Moment 01
Cities & antiquity
Rome, Barcelona, Athens, and Dubrovnik: Europe's great cities, ports apart.
The Mediterranean.
Europe · Italy, Greece, Spain & beyond
A Mediterranean cruise links the great cities of Europe with the sun-drenched coastlines between them. In a single voyage you might wander Barcelona's boulevards, stand beneath the ruins of Rome, sail into the caldera at Santorini, and toast the evening on the French Riviera.
Itineraries span the Western Mediterranean (Spain, France, and Italy) and the Eastern, reaching Greece, the Adriatic, and beyond. All-inclusive luxury lines have made the region more effortless than ever, folding fine dining, shore experiences, and gratuities into a single fare.
We'll help you decide between a grand round-Italy classic and a more intimate small-ship route, and we'll add a pre- or post-cruise stay so you can savor a favorite city at your own pace.
- The region
- Western & Eastern Med
- Classic sailing
- 7–10 nights
- Ship style
- Grand classic or small luxury
- Embarkation
- Barcelona / Rome / Venice
What you'll remember
Moments along the way.
Moment 02
The Greek isles
Sail into Santorini's caldera and the whitewashed lanes of Mykonos.
Moment 03
All-inclusive ease
Luxury lines that fold dining, excursions, and gratuities into one fare.
Moment 04
The Amalfi Coast
Cliff-clung villages, lemon groves and the bluest of seas south of Naples.
Moment 05
A feast in every port
Tapas in Spain, pasta in Italy, mezze in Greece, a different table each day.
Moment 06
The French Riviera
The glamour of Monte Carlo and the Côte d'Azur, harborfront and sun-drenched.
The route
A sample sailing.
6 stops · Barcelona to Naples
Tap a stop to jump to that day · drag to explore
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1 Day 1Barcelona, Spain
Embark in Gaudí's city, with the Sagrada Família, the Gothic Quarter and Las Ramblas to explore first.
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2 Day 2Marseille, France
France's oldest city and the gateway to Provence, lavender fields and the calanques.
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3 Day 3Monte Carlo, Monaco
The glamour of the Riviera: the harbor of superyachts, the casino, and the cliff-top old town.
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4 Day 4Florence & Pisa
Ashore at Livorno for Renaissance Florence and the leaning tower of Pisa.
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5 Day 5Rome, Italy
From Civitavecchia into the Eternal City: the Colosseum, the Vatican and two thousand years of history.
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6 Days 6-7Naples & the Amalfi Coast
Pompeii beneath Vesuvius and the cliff-clung villages of the Amalfi Coast, then a final night at sea.
Every sailing we book is tailored: this is a starting point, not a package.
When to go
The best time to sail.
The Mediterranean has two windows we book before any other: late spring and early autumn, when the sea is warm and the ports breathe. High summer is glorious but hot and full; winter all but closes the season. Here is the year as we plan it.
May–June
Warm days and long light before the summer crush, with comfortable seas.
September–October
A still-warm sea, golden light and the grape harvest, with thinner crowds.
July–August
Peak summer: hot, busy and lively, with the ports at their fullest.
November–March
Cooler and much quieter, with far fewer sailings and mostly repositioning voyages on offer.
Good to know
The Mediterranean cruise questions.
How long is a Mediterranean cruise?+
Sailings run from week-long classics to longer grand voyages, in the Western Med (Spain, France, Italy) or the Eastern (Greece, the Adriatic and beyond).
When is the best time to cruise the Mediterranean?+
Late spring and early fall are ideal: warm but not scorching, with thinner crowds. July and August are hot and the busiest.
Eastern or Western Mediterranean?+
Western itineraries link Spain, France and Italy; Eastern reach Greece, Croatia and the Greek isles. We help you choose and add a city stay at either end.
What is included on a Mediterranean cruise?+
It depends on the line: luxury all-inclusive fares fold in dining, excursions and gratuities, while others price these separately. We confirm before you book.
From the journal
Reading on The Mediterranean.
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River Cruises
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Let's begin
Ready for
The Mediterranean?
We'll handle the ship, the itinerary, and every detail in between.
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