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With its picturesque coastal scenery, ancient ruins, and island paradises, the Mediterranean is an incredibly popular cruise destination. Yet with a diverse climate across various locales, the timing of a Mediterranean cruise is an important consideration. Expect high temperatures no matter where you visit in the Mediterranean during July and August.
Understanding Mediterranean Seasons
The Mediterranean offers a rich tapestry of history, culture, stunning landscapes, and diverse cuisines. The best month to cruise the Mediterranean depends on what you're looking for in a vacation. We took a look at factors like weather and sea conditions, festivals and, of course, pricing, to determine which travel dates are right for you.
November/December
Because European cruises span a large geographic area, we’ve outlined our seasonal strategies separately for Mediterranean cruises and European river cruises below. That's why we've broken down when you should cruise everywhere from the Caribbean and Mexico to New England and Alaska. For any cruises listed, Cruise Critic does not guarantee any specific rates or prices.
Best Time for a Mediterranean Cruise: April - June and September - October
Browse our Mediterranean cruise itineraries and find the perfect month for your cruise vacation. Book your stateroom and reserve shore excursions and other onboard activities all in one convenient place. If you are all about discovering the best beaches in the Mediterranean, you’ll want to book your cruise when the weather’s hot and the sunshine endless. If you’re searching for winter sun as well as the cultural pleasures of a Mediterranean cruise, choose a voyage that combines the Canary Islands with Mediterranean ports. Make the most of late stays in port to enjoy blissfully warm evenings ashore.
There are pros and cons to cruising during each season, depending on your preference. June in the Mediterranean offers beautiful weather and long, sunny days. The month of June can be looked at as a transition between the shoulder season of the spring and the peak months of July and August. Choosing when to cruise the Mediterranean can be a difficult choice, as each season brings its own benefits and drawbacks. Shoulder seasons can offer a great price point, but can also come with colder water temperatures and occasional rain.
With festivals all season long, you might be lucky enough to experience them for yourself. Visit Barcelona around the end of September for a chance to see spirited bands parading through the streets, attracting locals and visitors alike. In Dubrov, taste local favorites through cooking classes and themed dinners. Depending on your sail date, you may even be able to sample Sicily’s olives during their fall harvest season. Some so-called Mediterranean cruises actually spend most of their time on the Adriatic Sea, sailing from Venice and visiting ports in Croatia and Greece, and sometimes Montenegro and Albania.
Be sure to pack comfortable clothing -- and especially shoes -- for long days of sightseeing. However, Europeans tend to dress with a bit of panache; to fit in, pack a stylish scarf or hat, and maybe leave your lanyards and socks and sandals at home. Cruises to Hawaii will be less expensive in the fall when school is in session.
For example, a seven-night round-trip voyage from Long Beach, California, along Mexico's Pacific coast with Carnival Cruise Line starts at $629 in June. If your heart is set on traveling to Hawaii in the summer, or you want to escape the winter's snow at home in February, look for deals with an early booking. You can also take a chance and wait for last-minute specials if you're flexible. For example, a seven-night round-trip cruise in November or early December 2024 with Norwegian Cruise Line starts at $1,649. Sorry to disappoint you, but the best time to go on a cruise is not a fixed week or month, as you might hope. The best time to take a cruise varies based on your travel preferences, including where you wish to travel.
Cruising the Mediterranean in Winter: Pros and Cons - Cruise Critic
Cruising the Mediterranean in Winter: Pros and Cons.
Posted: Wed, 07 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
The shoulder season months are also the least crowded times to visit Alaska because kids are in school and fewer families are vacationing. Just be aware that if you head to Alaska early in the spring, some of the stores may not have opened yet. Arrive in the fall, and you may find that tour operators and shops have begun to cut back hours or have closed.
As the school calendar comes to an end and families prepare for summer vacation, expect crowds and prices to rise. The months of April and May will bring fewer crowds on a Mediterranean cruise compared to mid-summer. As the school year has not finished yet, there tend to be fewer families and children onboard as well. Mediterranean cruises beckon travelers with a love of culture and history.
12 Best Mediterranean Cruise Destinations for 2024–2024 - Reader's Digest
12 Best Mediterranean Cruise Destinations for 2024–2024.
Posted: Mon, 20 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Stroll through Rome and toss a coin into the promising waters of Trevi Fountain. Or relive history in the medieval city of Dubrovnik, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For those looking for optimal tour conditions, the best time to cruise the Mediterranean may well be in the fall. The Mediterranean region has a temperate climate, but it still gets chilly in the spring and fall and can be brutally hot in the summer. Check the weather before your sail date and pack for the predicted temperatures — with layers, in case the forecasters are wrong and it's unseasonably hot or cold. Disney does offer incredible itineraries, however, they are only in the Mediterranean during the peak summer season.
Unleash your sense of adventure and book your Mediterranean cruise today to discover the best that this remarkable region has to offer. In Australia, summer is the perfect season to enjoy the country's beautiful beaches, especially in the south near Sydney. However, if you plan to head north to destinations like northern Queensland, know that summer is that region's wet season. Most days are sunny, but you'll likely encounter an afternoon or evening storm.
In addition to Disney Cruises, you may consider “Adventures by Disney” which offers smaller ship sizes, fewer guests, local guides, and tours of some of the most impressive sights on Mediterranean waters. Adventure by Disney includes overnight stays in some locations, fine dining, and tours of the major religious sites in the area. Norwegian Cruise Line offers Mediterranean itineraries that range from 3 to 14 days. Enjoy onboard amenities like poolside movies, gaming tournaments, and interactive theatre performances while taking in the stunning sights of the Mediterranean.
The height of the Panama Canal cruise season is between October and April. The advantage of traveling in the shoulder season is that you can experience the towns without the summer crowds and with cooler temperatures. Length of Western Mediterranean cruisesTypically, Western Mediterranean cruises last anywhere from five to 14 nights. Upscale and luxury lines also offer longer itineraries of up to 30 nights (often as a bookable leg on a longer world cruise). The most widely available cruise length is 7 nights; however 10- to 12-night itineraries are also extremely popular. The slightly cooler climate of the fall season doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy the beaches of the Mediterranean — but it does make sightseeing more comfortable.
However, Savona, Genoa, and Bari, in Italy; Malaga, Spain; and Monte Carlo, Monaco, also see their fair share of action throughout the season. And, despite not being in the Mediterranean, England’s Dover and Southampton (just outside of London) are popular jumping-off points for Western Mediterranean itineraries. If you're planning to travel during the earlier part of the season, consider visiting some of the southern destinations and larger Mediterranean islands. In April, places like Sardinia, Corsica, and Malta offer warm days and pleasant nights. Late March through April is also a great time to explore destinations such as Morocco, Greece, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, and the beautiful Adriatic Sea. Mediterranean cruise season begins in spring (May) and lasts until late fall (November).
Visit Santorini in June or July and you will find yourself fighting for breathing room among as many as 15,000 other cruise ship passengers. If your ideal Mediterranean cruise doesn't include crowds, winter is a good choice, other than December holiday weeks. But most travelers will prefer a little more warmth and a larger choice of ports while still prioritizing a good price and lighter crowds. Peak season for European river cruises lasts from May through September. And if you're after the best of those European summer vibe, it's a hard time of year to top.
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