6-Day Mediterranean with France & Italy | Imagine Cruising (2024)

FAQs

How to choose a Mediterranean cruise? ›

How long is a Mediterranean cruise? Most small ship cruises in the Mediterranean last for 8 days, with longer itineraries (around 13 days) either traveling farther than most or making more stops.

A Mediterranean cruise can be as short or as long as you want. We have options from 1, 2 or 3 nights to 7, 9, 11 nights or more.

Cruising generally refers to leisurely trips on yachts and luxury cruiseships, with durations varying from day-trips to months-long round-the-world voyages. A cruising sailboat anchored in the San Blas Islands, in Panama.

For a Mediterranean cruise, don't be overly concerned with which side of the ship is best. Sailings from Southampton will often be a roundtrip, therefore you'll have the sun on your balcony either on the outbound journey or on the return.

Similar to those trying to avoid crowds, the best time to cruise to the Mediterranean for cost savings is during the shoulder seasons (April to May and September to November), when there is a slightly higher chance of rain and cooler weather.

The Mediterranean Sea Can Be Surprisingly Choppy Year Round

However, avid cruisers have experienced rough seas in the spring and summer, so be prepared for anything. The Bay of Biscay, off the west coast of France and north of Spain, and the North Sea can also be rough, but are calmer in the summertime.

Fall Mediterranean Cruises

Cruising the Mediterranean during the fall, especially in September, October and November, is also known as the best time for a Mediterranean cruise.

Sweater or light jacket

If you're sailing in the summer, the Mediterranean Sea is usually calm with warm breezes at night. During the spring and fall seasons, the wind cools down and the evenings are chillier.

Whilst being a popular feature on tropical clothing, pool inflatables and even towel clamps, Flamingos can also sometimes symbolise a desire for casual relationships or flirtatious interactions among passengers.

What does the upside down pineapple mean on a cruise? ›

Adventurous guests hang upside-down pineapples on their cabin doors on cruise ships, subtly signaling their openness to swinging.

Respect the Rules

If you don't want to get kicked off the ship AND want to be a decent person who understands cruise etiquette, follow those cruising rules. This means don't ever hang over the boat's edge, only smoke in designated areas, and comply with the captain's and crew members' instructions.

Departure ports alternate between Athens (Piraeus), Istanbul, and Venice, sometimes sharing Rome (Civitavecchia) as an embarkation point with their Western Mediterranean-bound counterparts. Like Western Mediterranean cruises, these itineraries usually last five to 14 nights.

Best Mediterranean Cruise Overall: Princess Cruises, Sun Princess. The 7-Day Mediterranean with Greece & Italy on the brand new Sun Princess, setting sail on her inaugural voyage in February, is a terrific way to experience this part of the world.

The best time to take a Mediterranean cruise, however, is in the spring (May-June) or fall (September-October). Temperatures are comfortably warm, the sun is bright, and the crowds are far, far fewer than in July and August.

How Much Does a Mediterranean Cruise Cost? The average price of a 7 night Mediterranean cruise is $848 per person. In the peak summer season, this increases to $1218. The price of a 7-night Mediterranean cruise during winter can be as little as $430.