Top 10 Cruise Ports in the Western Mediterranean
Here in the United Kingdom, we are fortunate that we have so many options when cruising the Med, from no fly cruises starting and ending on these shores to fly cruises where you start and end your holiday in a Western Mediterranean port but we can also do hybrid options including starting in the Med and sailing back to the UK (or vice versus) or starting at one Med port and ending in another.
We can also choose from short breaks of around a week to spending 3-4 weeks cruising around the region and everything in between.
The popularity of the Western Mediterranean for holidaymakers is easy to understand as there is simply so much on offer and so many contrasts that makes for a great holiday no matter what it is you like do whilst away from home.
If your idea of the perfect getaway is sitting and relaxing on a beach, you can do that in the Med. If your idea of a memorable holiday is exploring the cosmopolitan cities and taking in the sights and sounds, you can and if your first choice for a holiday is exploring historical sites of interest, you can do in the region and so much more.
With so much choice on offer in the Med, it can actually make it confusing to decide just where to go on your holiday or on which ports of call to make sure you visit and whilst what makes a port great changes from one person to the next, here are our picks for the best cruise ports in the Mediterranean that make for the perfect starting point for deciding on your ideal cruise.
For the purpose of this list, we are concentrating on the main bulk of the Mediterranean Sea, normally referred to as the Western Mediterranean in cruising terms, and are excluding those ports that sit on the Adriatic Sea, the Ionian Sea, the Aegean Sea and Levantine Sea- as these ports deserve top lists of their own.
Our Top 10 Cruise Ports in the Western Med
Barcelona
Barcelona is our top pick for the best cruise port in the Western Mediterranean and for those who have already visited the region, that will not comes as too much of a surprise.
The port is always a highlight of a Med cruise thanks to the city been one of the leading major cities in the world and offering a huge choice of visitor attractions, culture, shopping and the chance to see many famous sights including the iconic Camp Nou football stadium that is home to the giants of FC Barcelona.
The capital of the Catalan region also offers the chance to spend the day on the beach or simply strolling around town and taking in all of the sights and sounds of a buzzling city but from a cruising point of view, what makes Barcelona truly worthy of a top placing is the fact that you dock quite close to the city centre, especially for somewhere the size of Barcelona and the port is also a thriving departure port, which makes it great for calling in whilst on a holiday or for starting and/or ending your Med cruise getaway.
Naples
The port of Napoli, or Naples as we know the city as, is overlooked by the impressive Castel Nuovo which is a seat of the medieval kings of Aragon, Spain and of course Naples and it is both a welcoming sight for those arriving by cruise ship and the insight into what lies ahead for those heading a shore for a day of exploring this historic Italian city.
Cruise ships dock near to the centre of town and close to a couple of stops on the cities metro system which makes it easy to explore Naples on your own or you can head on an excursion to the historic ruins of Pompei or the coastal beauty of Sorrento.
Monte Carlo (Monaco)
Thanks to the new terminal and cruise quay, many ships now offer direct access to the streets of Monaco whilst some smaller ships and luxury lines will offer the chance to drop anchor just off of the coast of Monaco and easy access via tender but the majority of those heading to the Principality of Monaco will arrive at the port of Villefranche or in the city of nice of the Cote d’Azur, which are just over the border in France but only a short drive away.
That allows visitors to head to Monaco in the morning, take in all of the famous sights so often seen in movies or during coverage of the iconic F1 race and then head back to the French Riviera for a bit of shopping or relaxing on the beach.
Civitavecchia / Rome
The eternal city of Rome is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world and it can be visited on a cruise of the Mediterranean but it ranks down in 4th place on this list due to the fact that cruise ships dock in the port of Civitavecchia, which is around 90km from the centre of Rome, which can take up to 2 hours due to the traffic in the city.
If you have never visited the capital city of Italy, it is simply a must visit destination and will be a highlight of any trip, so that journey is well worth the effort to see the historic sights, visit the holy Vatican City and take in all that makes this bustling city so special.
Another major plus of Civitavecchia is that the port is also a popular starting and ending port for cruises, which allow you to enjoy a few days in Rome before or after your cruise for those who want to take in all that is on offer.
Nice
The beautiful city of Nice sits in the heart of the Cote d’Azur, or the French Riviera, which means you can expect to see lots of yachts, lots of celebrities and millionaires and lots of designer shops but there is so much more to this vibrant city.
Nice is a mixture of old and new, with the cities old town (Vieux Nice) is a maze of narrow streets and alleys and gives a chance to experience Nice as it once was whilst the new town is full of wide boulevards and modern buildings.
The beaches in the city lack sands and features mostly pebbles, so not great for sunbathing but they do offer stunning views out over the Mediterranean and are a great place to relax after a day of exploring all of the great attractions and historic sights of Nice- as well as the modern trappings of shops, cafes and restaurants.
Palma de Mallorca (Majorca)
The historic cathedral city of Palma de Mallorca on the island of Majorca (Mallorca) offers visitors the chance to stroll from the port, along the cities beautiful sea front and head into the centre to explore the many attractions, bars, cafes, shops, and sites of interest on offer.
Palma is big enough to have lots to offer visitors to make sure you will be able to do just what you enjoy doing whilst on holiday but it is small enough easily explore on foot.
Cartagena
Not be confused with the Colombian city of the same name, the Spanish city of Cartagena is somewhere that is often overlooked by visitors to the Med but it should really be on your next cruise of the region.
The city is one of the oldest and most historic in Spain and whilst it may have had its heyday back in the Roman era, the great news for all history fans is lots of what made it so special and important back then can still be enjoyed to this very day.
Amongst the attractions awaiting visitors are the cities beautiful City Hall, the Roman Theatre of Carthago Nova, the ruins of Santa Maria la Viejas Cathedral, the town ancient walls and ramparts, the cities Art Nouveau style buildings including the iconic Gran Hotel alongside many stunning churches but if all of that exploring sounds too much, the city is also home to many beautiful beaches.
Tunis (La Goulette)
The port of La Goulette is located just outside of the centre of the historic Tunis, the capital city of Tunisia and offer the chance for visitors to the Western Mediterranean to have another type of experience on their holiday.
With a mix of European, Arab and North African culture, the city of Tunis is a must visit for history lovers or for those wanting to experience all that a bustling African city such as Tunis has to offer.
Valletta
The historic capital city of Malta offers the chance to explore a World Heritage Site as the whole city was given that designation by UNESCO in 1980 and it is no surprise why.
The city is full of Baroque architecture and offers lots of opportunities to take in the history of the city including popular attractions such as the Saluting Battery, the Lower Barrakka Gardens, the St John’s Co-Cathedral, and the cities walls.
The city is the perfect size for simply strolling around and with something of note around every corner, make sure you have your camera at hand.
Gibraltar
Gibraltar sits at the entrance to the Med and is known as ‘Britain in the Sun’ as this southern outpost of the United Kingdom allows you to enjoy all of the comforts of home, including spending pounds and pence, and you can enjoy must see attractions such as St Michaels Cave and the resident monkeys that live on the iconic Rock of Gibraltar.
