Mediterranean

Bewildering number of Mediterranean cruise itinerary choices
The Mediterranean Sea is the largest sea in the world. It has more than 100 cruise ports and itineraries. Deciding the right itinerary for you is a complex process.

Simplify your decision
Narrow down your geographical scope.
First decide whether you want to experience the Western or Eastern Mediterranean. Then determine which ports of call appeal to you most.

Then focus on the ports of call and the sightseeing and shore excursions each offers.

Popular Western Mediterranean ports


Popular Eastern Mediterranean ports


Western vs Eastern
Which side is best for you?
Most first-timers prefer the Western Mediterranean. Seasoned Mediterranean cruisers tend to gravitate to the Eastern Mediterranean.

Hybrid itineraries
Some cruise itineraries visit both the Western and Eastern Mediterranean. For instance, you embark in Nice (Western) and disembark in Athens (Eastern), and stop at a variety of ports en route.

Keep in mind
Small ports
You'll likely need to book a small luxury cruise ship if you want to visit the small, picturesque ports of call.

Port time
Don't use the port arrival and departure times on a cruise's itinerary schedule to determine how long you will be ashore. You have to subtract the line waiting and transfer times from ship to shore, and back. This could consume a couple of hours or more if you are tendering and are on a large ship.

Pros & cons of the Mediterranean cruise seasons
The best time of the year to go on a Mediterranean cruise depends on your personal priorities. Read the pros & cons below.

• Peak season: June to August
Pros
Least rain. Most itineraries. Period dovetails with school vacations.

Cons
Ports and popular attractions are packed with tourists. Temperatures can be uncomfortably hot. Cruise and air rates are their highest. Ship, itinerary and cabin availability are usually scarce or non-existent (unless you book early).

Best month
June.

Worst month
August. Ports are jammed with tourists (most Europeans go on vacations in August). The sun is usually at its hottest.

• Spring or fall season: Mid-April to May; September to mid-October
Pros
Uncrowded ports and attractions. Lower cruise and air rates. Less competition for bookings. Comfortable temperatures.

Cons
Schedule conflict for families with school-age children.

Best time
Mid- to late-September. Next best is late-May to early-June.

• Winter season: Late-October to mid-April
Pros
Temperatures are comfortable for visiting Madeira, Canary Islands, Morocco, and Egypt.

Cons
Chilly or frigid in northern Mediterranean ports.

More best-time-to-go tips & insights
Daylight
Daytime is longest during the weeks before and after June 22. This gives you more daytime sightseeing hours.

Know what affects temperatures
Average temperatures obviously rise in the summer, fall in the winter.

The same is true regarding latitude (see my color-coded map below). The closer you are to the equator, the hotter the temperature will likely be.

But seasons and latitude are not the only factors influencing temperatures.

• Distance from the sea
  Temperatures tend to rise as you move inland from the sea.
• Other variables
  They include the altitude, prevailing winds, El Nino, and local weather conditions.

Tranquil cruising
If hoards of scampering, screaming children would ruin your vacation, then don't go during school-vacation periods. (Alternatively, book a luxury ship - children will be few in number and are typically well-behaved).