Mediterranean Cruises 2026

The Mediterranean is Europe's most popular cruise destination, where crystal-clear waters, stunning coastal cities and rich cultural heritage await you. Explore the most beautiful places in Spain, Italy, Greece and Croatia on a single trip.

Why choose a Mediterranean cruise?

A Mediterranean cruise offers the ideal combination of relaxation and exploration. You'll visit multiple destinations, enjoy onboard comfort and gain direct access to some of Europe's most beautiful cities.

Popular Cruise Ports

Santorini, Greece

Santorini is one of the most iconic cruise ports in the Mediterranean, famous for its dramatic caldera views, whitewashed houses with blue domes and breathtaking sunsets. Perched on volcanic cliffs above the Aegean Sea, this Greek island offers a unique blend of natural beauty, ancient history and romantic charm.

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Mykonos, Greece

Mykonos is the glamorous Greek island known for its iconic windmills, whitewashed Cycladic architecture and vibrant beach scene. Despite its reputation for nightlife, Mykonos also offers charming alleys, crystal-clear waters and the nearby ancient site of Delos.

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Corfu, Greece

Corfu, the greenest of the Greek islands, combines Venetian elegance with lush olive groves and emerald coastline. Its UNESCO-listed Old Town is a maze of narrow streets, Italianate mansions and Byzantine churches that reflect centuries of multicultural influence.

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Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona is one of the Mediterranean's most vibrant cruise ports, blending stunning architecture, world-class cuisine and a buzzing beach culture. From Gaudí's fantastical creations to the winding streets of the Gothic Quarter, the Catalan capital offers an unforgettable day ashore.

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Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy

Civitavecchia is the gateway cruise port for Rome, located approximately one hour north of the Eternal City by train or bus. While the port town itself has a charming historic centre and Michelangelo's Fort, most visitors use their day ashore to explore Rome's iconic landmarks.

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Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul is where East meets West, straddling two continents across the Bosphorus strait. This mesmerizing city offers 2,500 years of history, from Byzantine churches and Ottoman mosques to bustling bazaars and modern rooftop bars.

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Palermo, Italy

Palermo, the vibrant capital of Sicily, is a city of contrasts where Arab-Norman architecture meets bustling street markets and world-class street food. Its UNESCO-listed historical centre tells a story of civilizations layered over millennia.

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Valletta, Malta

Valletta, Malta's tiny but mighty capital, is a UNESCO World Heritage city packed with Baroque architecture, knights' history and Mediterranean charm. Built by the Knights of St. John in the 16th century, this fortified city sits on a peninsula with stunning harbour views on both sides.

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Dubrovnik, Croatia

Dubrovnik, the Pearl of the Adriatic, is a stunning walled city on Croatia's Dalmatian coast. Famous for its remarkably preserved medieval walls, terracotta rooftops and sparkling Adriatic backdrop, it also gained worldwide fame as a Game of Thrones filming location.

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Marseille, France

Marseille, France's oldest city and largest Mediterranean port, blends gritty urban character with stunning natural beauty. From its iconic Old Port to the dramatic Calanques coastline, Marseille offers a vibrant mix of culture, cuisine and seaside charm.

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Naples, Italy

Naples is one of the most exciting cruise ports in Italy, serving as the gateway to Pompeii, the Amalfi Coast and the island of Capri. The birthplace of pizza, Naples buzzes with energy, history and some of the best food in the Mediterranean.

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Kotor, Montenegro

Kotor is a hidden gem nestled at the head of a dramatic fjord-like bay on Montenegro's Adriatic coast. Its medieval walled Old Town, surrounded by imposing mountains, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that feels like stepping back in time.

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Genoa, Italy

Genoa is one of the busiest cruise home ports in the Mediterranean and a key embarkation port for MSC Cruises. Ships berth at the historic Stazioni Marittime, right next to the old town and Piazza Principe station, so the proud maritime capital of Liguria — with its UNESCO-listed palaces, medieval alleys and famous pesto and focaccia — is well worth a day before or after your cruise.

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Savona, Italy

Savona is Costa Cruises' home port on the Italian Riviera and, for many guests, the starting point of a western Mediterranean cruise. The modern Palacrociere terminal, built and run by Costa, sits on the edge of the city centre, a few minutes' walk from the arcaded streets, the old harbour and the mighty Priamar Fortress.

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Venice, Italy

Venice is one of the most sought-after cruise departures in the Mediterranean, but since 2021 large cruise ships no longer sail through the Giudecca Canal past St Mark's Square. Today many cruises sold as departing from Venice embark at the mainland berths of Fusina or Porto Marghera, and only smaller ships still use the historic Marittima terminal. Several lines start their 'Venice' itineraries from Trieste, Monfalcone or Ravenna instead, so always check the exact port in your booking.

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Trieste, Italy

Trieste is MSC Cruises' Adriatic home port and one of the closest embarkation ports to Central Europe. Its sailings are often sold as “Trieste (Venice)” because large ships were banned from central Venice in 2021. An elegant Habsburg-era city on the Slovenian border, with grand seafront squares and legendary coffee houses, it is an easy start to cruises across the Adriatic, Greece and the eastern Mediterranean.

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Bari, Italy

Bari, the capital of Puglia, is a busy Adriatic cruise port where both MSC Cruises and Costa Cruises embark passengers and call on their Adriatic and Greek itineraries. Its old town, Bari Vecchia, is home to the Basilica of San Nicola, and the port is the gateway to the trulli of Alberobello, the cave town of Matera and the cliff-top village of Polignano a Mare.

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Athens (Piraeus), Greece

Piraeus, Athens' historic harbour, is the busiest cruise port in Greece and the starting point for many Greek island and eastern Mediterranean cruises. Just 12 km from the Acropolis, it puts the Parthenon, the Plaka and some of the world's most famous ancient sites within easy reach. Some lines, mostly with smaller ships, use Lavrion on the coast south-east of Athens as a second Athens cruise port.

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