Cruise Lines for Mediterranean Cruise

If you are planning to sail in the Mediterranean, deciding the right cruise lines is very important. How can you find the best cruise lines in the Mediterranean?

One of the key decision you make for a fulfilling cruise vacation is finding the cruise line that truly meets your needs and expectations.

If you plan to sail with your loved one and expect an intimate and romantic time, you will be disappointed to sail with a family-oriented large ship.

On the other hand, if you sail with your family members or kids, it will be a mistake to pick up a fleet with fewer entertainment facilities and dining options.

In this article, you will find how different cruise lines offer their unique service and entertainment options. You can decide the best cruise lines for your Mediterranean cruises. Find the best-fit cruise lines for your needs.

Find the best cruise lines in the Mediterranean and make your cruise vacation absolutely special!

Best Cruise Lines in the Mediterranean

Best Cruise Lines in the Mediterranean among mainstream cruise lines are:

• Viking Ocean Cruises
• Princess Cruises
• Disney Cruise Line
• Royal Caribbean Cruises.

Viking’s service especially appeals to couples. Princess has a lot of cruise experiences in the Mediterranean. If you are cruising with the family members, Disney and Royal Carribean are the best in the Mediterranean. Disney and Royal Caribbean won’t get kids bored, and all the different generations can enjoy together.

Best Rated Cruise Lines in the Mediterranean are:

• MSC Cruises
• Costa Cruises

MSC Cruises and Costa Cruises are known as Italian theme cruise lines. MSC and Costa are particularly popular among European family cruisers. Cruise rates tend to be lower than other mainstream cruise lines. During a school’s offseason, the families from Europe, particularly Italian, dominate the ship. Italian families are especially lively and friendly. They love to talk..! In Baltic Cruises, you will find a lot of German cruisers.

If running and screaming children would ruin your vacation, it is not recommended to sail during school-vacation periods. Or book a luxury ship.

Best luxury cruise lines in the Mediterranean are:

• Seabourn Cruise Line
• Regent Seven Seas Cruises

• Crystal Cruises
• Cunard Line
• Azamara

Seabourn Cruise Line and Regent Seven Seas Cruises are the best for the luxury Mediterranean cruises. Crystal Cruises, Cunard Line and Azamara Club Cruises provide unique and excellent service differently in the Mediterranean.

Best Mediterranean Itinerary

The Mediterranean Sea has more than 100 cruise ports and itineraries. So how can you decide which ports you would like to visit?

The Mediterranean Itinerary is divided into two in the middle of Italy, the Western Mediterranean and the Eastern Mediterranean. Find which ports of call appeal to you for sightseeing and shore excursions.

Best Time to Cruise Mediterranean

High season
From June to August, the least rain and sunny days. But ports are very busy with tourists, especially in August. The temperatures are high. The cruise rate is the highest.

Shoulder season
Mid-April to May and September to mid-October, is uncrowded. Cruise rates are also lower than the high season. Mid- to late-September is the best. Late-May to early-June is less competition for bookings. Comfortable temperatures.

Off-season
From late October to mid-April and it’ll be cold in the Northern Mediterranean. It is a winter season in the Mediterranean. It is perfect weather in Morocco, Egypt and the Canary Islands.

Mediterranean Cruise Ports

Departure Ports for the Mediterranean Cruises are:

Barcelona, Spain
Venice, Italy
Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy
Southampton, the UK

Please find departure Port Transport information and port accommodation guide to saving your money and time as below. Alternatively, you can find Madrid transfer to Barcelona and Rome transfer to Civitavecchia.

Pro Tips: for the cruisers from the US, Canada, Australia and Asia, the easiest departure port to arrive and transfer is Barcelona. The second easiest is in Venice and Southampton. You need to transfer Rome to Civitavecchia and it is pretty stressful if you did not prepare in advance. But staying in Rome before you cruise the Mediterranean is incredibly special!

Mainstream Cruise Lines

The mainstream cruise lines offer a variety of daily programs and itineraries. Their fleets tend to be large and some of them are the extra large mega-ships in the world. The multiple entertainment options and facilities allow not only children but also different generations enjoy together on board.

Royal Carribean Cruises and Disney Cruise Line are perfect for younger adults and family cruises. Meals and dining choices are diverse. The staterooms are fairly compact and not luxury. If you cruise as a couple and expect a relaxed and intimate atmosphere, you can choose Viking Ocean Cruise.

Viking Ocean Cruises

Viking Ocean Cruises launched its first ocean ship in 2015, and it has been offering destination-rich itineraries, meaning fewer sea days and longer port days, with many overnight ports stays. Find Viking’s ports of calls in the Mediterranean. You can have multiple choices. All cabins are balconies and at 270 sq. feet and are ’20 % larger than the average standard staterooms’.

Viking’s ocean cruises have an adults-only policy. The minimum age to sail on Viking Ocean Cruises is aged 18 years old. Viking’s Mediterranean Cruises are particularly recommended for couples who would like to spend some relaxed and quality time together. It is not for young families and who expect active entertainment activities such as casino, formal nights and constant parties.

Viking Ocean Cruises fleets in the Mediterranean (2019-2020)

Viking’s Departure Ports in the Mediterranean

Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy
Venice, Italy
Barcelona, Spain

Pros
One free complimentary shore excursion in every port
All adult guests over 18 years old
Beer, wine and soft drinks are included for lunch and dinner
Free-Wi-Fi

Cons
No less than 8-night cruise
High priced
No casino and no amenities for families with kids

Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises is ranked as one of the top cruise lines for couples in reviews. However, the result is not because of Princess’s famously starred 1977 hit TV series “The Love Boat”. Princess’s unique dining service greatly appeals to couples who would love to spend exclusive and special time at dining together.

Princes offer its unique service for couples. However, during the school’s offseason, the ships are packed by family cruisers and kids. If you are not causing with family or children, Princess is not for you in the high season. If you sail during offseason, the price is lower than Viking and yet not so expensive like luxury cruise lines.

Princess in the Mediterranean (2019-2020)

Departure Ports of Princess

Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy
Venice, Italy
Barcelona, Spain
Southampton, the UK
Dover, the UK
Piraeus (Athens), Greece

Pros
Rich and special dining options
A lot of choices at a buffet restaurant
Great entertainment shows
Watching a hit film on a big screen at an open deck
Well organised and coordinated to make a formal night very special

Cons
High priced excursion
Crowed and ques at a dining
Long ques for embarkation and disembarkation
Kids and adult passengers are not separated
Additional costs for excursion, drink and internet

Best Mediterranean cruises for families

The contemporary cruise lines offer a variety of daily activities, excursions and entertainment options that are a perfect fit for younger adults and family cruises. Disney Cruise and Royal Carribean Cruises offer multiple entertainment facilities and shows as well as fantastic dining options for children.

The facilities and options can be enjoyable for any generations. If you choose family or children oriented cruise vacation, you will find large and extra large mega-ships are the great choice on board. Find out more information on the best cruise lines for families.

Disney Cruise Line

What really makes Disney unique is Disney’s special facilities, activities and spending time with Disney characters onboard. The guests become friends with Mickey, Minnie and Goofy, days and nights together. What is special for Disney fans are Disney Live Shows, Deck Parties, movies and Disney character greetings. Disney Cruise Line is the heaven every kid dreamed of. Instead of a casino, the ship has an extra space for children, Disney’s Oceaneer Club and Disney’s Oceaneer Lab.

Disney is regarded as premium cruise lines. The pricing is below the luxury cruise lines. And yet the services and amenities Disney can provide to the guest is above the mainstream cruise lines. Disney Magic, Disney’s fleet in Mediterranian, has spacious staterooms for the families. The Disney Magic standard staterooms boast a separate bedroom and a living area.

According to Statista, a US statistics and marketing company, Disney Cruise Line is ranked as the best-rated large-ship cruise lines by travellers in the United States in October 2018, from Condé Nast Traveler readers with a score of 92.95.

Disney Cruise Line fleet in the Mediterranean (2019-2020)

Disney Magic

Passenger capacity: 1754 – 2456
Crew: 947
Passengers-to-space ratio: 34
Built in 1998, last refurblishment 2015-2019

Departure Ports of Disney Cruise Line

Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy
Venice, Italy
Barcelona, Spain
Dover, UK

Pros
Free room service and unlimited soft drinks
Original Broadway-quality entertainment
MS Disney Magic kids cruise programs at Disney Magic
Spacious staterooms even in standard
At least one or two formal night on a 7 day cruise

Cons
Micky and Minni everywhere around
Expensive excursion
Daily Disney Tips
Only Disney Magic sailing in Mediterranean

Royal Caribbean Cruises

Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, the world’s largest fleets, dock at Barcelona and Civitavecchia (Rome) for Mediterranean Cruises. Sailing with Royal Caribbean is particularly recommended for the family cruisers.

Multiple entertainment facilities will never the kids get bored. All the different generation can enjoy together with casual and activity-filled onboard experience. Find the FlowRider surf simulator, rock climbing, ice skating and Broadway shows at sea. Oasis and Allure have the first living park at sea with 12,000 plants and trees.

You can have 25 onboard dining options, with room-service included. Dining and variety of food services including cafes, lunch and buffet, you will never have a problem to choose. Staterooms and suites have multiple choices, particularly for the families. Some rooms are able to access a wheelchair.

Royal Caribbean Cruises fleets in the Mediterranean (2019-2020)

Royal Caribbean Cruises Departure Ports in the Mediterranean

Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy
Venice, Italy
Barcelona, Spain
Southampton, UK
Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Pros
Multiple fleet choices in the Mediterranean
Free room service and unlimited soft drinks
Original Broadway-quality entertainment
MS Disney Magic kids cruise programs at Disney Magic
Spacious staterooms even in standard
At least one or two formal night on a 7-day cruise

Cons
Less short cruises, almost 7-night cruises
Crowded and noisy
Need a map to explore the ship at Oasis and Allure

Luxury Mediterranean Cruise Lines

Azamara Club Cruises

Azamara Club Cruises offers a high-end cruise experience of their unique itineraries and that stands them out from its competitors. Azamara offers location oriented cruises, called ‘Destination Immersion’ experiences. It allows you to immerse yourself into the most exclusive and unique opportunities at selected ports of call. Staying in the ashore are long. You can explore the arts, culture, history and natural beauty of your visiting places.

Azamara Club Cruises fleets in the Mediterranean (2019-2020)

Azamara Club Cruises Departure Ports in the Mediterranean

Piraeus (Athens), Greece
Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy
Venice, Italy
Barcelona, Spain
Monte Carlo, Monaco

Pros
Destination immersion cruise experiences
No queues for embarkation and disembarkation
Include almost all the alcohol and soft drink beverages,
Including gratuities
Hi-end boutique hotel

Cons
A small number of wheelchair accessible staterooms
High prices with only luxury cruises
Shore excursions are not included in cruise fare
Less entertainment facilities

Cunard – Queen Mary 2

Sailing with Cunard is sailing with prestige, tradition and sophistication. Cunard is an iconic ship known as “the most famous ocean liners in the world”.

Staterooms are elegant, spacious and luxurious. You can also expect richness and luxury at the Canyon Ranch Spa Club, a Planetarium (Queen Mary 2) and Royal Court Theatre onboard. A British style afternoon tea is included. Enjoy proper clotted cream and crumbly scones served by well-dressed waiters.

Cunard fleets in the Mediterranean (2019-2020)

Cunard Departure Ports in the Mediterranean

Southampton, the UK
Humburg, Germany
Kiel, Germany

Pros
Authentic British style afternoon
A variety of dining choices and cabins
Traditional and authentic sailing
Spacious and elegant cabins
No queues for embarkation and disembarkation

Cons
Not gratuities included
A small number of wheelchair accessible staterooms
High prices with only luxury cruises
Shore excursions are not included in the cruise fare
Less entertainment facilities

Extra Luxury Cruise Lines

Most of the fellow cruisers for extra luxury cruises are well-experienced with numerous cruises. They are seeking a new discovery of the world and do not mind to pay extra for luxury. While the first time cruisers tend to follow the world’s famous destinations, these well-travelled cruisers seek new discoveries and adventures. So which cruise lines would fulfil such grand travellers’ desires and expectations? Let’s find out!

Seabourn Cruise Line

Seabourn Cruise Line is the industry’s top luxury all-inclusive cruise lines. Its excellence in service and customer satisfaction are highly remarked in the world. Seabourn offers an intimate and unique cruising experience.

Sailing with the smaller size of the fleets allows you to visit smaller ports anywhere around the world and enables you to have an up-close-and-personal encounter with the fellow cruisers.

All Seabourn is an all-suite vessel and has 13-15 categories as homes with separate lounge room to unwind and entertain. World-class dining, further enhanced through a culinary partnership with Chef Thomas Keller

According to Statistia, a US statistic and marketing company, Seabourne has been ranked as the Best-rated small-ship cruise lines by travellers in the United States as of October 2018, by Condé Nast Traveler readers with a score of 96.4.

Seabourn Cruise Line fleets in the Mediterranean (2019-2020)

Seabourn Odyssey

Passenger capacity: 450 – 540
Crew: 330
Passengers-to-space ratio: 60
Built in 2009, refurbished 2017

Seaburn Cruise Line Departure Ports in the Mediterranean

Lisbon, Portugal
Piraeus (Athens), Greece
Barcelona, Spain
Monte Carlo, Monaco
Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy
Venice, Italy
Valletta, Malta

Pros
Gourmet dining presented by Chef Thomas Keller
All alcohols, meals and soft drinks included
Free Internet, phone calls and laundry
Complimentary Spa Massage
No tipping required
Day Pass for Spa Serene Area
No queues for embarkation and disembarkation
Much spacious and elegant cabins
A variety of dining choices and cabins
Destination-focused sailing

Cons
High prices
Not included Shore excursions in the cruise fare
No entertainment for children

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Regent Seven Seas Cruises is a hi-end all-inclusive world’s top luxury cruise line. Regent Seven Seas is a destination-focused, providing the best Mediterranean cruise itinerary. And yet it offers nightly onboard entertainment and the Canyon Ranch Spa.

All Regent Seven Seas feature all-suite accommodations, featuring a beautifully furnished interior with a balcony. (90% of suites in Seven Seas Navigator). A bathroom is decorated with marble, equipped walk-in shower and a walk-in wardrobe.

La Veranda is ship’s daytime buffet, for breakfast and lunch. In the evening it serves a bistro serving Mediterranean cuisine. Prime 7 is the specialty steak house and needs a reservation for dinner.

You will be delighted by the butler service and fine cuisine and truly appreciate the best of each destination.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises fleets in the Mediterranean (2019-2020)

Regent Seven Seas Departure Ports in the Mediterranean

Lisbon, Portugal
Barcelona, Spain
Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy
Haifa, Israel
Piraeus (Athens), Greece
Venice, Italy
Monte Carlo, Monaco
Istanbul, Turkey

Pros
Including specialty dining, unlimited beverages
Free unlimited shore excursions
Free Wi-Fi access
Including round-trip airfare and ground transfers in the cruise fare
L’Occitane bath products
Prepaid gratuities
Free open bars and lounges

Cons
High prices
Few entertainment facilities
Spa service is not included

Crystal Cruises

Crystal Cruises is one of the most celebrated all-inclusive luxury cruise lines in the world. Crystal receives awards from authorities like Condé Nast Traveler and Travel & Leisure. The cruise line offers destination-focused sailing and high-end luxury experience onboard with two beautiful fleets.

Crystal’s staterooms are luxurious and in 13 categories. A wheel-chair is accessible to 10 out of 477 staterooms, with 65 suites, 215 balcony and no inside rooms. The largest suites are the two Crystal Penthouses (category CP), sizes 982 ft2 / 91 m2 (balcony included), both featuring boutique-hotel-like decors.

Crystal Cruises fleets in the Mediterranean (2019-2020)

Crystal Cruises Departure Ports in the Mediterranean

Lisbon, Portugal
Piraeus (Athens), Greece
Barcelona, Spain
Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy
Venice, Italy
Monte Carlo, Monaco
Doubronic, Croatia
Malaga, Spain

Pros
Butler service in every suite
Included unlimited Wi-Fi and 24-hour room service
Most alcohols, meals and soft drinks included
Prepaid gratuities
Complimentary Launderettes
Children 17 and younger may sail for free or at a discounted rate on select sailings
Become a Crystal Society member and receive perks after 5 day cruise

Cons
High prices
Not included Crystal Adventures Shore Excursions in the cruise fare
Less entertainment for children
Cruise port, security and baggage handling fees not included in the fare

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