Best time to go on a
Mediterranean cruise
Cruise tips you can trust
Pros & cons
of the Mediterranean
cruise seasons
The best time of the year to go on a Mediterranean cruise depends on your personal priorities. Read the pros & cons below.
Peak season
June to August
Pros
Least rain. Most itineraries. Period dovetails with school vacations.
Cons
Ports and popular attractions are packed with tourists. Temperatures can be uncomfortably hot. Cruise and air rates are their highest. Ship, itinerary and cabin availability are usually scarce or non-existent (unless you book early).
Best month
June.
Worst month
August. Ports are jammed with tourists (most Europeans go on vacations in August). The sun is usually at its hottest.
Spring or fall season
Mid-April to May
September to mid-October
Pros
Uncrowded ports and attractions. Lower cruise and air rates. Less competition for bookings. Comfortable temperatures.
Cons
Schedule conflict for families with school-age children.
Best time
Mid- to late-September. Next best is late-May to early-June.
Winter season
Late-October to mid-April
Pros
Temperatures are comfortable for visiting Madeira, Canary Islands, Morocco, and Egypt.
Cons
Chilly or frigid in northern Mediterranean ports.
Read my other candid
tips on when to go on
a Mediterranean cruise
Helpful Mediterranean cruise tips
Best itineraries
Best time to go
Best cruise lines
Top 10 Mediterranean Ports of Call
1 Civitavecchia Gateway to Rome
2 Piraeus Gateway to Athen
3 Venice Italy
4 Livorno Gateway to Florence
5 Istanbul
6 Dubrovnik Croatia
7 Naples Gateway to Pompeii + more
8 Marseille Gateway to Provence
9 Nice Gateway to French Riviera
10 Malaga Spain
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What it's like on a
Mediterranean cruise ship
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