Cruise lines
A western Mediterranean cruise that departs from Barcelona, Rome, or Athens can be on a ship of 4,000 to 6,000 passengers, with several pools and a long list of restaurants. A cruise to the Greek islands, the Baltic, or Norway is more often on a ship of about 1,500 to 3,500, which can dock closer to the center of a smaller harbor. Venice is reached from Ravenna or Trieste.
This group mixes mid-size and large ocean ships. Some carry about 1,500 to 3,500 passengers. Others carry 4,000 to 6,000.
Ranges are per person, two to a cabin. They move with the month and the cabin. On the large ships, taxes, port charges, and gratuities are usually extra. On river ships, expedition ships, luxury ships, and yachts, more of that is already in the fare.
A seven-night western Mediterranean cruise that departs from Barcelona or Rome can be on a ship with several pools and a long list of restaurants. Cruises to Norway, the Baltic, and many Greek islands use smaller ships. Those have a pool and a show, and they can dock in a harbor in the middle of town.
The main dining room is in the fare. Specialty dining is usually extra on MSC, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Carnival. Celebrity, Princess, and Holland America have fewer rooms and a quieter dining room. Cunard still has a more formal evening on the Queens.
In these cities you walk. Start early, before the heat and the crowds. St. Mark’s is in Venice. Large ships dock at Ravenna or Trieste. Venice is about two hours from those piers.
The weather in July and August is hot in the Mediterranean, and the ships are full. The ports are quieter in May, June, and September, often on a smaller ship. The luxury and yacht pages are the ones that trade the water park for a harbor in the middle of town.
Each card is one line. The table is on a wider screen.
Passengers. About 1,900–3,600.
Where they go. Mediterranean, British Isles, Baltic, and Norway cruises.
Price range. Balcony, 7 nights, often $1,500–$3,400.
Passengers. Queen Elizabeth and Queen Anne about 2,000–3,000. Queen Mary 2 about 2,700.
Where they go. Cruises from Southampton, including the Atlantic crossing, Norway, and northern Europe.
Price range. A 7-night crossing or a northern Europe cruise is often $1,500–$4,000 a person. An agent requests the suite price.
Passengers. About 2,400–4,000.
Where they go. Western Mediterranean cruises from Barcelona or Rome.
Price range. Balcony, 7 nights, often $900–$2,200.
Passengers. Solstice class about 2,850. Edge class about 3,200.
Where they go. Mediterranean cruises, Greek-island cruises, and some northern Europe cruises.
Price range. Balcony, 7 nights, often $1,500–$3,200.
Passengers. Other ships about 3,000–4,500. Oasis-class ships of about 5,600 in some western Mediterranean seasons.
Where they go. Cruises from Barcelona and Rome.
Price range. Balcony, 7 nights, often $1,100–$2,600.
Passengers. Smaller ships on some eastern routes. Often 4,000–6,700 in the western Mediterranean.
Where they go. Cruises from Barcelona, Rome, and Athens.
Price range. Balcony, 7 nights, often $900–$2,200. The fare in August is at the high end of that range.
Luxury ships in these same ports carry fewer passengers. The fare is higher because drinks and gratuities are usually included. They are on the luxury ocean and yacht pages.
River ships carry about 150 to 190 passengers and start in cities such as Budapest, Amsterdam, and Basel. See the river and expedition page.
The cruise fare in July and August is higher than the cruise fare in May or October.