You hit a home run on this one Gary. By including the story of Winnie,Your personalized your post making everyone feel like you were talking about them. See why you’re number one in the Cruise vlog category. Kudos
@@tipsfortravellers I think this video contains more helpful information than any other of yours that I have watched, Gary. Thank you. @DavidWilliams-qf5yi Kudos sounds good but I can’t find any cruise ship that calls in there. Is it near Santorini? ;-) 😉
I just got off the Celebrity Edge 2 weeks ago..Embarked in Civitavecchia Italy with a pre night stay in Rome...cruised to Santorini, Rhodes, Mykonos, Athens and Naples. Hardly any crowds, Temp in the 70's with no rain. The ship holds 3,000 but there were only 1,300 on board. The food, Entertainment and service was remarkable. We had a standard Veranda and loved it. at night we left the veranda door open and all you heard was the ocean, so relaxing. I have been on 24 cruises, This was possibly the best cruise I was ever on. Celebrity did a GREAT JOB.
I grew up in Lebanon and trust me, NO ONE, unless they absolutely don't have a choice, wants to be on the water in July/August. It's hot, humid, crawling with tourists and generally very unpleasant. September/October are fantastic times and in some ports, the fall colors are amazing. What did Winnie wind up doing? We're all now emotionally vested in this...
I've never objected to the bus trip from ports into the cities as it gives you a great perspective about rural/semi-rural housing. Most cruise ships ensure there's a guide on each bus, so you also get great info about the next stop as we rarely, if ever go on organised excursions preferring to explore cities on our own. And finally, a balcony is a must - we love our sundowner(s) seated on the balcony watching the ocean glide by. I appreciate you can do the same from the bar and deck topside, but truly it's special when you and your partner watch the sun disappear over the evening horizon sipping your favourite drink in your own outdoor space!!
I always feel "cruise smart" after watching your content. Funny thing is, I've still not been on a cruise. But I can guarantee this your videos are definitely on my syllabus! I will watch until and even after I actually book a cruise! Thank you for always sharing the knowledge.
What a great friend you were! You covered the little subtleties that few people think of. I couldn't agree more with your advice, after my years and years of cruising the Mediterranean. I wish. I actually only went once, Barcelona to Civitavecchia, and in my first inside stateroom after always balconies. Would spring for at least an oceanview; I did not like needing to get dressed just to see where the heck we were. The unrelenting succession of port days was indeed quite tiring, no matter how much I enjoyed the cities. I was not thrilled with the thought of a 3 hour drive both ways to see a tourist spot for an hour, so I spent the days in the "gateway" cities. I loved the little walk+boat tour in Livorno, a city that the cruise line categorizes as not worth visiting.
I got very lucky. This is my first time in Europe. I just got back from my 2 Europe cruises. The weather was perfect and no more than 2 ships in a port. I made 2 mistakes. First I should have walk everyday before my trip. You will walk alot. Second I should have left 2 or 3 days earlier. Coming from California it was a very long flight and jet lag. I got home safe. I had a great time. Lots of pictures and memory. My friends I met on the ship is amazing.
I went to the Western Mediterranean cruise and stayed before and 5 days after. Took a few tours and got to see all of Rome! Great info for those that do their due diligence!
Love your videos. So many great tips. Getting ready to go on AMA Danube. Have been on Ama before and was very impressed. What I saw, the staff,the food. A fabulous trip. Thanks for all your tips.
We went on a 11 day med cruise in October and it was fantastic!!! The weather was absolutely perfect! Crowds were not bad and we got a fantastic deal also we were on NCL and only 2,500 people, wasn’t full and about 10 kids on the entire ship.
My first cruise was a Med cruise, from Marseilles on a loop, touching Tunisia, Malta and a number of stops in Italy with MSC. It was AMAZING! The first day was a sea day which was perfect for exploring the ship before calling into a new port every day. Thanks to your advice, Gary, I booked my first SOLO cruise in a studio cabin with Norwegian and will do 10 days around the Greek Isles! Thank you for the advice and inspiration!
I totally agree with pre and post stays. With length of our flights when going to Europe we like to stay as long as we can, so a 7 day cruise is usually 12-13 days for us.
I’m so very glad I found your videos on Mediterranean cruises. I’ve booked one for October of 2024 and was expecting all the ports to be gorgeous. It’s best to have a reality check ahead of time to plan. My cruise sails out f Barcelona and I plan at least five days there prior to the cruise. Most of the ports are in Spain in cities you’ve said are beautiful. But you’ve given me a heads up to do my research. In the future I’d like to see Greece and Italy. Thank you!
Inside cabins for us, 99% of the time, we are hardly ever in the room, only to sleep and shower, when we have leisure time we go to like the serenity deck and have a 180 degrees field of views, and I can move around to the left or right side, something you can't do in your balcony, most ports are not attractive and beautiful and you travel at night when it is so dark.
I prefer balcony, just love being able to walk out on a morning with a cuppa, coming back in an afternoon away from the bustle of being by the pools and finally sitting at sunset. Each to their own
@@AugustoLugo1983 Oh blimey, we only go P&O You certainly couldn’t get 4 holidays out of the price of our cabin 😂 I can only afford one cruise a year (it’s not just the cabin is it?) and therefore a balcony is worth it for me. Happy sailing!
Over the years I’ve done five Med cruises. They have different beginning and ending ports and loads of different ports for excursions. I’ve done extended stays at Rome, Barcelona, Nice, Athens and Istanbul. It’s very important to pay attention to what you want to see. And realize that you can’t see it all in one cruise. Additionally, it’s incredibly hot in July and August. Walking excursions will exhaust you unless you are fit and in good shape simply due to the heat. I took a hike up a dormant volcano, near Santorini as I remember, and our guide passed out from the heat. I wouldn’t recommend the Med in July or August unless you are acclimated to high temperatures as well as being very fit. I rarely see this issue addressed but it’s an important consideration for us senior travelers.
@@Kaffemosterful Great advice. I did a Baltic cruise in August and it was very chilly. But those were the days when St. Petersburg was on the schedule. An Alaskan cruise in July-Aug is another consideration.
Completely agree. It’s sad that St P is off the schedule as it’s truly the jewel of Baltic cruises. There are many river cruises that will give travelers a break from the heat. We did a Danube trip one July that was so chilly that we bought jeans and jackets. Although we prefer warm weather our next cruise is going to be a Christmas Market.
Great tips. I've made plenty of those mistakes! The Med is very hot & crowded in July/August, and the distances from the ports to the attractions can make it a very tiring experience. Sometimes you have to accept that seeing those bucket list sites (Rome, Florence) comes at a cost.
Great advice. We took a week-long island hopping cruise in Greece/Turkey. We had a wonderful time, but you’re so right about some of the challenges. We hit 2 ports on some days, so being physically ready for such busy itinerary is important. Also, our port in Crete was across the island from any real sight-seeing. Because we were either sleeping or off ship most of our cruise, taking a cheaper cruise line with an inside cabin (for daytime sleep between ports) worked for us.
Good points about the "false ports" and balcony cabins in the med. I think the key is to do your research before you book. Our first ever cruise was Western Med and my wife really went to town on the research so we, more or less, knew what to expect (well done her!!).
I’ve never been on a cruise, nor did I plan on trying one. The algorithm suggested this to me after watching aviation videos but I watched it all the way to the end. I’ve clicked on your channel for more. Your presentation and editing is excellent. Cheers!
I am thinking of taking my first cruise in the spring of 2023 and am so glad I have found you as I absolutely don't have a clue how to go about it . I will be back watching all your videos .:)
Gary, without a doubt, your channel is one of the top channels out there for cruising. Fantastic content, as always. Lots of great information. Thanks for your time, effort, and attention to detail in putting this video together.
Thank you!! We have been looking at Mediterranean cruises and have flexibility in time. Considering western with extended time in Barcelona and Rome. Appreciate knowing you get no time in Rome if just a stop. We are 70 and have never been to Europe so want to have time to explore more. May piggyback an eastern after we spend time on land exploring Italy inland.
I have learned so much over the past few years of cruising. But, wow, you taught me even more about the Med cruises. Excellent information, as always Gary.
The embarkation and debarkation misconception was such a great tip. It’s typically why we choose a post stay. Not only to see the city but to relax a few days before heading home. I wish the mainstream lines would include pre and post stats like others do (Viking). I know they are more expensive than booking on your own but for the less experienced traveler, it makes it easy and with no worries about missing flights or canceled rooms. 👍
I'm fairly new to cruising, but Norwegian does offer air & hotel, you just have to coordinate directly with them vs online/advertised. They'll include the shuttle transport as well. Not sure for others.
Agree, we like pre stays so we are relaxed. We like post stay to see a city very well. In fact next time we cruise out of London, we will stay a week before sailing. We did that in Rome, it was great. Paris also, before a river cruise. We want small ultra luxury, because we have more in common with those we have dinner with. We like the butler, to bring us exactly what we want in the morning and before dinner. The balcony is critical, as we have many sea days.
My wife and I are at the beginning stages of planning our Mediterranean Cruise. Your video answered most of our questions and answered questions we never thought of…thanks. You pointed out that most ports include a minimum 1 hr bus ride to the main attractions. This we were surprised to know. Question….on average how long do we get in port on Mediterranean Cruises? Basically, from the moment we are allowed off to the expected time to return. This will help us decide if a balcony or interior room will suffice. Love your channel!!
On our 12 day Mediterranean cruise we had a balcony cabin and loved using it. We went in July so it was hot and crowded so when we returned from our excursions it was nice to sit on the balcony and enjoy a drink away from the crowds. On a sea day after hanging around the ship (and all the people) it was nice to return to the cabin and sit watch the water while sailing to our next port. Having a balcony is a respite from the crowds and I would never sail in any other type of cabin. We sailed with a friend who had an inside cabin and she enjoyed our balcony as well.
We always have a balcony too. I couldn’t go in an inside room. I love the privacy of a balcony and would hate not being able to see outside. I always pop out first thing in the morning and right before bed to listen to the sea too
Great points, although my first warning when people ask me about a ‘cruise in a balcony cabin’, I always check with them why they want the balcony. Often, people I speak to don’t realise the size of a cruise ship balcony, and sometimes end up disappointed when they can’t sunbathe/have a meal on their balcony, as they could in a ‘typical’ Spanish hotel. Great video! :)
I really appreciated this post. very helpful. I'm in the beginning stages of planning a Mediterranean cruise and just overwhelmed by all the variables!
We visited Rome in early december (not a cruise) we had a great time and the crowd was not bad. We still paid attention as pickpockets dont take any time off.
we have been on many 7 Seas regent cruises, and yes they are expensive. But, it includes business class round trip and one nite at a luxury hotel the nite before. We're going on a cruise in May from Southhampton, and it includes 3 nights at a 5 star London hotel including breakfast all transfers. And I might add, free excursions. So if you back out these goodies, they really aren't that much more than say Oceania or Seabourne.
Excellent points Gary, all things that can take people years to learn. I am sure many of your readers will be helped immensely by the finer points you touch on. Thanks for your dedication to helping people learn all about Cruising.
GREAT video, Gary! I was fortunate to be able to do a longer Western Mediterranean cruise this past June, and so much of what you said here rang true for me!
Such a good point. About window vs balcony. When younger and later with family we did port intensive as our kids aged we did more sea days and splurged on balconies
Very useful information and we agree with all of your points. Just back from a Celebrity cruise in the Mediterranean which was our first since covid and everything was perfect.
We are going to do our third Mediterranean cruise in May of 2023 on Viking. We always go with a balcony as we spend a lot of time outside and get our moneys worth. The idea of planning is so important so as to get the most out of the trip as you noted.
This video is literally perfect for us. We're on NCL epic beginning of September from Rome, Pompeii, caan etc over 7 nights. My in laws first ever cruise. Great job. Thank you
Very useful information and a good presentation. Thank you! I've not done a luxury cruise in the Med First mini-cruise was three days out of Piraeus on a package holiday from England:: Mykonos, Santorini, Rhodes and Crete (Knossos). Coach/bus tour on Rhodes (city and Lindos) and Crete, so wonderful to see these places. But a very small and cramped Greek boat, and not exactly a great time aboard. Because the boat never left Greek waters, it did not have to meet international standards. Otherwise two tours with Road Scholar aboard the smallish and not luxurious converted ferry boat that was then owned by Voyages to Antiquity and now belongs to Road Scholar. Pros: very good itinerary, excursions, lectures. Con: cramped public space; tiny (single) cabins. Luckily, most days spent ashore. I did the two cruises back to back (Athens to Venice, Venice to Rome). Heartily endorse pre-cruise and post-cruise stays. Jet lag does take a few days to get over! Big warning: went in October, and unfortunately there was a huge storm system in the Adriatic. Sea so rough at Dubrovnik that we couldn't dock near the old city and tender in; had to moor in the big ferry and commercial port about two miles away and have a bus in. In Split we had torrential rain. Venice: St. Mark's Square was flooded. Venice was incredibly crowded even in the off-season! I would advise against a cruise in the Adriatic any later than September, because you get the weather really is uncertain. I think a Greek Isle cruise or one in the western Mediterranean might be better early or late in the year. Also, do check out when Easter falls--Western Calendar or Eastern (Orthodox) for Greece. Easter is notoriously busy. But it's worth putting up with any problems with crowds or weather to see the wonderful sites of this beautiful and historic region. That really is why one takes a cruise here. If you just want sun and sand, take a Caribbean cruise (but look out for hurricane season!). P.S., if you most want to sightsee on the land, why not skip cruising and use local ferries? Jadrolinija ferries up and down the Croatian coast give you a wonderful view, and you can stay a couple of nights on islands such as Hvar and Korcula. Thre are many, many ferries linking the Greek mainland and islands. A long time ago I went on a package tour to northern Spain where we traveled from Barcelona to Palma de Majorca on overnight ferry. And there are ferries linking Italy and Croatia. That might be more interesting--and cheaper!
Great and valuable tips! Thanks. I hope to go on a Mediterranean cruise, possibly next year if/when all things COVID seem more manageable. Love all your videos!
Very inciteful! After cruising the British Aisles (twice) I've come to expect distances between ports and cities. Cobh/Cork, Grenoch/Glasgow, etc. We're taking a 12 day Apex Western Med trip, and noticed much the same thing. Okay. So glad we chose May, but I've lived in Greece and knew to avoid July and August. Kids in school, and fewer crowds in town also came into play. You perfectly discussed so many issues. This was one of my favorites of yours. Thank you.
Took the Viking Mediterranean cruise - Barcelona to Rome 2019, totally agree ports were not the greatest, had to travel by bus to cities, I think Monte Carlo was the only one we could actually walk. But oh what a wonderful cruise!! Would do it again
While I am not in the market for a Mediterranean cruise, I like how logically that you lay out the options for your cruiser. I wish more travel agents were that articulate.
Our Western Mediterranean cruise next year is booked for October. The ship spends the first two full days in Venice so we were considering flying in from the US on day one, but after watching your video, I decided to fly in a day earlier to give us those extra hours for traveling from the ship to Venice and get two full days to sightsee. Thank you for your excellent advice.
Great tips! Going in 9 day cruise with Ncl out of Barcelona. Frequent cruiser by never the Med. So enjoy your channel. So informative and you don’t speak so fast like many do so I sit back and enjoy! Have a safe year! Thank you!❤
Thanks for the tips! I typically get a balcony room because it helps my motion sickness to be able to see out. Plus after I day of overstimulation I can relax on the balcony. 😊
Excellent tips, Gary, to anyone thinking about a Med cruise. We have done Eastern, Western and the Greek isles and decided that our next one would be a 20 day combination with Oceania's newest ship, Vista. We just booked it for June 2024 and it hits all the places I love, from Lisbon to Athens and every port in between. It will be a busy time with only one sea day, but, that's fine with us.
I had nightmare experience in Greece 10 yrs ago. Was booked on a luxury yacht islands cruise from Piraeus. Instead of advertised yacht was brought to a 1970s college party barge looking boat. The Tugboat instead of the Love Boat. Was a Sunday holiday in Greece so everything booked/busy. Like rats leaving a ship we jumped off w luggage after captain claiming original boat broke down. Ran into road and flagged down a taxi. Found one night at luxury hotel in athens. Travel agent in California woken up and working like crazy found us a suite on resort on Crete, flights, hydrofoil to Santorini, tours. So we missed all the cruise and ports, but had wonderful time on Crete. She also got every dollar refunded. Must be flexible and have a good TA!
Spot on. We did a Mediterranean honeymoon trip. One thing to consider flying from the US…. The flight is long and overnight. You will land early in the morning and you’ll be tired. The jet lag gets worse for me the older I get. So a trick I have learned about that is to stay outside as much as you can the day you arrive, especially if it’s sunny. And don’t take a nap if you can possibly avoid it. I eat a big breakfast, have a lot of coffee, then head to a site somewhere. Try hard not go to bed before 8:00PM, longer if you can stand it. It’s hard but it helps me with the jet lag. And you be ready to go the next day! And yes, Rome airport is not close to the seaport!
Yep, I flew back and forth from Europe a few times. I try to change my hours before I fly, so I sleep most of the flight. I live on the East Coast so it’s not to bad. Congratulations!
For me, I need a nap when I arrive and finally get settled in hotel because I can't sleep on the airplane. But I make sure it is just a nap, not a long sleep, and then try to go to bed that night at a normal hour. Good for you for adding time in Barcelona. It's a wonderful city that deserves it.
Hi Gary. I really believe in the atraction theory. A friend of my called me today looking for a Mediterranean cruise in July. And I just thought of that and opened my phone and this video from you was the first thing that I saw, even though that this video is 8 months old. Incredible😃
Another trap can be two ports in one very long day. Eg Santorini morning depart 2pm arriving Mykonos 7pm depart midnight. You will race to see much in either port and mykonos is a distance between the port and town which is very congested.
If she is British you have forgotten Marella which may have been what she is looking for. There ships are slightly smaller and they offer a range of itineraries from popular holiday destinations. They are also better value than most of the American lines as their fares are slightly cheaper and the ships all inclusive.
This is one of your best tips videos yet. Spot on and recommendations I'd make myself if asked. I'll never do the Med in July\August again. Great work here Gary.
This video is an eye opener! It sounds very complicated, luckily I’m not making a booking in the next few years. It will give me time to do my research. Thanks.
Love your show! We signed up for a Viking cruise, Mediterranean Odyssey, in January. My question is how should we dress and will the be attractions close? Plus any thing you think we should consider. Thank you
If you just want to avoid the heat, you could cruise Alaska or Northern Europe (Baltic). They're probably pretty crowded most summers, but I'm doing the Baltic this month and heard that the ship is only 75% full.
When cruise ships used to dock at Venice city it was no benefit to the city. None of the passengers spent any money on local eateries or bars. It was just mass sightseeing crowds then back to their ship buffet. That’s why so many ports got rid of them or dock them in the shipyards. These cruise ships use wonderful old cities like a Disney prop.
We went in Spring to Europe and while it’s Spring break in the US, it’s not over there. We did not find any crowds and the weather was in the 50s but very sunny. It’s the best time of the year to do.
You mention that travelling in June and August can be very crowded, but if you are on one of the bigger cruise ships they themselves can cause crowding problems. I well remember holidaying in Santorini. When a large cruise ship came in it was complete chaos. It took ages for the passengers to get into town. Then the town was jammed and meal prices doubled! Not a nice experience. If you want big ship ammenities don't visit small towns/Greek Islands. If you do want to visit them, then go on the smallest ship possible.
Thank you for this helpful video! My husband and I are researching Mediterranean cruises to celebrate our 30th anniversary next year and appreciate your insight, tips, and tricks. We’ve done two Viking river cruises and are leaning toward a Viking ocean cruise because we know what we are getting with that line. Though we are also looking at Silver Seas and other smaller ships options before making a decision.
I saw a Pharaohs & Pyramids Viking river cruise that looks nice including the Nile, Cairo, Giza, great pyramids, great sphinx, temples of luxor and karnak, valley of the kings, queen nefertari’s, queen hatshepsut…
You are amazing and help people soooo much! My husband has never been on a cruise and when we do someday, I will reference your videos to make our selection! I was on 2 cruises (Holland America), 30 years ago with my X and a lot has changed since then! Thank you, Gary!!
Easy solution to the pickpocket problem - use an across the shoulder bag and keep your money inside. Its not as 'cute' but very safe. Just got back from a 3 week cruise of the Mediterranean- never had a problem. As to not going in peak season - sometimes that's not possible. As a teacher, I only have July and August. Was it hot? Yes. But so worth it.
We cruised with Royal Caribbean from Barcelona to Venice in 2018. Your tips are perfect. One thing I didn’t consider is the food on the cruise. It was somewhat disappointing because it was the same as our previous Royal Caribbean Caribbean cruise. I would have liked a more Mediterranean experience. Do you know if a different budget cruise line offers menus that are locally inspired?
Looks like September or October to Western Med. would be what I should go for with pre-cruise days in Cordoba (which I had missed on my trip to Spain). Using a travel agent to get a good deal as per another brilliant episode of yours. Thanks Mr. Bembridge.
You hit a home run on this one Gary. By including the story of Winnie,Your personalized your post making everyone feel like you were talking about them. See why you’re number one in the Cruise vlog category. Kudos
Thanks for watching and great to hear this worked so well :-)
@@tipsfortravellers I think this video contains more helpful information than any other of yours that I have watched, Gary. Thank you.
@DavidWilliams-qf5yi Kudos sounds good but I can’t find any cruise ship that calls in there. Is it near Santorini? ;-) 😉
Yes.. I agree
I just got off the Celebrity Edge 2 weeks ago..Embarked in Civitavecchia Italy with a pre night stay in Rome...cruised to Santorini, Rhodes, Mykonos, Athens and Naples. Hardly any crowds, Temp in the 70's with no rain. The ship holds 3,000 but there were only 1,300 on board. The food, Entertainment and service was remarkable. We had a standard Veranda and loved it. at night we left the veranda door open and all you heard was the ocean, so relaxing. I have been on 24 cruises, This was possibly the best cruise I was ever on. Celebrity did a GREAT JOB.
I grew up in Lebanon and trust me, NO ONE, unless they absolutely don't have a choice, wants to be on the water in July/August. It's hot, humid, crawling with tourists and generally very unpleasant. September/October are fantastic times and in some ports, the fall colors are amazing. What did Winnie wind up doing? We're all now emotionally vested in this...
Lol
I've never objected to the bus trip from ports into the cities as it gives you a great perspective about rural/semi-rural housing. Most cruise ships ensure there's a guide on each bus, so you also get great info about the next stop as we rarely, if ever go on organised excursions preferring to explore cities on our own. And finally, a balcony is a must - we love our sundowner(s) seated on the balcony watching the ocean glide by. I appreciate you can do the same from the bar and deck topside, but truly it's special when you and your partner watch the sun disappear over the evening horizon sipping your favourite drink in your own outdoor space!!
Yup, you see how they live.
I book trip only to big places... Like Athens because is impossible to see on your own, smaller town we like to walk and explore
I always feel "cruise smart" after watching your content. Funny thing is, I've still not been on a cruise. But I can guarantee this your videos are definitely on my syllabus! I will watch until and even after I actually book a cruise! Thank you for always sharing the knowledge.
I watch a lot of the cruising videos too and have never been on a cruise. Not sure if I even want to go actually. But they're interesting to watch.
What a great friend you were! You covered the little subtleties that few people think of. I couldn't agree more with your advice, after my years and years of cruising the Mediterranean. I wish. I actually only went once, Barcelona to Civitavecchia, and in my first inside stateroom after always balconies. Would spring for at least an oceanview; I did not like needing to get dressed just to see where the heck we were. The unrelenting succession of port days was indeed quite tiring, no matter how much I enjoyed the cities. I was not thrilled with the thought of a 3 hour drive both ways to see a tourist spot for an hour, so I spent the days in the "gateway" cities. I loved the little walk+boat tour in Livorno, a city that the cruise line categorizes as not worth visiting.
I got very lucky. This is my first time in Europe. I just got back from my 2 Europe cruises. The weather was perfect and no more than 2 ships in a port. I made 2 mistakes. First I should have walk everyday before my trip. You will walk alot. Second I should have left 2 or 3 days earlier. Coming from California it was a very long flight and jet lag.
I got home safe. I had a great time. Lots of pictures and memory. My friends I met on the ship is amazing.
Thanks for watching and the tips!!!
I went to the Western Mediterranean cruise and stayed before and 5 days after. Took a few tours and got to see all of Rome! Great info for those that do their due diligence!
Love your videos. So many great tips. Getting ready to go on AMA Danube. Have been on Ama before and was very impressed. What I saw, the staff,the food. A fabulous trip. Thanks for all your tips.
We went on a 11 day med cruise in October and it was fantastic!!! The weather was absolutely perfect! Crowds were not bad and we got a fantastic deal also we were on NCL and only 2,500 people, wasn’t full and about 10 kids on the entire ship.
My first cruise was a Med cruise, from Marseilles on a loop, touching Tunisia, Malta and a number of stops in Italy with MSC. It was AMAZING! The first day was a sea day which was perfect for exploring the ship before calling into a new port every day. Thanks to your advice, Gary, I booked my first SOLO cruise in a studio cabin with Norwegian and will do 10 days around the Greek Isles! Thank you for the advice and inspiration!
If you haven't cruised before , this is incredible advice . 100 % on point
I totally agree with pre and post stays. With length of our flights when going to Europe we like to stay as long as we can, so a 7 day cruise is usually 12-13 days for us.
I’m so very glad I found your videos on Mediterranean cruises. I’ve booked one for October of 2024 and was expecting all the ports to be gorgeous. It’s best to have a reality check ahead of time to plan. My cruise sails out f Barcelona and I plan at least five days there prior to the cruise. Most of the ports are in Spain in cities you’ve said are beautiful. But you’ve given me a heads up to do my research. In the future I’d like to see Greece and Italy. Thank you!
Just came back from Barcelona, France, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia (2 weeks) and you are right, with only 2 sea days, it was exhausting.
Hi Linda, may I know which cruise u went on for this itinerary?
This was a great video, Gary. The breakdown of ship and ports is very useful.
Glad you enjoyed it
Inside cabins for us, 99% of the time, we are hardly ever in the room, only to sleep and shower, when we have leisure time we go to like the serenity deck and have a 180 degrees field of views, and I can move around to the left or right side, something you can't do in your balcony, most ports are not attractive and beautiful and you travel at night when it is so dark.
I haven’t cruised but i’d do the same because lodging is just to sleep. Time should be spending outside.
I prefer balcony, just love being able to walk out on a morning with a cuppa, coming back in an afternoon away from the bustle of being by the pools and finally sitting at sunset. Each to their own
We are not too fussed about inside cabins vs outside cabins. We take what is available and cost effective.
@@tedsgirluk736 To us it afford us to do 4 cruises instead of 1 a year.
@@AugustoLugo1983 Oh blimey, we only go P&O You certainly couldn’t get 4 holidays out of the price of our cabin 😂 I can only afford one cruise a year (it’s not just the cabin is it?) and therefore a balcony is worth it for me. Happy sailing!
Over the years I’ve done five Med cruises. They have different beginning and ending ports and loads of different ports for excursions. I’ve done extended stays at Rome, Barcelona, Nice, Athens and Istanbul. It’s very important to pay attention to what you want to see. And realize that you can’t see it all in one cruise. Additionally, it’s incredibly hot in July and August. Walking excursions will exhaust you unless you are fit and in good shape simply due to the heat. I took a hike up a dormant volcano, near Santorini as I remember, and our guide passed out from the heat. I wouldn’t recommend the Med in July or August unless you are acclimated to high temperatures as well as being very fit. I rarely see this issue addressed but it’s an important consideration for us senior travelers.
Thanks for these watch outs! very key!!
Great advice!
Cruises in the Northern Europe is the way to go in July/Aug. Norwegen coast or Baltic Sea. It´s stunning nature and better in the summer.
@@Kaffemosterful Great advice. I did a Baltic cruise in August and it was very chilly. But those were the days when St. Petersburg was on the schedule. An Alaskan cruise in July-Aug is another consideration.
Completely agree. It’s sad that St P is off the schedule as it’s truly the jewel of Baltic cruises. There are many river cruises that will give travelers a break from the heat. We did a Danube trip one July that was so chilly that we bought jeans and jackets. Although we prefer warm weather our next cruise is going to be a Christmas Market.
Great tips. I've made plenty of those mistakes! The Med is very hot & crowded in July/August, and the distances from the ports to the attractions can make it a very tiring experience. Sometimes you have to accept that seeing those bucket list sites (Rome, Florence) comes at a cost.
You are correct. That’s why we made a trip by air specifically to Rome and Paris. We spent three-four days in each city.
Brilliant, timely, and such helpful advice! You’re a treasure, Gary.
Great advice. We took a week-long island hopping cruise in Greece/Turkey. We had a wonderful time, but you’re so right about some of the challenges. We hit 2 ports on some days, so being physically ready for such busy itinerary is important. Also, our port in Crete was across the island from any real sight-seeing. Because we were either sleeping or off ship most of our cruise, taking a cheaper cruise line with an inside cabin (for daytime sleep between ports) worked for us.
Good points about the "false ports" and balcony cabins in the med. I think the key is to do your research before you book. Our first ever cruise was Western Med and my wife really went to town on the research so we, more or less, knew what to expect (well done her!!).
I’ve never been on a cruise, nor did I plan on trying one. The algorithm suggested this to me after watching aviation videos but I watched it all the way to the end. I’ve clicked on your channel for more. Your presentation and editing is excellent. Cheers!
I am thinking of taking my first cruise in the spring of 2023 and am so glad I have found you as I absolutely don't have a clue how to go about it . I will be back watching all your videos .:)
Gary, without a doubt, your channel is one of the top channels out there for cruising. Fantastic content, as always. Lots of great information. Thanks for your time, effort, and attention to detail in putting this video together.
Thank you!! We have been looking at Mediterranean cruises and have flexibility in time. Considering western with extended time in Barcelona and Rome. Appreciate knowing you get no time in Rome if just a stop. We are 70 and have never been to Europe so want to have time to explore more. May piggyback an eastern after we spend time on land exploring Italy inland.
thank you. this gives me alot to think bout. Somethings I am right on target and a few other things, I need to go back and take a look at.
Terrific tips Gary-especially about not necessarily needing a balcony on the western Mediterranean cruises! Thank You! 💙
This is a brilliant explanation of Mediterranean sea travel.
I have learned so much over the past few years of cruising. But, wow, you taught me even more about the Med cruises. Excellent information, as always Gary.
Fantastic to hear! Thanks for watching Hetty 👍🏻
Thank you for your super informative videos! I am retiring in less than a month and looking forward to more cruising in my future. 🥰
The embarkation and debarkation misconception was such a great tip. It’s typically why we choose a post stay. Not only to see the city but to relax a few days before heading home. I wish the mainstream lines would include pre and post stats like others do (Viking). I know they are more expensive than booking on your own but for the less experienced traveler, it makes it easy and with no worries about missing flights or canceled rooms. 👍
I'm fairly new to cruising, but Norwegian does offer air & hotel, you just have to coordinate directly with them vs online/advertised. They'll include the shuttle transport as well. Not sure for others.
Agree, we like pre stays so we are relaxed. We like post stay to see a city very well. In fact next time we cruise out of London, we will stay a week before sailing. We did that in Rome, it was great. Paris also, before a river cruise. We want small ultra luxury, because we have more in common with those we have dinner with. We like the butler, to bring us exactly what we want in the morning and before dinner. The balcony is critical, as we have many sea days.
My wife and I are at the beginning stages of planning our Mediterranean Cruise. Your video answered most of our questions and answered questions we never thought of…thanks. You pointed out that most ports include a minimum 1 hr bus ride to the main attractions. This we were surprised to know. Question….on average how long do we get in port on Mediterranean Cruises? Basically, from the moment we are allowed off to the expected time to return. This will help us decide if a balcony or interior room will suffice. Love your channel!!
On our 12 day Mediterranean cruise we had a balcony cabin and loved using it. We went in July so it was hot and crowded so when we returned from our excursions it was nice to sit on the balcony and enjoy a drink away from the crowds. On a sea day after hanging around the ship (and all the people) it was nice to return to the cabin and sit watch the water while sailing to our next port. Having a balcony is a respite from the crowds and I would never sail in any other type of cabin. We sailed with a friend who had an inside cabin and she enjoyed our balcony as well.
We use the money difference for a second cruise.
Always have a balcony then?
We always have a balcony too. I couldn’t go in an inside room. I love the privacy of a balcony and would hate not being able to see outside. I always pop out first thing in the morning and right before bed to listen to the sea too
Great points, although my first warning when people ask me about a ‘cruise in a balcony cabin’, I always check with them why they want the balcony. Often, people I speak to don’t realise the size of a cruise ship balcony, and sometimes end up disappointed when they can’t sunbathe/have a meal on their balcony, as they could in a ‘typical’ Spanish hotel.
Great video! :)
good point !!!!!
I really appreciated this post. very helpful. I'm in the beginning stages of planning a Mediterranean cruise and just overwhelmed by all the variables!
We visited Rome in early december (not a cruise) we had a great time and the crowd was not bad. We still paid attention as pickpockets dont take any time off.
we have been on many 7 Seas regent cruises, and yes they are expensive. But, it includes business class round trip and one nite at a luxury hotel the nite before. We're going on a cruise in May from Southhampton, and it includes 3 nights at a 5 star London hotel including breakfast all transfers. And I might add, free excursions. So if you back out these goodies, they really aren't that much more than say Oceania or Seabourne.
We did a 12 night west and east out of Barcelona. Loved it. Busy but so fun
Turkey is a must! Beautiful with rich culture. Especially Istanbul.
I spend a great deal of time on my balcony on sea days. I find it quite relaxing.
Excellent points Gary, all things that can take people years to learn. I am sure many of your readers will be helped immensely by the finer points you touch on. Thanks for your dedication to helping people learn all about Cruising.
GREAT video, Gary! I was fortunate to be able to do a longer Western Mediterranean cruise this past June, and so much of what you said here rang true for me!
Such a good point. About window vs balcony. When younger and later with family we did port intensive as our kids aged we did more sea days and splurged on balconies
Very useful information and we agree with all of your points. Just back from a Celebrity cruise in the Mediterranean which was our first since covid and everything was perfect.
Thanks for these insights! I’ve always wanted to cruise the Mediterranean and wasn’t sure exactly what to consider. Much appreciated
We are going to do our third Mediterranean cruise in May of 2023 on Viking. We always go with a balcony as we spend a lot of time outside and get our moneys worth.
The idea of planning is so important so as to get the most out of the trip as you noted.
This video is literally perfect for us. We're on NCL epic beginning of September from Rome, Pompeii, caan etc over 7 nights. My in laws first ever cruise. Great job. Thank you
Very useful information and a good presentation. Thank you! I've not done a luxury cruise in the Med First mini-cruise was three days out of Piraeus on a package holiday from England:: Mykonos, Santorini, Rhodes and Crete (Knossos). Coach/bus tour on Rhodes (city and Lindos) and Crete, so wonderful to see these places. But a very small and cramped Greek boat, and not exactly a great time aboard. Because the boat never left Greek waters, it did not have to meet international standards. Otherwise two tours with Road Scholar aboard the smallish and not luxurious converted ferry boat that was then owned by Voyages to Antiquity and now belongs to Road Scholar. Pros: very good itinerary, excursions, lectures. Con: cramped public space; tiny (single) cabins. Luckily, most days spent ashore. I did the two cruises back to back (Athens to Venice, Venice to Rome). Heartily endorse pre-cruise and post-cruise stays. Jet lag does take a few days to get over! Big warning: went in October, and unfortunately there was a huge storm system in the Adriatic. Sea so rough at Dubrovnik that we couldn't dock near the old city and tender in; had to moor in the big ferry and commercial port about two miles away and have a bus in. In Split we had torrential rain. Venice: St. Mark's Square was flooded. Venice was incredibly crowded even in the off-season! I would advise against a cruise in the Adriatic any later than September, because you get the weather really is uncertain. I think a Greek Isle cruise or one in the western Mediterranean might be better early or late in the year. Also, do check out when Easter falls--Western Calendar or Eastern (Orthodox) for Greece. Easter is notoriously busy. But it's worth putting up with any problems with crowds or weather to see the wonderful sites of this beautiful and historic region. That really is why one takes a cruise here. If you just want sun and sand, take a Caribbean cruise (but look out for hurricane season!). P.S., if you most want to sightsee on the land, why not skip cruising and use local ferries? Jadrolinija ferries up and down the Croatian coast give you a wonderful view, and you can stay a couple of nights on islands such as Hvar and Korcula. Thre are many, many ferries linking the Greek mainland and islands. A long time ago I went on a package tour to northern Spain where we traveled from Barcelona to Palma de Majorca on overnight ferry. And there are ferries linking Italy and Croatia. That might be more interesting--and cheaper!
Great and valuable tips! Thanks. I hope to go on a Mediterranean cruise, possibly next year if/when all things COVID seem more manageable. Love all your videos!
Very inciteful! After cruising the British Aisles (twice) I've come to expect distances between ports and cities. Cobh/Cork, Grenoch/Glasgow, etc. We're taking a 12 day Apex Western Med trip, and noticed much the same thing. Okay. So glad we chose May, but I've lived in Greece and knew to avoid July and August. Kids in school, and fewer crowds in town also came into play. You perfectly discussed so many issues. This was one of my favorites of yours. Thank you.
Took the Viking Mediterranean cruise - Barcelona to Rome 2019, totally agree ports were not the greatest, had to travel by bus to cities, I think Monte Carlo was the only one we could actually walk. But oh what a wonderful cruise!! Would do it again
0l9
& Barcelona port too u can walk in to city right?
Wow, just Wow! Great advice, well-presented, well-thought out. Thank you for this, and thank you for your channel..
While I am not in the market for a Mediterranean cruise, I like how logically that you lay out the options for your cruiser. I wish more travel agents were that articulate.
Thanks, great to hear your feedback!! Agree on the agent point
This is one of your best videos. It works really well in a “giving advice” mode.
Our Western Mediterranean cruise next year is booked for October. The ship spends the first two full days in Venice so we were considering flying in from the US on day one, but after watching your video, I decided to fly in a day earlier to give us those extra hours for traveling from the ship to Venice and get two full days to sightsee. Thank you for your excellent advice.
Great tips! Going in 9 day cruise with Ncl out of Barcelona. Frequent cruiser by never the Med. So enjoy your channel. So informative and you don’t speak so fast like many do so I sit back and enjoy! Have a safe year! Thank you!❤
Thanks for the tips! I typically get a balcony room because it helps my motion sickness to be able to see out. Plus after I day of overstimulation I can relax on the balcony. 😊
I live in Italy and 100% agree on all you recommended re:Italy!
Thanks for the info I’m booked on NCL Balcony in early October for 11 days to Mediterranean
As usual, the information is very organized; and as usual, it is succinctly and pleasantly given. Thank you again.
I love medium sized ships and balcony cabins. And looking at the sea from my balcony is a great view to me! Especially if there is also a full moon!
Excellent tips, Gary, to anyone thinking about a Med cruise. We have done Eastern, Western and the Greek isles and decided that our next one would be a 20 day combination with Oceania's newest ship, Vista. We just booked it for June 2024 and it hits all the places I love, from Lisbon to Athens and every port in between. It will be a busy time with only one sea day, but, that's fine with us.
Thanks for watching!! Appreciate you joining the livestream. Looking forward to hearing about Galapagos!!
Thank you, Gary. I wouldn’t set sail without checking on your blogs
I had nightmare experience in Greece 10 yrs ago. Was booked on a luxury yacht islands cruise from Piraeus. Instead of advertised yacht was brought to a 1970s college party barge looking boat. The Tugboat instead of the Love Boat. Was a Sunday holiday in Greece so everything booked/busy. Like rats leaving a ship we jumped off w luggage after captain claiming original boat broke down. Ran into road and flagged down a taxi. Found one night at luxury hotel in athens. Travel agent in California woken up and working like crazy found us a suite on resort on Crete, flights, hydrofoil to Santorini, tours. So we missed all the cruise and ports, but had wonderful time on Crete. She also got every dollar refunded. Must be flexible and have a good TA!
Ugh
Try doing that with an online travel agency. Not going to happen!
Would u share the name of your TA? We are looking.
Please share details of TA If you don’t mind
@@malawadhwani2700 sorry. She is retired now. I am now using Jenny Barnette from La Lido Loca.
Great info Gary! Another great reason to use a travel Agent.
Spot on. We did a Mediterranean honeymoon trip. One thing to consider flying from the US…. The flight is long and overnight. You will land early in the morning and you’ll be tired. The jet lag gets worse for me the older I get. So a trick I have learned about that is to stay outside as much as you can the day you arrive, especially if it’s sunny. And don’t take a nap if you can possibly avoid it. I eat a big breakfast, have a lot of coffee, then head to a site somewhere. Try hard not go to bed before 8:00PM, longer if you can stand it. It’s hard but it helps me with the jet lag. And you be ready to go the next day! And yes, Rome airport is not close to the seaport!
Great tips. Thanks for adding these
Great tips!!! And congratulations on your marriage
Yep, I flew back and forth from Europe a few times. I try to change my hours before I fly, so I sleep most of the flight. I live on the East Coast so it’s not to bad. Congratulations!
For me, I need a nap when I arrive and finally get settled in hotel because I can't sleep on the airplane. But I make sure it is just a nap, not a long sleep, and then try to go to bed that night at a normal hour. Good for you for adding time in Barcelona. It's a wonderful city that deserves it.
Hi Gary. I really believe in the atraction theory. A friend of my called me today looking for a Mediterranean cruise in July. And I just thought of that and opened my phone and this video from you was the first thing that I saw, even though that this video is 8 months old. Incredible😃
Wonderful video! Great suggestions for the 'practical considerations' for cruising the Mediterranean. Thanks for the tips...Cheers!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Good recommendation for a first cruise. The Eastern Mediterranean cruise is on our list for 2023.
When mentioning East med. Cruises, there are also cruises from/to Haifa like the MSC Lirica, Royal Carribbean, the local Manno shipping and NCL.
Thank you sweetheart for a very comprehensive travel experience. Hello from Chicago!
Another trap can be two ports in one very long day. Eg Santorini morning depart 2pm arriving Mykonos 7pm depart midnight. You will race to see much in either port and mykonos is a distance between the port and town which is very congested.
Oh now I'm excited, I've just booked my first cruise which is a western Med. Thank you
Myself and my partner are looking to give cruising a go and tho king a short med trip will be ideal to test the water (literally)
If she is British you have forgotten Marella which may have been what she is looking for. There ships are slightly smaller and they offer a range of itineraries from popular holiday destinations. They are also better value than most of the American lines as their fares are slightly cheaper and the ships all inclusive.
Great tip/ point!
This is one of your best tips videos yet. Spot on and recommendations I'd make myself if asked. I'll never do the Med in July\August again. Great work here Gary.
Thanks!! Much appreciated. Thanks for watching
This video is an eye opener! It sounds very complicated, luckily I’m not making a booking in the next few years. It will give me time to do my research. Thanks.
While the ports are certainly important, I have learned to pick the ship over the ports b/c the ports are never guaranteed
We did a Greek Islands cruise from Rome to Venice with a few days either end in May. The weather was perfect
Love your show!
We signed up for a Viking cruise, Mediterranean Odyssey, in January. My question is how should we dress and will the be attractions close? Plus any thing you think we should consider. Thank you
I was considering a cruise on July, but you made me reconsider. Thanks!
If you just want to avoid the heat, you could cruise Alaska or Northern Europe (Baltic). They're probably pretty crowded most summers, but I'm doing the Baltic this month and heard that the ship is only 75% full.
Excellent tips and recommendations Gary. So enjoy following your videos and great information. Thank you so much for this video!!!
Thank you for your insightful, intelligent commentary. It always accords with our cruising experiences.
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for the info. Heading to an Eastern Mediterranean cruise in a month. So excited!
When cruise ships used to dock at Venice city it was no benefit to the city. None of the passengers spent any money on local eateries or bars. It was just mass sightseeing crowds then back to their ship buffet. That’s why so many ports got rid of them or dock them in the shipyards. These cruise ships use wonderful old cities like a Disney prop.
My wife and I just did a SeaDream voyage in August. It was fabulous. We went into small ports and could dock close to the heart of Venice.
It’s such a treat to be able to do that !!!
We went in Spring to Europe and while it’s Spring break in the US, it’s not over there. We did not find any crowds and the weather was in the 50s but very sunny. It’s the best time of the year to do.
You mention that travelling in June and August can be very crowded, but if you are on one of the bigger cruise ships they themselves can cause crowding problems. I well remember holidaying in Santorini. When a large cruise ship came in it was complete chaos. It took ages for the passengers to get into town. Then the town was jammed and meal prices doubled! Not a nice experience. If you want big ship ammenities don't visit small towns/Greek Islands. If you do want to visit them, then go on the smallest ship possible.
This was so incredibly helpful!! I want a travel agent with your knowledge!!
Thank you for this helpful video! My husband and I are researching Mediterranean cruises to celebrate our 30th anniversary next year and appreciate your insight, tips, and tricks. We’ve done two Viking river cruises and are leaning toward a Viking ocean cruise because we know what we are getting with that line. Though we are also looking at Silver Seas and other smaller ships options before making a decision.
Do you have any video about Israel and Egypt or Holyland cruise?
I saw a Pharaohs & Pyramids Viking river cruise that looks nice including the Nile, Cairo, Giza, great pyramids, great sphinx, temples of luxor and karnak, valley of the kings, queen nefertari’s, queen hatshepsut…
You are amazing and help people soooo much! My husband has never been on a cruise and when we do someday, I will reference your videos to make our selection! I was on 2 cruises (Holland America), 30 years ago with my X and a lot has changed since then! Thank you, Gary!!
Thanks for watching. Great to hear they helping 😀😀
Excellent info and advice. Great job!
Easy solution to the pickpocket problem - use an across the shoulder bag and keep your money inside. Its not as 'cute' but very safe. Just got back from a 3 week cruise of the Mediterranean- never had a problem. As to not going in peak season - sometimes that's not possible. As a teacher, I only have July and August. Was it hot? Yes. But so worth it.
Tanks again Gary, you're doing a great job passing to us your wonderful experience.
We cruised with Royal Caribbean from Barcelona to Venice in 2018. Your tips are perfect. One thing I didn’t consider is the food on the cruise. It was somewhat disappointing because it was the same as our previous Royal Caribbean Caribbean cruise. I would have liked a more Mediterranean experience. Do you know if a different budget cruise line offers menus that are locally inspired?
You might try MSC, which is an Italian line.
Awesome video, thank you for sharing, greetings from Orlando Florida
PS I love your channel! Just one 10 day cruise under my belt which was horrendous Malta - Southampton Push & Over. Never again!
Looks like September or October to Western Med. would be what I should go for with pre-cruise days in Cordoba (which I had missed on my trip to Spain). Using a travel agent to get a good deal as per another brilliant episode of yours. Thanks Mr. Bembridge.
Thanks for watching and the feedback!!