Albania Cruise Ports
Although the small southeastern Europe country of Albania may not be the first name that comes to mind when you think of a cruise destination, that is something that is starting to change as more and more visit its ports of call and enjoy all that is on offer to visitors.
The small Balkan country is known for its stunning natural beauty, which much of the country been mountainous as part of the Albanian Alps but it is of course its rugged coastline that is of most interest to cruisers.
The country offers a fantastic locations for those looking to visit as part of a cruise holiday as Albania is located in the eastern Mediterranean on both the Adriatic Sea and the Ionian Sea and close to both Italy and the Greek Islands.
That puts it close to 2 of Europe’s leading cruise regions , so there are lots of options when it comes to cruise lines and cruise ships.
The coastal parts of the country are hot and sunny and whilst it is possible to simply head to the beach and soak up the sun, the historic port cities are well worth exploring or you can head on an excursion to lots of great attraction and sites of interest.
Cruises To Albania
Cruise Holidays To Albania
When it comes to Albanian cruise holidays, the vast majority of itineraries that call into the country will either be as part of an Adriatic cruise or an Ionian cruise of Greek Isles.
That means that you will have to fly to a port of departure in the region to enjoy a cruise calling into Albania but in our point of view it is well worth the effort and perhaps best of all, there are a number of fantastic cities to choose from.
Amongst the port cities offering the most options for cruises visiting the country are Venice (Italy), Bari (Italy), Piraeus (Athens, Greece) and Civitavecchia (Rome, Italy)- all of which offer the chance to enjoy a great few days exploring before or after your cruise.
From time to time there is the chance to visit the country on a NoFly cruise direct from the United Kingdom but these are rare and come with a higher cost and you will also need to allow for an 18-21 night cruise.
Due to the incredibly popularity of the Mediterranean and of the Adriatic and Ionian Sea, there is a wide range of cruise lines that offer a range of ships and itineraries to suit all preferences.
Albania Cruise Guide
If you are looking to book a cruise of the eastern Med and are trying to decide on whether a stop in Albania is the right choice for you and your family, our guides bring you all of the information that you need to make an informed decision.
If you have already booed a cruise to Albania and are researching what is on offer in your chosen port of call, our guides bring you all that you need to make the most of your time on shore.
Popular Ports
When it comes to an Albanian cruise, it is the port of Sarande that the vast majority of cruise lines will visit as it is the country’s leading cruise port but a small number of smaller ships will visit other ports.
The port of Sarande (also known as Saranda) is located in the Vlore region of Albania in the south of the country. The town is a popular tourist destination on the Ionian coastline that takes advantage of its natural bay and stunning views to offer a great day on shore exploring the historic streets.
Port Durres is Albania’s largest port overall and is located near to the Albanian capital city of Tirana which is where the majority of holidaymakers will head for on a stop in the port.
Popular Cruise Lines
When it comes to the choice of cruise line to enjoy a holiday on in the region there is vast choice including most of the major brands and lots of them offer itineraries that call into Albania.
The Italian line MSC Cruises offers the widest range visiting the country from a number of Italian ports whilst international lines such as Holland America Line (HAL), Fred Olsen, Oceania Cruise sand Silversea Cruises all offer itineraries with stops in Albania.
Albania
Location: Southeastern Europe, Adriatic Sea, Ionian Sea
Capital City: Tirana
Currency: Lek
Language: Albanian
Demonym(s): Albanian
Top Ports: Sarande
The Republic of Albania is a small southeastern Europe country that has endured a long history of been at the forefront of many wars and of been conquered by the many superpowers of the region.
Due in part to its location near to the western European superpowers and the Middle Eastern / Asian superpowers, the country has been under the control of many different civilisations including the likes of the Illyrians, the Thracians, the Ancient Greeks, the Romans, the Byzantines, the Venetians, and the Ottomans.
All of which have left their mark on the country and has given Albania many of its fantastic historic sites of interest but they have also had a huge impact on the culture of the country.
Albania is a mountainous country that a number of mountain ranges including the stunning Albanian Also, the Korab mountains, the Skanderbeg mountains, the Pindus mountains and the Ceraunian mountains.
Modern day Albania’s capital city is Tirana, which is also its largest and most populous city, whilst it also has a number of land borders with its neighbours including Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, North Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south.
Best Time To Visit
Albania offers a warm climate all year around but the take advantage of the many outside sites of interest and to best enjoy exploring its great cities on foot, it is best to visit during the main cruising season of April to October, although it can get extremely hot and crowded in July-August.
Here at CruiseHols.co.uk we bring you all of the information you will ever need to choose the right cruise destination for you and your family.
Our destination guides include everything from ports to attractions and excursion to the positives and negatives of the destination.
Cruises From UK
If you want to visit Albania without having to fly, it is possible from time to time to be able to do so but unfortunately it is not a regular route.
Cruises From Southampton
If you do find an itinerary setting sail from the UK to Albania, the chances are that you will set sail from the UK’s leading cruise port of Southampton.
