. Bring a hat and sunglasses, wear reef safe sunscreen.
You may need to cover your shoulders
Many religious buildings and sites may require you to cover up bare shoulders, so take a lightweight short or cotton shawl to quickly cover up if needed. I completely forgot to take one off ship with me when we visited Monaco, so I was able to go inside Saint Nicholas Cathedral, Grace Kelly and more recently, Rainier III are buried so Mr Cruise with Amber went in to take photos while I had to stay outside and admire the view.
Backpacks and large bags are not allowed inside certain buildings
And some might not have any lockers to store your bag, so check before exploring some sites and try to travel light. A small cross body bag is a great investment. I swear by my Kipling bag, and it’s been with me since my very first cruise.
A water bottle is another essential
Great for filling up before you go ashore (and I usually take a small bottle of concentrated squash with me to use on the go too when I refill in port too).
Do you have any tips for Mediterranean Cruises? Share your thoughts and join in the discussion on my friendly Facebook group.
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