People often ask me, “Which is the best cruise line to pick if I want to go on a Mediterranean cruise?”

You have so many things to consider before you book.

Which Cruise Line Is Best for the Mediterranean?

The answer is – there isn’t one “best line” for cruising the Mediterranean.

The best choice for you will depend on a number of things.

• When you want to sail.
• Who you’re travelling with.
• Your budget per person.
• Your food preferences.
• Whether you want busy nightlife or a calm, relaxed pace.
• What ship facilities do you need? Waterparks and ziplines – or just quiet areas to read your book?
• Is there a particular port you want to visit?
• Does the ship or the destinations matter more?

In summer, most major cruise lines sail in the Mediterranean Sea. In winter, there are far fewer choices because many ships move to warmer climes, like the Caribbean.

Best if you want the widest choice – Summer

If you want the widest choice of cruise lines and ships to pick from, you will need to sail in the summer.

Most major cruise lines are operating in the region. Some will have more than one ship in the area, so you can compare each ship’s onboard facilities and choose what suits your travel party.

You’ll also have a wider choice of itineraries and departure points. In the off-season, you may be restricted to sailing from bigger cruise ports such as Rome or Barcelona.

If you are looking for an adult-only cruise, you will have more choices during the summer months.

You will also have a range of luxury cruise lines to choose from, such as Viking or Oceania, as well as mainstream, more familiar cruise lines.

Be aware that if you choose to travel in peak summer, it can get very hot!

The ports will be busy, and if you are sailing in the school summer holidays, prices will be higher.

Summer is good if you want a wide choice of cruise lines, but be aware that the weather can get very hot, and prices will be higher.

Spring and autumn

I always prefer to sail in the “shoulder seasons” – so spring and autumn, either side of the peak June, July, August summer months.

There are still many cruise options available, but the temperatures are often much more pleasant.

Sometimes I find that it is just too hot for me to get off the ship and explore – and that is a shame, as there is so much to see and do!

It will be quieter and easier to get around; popular ports won’t be rammed with tourists.

If you don’t have to travel during school holidays, I would definitely avoid them.

School holidays in the UK tend to run from early July to the first week of September.

Prices are far higher then, as parents are fined for taking children out of school during term time in the UK. (Although sometimes the savings on travelling out of peak season make the fines worth paying!)

Spring and Autumn are best for those who don’t like it too hot and want to get off the ship and explore the ports when the temperatures are more comfortable.

Best if you want to cruise the Mediterranean in winter – MSC, Costa, and selected luxury lines

There are far fewer ships and cruise lines to choose from in the winter.

This does mean that ports will be less busy, and I have found that the temperatures can still be very pleasant (compared to cold, damp, wet England in the winter!)

Many cruise lines reposition ships to the Caribbean and other warmer destinations.

MSC and Costa are among the mainstream lines to consider – they are Italian cruise lines that sail the Mediterranean year-round.

Some luxury/premium brands also operate winter seasons. I took my family on a Mediterranean Viking cruise over New Year, and it was absolutely lovely.

I chose it because it was the cheapest time to go, but we had a lovely week.

While the weather wasn’t hot, the skies were blue, and it was the perfect temperature for walking around and exploring – both on our own and on the included Viking walking tours.

Explora Journeys has Explora II in the Mediterranean from November 2026 to March 2027. This luxury cruise line is actually owned by MSC. I haven’t tried them yet – but I would love to!

Oceania is also expanding into winter Mediterranean cruising in 2027/28. I am excited to say I have an out-of-peak-season cruise to the Mediterranean with Oceania coming up, so watch this space!

While the weather is less predictable in winter months, and you won’t necessarily get a beach/pool holiday, the Mediterranean has so much more to offer than sun.

You’ll find interesting, historic places to visit. I have often literally stumbled upon Roman amphitheatres and other wonderful ancient buildings while just walking around the port towns and cities.

You can often explore on foot on your own, and you don’t need to take expensive cruise-line excursions.

Winter is a great time to find a bargain cruise in the Med, or perhaps take a more luxurious cruise with a cruise line that might normally be out of your price range.

Eastern or Western Mediterranean?

Think about where you would like to visit.

Western Mediterranean

Typical destinations visited:

• Spain.
• France.
• Italy.
• Mallorca/Balearics.
• Malta.
• Sometimes North Africa – Morocco, etc

There are so many famous cities to visit: Rome, Barcelona, Florence, Pisa, to name but a few.

Some of the lesser-known ones (like Palma de Mallorca) are amongst my favourites.

You can have great sightseeing days, and realistically visit three or four countries in a week.

Be aware that some ports are far from the advertised cities, Rome, for example.

The port is Civitavecchia, which is at least an hour from Rome itself, and longer if you use public transport.

The itinerary may say Florence or Pisa, but you will likely find yourself docked in Livorno. Factor in transfer time or travel time by public transport to the places you want to visit.

Do some research before you go. In some ports, like the wonderful Valletta in Malta, you’ll likely dock centrally, so you can go off on your own and explore the wonderful old town.

Eastern Mediterranean

Typical destinations include:

• Greece and the Greek Isles.
• Turkey.
• Croatia.
• Montenegro.
• Italy.

The Adriatic coast is a stunning and, I think, sometimes overlooked destination.

The Adriatic Sea is world-renowned for its exceptionally vibrant blue and turquoise waters.

Italy, Croatia, and Montenegro are all well worth a visit.

There are many Greek Islands to visit, and plenty of ancient sights to see.

Greek island cruising is a fabulous way to explore the different Islands. No two islands are the same.

There are over 200 inhabited Greek islands, and cruising will allow you to visit the most well-known easily.

Instead of navigating complex ferry timetables between islands and hauling your luggage from one island to the next, a Greek island cruise lets you experience a lot in a short period of time.

Greece’s islands look and feel entirely different from one another. A cruise itinerary allows you to experience these stark regional contrasts within a single week

So which cruise line should you book?

For some cruisers, brand loyalty is important.

If you like a Royal Caribbean Cruise in the Caribbean, for example, you would probably enjoy one in the Mediterranean.

It is perfectly understandable that if you are spending a lot of money, you want to make sure you enjoy the experience!

Is the trip about the destination or the ship? – Or both?

If the ship is the destination, then you might be best to pick a cruise line you like and are familiar with – after all, it doesn’t really matter where in the world the ship is sailing.

When I sailed around the Mediterranean on Legend of the Seas, it was all about the ship for me.

She was too big a ship to visit smaller ports, and all the big ports like Rome, Marseille and Barcelona, I have visited many times before. I only got off the ship once in eight days!

Have a look at that mind-blowing ship here:

Mediterranean itineraries can be extremely port-intensive, and if you are ashore all day every day, you may barely use the ship’s facilities.

Families, of course, may really value mega ships for keeping everyone entertained, and they are great for sea days.

Some people genuinely want the ship to be the main part of the holiday – and it was the entire holiday for me on Legend of the Seas!

If the trip is all about exploring the Mediterranean, not about ship facilities, maybe consider a smaller or European cruise line?

The trip will certainly be more memorable if you try a line you wouldn’t normally sail with. You can certainly get excellent value for money, and they sail in the Med year-round.

Get the help of a good travel agent

If you really want to explore the market to see what great choices are out there, I highly recommend using a trusted travel agent.

After talking through your likes and dislikes, an agent can help you choose the best line for you.

You would be unwise to book yourself onto a Royal Caribbean mega ship if you are really interested in visiting small ports and exploring the history and culture of the destinations. It won’t be the right choice for you.

An agent can help you compare the different lines so that you know what is included and what costs extra. Some lines include gratuities and drinks, and this can make a big difference to the overall cost of your cruise.

It is easy to look at the headline, advertised price for your cruise – but this amount often doesn’t reflect the true cost of the holiday once you have factored in other essentials, like gratuities and a few drinks.

On many American cruise lines, the individual drinks you buy will attract additional gratuities (on top of the daily service charges you are already paying). It can get quite expensive, quite fast.

I have my own agency (The Crusie Globe) with teams located in the USA and UK. We’re here to help.

Our expert agents will be able to discuss your needs and wants, and find the best fit for you and your family.

Fill in a few details below, and one of our travel experts will be in touch – no obligation, no pressure.

My top suggestion is to broaden your horizons.

There is no one cruise line that will suit every cruiser, and doing some research, either on your own or by using a trusted travel agent to advise you, is essential.

You don’t want to end up on a cruise that doesn’t suit your needs; it is a total waste of money.

You might be a confirmed Norwegian Cruise Line cruiser and want to stick with the familiarity of a brand you know and love – but if you aren’t, maybe widen your horizons a little.

If you are cruising in the Mediterranean, maybe try a smaller, less well-known, or more local cruise line for a totally different experience?

It might push you out of your comfort zone a little – but that might be a good thing!

Here are just a few suggestions of lines you might want to look into before you book yet another P&O, Royal Caribbean or Carnival cruise…

Best if you want a European atmosphere – MSC or Costa

MSC

MSC have a very mixed reputation with cruisers – they certainly aren’t for everyone.

My Mum was telling me this week that a friend of hers (who has never cruised) confidently told her that the cruise line you need to avoid is MSC. That made her smile, as she had just booked two cheap MSC cruises that very week…

They have a huge presence in the Mediterranean, and you can embark in many different ports or countries.

They sail in the Mediterranean year-round, so you can get some very attractive off-peak fares.

There is an international passenger mix, and you will get a multilingual onboard experience. Will it worry you if announcements are in multiple languages?

I am always impressed that MSC Cruise Directors fluently speak three, four…sometimes five different languages, jumping from one to the next with ease.

This does mean that the theatre entertainment can be a little different – you are more likely to see singing and dancing, acrobats – things that don’t need a lot of dialogue.

Expect trivia to take three times as long, as they jump between languages!

The ships vary a lot, from small to giant mega ships. They are often very sparkly!

The newer ships have water parks, arcades, ropes courses – making them great for families with children, or multigenerational family trips.

The food suits their Mediterranean guests – think pasta, pizza, risottos – and the most wonderful bread!

I have taken many successful cruises with MSC. As long as I am getting value for money, I am happy.

You may not get American levels of customer service, and the food might not be exactly what you are used to – but if you go with an open mind, you can have a really great, affordable cruise.

Get the advice of a good travel agent to find the best ship for you.

You would find it hard to beat the prices of an MSC cruise in Europe. They often have very attractive offers and have child discounts available. I have heard that their kids’ clubs are very good.

If you are booking an MSC cruise from the UK, all service charges are included. So, apart from spending money on drinks onboard, you are unlikely to get any nasty surprises when settling your onboard account at the end of a cruise!

Have a look at my trip around the Mediterranean on MSC World Europa below.

At the time I sailed, she was the biggest ship in the MSC fleet. She has since been joined by sister ships, MSC World America and MSC World Asia.

She has a central street down the middle of the ship, very reminiscent of Royal Caribbean’s Icon-class ships – but far, far cheaper!

Costa

Costa also sails the Med all year round. They are a great option for bargain off-peak sailings.

Their ships also vary from smaller, older ships with fewer facilities to giant mega ships.

Their ships are often very bright – when I took an off-peak sailing on Costa Smeralda, I found that every deck with cabins was painted in a different bright colour.

It was great for identifying when you were on the right deck to find your cabin – but nothing like the stylish muted colour palette of other cruise lines that I am more used to.

There is a major Italian influence onboard, and an International passenger mix.

Multiple languages are spoken onboard, but when I sailed, the crew all spoke English. (In fact, many of them seemed pleased to speak English, as their English was better than their Italian!)

On Costa Smeralda, Costa had an “English-speaking representative” onboard, who took special interest in the English-speaking guests. She was available to take any questions or sort any issues.

She was great! She allowed us to stay onboard until after lunch on our disembarkation day, as we had an early evening flight.

Have a look at my bargain Costa Smeralda cruise here:

Their fares are very cheap, compared to American cruise lines, but you need to factor in service charges – these are compulsory – you can’t remove them and tip individually, as you could on other lines.

You can embark on a Costa Cruise at multiple ports around the Mediterranean Sea, meaning that it is easy to put together a package that is tailored to suit you.

Costa cruises attract many families with their cheap deals. Italians seem to eat late and party late into the night (which I don’t do!), and that didn’t worry me at all – I was rarely in the same place at the same time as the crowds.

Food suits a Mediterranean palate – think bread, pasta, vegetables, fish, etc. Not huge portions, but there is never any shortage of food onboard.

MSC & Costa have a very international feel. If your cruise focus is visiting great ports and immersing yourself in the Mediterranean culture, it makes sense to pick a Mediterranean cruise line.

Best if you mainly want Greece – Celestyal

Celestyal are a smaller Greek Cruise Line. At the time of writing, they have two older, smaller but well-refurbished ships.

They offer many itineraries in and around the Greek Isles, and in the Adriatic.

They visit many Greek islands and offer port-intensive itineraries, allowing you to see many places in a short period of time.

Sometimes they visit more than one port per day.

They place less emphasis on onboard attractions and more on the ports of call.

This is a great option for somebody choosing the itinerary before the ship.

They include a lot in their fares, and food features regional favourites – like moussaka, lamb souvlaki, fresh seafood risotto, and braised lamb – alongside standard international options.

Always included in our fares
Delicious dining at breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus extra snacks from the Greek Deli and Pizza Oven at specified times throughout the day.
Unlimited access to filter coffee, tea, water and juice stations available during the day (during main restaurant opening times, usually 6:30am – 10:00pm).
Unlimited free pour sodas in all main restaurants with meals (excludes Greek Deli).
Complimentary Essential WiFi* , allowing you to browse the web, send emails, and text via select messaging apps. If you’re still hungry for more data, don’t worry – we offer a simple upgrade option.
A range of onboard activities and entertainment throughout the day, with pop up music sessions and dazzling evening shows

Celestyal Cruises

I sailed with Celestyal Cruises a few years ago, and I very much want to sail with them again soon!

If you want to sail around the Greek Islands and immerse yourself in Greek culture, it would seem silly not to consider this great option.

I sailed on an older ship that used to be Song of America for Royal Caribbean! She has since been replaced by two newer (but still secondhand) ships – Celestyal Discovery and Celestyal Journey.

Best if food matters most – Virgin Voyages

If you are a foodie, and good food really matters to you, I think that Virgin Voyages has the best food of the mainstream cruise lines.

There are lots of different included restaurants, and no conventional “one main dining room” experience.

The food feels more like visiting individual restaurants on land than being on a cruise ship.

Do be aware, though, that Virgin are an adult-only cruise line and has a reputation for party cruises.

There is plenty of nightlife, unusual entertainment (no traditional main theatre or theatre shows), and a much less traditional cruise atmosphere.

Virgin certainly aren’t the right cruise line for everybody. I think the ships’ outward appearance resembles a battleship more than a cruise ship!

Traditional cruisers may prefer something else…

Best if the ports are the main attraction – Azamara

Azamara is more at the luxury end of the mainstream cruise market, but I wouldn’t put them in with luxury brands such as Viking, Oceania, Regent Seven Seas, etc.

The ships are smaller and older, but well refurbished, having started their lives with other well-known cruise lines, such as Princess and Celebrity.

Although their fares may initially seem more expensive, they include service charges and drinks ( including alcoholic drinks) as standard.

They’re great for destination-focused cruises, sailing to more unusual ports, and docking in the centre of towns and cities. They can often stay in port for long days or dock overnight.

When I took an “intensive France” Itinerary with them, we docked right in the centre of Marseille by the cathedral. I had only ever docked miles out in the industrial port when I had sailed there with other cruise lines.

We spent two days docked in the centre of Nice (other lines rarely dock there) and ended the trip docked in Monaco in the fabulous harbour, amongst the millionaires’ superyachts!

What a trip that was!

Azamara cruises aren’t about big ship facilities; they are completely destination-focused.

They have “Azamazing Evenings” onboard, where either local entertainers come onboard, or all the passengers onboard are bused out to see local entertainment on land.

My parents recently took a trip on Azamara Quest, and when docked in Gibraltar, everyone was taken to the caves below the rock to see a concert by local entertainers.

They say it was one of the most atmospheric and memorable excursions they had ever taken – and it was all included in the cruise fare.

Have a look at my “Intensive France” itinerary cruise on Azamara Onward here:

Best if you want a luxury Mediterranean cruise

There are many luxury lines sailing in the Mediterranean – Regent Seven Seas, Seabourn, Windstar, Silversea, Explora Journeys, Viking and Oceania, to name but a few.

They generally have smaller ships and visit more unusual ports.

They offer a higher level of service and have more included in the fare.

They often have longer port stays or overnight stops.

Their prices are significantly higher, and some operate during the winter when mainstream choice is lower.

I certainly don’t claim to be a luxury cruise expert, but there are plenty of experts in my travel agency team at The Cruise Globe, so don’t hesitate to get in touch to get some advice.

The luxury cruising expert is definitely Gary Bembridge at Tips for Travellers! I would suggest you follow him to get the lowdown on the luxury cruise market: tipsfortravellers

I took a Viking Ocean cruise as part of a press trip many years ago. Since then, I have always wanted to take my parents on a Viking cruise, as I knew they would love it.

I found an off-season winter cruise on Viking Star around the Mediterranean that was cheap (by Viking standards) and took them along.

Find out what we thought of that cruise, and whether it lived up to expectations here:

Quick guide: Which Mediterranean cruise line should you consider?

I highly recommend getting the help of a travel agent, like the ones at thecruiseglobe.com, to help you explore the many options.

Their advice is free – and it never costs more to book through an agency than directly with the cruiseline. A cruise line will never tell you that their cruise isn’t a good fit for you…

This quick chart gives you an idea of the mainstream cruise lines you could consider for a Mediterranean cruise.

It is by no means fully comprehensive, but it will give you a starting point at least.

If you want…	Look at…
The best mainstream food, in my opinion	Virgin Voyages
Greek islands	Celestyal
European/international atmosphere	MSC or Costa
Lots of winter options	MSC, Costa & selected luxury lines
Classic mainstream cruising	Princess
Contemporary mainstream style	Celebrity (newer ships)
The ship to be part of the destination	Royal Caribbean or Norwegian
Easy UK fly-cruise package	Marella
Interesting ports	Azamara
Luxury/smaller ships	Compare Viking, Regent, Seabourn, Silversea, Explora, Oceania, Emerald, etc.

I was invited to try a superyacht – Emerald Azzurra – for a cruise around the Greek Islands.

Normally this sort of trip would be well out of my budget, but I was excited to try superyacht cruising, so I gratefully accepted the invitation.

I took my Dad along with me, as a birthday treat.

Find out whether we were converted to superyacht cruising, and whether we would like to do it again, in the video below:

Best if you don’t want to research all of this yourself – use a travel agent

If you are unsure exactly what you want, use a travel agent.

After all, two cruises both advertised as a “7-night Mediterranean cruise” can offer you entirely different things!

There are hundreds of combinations of cruise lines, ships, itineraries, flights, fares, dates, and inclusions to consider.

A travel agent, like the ones at my company thecruiseglobe.com can narrow those down based on what actually matters to you.

Useful things that you might want to tell the travel agent could include:

• “Food is really important.”
• “I want to visit…..(country/port)”
• “We have children.”
• “We don’t want children onboard.”
• “I’ve already been to Rome and Barcelona.”
• “We have this budget available”
• “I need to travel in February.”
• “I don’t like intense heat”
• “I don’t like crowds”
• “I want a smaller ship.”
• “I want a mega-ship.”
• “I want flights included.”
• “I don’t want a really port-intensive cruise.”
• … or anything else really important to you!

Before You Go

Find out what is great about visiting the Mediterranean on a cruise here:

7 Reasons Why Your Next Cruise Should be in The Mediterranean

Get an idea of what a Mediterranean cruise will actually cost here:

How Much Does a Mediterranean Cruise ACTUALLY Cost? (21 Examples)