Mornings spent exploring ancient ruins, afternoons in vineyards and supper in quaint cafes along cobblestone streets – a Mediterranean cruise lets you experience all of this and more. The average itinerary lets you spend about 7 nights on the ship. Of course, shorter and longer cruises are also available.

Irrespective of the cruise length, you’ll probably need to fly into the port city to join your ship. This is where your holiday actually begins. European port cities are holiday destinations on their own. Keep reading to learn more about the top 4 Mediterranean Cruise Ports.

Barcelona
Cruises from Barcelona start from one of the 5 terminals at the Adossat Quay just south of the famous La Rambla or from the World Trade Centre South terminal. From the city center, the ports are about 20-minutes away by bus and 15-minutes by taxi.

If you’re coming straight from the airport, you’ll get to the ports in less than half an hour. But ideally, stay a few days and explore the city. There’s Gaudí's unfinished Basílica de la Sagrada Família, the iconic Park Güell, the Parc del Laberint d’Honrta, and plenty more to see.

Cruise Port Facilities
Terminal A and B have Duty Free Retail outlets. You’ll also find a number of restaurants and cafes. Note that the cruise port doesn’t have a luggage lockers but there is a paid storage facility at a short distance.

Cruises from Barcelona
Almost all the leading cruiselines operate cruises from Barcelona. There’s the MSC 4-night Mediterranean Cruise, the Costa 5-night Mediterranean cruise, the 7-night Royal Caribbean Western Mediterranean cruise and plenty more. Check out the  2025 sailing schedule here.

Civitavecchia, Rome
Cruises from Rome start in Civitavecchia. This cruise port is about 80km from Rome and about an hour’s drive from the Rome international airport. Rome is also well connected to Civitavecchia by regular train services. If you’re taking a cruise that begins or ends here don’t forget to make time to see the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon and all the other highlights of Rome.

What to expect in Civitavecchia
The Civitavecchia town itself boasts of beautiful promenades by the sea lined with open-air cafes and boutiques. From here you can take a free shuttle bus or a taxi to get to Largo della Pace. This is where you’ll find the reception area for all cruise ships docking in Civitavecchia.

Cruises from Rome
Civitavecchia is a popular starting point for cruises towards Croatia as well as France and Spain. Your options range from a short 3-night Western Mediterranean Royal Caribbean Cruise to an extended 14-night Traversing the Mediterranean cruise with Holland America. The 9-night European Explorer cruise is another popular choice. You can check out the other cruises sailing from Rome here.

Venice
With 10 modern terminals, the Venezia Terminal Passeggeri S.p.A. (V.T.P.)is one of the largest cruise home ports in the world. It is about 14km from the Venice Marco Polo Airport and 9km from the Venice Mestre train station. You can get here by regular buses and taxis or try a water taxi ride. But before you start your cruise, make sure you explore St. Mark’s Basilica, the islands of Murano and Burano, Doge’s Palace and the unique canals of Venice.

Cruise Port Facilities
The Venice port has plenty of WiFi-equipped waiting areas, cafes and restrooms. There’s space to store your luggage if required as well as porters to assist you. You’ll also find a duty-free retail area close by.

Cruises from Venice
You’ll find a wide variety of cruises starting from Venice. If you’re looking for luxury, the Azamara 5-night Grand Prix Voyage would be the perfect fit. Or, you could enjoy a longer 10-night Mediterranean Inspiration Cruise with Oceania Cruises. On the other hand, the 7-night MSC Mediterranean Cruise is ideal for a family holiday. Check out the other cruises from Venice here.

Athens
12km from Athens stands the Piraeus Port with three cruise terminals within walking distance of each other. The port is about an hour’s drive from the airport and half an hour away from the Athens train station.

If your cruise leaves in the evening, spend the day exploring the old neighborhoods of Athens, the Acropolis and the Parthenon and shopping for souvenirs at the Monastiraki Square. Better still, book yourself into a hotel and explore Athens leisurely before your cruise begins.

Cruise Port Facilities
The port has plenty of seating in the waiting areas as well as lockers for your luggage. You’ll find several cafes and restaurants around the port. Terminal A also has duty-free shops. Porters will be available to help with your luggage but the port does not have wheelchair service.

Cruises from Athens
Cruises from Athens usually follow an itinerary around the Greek Isles and Eastern Europe. From the 3-night Iconic Aegean Summer cruise with Celestyal Cruises to the 9-night Best of Greece Celebrity Cruise, there’s plenty to choose from. You can find the sailing schedule for all 2025 cruises from Athens here.

Planning Your Mediterranean Cruise
Want to book a cruise but overwhelmed by the options? Let us help you. The Cruisebay team can help you pick the ideal cruise itinerary, arrange flights to and from the end ports and secure accommodation as well as sort through the visa and insurance paperwork. With all logistical arrangements taken care of, you can enjoy a relaxed and stress-free holiday.