Skylord Cruise and Holidays
All cruise regions

Cruise region

Mediterranean

A Mediterranean cruise brings together ancient history, sunny islands and some of Europe's great cities in a single holiday. You might see the Acropolis, Rome and Santorini's caldera on one sailing, unpacking only once. Short flights and sailings from Southampton make it one of the easiest cruise regions for UK travellers.

Best time to go

May, June, September and October offer warm weather, calmer ports and comfortable sightseeing temperatures. July and August are the hottest and busiest months.

Season

The main season runs from about April to November, and some western Mediterranean itineraries sail all year.

Typical daytime highs

  • Spring (March to May). Typical daytime highs around 17 to 24°C in spring (March to May). Pleasantly warm for sightseeing.
  • Summer (June to August). Typical daytime highs around 28 to 33°C in summer (June to August). Hot and dry, and often hotter in the south and east.
  • Autumn (September to November). Typical daytime highs around 20 to 27°C in autumn (September to November). Warm and settled early on, with more showers by November.
  • Winter (December to February). Typical daytime highs around 12 to 16°C in winter (December to February). Cool and changeable.

These are typical ranges, not a forecast.

How long

Usually 7 to 14 nights on fly-cruises, and around 12 to 16 nights or more when sailing round trip from the UK.

Sail from the UK

  • Southampton. Round-trip sailings via the Atlantic coast and the Strait of Gibraltar, with no flights needed.
  • Tilbury. Sailings from the Thames in Essex, convenient for London and the south east.

Fly-cruise airports

  • Barcelona El Prat (BCN). about 2 hours
  • Rome Fiumicino (FCO). about 2 hours 30 minutes
  • Athens International (ATH). about 3 hours 45 minutes
  • Venice Marco Polo (VCE). about 2 hours
  • Palma de Mallorca (PMI). about 2 hours 15 minutes
  • Malta International (MLA). about 3 hours
  • Lisbon Humberto Delgado (LIS). about 2 hours 45 minutes
  • Istanbul Airport (IST). about 3 hours 45 minutes
  • Nice Côte d'Azur (NCE). about 2 hours

Who it suits

First-time cruisers, couples, families in the school holidays, history and culture lovers, and anyone who prefers short flights or no flights at all.

Questions

Can I cruise the Mediterranean without flying from the UK?

Yes. Some Mediterranean sailings leave from Southampton or Tilbury and return to the UK, so you can travel without flying.

What is the best month for a Mediterranean cruise?

May, June, September and October are often considered ideal, with warm weather and fewer crowds than the peak summer weeks.

Is the Mediterranean good for a first cruise?

Yes. Short flight times, familiar food and a wide choice of ports make it one of the most popular first cruises for UK travellers.

Which ports are most popular?

Barcelona, Rome, Athens, Marseille, Santorini and Mykonos appear most often on Mediterranean itineraries.

Ports and places