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You only need to be back at the designated shuttle bus or location at the allocated time in order to make it back to the ship. Royal Caribbean will often have an excursion option that solely provides transport to and from the port to the center of the city. This is a great option for those who want the ease of Royal Caribbean transport to and from a destination but want to explore the city without a guided tour. If you are more interested in visiting unique ports even if it means sailing on a smaller ship, consider sailing on a Vision or Radiance Class ship to the Mediterranean.
Greece and Turkey
For a more European feel, consider cruising the region with a company based on the continent. Costa and MSC Cruises, headquartered in Italy and Switzerland, respectively, offer shorter and often cheaper itineraries (as well as great, al dente pasta). British lines P&O, Thomson and Cunard have numerous sailings, while the German line Hapag-Lloyd provides the ultimate in luxury. Made popular as the backdrop of Game of Thrones, Croatia is not a country to miss when traveling the Mediterranean. From the walled city of Dubrovnik to the palace of Split to the ancient Roman ruins of Istria, there is so much history to discover here.
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Croatian cuisine tells a mouthwatering story of its local culture and history, with dishes that feature fresh fish, meat, and vegetables. Cooked on wood-fired grills, drizzled with olive oil, and cooked slowly, the food is insanely delicious and cooked with pride. Don't miss out on Crni rizot, a dish inspired by Croatia's neighbors in Italy made up of black risotto, with squid ink, or try Gregada, a fish stew that's made with scorpion fish or grouper.
Royal Caribbean unveils summer 2025 Europe itineraries - Cruise Trade News
Royal Caribbean unveils summer 2025 Europe itineraries.
Posted: Thu, 09 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
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Pristine turquoise waters and white pebble beaches welcome you to this small picturesque country. Go offboard to Split to visit a number of its 1,200 stunning islands, like Korcula, Hvar or Mljet, or explore Diocletian's imposing palace. Then it's time to sample some of Croatia's mouth-watering seafood dishes. Join a wine-tasting tour if you can, and don't miss a trip to the cascading waterfalls, forests and bright lakes of Krka or Plitvice Lakes National Park. Join a wine tasting tour if you can, and don't miss a trip to the cascading waterfalls, forests and bright lakes of Krka or Plitvice Lakes National Park.
Traveling to the Crystal Caves in Spain
Rather than paying US $10 each for the return transfer bus to town offered by the cruise company, we paid US $25 for the three of us for a taxi all the way up to the cathedral to enjoy the below view. The first stop on our Western Mediterranean Cruise was Genoa in Italy, home of the largest aquarium in Europe which at 23 Euros for an adult is pretty expensive to visit. As well as the standard fish, dolphins and manatees there was a tank which contained the cast of Finding Nemo! We spent the rest of the day wandering around the city looking at points of interest – the standard palace, cathedral and square seen in most European cities. Spending a day in Genoa was a good first stop – it’s a good walkable city from the port and easily able to be seen in a day.
Best Mediterranean cruise lines
When sailing the Western Mediterranean, one of the toughest choices for cruise travelers can be ship size. Big ships tend to visit big ports -- the "greatest hits" of the Western Mediterranean destinations, such as Florence, Rome and Barcelona. Almost all major lines offer such sailings, including Celebrity, Holland America, Norwegian, Princess, Royal Caribbean and Disney. In fact, Celebrity has sailed its newest ships to the region for several cruises, and Royal Caribbean uses some of its largest ships in the Western Mediterranean during the summer months. Carnival has some sailings in the region, but tends to keep more of its ships in the North American market than competitors. A trip to Milos will bring you face to face with massive white cliffs that will make you feel as if you're on the moon.
Cruisers in search of something different can opt for a yacht-style experience (SeaDream Yacht Club or Windstar) or an all-masted ship like those found in Star Clippers' fleet. Everything about this particular Symphony is pitch perfect, and a voyage on board the super ship may just change your tune about cruising. Our favourite night was taking part in the silent disco on the Boardwalk.
Cruise Critic is not a booking agent and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. When you book with one of our partners, please be sure to check their site for a full disclosure of all applicable fees as required by the U.S. Last year I did a Mediterranean cruise on The Serenade of the Seas.
At night, go out and take in the culture with the modern Athenians. A cruise to Civitavecchia is a chance for you to hop a quick train to Rome and explore the enormous history through ruins, galleries and The Vatican museums. If you don’t have international data, you can access the internet via wifi while in port. Wifi should be relatively easy to encounter, especially closer to the city center. Many restaurants and cafes will have free wifi available to customers. Unlike in the Caribbean or Mexican ports where you can usually get by with USD, this is not accepted in Europe.
Learning the basics of the language spoken in the countries you will visit on a Mediterranean cruise can make your experience smoother. Luckily, most languages spoken in the Western Mediterranean share many similarities with each other and are relatively easy to pick up as an English speaker. These self-guided excursions with transport are often named “[Destination city] on Your Own” in the Cruise Planner. Choosing which itinerary to book for a Western Mediterranean cruise comes down to your preference, budget, and ship choice. Deciding which itinerary and ship to choose from as well as what to do in port, however, can be overwhelming for those who have never cruised to Europe. With some of the world’s most historic and breathtaking scenery, monuments, and cultures, going on a cruise to the Mediterranean allows you to experience multiple locations in a short amount of time.
Whether wood-fired pizzas in Naples, baguettes and croissants in Nice, paella in Barcelona, or gelato in Rome, trying new foods is a key aspect of traveling through the Mediterranean. For example, you can book a 7-night Western Mediterranean cruise leaving from Rome on May 12th or you can book the same cruise leaving from Barcelona on May 15th. Cruises to the Western Mediterranean generally visit Spain, France, and Italy. Some of the most common ports visited are Civitavecchia (Rome), Livorno (Pisa), Villefranche (Nice), Provence (Marseille), Naples/Capri, and Barcelona. Here's a list of some of the best Israeli food found in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa and beyond including sabich, shakshuka and bourekas.
The Western Mediterranean is one of the most diverse cruise regions. Spanning two continents (Europe and Africa), the region includes the artistic meccas of Italy, France and Spain and Arabic culture in Morocco and Tunisia. The itinerary is ideal for art and history lovers who also wish to explore the region's landmarks, beaches, cafes and boutique shops.
Uncover the history of Italy through Italian architecture and art tours as you travel to Rome, Florence, and Milan. There's more to a European cruise vacation than just packing your bags! Plan the perfect trip on your travel getaway to visit the best places in Europe. Travel Tuesday cruise deals go live at midnight on Cyber Monday, and are designed to bring you discounts on experiences that you'll remember for a lifetime.
A land vacation to Europe, assuming you are spending more than one day in each place, generally gives you more time to experience each destination. Being able to spend evenings wandering around European cities and experiencing nightlife is a highlight for some travelers to Europe, and this is not very common to have access to while on a cruise. One of the best parts of cruising in Europe compared to traveling on land is that all transportation is arranged for you. There’s no need to worry about booking a ton of train tickets, reserving multiple hotels, and lugging your suitcase from one city to another. On a cruise you will be able to visit multiple European countries while only unpacking once.
The Western Med is probably one of the easiest itineraries to do on your own, as the cities are already tourist friendly, with plenty of signs to the major attractions. Most of these ports also have private walking tours available, often for far less than money than those you'll find through the ship. Other luxury vessels, including Regent Seven Seas, Azamara, Crystal, Silversea, Oceania and Seabourn, also ply this region of the Med. Often, these voyages not only visit smaller ports like Portofino, Cannes and Capri, but they are longer in duration and also cruise the Eastern Mediterranean. Itineraries that sail the Western Mediterranean typically emphasize ports of call in Spain, France and Italy with a few interesting detours along the way.
