The Mediterranean is home to some of the most iconic destinations on the planet. Whether you’re gazing upon the Trevi Fountain in Rome, dining on baguettes in the South of France, or trying to wrap your head around the Acropolis in Athens, a Mediterranean cruise promises to be the trip of a lifetime.
When to Book a Mediterranean Cruise
Booking your Mediterranean cruise far in advance (two years or more) or relatively last minute (two months or less) can often yield cheaper prices. Generally, June, July, and August are the busiest and most expensive months to cruise in the Mediterranean. Consequently, your money will often stretch further if you opt for the shoulder seasons in spring and fall, when the weather is still pleasant but less crowded. Winter may offer even steeper discounts and fewer crowds; however, it lacks the sunshine and warm weather the Mediterranean is known for, and you may have fewer daylight hours to explore.
How to Find the Best Cruise Deals
Discount sites like Expedia, Kayak, and cruise-specific platforms such as Cruise Critic can lead you to excellent prices. Typically, cruises set their rates as per-person with an assumed double occupancy, or as per-day prices. Therefore, consider what is included in that price. For longer trips, is there self-service laundry on board, or is there an additional fee? Are drinks—coffee, alcohol, juices, sodas—included in your fare? What are your food options, and what do reviews say about food quality? Given that you’ll spend a significant amount of time on the ship, it’s wise to know exactly what you’re paying for.
Consider the cheapest Mediterranean cruise options, which can be found in per-person rates. MSC and Costa dominate as the lower-priced options (often under $500) for Mediterranean itineraries. However, Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean occasionally offer noteworthy deals.
Choosing Between Western and Eastern Mediterranean Cruises
Both the Western and Eastern Mediterranean offer UNESCO World Heritage sites, unparalleled local cuisine, and excellent shopping opportunities. Western cruises typically focus on destinations in Spain, France, Tunisia, and the western parts of Italy, such as Genoa and Rome.
In contrast, Eastern Mediterranean cruises often include Italian destinations like Venice, in addition to Greece, Montenegro, and Croatia. If you’re particularly attracted to warm sandy beaches, the Eastern Mediterranean may be your preferred choice.
Furthermore, some Eastern Mediterranean itineraries might also incorporate Albania and extend as far as Turkey and various Middle Eastern countries; however, budget itineraries for these routes are less common.
The Best Budget Western Mediterranean Cruises
If you’re seeking shorter cruises, MSC frequently offers deals on single-night itineraries between Western Mediterranean cities for less than $100 per person. For instance, there are April 2020 overnights from Genoa, Italy, to Marseille, France, or Barcelona, Spain for only $69.
Be on the lookout for MSC’s promotional offers, which often include a 2-for-1 price with children sailing free. For example, an eight-day, seven-night sailing on the MSC Poesia, one of MSC’s most elegant ships, to Italy, France, Spain, and Tunisia in November starts as low as $389.
Currently, on Costa Cruises, a three-night Western Mediterranean itinerary can be as affordable as $231 in October, sailing to Marseille, Barcelona, and Genoa on the Costa Magica. For those who prefer to plan ahead, consider a three-day cruise visiting Rome, Naples, and Barcelona on Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas, currently the world’s second-largest cruise ship, for less than $419 per person, but you’ll need to book well in advance.
In the high season, the newly-launched Costa Smerelda sails to Barcelona, Palma, Cagliari, Rome, Savona, and Marseille for as low as $669 in June. Additionally, the ship was designed to use 100% liquefied natural gas to minimize exhaust emissions.
For a great deal, Royal Caribbean International offers a seven-night trip in August through Italy, Spain, and France on Explorer of the Seas, featuring an ice skating rink, surf simulator, and rock climbing wall onboard, starting at $754.
The Best Budget Eastern Mediterranean Cruises
If you’re limited on time and budget, consider sailing to three countries in four days for $279 aboard the MSC Musica in October, which sails to Greece, Montenegro, and Venice, Italy.
For those with more vacation days to spare, spend seven nights on the MSC Lirica, allowing you to visit several locations in Italy, Croatia, Montenegro, and Greece for only $347.
In the high season, Costa offers a late May deal for a seven-night cruise for $649 on the Costa Deliziosa, a relatively small ship accommodating less than 2,300 passengers. This itinerary includes stops in Venice and Bari, Italy, as well as several ports in Greece.
Moreover, Royal Caribbean International provides seven-night July itineraries exploring Greece and Croatia for under $800 on the Rhapsody of the Seas, which has received numerous awards from Cruise Critic, including 2018’s best dining and best overall cruise ship.
A notable seven-day trip on the Celebrity Infinity in late June typically costs around $940, partly due to the ship undergoing a major overhaul later in the year. Nevertheless, it remains an excellent means to explore Venice, Split, Kotor, Corfu, Naples, and Rome. Frequent praise is directed towards the variety of dining options onboard, renovation or not.
