As someone who lives in Europe (Germany, to be exact), I’ve been fortunate enough to spend a lot of time in the Mediterranean, especially in the winter. However, it wasn’t until I embarked on a Mediterranean cruise that I could truly appreciate the convenience of seeing multiple countries and cities in such a short amount of time.
Every morning, you’ll wake up in a new destination, whether it’s the sun-soaked beaches of the Greek Islands or the colorful port cities of the Italian or French Riviera. This way, you can make the most of the time you have in Europe, without the hassle of dealing with organizing all the travel logistics.
But there are lots of different Mediterranean cruises out there, which can make choosing where to go a bit difficult. To help, I’ll be sharing eight of the best Mediterranean cruise itineraries to give you a taste of what you can see and do on your trip!
What is the Best Mediterranean Cruise in Europe?
If you want to see as much as possible on your cruise, I suggest the MSC 7-Night Mediterranean or, if you have more time, the Celebrity 11-Night Best of Mediterranean. These cruises allow you to experience a wide range of cultures, landscapes, and cities within a single journey.
But the Mediterranean is huge, and many cruises are designed to focus on specific countries or regions to give you time to explore the place in more depth. If that sounds like something you’d prefer, then I’ll also be sharing a couple of cruise options for you to choose from.
1. MSC 7-Night Mediterranean
On this cruise, you can tick off three of Europe’s most visited countries in just one week! Leaving from Barcelona, you’ll navigate across the Mediterranean to visit five different cities in Spain, Italy, and France.
You’ll also have one day at sea to enjoy the beautiful turquoise waters – lay out by the pool, indulge in world-class dining, or treat yourself to a spa treatment.
- Departure: Barcelona, Spain
- Arrival: Barcelona, Spain
- Ports of Call: Ibiza, Spain; Cagliari, Italy; Rome, Italy; Genoa, Italy; Villefranche sure Mer, France
- Ship: MSC Musica
2. MSC 8-Night Mediterranean
When I go on cruises, I feel like 7 nights just doesn’t cut it! Somehow, I’m always craving just one extra day of vacation. If you think you’ll have that feeling too, then you’ll want to book this 8-night Mediterranean cruise!
Similar to the 7-night MSC cruise I wrote about earlier, this one also departs from Barcelona and travels to Italy and France. However, you’ll have two more ports of call in Spain. That way, you’ll be able to try a traditional paella at a seafood restaurant in Valencia and visit the historic Santa Barbara Castle in Alicante.
- Departure: Barcelona, Spain
- Arrival: Barcelona, Spain
- Ports of Call: Valencia, Spain; Alicante, Spain; Rome, Italy; Genoa, Italy; Marseille, France
- Ship: MSC Magnifica
3. Royal Caribbean 7-Nights Greece & Spain
Hop aboard the Voyager of the Seas to enjoy seven unforgettable nights on the Mediterranean. Leaving from Athens (I recommend coming a few days early so you can see the historic sites like the Acropolis and the Parthenon), you’ll then travel to Rhodes, one of my favorite islands in Greece. From there, you’ll head to hip and trendy Mykonos, before making your way to Italy and then back to Spain.
There are two cruising days on this itinerary. That’s plenty of time to enjoy some of the onboard activities, like the water park, climbing wall, or ice-skating rink.
- Departure: Athens, Greece
- Arrival: Barcelona, Spain
- Ports of Call: Rhodes, Greece; Mykonos, Greece; Palermo, Italy; Valencia, Spain
- Ship: Voyager of the Seas
4. Royal Caribbean 4-Nights Spain & France
This 4-night cruise is the perfect option for travelers with limited time in Europe. Even with only a few days, you’ll still be able to see some of the prettiest destinations in Spain and France, all while having a day at sea to take advantage of the ship’s amenities and activities. And since the Allure of the Seas is the 6th largest cruise ship in the world, trust me, there are lots of things you can do here!
Your first stop after leaving Barcelona is Marseille, a beautiful French port city known for its stunning beaches and grandiose architecture. From there, you’ll head to Mallorca, a Spanish island in the Balaerics with some of the most stunning sheltered coves and beaches I’ve ever seen!
- Departure: Barcelona, Spain
- Arrival: Barcelona, Spain
- Ports of Call: Marseille, France; Palma de Mallorca, Spain
- Ship: Allure of the Seas
5. NCL 10-Day Mediterranean
This is probably my favorite itinerary out of any Mediterranean cruise. Norwegian Cruise Line’s 10-Day Mediterranean is the perfect mix of islands, beaches, and historical cities, giving you a well-rounded sampling of what this area is all about.
You’ll also get to explore different cities along the Adriatic (a marginal sea of the Mediterranean), including Split, Dubrovnik, and Corfu. With 11 different ports in only 10 days, you’ll walk away from this vacation with a deeper appreciation of European culture!
- Departure: Venice, Italy
- Arrival: Barcelona, Spain
- Ports of Call: Split, Croatia; Dubrovnik, Croatia; Corfu, Greece; Messina, Italy; Naples, Italy; Rome, Italy; Florence, Italy; Cannes, France; Palma de Mallorca, Spain
- Ship: Norwegian Escape
6. NCL 10-Day Greek Islands
If your ideal vacation includes island hopping in the Mediterranean, then I think you’ll love this 10-day cruise around the Greek Islands. You’ll have the opportunity to visit three of the most popular islands in the country, including Corfu, Mykonos, and Santorini (yes, the one with the beautiful white and blue buildings on the cliff!). Santorini also happens to be the most expensive Greek island to visit, so you can enjoy the views without spending an arm and a leg for accommodation.
In addition to the islands, you’ll also make stops in Croatia and Montenegro. As you can see, that’s four different countries in just over a week!
- Departure: Venice, Italy
- Arrival: Athens, Greece
- Ports of Call: Rijeka, Croatia; Zadar, Croatia; Kotor, Montenegro; Corfu, Greece; Santorini, Greece; Mykonos, Greece
- Ship: Norwegian Pearl
7. Celebrity 9-Night Italian Riviera and France
On this cruise, you’ll be able to visit three of Italy’s largest and most beautiful cities – Rome, Florence, and Naples! That’s plenty of time to get your fill of all the pizza and pasta you could imagine. And you’ll also stop at Santa Margherita, a picturesque Italian fishing village where you can see the colorful houses and buildings that the Italian Riviera is known for.
As an added bonus, this cruise ship also travels to Marseille and Nice on the French Riviera. Both cities have charming historic centers and stunning landscapes, giving you plenty of opportunities to explore or relax.
- Departure: Barcelona, Spain
- Arrival: Rome, Italy
- Ports of Call: Marseille, France; Nice, France; Santa Margherita, Italy; Florence, Italy; Naples, Italy
- Ship: Celebrity Equinox
8. Celebrity 11-Night Best of Mediterranean
This itinerary covers an impressive amount of the Mediterranean in just 11 nights! From the sunny beaches of Costa del Sol to the bustling cityscape of Rome, this cruise is the best option for people who crave excitement, culture, and relaxation. And while it does pack in a lot of ports in just a short amount of time, you’ll still have some downtime to unwind with two full days of at-sea cruising.
This is also one of the few cruise ships that stops in Gibraltar, which is actually a British Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom. So if you ever wanted to see the legendary Rock of Gibraltar (or the colony of wild monkeys that live there), this is your chance to do so!
- Departure: Barcelona, Spain
- Arrival: Barcelona, Spain
- Ports of Call: Valencia, Spain; Malaga, Spain; Gibraltar, UK; Cagliari, Italy; Naples, Italy; Rome, Italy; Florence, Italy; Marseille, France
- Ship: Celebrity Equinox
Going on a cruise is an excellent way to see multiple destinations in the Mediterranean. There are so many different itineraries to suit every taste, regardless of whether you only have a couple of days or a couple of weeks! Between the beaches, cities, and stunning coastal landscapes, it’s truly bound to be one of those experiences you’ll remember for the rest of your life.