viking cruise italy adriatic greece

Part I – A Viking Cruise – Venice, The Adriatic and Greece

• Post author: James
• Post published: August 3, 2022
• Post category: Viking / Europe

Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are entirely  our own, and we have not been compensated in any way for these opinions.

We have been on several river cruises with Viking, including sailings on the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers.  All of the river cruises have been excellent, and if you have not sailed on a Viking River cruise, we encourage you to give it a try.  You can find articles about some of our river cruise experiences here, under the Viking Tab.

In October of 2021 we decided to again join Viking on an Ocean cruise, this time in the Mediterranean. 

Viking Cruises

Before we discuss the cruise itinerary, you may appreciate some general information about Viking.  Founded in 1997, Viking Cruises has grown to be the world’s leading river cruise line and has expanded to include an ocean fleet that now sails around the world.  In 2022, Viking launched new expedition voyages, sailing to Antarctica, the Arctic and North America’s Great Lakes.  Also in 2022, Viking will expand its destination-focused travel experiences with the launch of Mississippi River cruises.  You can see all of their cruise options on their site here.

We have written a few previous articles that you may wish to peruse that will help you understand what to expect when sailing with Viking.

If you would like to understand the differences between sailing with Viking on an ocean cruise as opposed to a river cruise, then this article, Viking Cruises – River versus Ocean   can help you understand those differences.

If you would like information regarding life on board one of a Viking’s Ocean ships, we cover those details within our previous article, Iceland’s Natural Beauty – A Viking Ocean Cruise .   

We also know that first time cruisers may have many more questions about what to expect during the cruise itself.  You can find some additional information in another article, Viking Cruises Frequently Asked Questions

Venice, The Adriatic and Greece – Itinerary

Now that we have discussed some general information, let’s get started with the cruise itinerary.  The cruise we sailed on was called the Iconic Adriatic Antiquities .  The Iconic Adriatic Antiquities cruise actually consists of two back-to-back ocean cruises. The first cruise and the focus of this article, is Venice, The Adriatic and Greece , which sails from Venice to Athens. You can click this link that covers the  second cruise, Journey to Antiquities , which sails from Athens to Rome.

Embarkation

While our ocean cruise started in Venice, we spent Four Days in Florence and Tuscany   before traveling to Venice.  If you would like more information on that pre-cruise extension, please click on the link to that article.

Upon arriving in Venice, we were taken by bus to the Venice Cruise Terminal for the check-in process.  Italy no longer allows cruise ships to dock at the terminal itself. They have determined that the large ships have caused too much damage to the fragile channels and adjacent buildings.  As a result, ships must now dock miles away from the city, at less picturesque spots.  Our ship was docked in Fusina, about 30 minutes away by bus.

TIP: Cruise ships may be docked at a number of docks up and down the coast, so be sure to check the specific docking information for your cruise before arrival.  Some docks can be up to an hour away from Venice.  However, you may still need to go to the old cruise port for processing before being bused to your ship for embarkation.

The infrastructure for processing cruise passengers did not exist at Fusina, where our ship was docked, so the embarkation process was still being performed in the Venice Cruise Terminal.  Since we traveled while health protocols were still in place, the Italian government conducted an on-site antigen test prior to boarding.  It took several hours to be processed by both Italy and Viking before being transferred to the ship.  You may want to have a good meal (or take some snacks) before going to the terminal, since the check-in process could be lengthy.

We boarded our ship, the Viking Jupiter, around 2 PM.  Upon arrival to our stateroom, we found the Viking Daily newsletter on our coffee table.  This newsletter is delivered each evening throughout the cruise and provides information regarding the events for the next day, including meeting times for excursions, along with other general announcements. Above is a picture of the Viking Daily we received on the first day.

After unpacking we headed out to explore the ship and grab a bite to eat.  Since it was now around 2:30 PM, the only restaurant open was the pool bar, and there were quite a few people ahead of us.  So, we just decided to return to our room and order room service, which is available 24 hours a day.

After a long day, we relaxed in the Explorer’s Lounge for drinks and then had dinner in the World Café.

Ports of Call

We are both outdoors-type people and like to walk/hike, so we tried to select excursions that tended to lean toward more demanding physical activity.  However, Viking offers plenty of excursions that are not as physically demanding, but still allow folks to see all the iconic sights.  With so many excellent excursions, it was difficult to choose!   But in this article, we are recapping only the activities and excursions that we selected for our itinerary. 

Unfortunately, we really did not have much time in Venice.  We selected an excursion that started early in the morning, but the ‘back on board’ time was 1:30 PM, so we really only had the morning for exploring the city.  Keep in mind that since the ships are docked so far from the city, the commute to and from the ship can be long, and definitely cuts into your time for seeing Venice.  So, if you want more time to explore Venice, we suggest arriving a few days early and exploring Venice on your own.

– At a Glance: St Mark’s Square – We started early (7 AM) and were shuttled back to the Venice Cruise Terminal.  From there, we boarded a small boat and cruised to the Palazzo Cornoldi.  Viewing the sites from the water provides a great perspective of Venice.  Once off the boat, our excellent guide took us across several of the bridges in Venice to St. Mark’s Square. We also visited St. Mark’s Basilica and the grand Campanile Bell Tower, along with the Doge’s Palace.  Due to health protocols at the time, we had to be fully escorted, which meant no free time.  But the upside was that since we traveled in late October, there were very few tourists and Venice was incredibly empty.  

– Sailing Out of Venice – After our tour, we returned to our ship and left port around 2 PM. We chose to have lunch on the Aquavit Terrace so that we could enjoy the spectacular views as we began our cruise.  Later that evening, we enjoyed a fantastic dinner at the Italian specialty restaurant, Manfredi’s.

• Šibenik, Croatia – Most of the time the itinerary for this cruise includes a stop in Split, but our itinerary was a bit different, and stopped in Šibenik instead.  Since the two towns are less than 60 miles apart, many of the main excursions are available from either port.

– Sailing In to Šibenik – We always love to be on deck when the ship sails in to a new port. Usually it is early morning and the views can be stunning.  We loved the sign welcoming us to the town.

– The Krka Waterfalls & the Town of Skradin – The good news if your stop is Šibenik is that the drive to Krka National Park is only about 30 minutes.  We had heard a lot of great things about this park and seen some wonderful photos.  So, it was high on our list of excursions, and the park did not disappoint!

This excursion is rated as ‘Demanding’, since there are a number of steps both leading down the trail to the waterfalls and then back up the top.  These steps can appear daunting, but the guide walked very slowly and stopped frequently.  There were a few people who decided not to take the stairs, opting instead to take in the views from the top.

The trail is really a boardwalk that traverses many small streams with what seems like an endless number of pools and waterfalls.  Once we reached the bottom, we were rewarded with a beautiful view of the terraced Skradinski Buk waterfalls cascading in front of us.  They are truly amazing waterfalls. These 17 cataracts are considered to be among the most beautiful calcium-carbonate waterfalls in Europe, tumbling a total of 150 feet along a 1,312-foot stretch of the river.

After leaving Krka, we took a short drive to the small town of Skradin.  Skradin is a lovely town where we visited the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and then had free time to explore the shops and restaurants.  We stopped at a small cafe where we sat outside enjoying coffee and a local pastry before our bus ride back to the ship.

– Šibenik Promenade – After lunch we joined the included 1.5-hour walking tour of Šibenik. One of the highlights of the tour was the Cathedral of St. James, a Roman Catholic Church  built in the 1400’s.  We also walked along the water among the shops and restaurants before returning to the ship.

– Sailing Out of Šibenik – We headed to the Explorer’s Lounge to enjoy the views and a libation as we sailed out of port. It was ‘seafood night’ in the World Café, so later we dined there on crab legs, shrimp and all sorts of delicious seafood dishes.

• Dubrovnik, Croatia –  We had heard so much about Dubrovnik over the years, and we were very excited to finally arrive.  The approach to the city from the water was gorgeous, especially in the early morning light, as another beautiful sunny day awaited us.

– Dubrovnik’s Fortification: A City Wall Walk – One of the amazing features of Dubrovnik is the 1.5 miles of medieval stone wall encircling the town that is still intact.   We ascended the stairway to the top of the wall at the Pile Gate, where the Stradun, Dubrovnik’s famous main street, begins.  Our guide led us on a tour of the entire wall, pointing out all of the sites across Dubrovnik.  We saw the Minčeta Tower, St. John Fortress, Fort Bokar, and Fort Lovrijenac. This excursion was one of the most beautiful of the entire trip.

TIP: The Fortification Wall Walk excursion is rated as ‘demanding’.  While there are steps and the wall walk is 1.5 miles, most of the steps are encountered when ascending to the top of the wall.  Once there, there are some steps both up and down as the elevation of the wall changes, but not too many.  So, if you go slowly, you will likely be able to handle the steps and will probably find that it is not overly demanding.  The views are well worth the effort.

– Dubrovnik Walking Tour – After lunch we joined the included walking tour of Old Town. Starting at Pile Gate, just as we did that morning, we walked down the Stradun, which is a .25-mile marbled main pedestrian way that goes from Pile Gate to the Old Town Port.  Incredible architecture, shops, restaurants and historic buildings line the way.  We also had plenty of free time to explore a little on our own.  Although the excursion is rated as ‘moderate’, it mostly consists of walking on flat surfaces with little elevation changes.

– Game of Thrones – If you are a Game of Thrones fan, there are several sites around Dubrovnik where scenes from the TV series were shot. In fact, you can even book third-party excursions that will take you to many of these locations.  On our two excursions, the guides pointed out several of the famous spots.  The city of Dubrovnik itself was King’s Landing in the series, and a couple of the other sites we saw included Fort Lovrijenac (the Red Keep) and the Jesuit Steps (the Walk of Shame).

Back on board, we decided once again on the World Café for dinner, since the theme was American BBQ.  Again, another delicious meal!

• Kotor, Montenegro – As with most ports of call, we sailed into Kotor early in the morning. The first thing that caught out eye was that the town is surrounded by very tall and steep mountains. After an early World Café breakfast, we headed out for our first excursion.

– Highlights of Montenegro – We decided to start with an optional excursion that would take us out of town on a 5.5-hour tour. We were headed to our first stop, the town of Njeguši.  We were wondering what roads we would take as we left the docking area, since the mountains that surround the town are so steep.  We thought we might head out along the coast before turning inland.

Much to our surprise however, we headed straight up the switchbacks above town on a road that was not much wider than a single lane.  Our guide assured us that our driver was ‘the best’, but it was nonetheless, a bit of a nail-biting ride at first, especially as we passed other buses and large trucks.  We barely squeezed by, and on a few occasions, we even had to back up a short distance and move out of the roadway into some bushes.  Most of the time we were on the inside of the road (against the mountain).  But a few times we were on the outside and looking straight down the mountain. 

As you can see, once we reached the top of the mountain, the views were incredible.  Luckily, we came back down a different, more relaxed route later in the day.

Reaching the town of Njeguši, which was about one hour from the ship, we were able to walk around the small town and sample some local food.  We had a ham and cheese sandwich  with a glass of wine.  As you can see in the picture, it was a delightfully full glass!

We then continued on for about another hour to Cetinje, Montenegro’s former capital.  We had a tour of the town and then visited King Nikola’s Museum.  With some free time, we rested at an outside restaurant and had a cappuccino as we enjoyed yet another beautiful sunny day. 

Upon leaving Cetinje, we drove south to the coast through the summer resort of Budva before arriving back at our ship.

– Walking Tour of Kotor – After lunch we joined a walking tour of Kotor. Since the ship docked right next to Old Town, it was an easy walk to see some of the historic sites, including Kampana Tower and St Nicholas Church.  In the photos, you can also see the steep mountains that surround Kotor.

As we sailed out of Kotor, we had dinner at the Chef’s Table – another incredible meal.

• Corfu, Greece – Another beautiful morning greeted us as we sailed in to the picturesque city of Corfu, Greece. As you can see from the pictures, we had brilliant blue skies all day.  After breakfast at the World Café, we headed out for our morning excursion.

– Panoramic Corfu & Old Town Walking Tour – We started early for this 3-hour bus and walking tour of Corfu. One of the first stops was Kanoni, located on a small peninsula just south of town.  Kanoni is the perfect spot for viewing Pontikonisi Island, Mouse Island, and the Vlacherna Monastery, as well as the island’s airport down below.

After leaving Kanoni, we traveled to the Old Town and walked along the Esplanade. Here you will see the Old Fortress, Durrell Gardens, and the Palace of St. Michael and St. George.  While we did not enter any of these places, the views along the Esplanade were beautiful.

– Old Fortress of Corfu – Viking ran shuttles from the ship into town all day, every 30 minutes. So, after returning to the ship for lunch (on the Aquavit Terrace), we took the Viking shuttle to the Old Fortress. We had seen the fortress on the morning tour and decided to go back to explore.

The fortress dates back to the 16 th century and has a very storied history.  The fortress is quite easy to explore on your own, though there is a bit of climbing if you want to make it to the top for breathtaking views.  From the highest point you have unobstructed views and can even see Albania.  If you have some time, we highly recommend it.

As an aside, if you happen to be a fan of the Masterpiece series, The Durrells in Corfu , you may have fell in love with the natural beauty of this lovely island.  The views from the top of the Old Fortress provides views very similar to those from the Durrell’s family home in the TV series.

Back on board the ship, we decided on afternoon tea.  Tea is usually served every afternoon at 4 PM, and no reservations are necessary.  So, be sure to go at least once during your cruise.  The food is good and the scones are amazing, but be warned – this late afternoon treat might just spoil your dinner appetite!

• Katakolon (Olympia), Greece – Although the port of call was Katakolon, the reason for stopping there was a trip to Olympia, the site of the original Olympics first held in 776 BC.

– Ancient Olympia – After a 30-minute bus ride we reached the small town of Olympia. Only a short walk from the parking lot are the ruins of where the Olympic Games originally took place. Our guide actually grew up on a hill overlooking the ancient ruins and used to play there as a child.  After receiving his degree in archeology, he returned to his hometown and is now a guide.  His knowledge of the area was one of the reasons this excursion was so interesting.  We viewed the ruins of the Temple of Zeus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and once home to a gold-and-ivory statue of the Greek god.  We also viewed the remains of the Temple of Hera and the circular Philippeion temple. 

We also walked to the original stadium, which had a capacity of 45,000 spectators.  Unlike a traditonal stadium, the spectators looked down on the field from sloped lawns on all sides of the field.  To realize that we were viewing ruins from almost 2800 years ago was simply amazing.

The town of Katakolon looked very inviting with all of its shops and restaurants, but with a 1:30 pm departure time, we did not have an opportunity to visit the town. Instead, we had lunch and a bottle of wine on the Aquavit Terrace as we sailed away from the port.

• Athens, Greece – Athens was the last stop for the Venice to Athens itinerary and passengers began leaving very early in the morning for their flights home. It also meant that those passengers had no chance to experience Athens.   Fortunately for us, since we were staying on the ship to continue on the next cruise, we had two days to enjoy in Athens.  So, with another early start after breakfast, we began our first day in the city.

– Panoramic Athens & Archaeological Museum – Most tours that have ‘Panoramic’ in the name are simply a bus tour, which was true for the first part of this excursion. With so much to see in Athens, a bus tour is a great way to at least get a glimpse of some of the iconic sites.  Several times throughout the tour we were able to disembark, view the sites and take photos.  We saw Hellenic Parliament and Syntagma (Constitution) Square, the distinctively uniformed Presidential Guard, or “Evzones,” at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, as well as views of Panathenaic Stadium and the Temple of Olympian Zeus.

After the bus tour, we had a guided tour of the Acropolis Museum.  The museum has an extensive collection from the Athenian Acropolis and we had a very knowledgable guide who was very eager to share information and was able to answer just about any question.  There were many very interesting exhibits and we enjoyed the visit.  However, I do have to say that amount of detail provided by our tour guide was extensive and almost a little overwhelming.    

Before we rejoined the bus for the ride back to the ship, we were also able to view the Arch of Hadrian, also known as Hadrian’s Arch.  The arch was built to welcome the Roman Emperor Hadrian to the city and to thank him for his support of Greek culture. 

Upon boarding the ship, we were greeted with many new, excited passengers as we started the next cruise, on our way to Rome. 

We ended the evening with a delicious Asian meal at the Chef’s table and prepared ourselves to explore more of Athens the next day.

While this day marked the end of the first leg of our cruise, you can review the second half of the cruise, Journey to Antiquities , which sails from Athens to Rome.

We hope you found our review of the first half of the Venice, The Adriatic and Greece cruise helpful and informative.  And, we hope you join us in the future as we explore some other Viking cruises.   

Safe travels!

This Post Has 8 Comments

We I’ll be leaving for this cruise in a bit more than 70 days. My husband & I both enjoyed reading your blog Thanks so much for your informative piece. We look forward to Part II.

Thank you for your comment. Have a great trip.

I enjoyed your blog. We are considering this cruise, so the information is very helpful.

Thank you for your comment. If you haven’t signed up yet, please sign up for our monthly newsletter.

I’ll be sailing Sept. 2023 from Istanbul to Venice…another combined itinerary, and the second half is actually the reverse of this itinerary so very helpful to have read this and get insight on the excursions. Athens too will be our changeover port so we’ll have 2 days there. I usually avoid the avoid panoramic tours as too general so it’s interesting that you found it worthwhile for your first day in Athens. I’ve been to Athens before but husband has not so maybe that’s a good way to get him oriented. I’ll be interested to know what you did on Day 2 in Athens. We for sure want to see the Acropolis and Plaka. Also, you didn’t mention eating in the Restaurant. Any particular reason or just personal preference. Thanks for another great article.

Thank you for the comment. We are actually in France right now on the France’s Finest cruise, so dont have access to all our information, but we did do the Acropolis and Museum excursion, it was very good. We also did eat in the restaurant several times. I believe the restaurant has the best quality food overall. Safe travels.

Been enjoying your FF posts on FB. What a fine trip! We were supposed to be on a June FF sailing, after 2 pandemic cancellations, and then, wouldn’t you know it, 2 weeks before sailing a weird virus – not Covid- sidelined me so we had to cancel. Beyond disappointed but now rehabbing for next year’s adventure. Happy travels and keep blogging!!

I’d like receive future Viking cruise posts in the future.

Comments are closed.

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Italy, the Adriatic & Greece

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Your Itinerary

• Date   Port Arrive Depart
• 08/11/2025 Piraeus 03:00 18:00
• 09/11/2025 Katakolon 12:00 19:00
• 10/11/2025 Corfu 08:00 17:00
• 11/11/2025 Kotor 08:00 22:00
• 12/11/2025 Dubrovnik 07:00 18:00
• 13/11/2025 Split 07:00 18:00
• 14/11/2025 Venice 12:00 –
• 15/11/2025 Venice – –
• 16/11/2025 Venice – 17:00
• 17/11/2025 Sibenik 08:00 18:00
• 18/11/2025 Bari 08:00 18:00
• 19/11/2025 Crotone 08:00 18:00
• 20/11/2025 Messina 08:00 17:00
• 21/11/2025 Naples 08:00 17:00
• 22/11/2025 Civitavecchia 05:00 –

Cabins & Prices

Ship features.

Owner’s Suite

• Stateroom size: 1,488 sq ft multi-room suite including expansive private veranda
• Ocean-view largest multi-room accommodations onboard
• Separate bedroom suite
• Spacious, well-appointed living room
• Separate dining area that seats 6
• Private library, wine & music collections curated by Chairman Torstein Hagen
• Ocean-view dry sauna
• Boardroom that seats 12 for meetings & catered dinner parties, with first oceangoing vapor-light fireplace
• Pantry for room service & hosted events
• 11 AM Embarkation
• 11 AM priority stateroom access
• First priority shore excursion booking 107 days prior to departure
• Complimentary shore excursion with private car & driver (up to 4 guests) in port city of your choice (valued at up to $800)
• 4 priority reservations at each alternative restaurant 100 days prior to departure
• First priority spa treatment bookings 100 days prior to departure
• King-size Viking Explorer Bed with luxury linens & pillows
• Free Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary)
• 42″ flat-screen TV featuring MSNBC, FOX News, National Geographic and more
• Two additional 42″ flat-screen interactive LCD TVs in living area and boardroom
• 110/220 volt outlets & USB ports
• Large master bathroom with spacious glass-enclosed shower, double-sink vanity, heated floor, anti-fog mirror & hair dryer, plus two guest bathrooms
• Premium Freyja® toiletries
• Plush robes & slippers
• Direct-dial satellite phone & cell service
• Security safe
• Individual climate control
• Purified water refilled daily
• Welcome bottle of Veuve Clicquot champagne
• Mini-bar with alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, water & premium snacks (replenished once daily)
• Traditional Norwegian Marius-weave blanket
• Personal coffee machine with premium coffee & tea selections
• Stateroom steward & twice-daily housekeeping
• 24-hour room service, including service from any restaurant during open hours
• Daily personalized tea or pre-dinner cocktail & canapés on request
• Dinner & guided tour with ship officers (subject to availability)
• Complimentary laundry, dry cleaning, pressing & shoe shine services
• Under-bed suitcase storage space
• Spacious walk-in closet with wooden hangers & drawers

Explorer Suite

• Stateroom size: 808–1,215 sq ft (includes private veranda)
• Ocean-view two-room suite with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door opening to a generous veranda (layout varies)
• Well-appointed living area & dining area that seats 4
• Priority shore excursion reservations 97 days prior to departure
• 3 priority reservations at each alternative restaurant 90 days prior to departure
• Priority spa treatment bookings 90 days prior to departure
• King-size Viking Explorer Bed (optional twin-bed configuration) with luxury linens & pillows
• Additional 42″ flat-screen interactive LCD TVs in living area
• Large private bathroom with spacious glass-enclosed shower, bathtub, double-sink vanity, heated floor, anti-fog mirror & hair dryer
• Welcome bottle of champagne
• Mini-bar with alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, water & snacks (replenished once daily)
• 24-hour room service
• Spacious drawers & closet with wooden hangers

Penthouse Junior Suite

• Stateroom size: 432 sq ft (includes private veranda)
• Ocean-view suite with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door opening to a full-size veranda
• Wheelchair Accessible (#6020, #6021)
• Priority shore excursion reservations 87 days prior to departure
• 3 priority reservations at each alternative restaurant 80 days prior to departure
• Priority spa treatment bookings 80 days prior to departure
• Additional 42″ flat-screen interactive LCD TVs in sitting area
• Large private bathroom with spacious glass-enclosed shower, double-sink vanity, heated floor, anti-fog mirror & hair dryer

Penthouse Veranda Stateroom

• Stateroom size: 360 sq ft (includes private veranda)
• Ocean-view stateroom with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door opening to full-size veranda
• 1 PM stateroom access
• Priority shore excursion reservations 77 days prior to departure
• 2 priority reservations at each alternative restaurant 70 days prior to departure
• Priority spa treatment bookings 70 days prior to departure
• Large private bathroom with spacious glass-enclosed shower, heated floor, anti-fog mirror & hair dryer
• Complimentary pressing & shoe shine services

Deluxe Veranda Stateroom

• Stateroom size: 288 sq ft (includes private veranda)
• 2 PM stateroom access
• Priority shore excursion reservations 67 days prior to departure
• 1 priority reservation at each alternative restaurant 60 days prior to departure
• Priority spa treatment bookings 60 days prior to departure
• Mini-bar with soft drinks, water & snacks (replenished once daily)

Veranda Stateroom

• 3 PM stateroom access
• Shore excursion reservations 60 days prior to departure
• Mini-bar with soft drinks, water & snacks

Other Details

Adults Only: Kids allowed

Childrens Facilities: None

Nursery: None

Smoking: Some

Gratuities: Our onboard staff is dedicated to providing you with the best cruise experience possible, and it is customary to give gratuities in recognition of their service. How much you choose to tip is a personal matter and completely at your discretion. To save you worry over whom to tip and how much, we automatically add a discretionary hotel and dining charge of $15.00 per guest per day to your shipboard account, which appears on your final invoice at the end of your cruise. This charge will be shared among the onboard staff who helped support and provide your cruise experience, including the waitstaff, stateroom stewards, buffet stewards, galley staff, laundry staff and others. Please note this charge excludes bar gratuity; a 15% gratuity is automatically added to bar, beverage, wine and deck service tabs. Should you wish to make changes to the gratuities such as to reduce the amount or remove gratuities completely, please visit Guest Services at any time. You may also wish to tip your local excursion guides and/or drivers; we suggest doing so in cash at the end of each tour. This charge will be shared among the onboard staff who helped support and provide for your cruise experience, including your Program Director, waitstaff, stateroom stewards, galley staff, nautical staff and others.

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King-size Viking Explorer Bed with luxury linen

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Direct-dial satellite phone & cell service

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110/220 volt outlets

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Italy, Adriatic and Greece

By jc522 , March 4, 2023 in Viking Ocean

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Thank you for the information from your inquiries to Viking. It would appear from the responses you got that Vikings position is we provide one guaranteed shore excursion per port, everything and anything in addition to that single excursion is on a best efforts basis by the ships crew and local/regional Viking support staff. In fairness and understanding, I really have no problems with their position. Tender vessels, dock space and crew manpower are very "fluid" on b2b days. From all we have learned so far we have decided just to take Viking out of the loop for the Athens, Venice and Rome b2b days. The only hole now in our itinerary is getting into Venice the morning of day 2, a b2b day. While it all may work out fine once we get there, and they may provide water transport into Venice, I'm unwilling to leave it to "maybe" "best efforts" etc. After cogitating about it a bit its hard to fault Viking. They ARE providing what was offered. Live and learn. Now we know. I will state finding out the reality was a PR and communication shortcoming on Viking's part, and we will politely let them know at the appropriate time.

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How would you return to the ship in Chioggia if not on the Viking shuttle?  Possibly a group could arrange for a private shuttle?

1 hour ago, JerryInIL said: How would you return to the ship in Chioggia if not on the Viking shuttle?  Possibly a group could arrange for a private shuttle?

Water taxi and/or bus.

8 hours ago, Vagabond51 said:  They ARE providing what was offered. ...

If you look at "Italy, the Adriatic and Greece" for any future date, it shows 14 excursions on day 2. That is what they advertised before we booked our upcoming cruise. It was only after we booked it that we were informed that there are no excursions on day 2.

7 hours ago, JerryInIL said: How would you return to the ship in Chioggia if not on the Viking shuttle?  Possibly a group could arrange for a private shuttle?

We bought "Venice On Your Own" for day 3. That gives us a ride back to the ship at the end of day 3. This is our first time in Venice. We have been told by many sources we should try to stay overnight and enjoy a nice waterside dinner and stroll after the tour groups all leave late afternoon, so we got a hotel just off the GC in Santa Croce. If we get up early day 2 we hope to get a taxi, water or land, but most likely land. 50 minutes about 60 euro to the Venice train station. If Viking provides transport, depending on how late in the morning, all the better. While it does involve more cost to do all this, it removes almost 3 hours of tender time that we can spend ashore and give us an evening and morning. Given the bigger cost to get to Venice from the other side of the world, acceptable.

2 hours ago, Vagabond51 said: We bought "Venice On Your Own" for day 3. That gives us a ride back to the ship at the end of day 3. This is our first time in Venice. We have been told by many sources we should try to stay overnight and enjoy a nice waterside dinner and stroll after the tour groups all leave late afternoon, so we got a hotel just off the GC in Santa Croce. If we get up early day 2 we hope to get a taxi, water or land, but most likely land. 50 minutes about 60 euro to the Venice train station. If Viking provides transport, depending on how late in the morning, all the better. While it does involve more cost to do all this, it removes almost 3 hours of tender time that we can spend ashore and give us an evening and morning. Given the bigger cost to get to Venice from the other side of the world, acceptable.

Great idea, but are you sure that Viking won't have a problem with one-way trips?

We are leaving the ship a day early and we had to get permission to do that. You may need to let Viking know you are planning to get off overnight. 

3 hours ago, Vagabond51 said: We bought "Venice On Your Own" for day 3. That gives us a ride back to the ship at the end of day 3. This is our first time in Venice. We have been told by many sources we should try to stay overnight and enjoy a nice waterside dinner and stroll after the tour groups all leave late afternoon, so we got a hotel just off the GC in Santa Croce. If we get up early day 2 we hope to get a taxi, water or land, but most likely land. 50 minutes about 60 euro to the Venice train station. If Viking provides transport, depending on how late in the morning, all the better. While it does involve more cost to do all this, it removes almost 3 hours of tender time that we can spend ashore and give us an evening and morning. Given the bigger cost to get to Venice from the other side of the world, acceptable.

You do need permission to do this.  For our trip in May we are off the ship for 2 nights.  At first, Viking said no, but our TA persisted and we eventually got permission.

9 hours ago, jc522 said: If you look at "Italy, the Adriatic and Greece" for any future date, it shows 14 excursions on day 2. That is what they advertised before we booked our upcoming cruise. It was only after we booked it that we were informed that there are no excursions on day 2.

According to online posters on other threads who have done this cruise, there will be pared down excursions available on Day 2 of Venice for those staying on the ship. They won't show up in my viking journey but will be available to book once you are on the ship.

4 hours ago, CHammond said: According to online posters on other threads who have done this cruise, there will be pared down excursions available on Day 2 of Venice for those staying on the ship. They won't show up in my viking journey but will be available to book once you are on the ship.

Thanks, but you would think it wouldn't be too difficult for them to let us know in advance so we can buy tickets and make plans.

Just received an email with schedule changes for Day 2 and Day 3. They will be spending more time in Venice but arrival time in Split will be later (with a later leaving time also). Generally very happy with this decision as they added more tours for Venice and one of the tours was what we were hoping for initially. Added bonus, no longer have to get up at the crack of dawn. 

Thats interesting regarding Split. Three weeks ago we got notice Split (and Montenegro) were removed from itinerary. They are stopping in Sibenik twice, going toward Venice and then again leaving Venice. There is an excursion from Sibenik down to Split by bus for the day. They added Rovinj  Croatia going into Split. Good news for you re Venice!

13 hours ago, miami mama said: Just received an email with schedule changes for Day 2 and Day 3. They will be spending more time in Venice but arrival time in Split will be later (with a later leaving time also). Generally very happy with this decision as they added more tours for Venice and one of the tours was what we were hoping for initially. Added bonus, no longer have to get up at the crack of dawn. 

What are your dates?

Had another chat with Viking today. He said that Venice on Your Own (day 1 for us) though showing sold out now, will open up once we’re on board ~ since it’s included and thus guaranteed. He also said they may not offer any excursions for day 2 as they imagine guests will “explore on their own”. I said if that was the case then transportation to and from Venice should be included. Nope. And finally, you cannot sign up for the same included excursion on day 1 and day 3 ~ we were trying to do that just to get the transportation to and from Venice.

I believe some started this itinerary yesterday, March 10th, if so hopefully someone will let us know what happens on board.

I am on the cruise in Crotone, at present. When we boarded there was a sheet included with the Viking Daily that announced 4 excursions for the second day in Chioggia. They are Scenic Chioggia By Foot (1hr-included), Discovering Verona (9hrs-$189), Venice On Your Own (8hrs-$0), and Murano & Burano (7hrs-$109).

CCWineLover

21 minutes ago, jc522 said: I am on the cruise in Crotone, at present. When we boarded there was a sheet included with the Viking Daily that announced 4 excursions for the second day in Chioggia. They are Scenic Chioggia By Foot (1hr-included), Discovering Verona (9hrs-$189), Venice On Your Own (8hrs-$0), and Murano & Burano (7hrs-$109).

Thank you!  We will be doing this exact cruise in a year.  

Does the Venice on our own include transport to/from Venice?  How much time does it leave on your own in Venice?  You didn't say included for it but was it really $0 ?

Which one, if any, did you pick?

Does the Venice on our own include transport to/from Venice? YES

How much time does it leave on your own in Venice? 8 hours door to door minus 3 hours round trip = 5 hours.

You didn't say included for it but was it really $0 ? That is how they listed it for Day 2.

Which one, if any, did you pick? Day 1 - Venice On Your Own. We will see all we can in 5 hours. Day 2 - Scenic Chioggia and we will stay in town for a while afterwards. Day 3 - St. Marks At A Glance, but we will probably cancel. It doesn't make sense to travel 3 hours for another 2 hours in Venice.

6 hours ago, jc522 said: I am on the cruise in Crotone, at present. When we boarded there was a sheet included with the Viking Daily that announced 4 excursions for the second day in Chioggia. They are Scenic Chioggia By Foot (1hr-included), Discovering Verona (9hrs-$189), Venice On Your Own (8hrs-$0), and Murano & Burano (7hrs-$109).

Thank you for that information...

We'll be in Chioggia for three days / two nights in October and can't decide whether three hours on a bus is worth five hours in Venice.  We've visited Venice many times, and always enjoy our time there.  There's really no other place like Venice.

Chioggia itself appears to be interesting...a mini Venice.  Perhaps we'll just spend our time there.

20 hours ago, jc522 said: I am on the cruise in Crotone, at present. When we boarded there was a sheet included with the Viking Daily that announced 4 excursions for the second day in Chioggia. They are Scenic Chioggia By Foot (1hr-included), Discovering Verona (9hrs-$189), Venice On Your Own (8hrs-$0), and Murano & Burano (7hrs-$109).

Thank you so much for sharing. This helps a lot! Hope you are having a fabulous cruise!

TayanaLorna

On 3/7/2023 at 1:42 AM, jc522 said: If you look at "Italy, the Adriatic and Greece" for any future date, it shows 14 excursions on day 2. That is what they advertised before we booked our upcoming cruise. It was only after we booked it that we were informed that there are no excursions on day 2.

We are booked Italy, the Adriatic & Greece (Rome to Athens) for February, 2024.  Its a B2B with turnover in Venice.  Chioggia not Venice is shown as dock location.  Ten excursions are listed for first day with 2 of them in the evening, 14 are listed for second day - some same, some different, and no excursions are listed for third day.  Sail away is 2 pm.  Wondering what reality is.

Also wondering what your weather is like in March.

25 minutes ago, TayanaLorna said: We are booked Italy, the Adriatic & Greece (Rome to Athens) for February, 2024.  Its a B2B with turnover in Venice.  Chioggia not Venice is shown as dock location.  Ten excursions are listed for first day with 2 of them in the evening, 14 are listed for second day - some same, some different, and no excursions are listed for third day.  Sail away is 2 pm.  Wondering what reality is. Also wondering what your weather is like in March.

Hi Lorna - think we are on the same ship (Saturn) as you but start the week before in Barcelona & finish in Venice. I’m a little confused as I thought the turnover port was Livorno for Florence as our itinerary says we’re there for 2 days? 😗

1 minute ago, Hobson1754 said: Hi Lorna - think we are on the same ship (Saturn) as you but start the week before in Barcelona & finish in Venice. I’m a little confused as I thought the turnover port was Livorno for Florence as our itinerary says we’re there for 2 days? 😗

We board Rome (Civitavecchia) on Feb 21 and ship departs that evening.  Looks like the port is almost a 2 hour drive north of Rome.  The Saturn is actually doing 4 one way cruises - Barcelona to Rome, Rome to Venice, Venice to Athens and Athens to Istanbul.  Some people are on leg 1 and 2 (like you) , some are on legs 2 and 3 (like us) etc. There are roll calls established for each segment and we have joined the first 3.  I see leg 1 has 2 days in Florence and the one day in Rome.  Looks like you get to see Florence but not Rome unless Viking sets up special excursions for those staying aboard on turn around day.  We get 3 days in Venice but need to go early and stay late to see Rome and Athens as each of those ports are turn around days.

15 minutes ago, TayanaLorna said: We board Rome (Civitavecchia) on Feb 21 and ship departs that evening.  Looks like the port is almost a 2 hour drive north of Rome.  The Saturn is actually doing 4 one way cruises - Barcelona to Rome, Rome to Venice, Venice to Athens and Athens to Istanbul.  Some people are on leg 1 and 2 (like you) , some are on legs 2 and 3 (like us) etc. There are roll calls established for each segment and we have joined the first 3.  I see leg 1 has 2 days in Florence and the one day in Rome.  Looks like you get to see Florence but not Rome unless Viking sets up special excursions for those staying aboard on turn around day.  We get 3 days in Venice but need to go early and stay late to see Rome and Athens as each of those ports are turn around days.

Yes that’s what I’m seeing - just seems strange they’re not staying the 2 days in Rome.  You’re right that it’s at least 1 1/2 hours from Civitavecchia (if traffic is good) to Rome but hey ho I guess Viking knows what they’re doing. I would also say that for those already on cruise who decide not to go into Rome there’s not an awful lot to see/do in Civitavecchia. I joined one of roll calls a while ago as it’s only been a few weeks since I realised they were all 1 week cruises B2B2B 🤪

lackcreativity

40 minutes ago, Hobson1754 said: Yes that’s what I’m seeing - just seems strange they’re not staying the 2 days in Rome.  You’re right that it’s at least 1 1/2 hours from Civitavecchia (if traffic is good) to Rome but hey ho I guess Viking knows what they’re doing. I would also say that for those already on cruise who decide not to go into Rome there’s not an awful lot to see/do in Civitavecchia. I joined one of roll calls a while ago as it’s only been a few weeks since I realised they were all 1 week cruises B2B2B 🤪

We did the Barcelona to "Venice" portions last April, and there is an overnight in Livorno. Rome is the turn around day, but not an overnight. Those of us who were continuing on to Venice (which unexpectedly became Ravenna for us instead of the planned on Fusina), we were offered excursions once on board for Rome. The included one was a panoramic Snapshots of Rome (6 hours) with a driving tour and one (?) photo stop, followed by around 90 minutes of free time at St. Peter's Square. They also offered a 10.5 hour Highlights of Rome & the Colosseum and a 10 hour Sistine Chapel & Vatican City. I don't recall the pricing on those optional ones, nor any information about the ease of securing spots on those two tours.

We had been to Rome twice before, so just did the included excursion for a relaxing way to see the sights again. We were there on Easter Saturday, which was an interesting time to be in the Vatican. Of course, there was no time to go inside, but it's still a nice view. We even had time to go to a pizza place nearby that we knew from a prior stay. Honestly, we enjoyed ourselves, but for a first time visit to Rome I would recommend one of the optional excursions.

1 hour ago, Hobson1754 said: Yes that’s what I’m seeing - just seems strange they’re not staying the 2 days in Rome.  You’re right that it’s at least 1 1/2 hours from Civitavecchia (if traffic is good) to Rome but hey ho I guess Viking knows what they’re doing. I would also say that for those already on cruise who decide not to go into Rome there’s not an awful lot to see/do in Civitavecchia. I joined one of roll calls a while ago as it’s only been a few weeks since I realised they were all 1 week cruises B2B2B 🤪

Hi Hobson1754 and Lorna:

We are also doing legs 2 and 3 next February/March (Rome-Venice; Venice-Athens).  We have some familiarity with this Viking Mediterranean segment trips schedules.   Last year we boarded in Rome and went to Barcelona (and then on to San Juan).   

Livorno (Florence)

This was our first port after Rome Livorno.  It is NOT a turnover port, but you stay overnight and have 2 full days.  We did excursions both days.  Day 1 we just did the included tour to Pizza.  We wanted to do Lucca, but it was sold out.  (This was back when you had to do Viking excursions - no independent).  2nd day we did the full day Florence tour.  So you'll have 2 full days. 

Rome, however, is just a day on Viking's schedule.  When we board in Rome (actually Civitavecchia), we leave that evening.  We met people who went from Venice to Barcelona and they did a full day tour in Rome that day.  We knew that if you board in Rome (ore disembark), the only way to see Rome is to do Viking's extensions or do it yourself.  We did 4 days in Rome on our own ahead of time - and loved it.   We took a car hire service (reasonable price) during the boarding day from Rome to Civitavecchia.  It took 90 minutes with no traffic.  Long ways.  Keep that in mind.

We also had friends who did the stay onboard in Venice (3 days in Chioggia ).  Things are still in such flux that any excursions "listed" in Viking's website may or may not be offered.  Our hope is to do Viking excursions on day 1, perhaps do it yourself on day 2, and walk around Chioggia on the short day 3.  I'm intrigued as someone said  Chioggia was really quite a nice place to visit, eat, etc. and not touristy!    Viking may/likely offer some excursions onboard on day for those who are continuing through (while some passengers disembark and others get onboard).  However, my understanding is that hose wouldn't be known or available until once we are on board.  People on this thread have also seemed to confirm this.  That's why we'll stay flexible on day 2.

Hope that helps!  See you onboard next February.

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Trace spectacular Adriatic shores and uncover the glories of the Venetian and Hellenic Empires on this cruise between romantic Venice and classic Athens. Discover Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast, explore the palace at Split and stroll Dubrovnik’s medieval streets. Sail through scenic fjords to remarkably preserved Kotor, Montenegro’s gem. On Greek shores, call on scenic Corfu, with its inviting Old Town, and Katakolon, gateway to the Peloponnese and Olympia.

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8 best Italy cruises for a Mediterranean vacation

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You don’t have to search all that hard to find the best Italy cruises — most leading cruise lines offer dozens of itineraries that visit Italian ports, often in conjunction with neighboring countries France, Greece and Croatia.

The reason? Italy has it all: coastlines on both the Mediterranean and the Adriatic, historic port cities (Rome, Venice and Naples among them) and spectacular islands (including Sicily, Sardinia, Capri and Elba).

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Plus, with a cruise season that runs from early April through late October (and even year-round for a few cruise lines), Italy offers something for everyone. Travel here to find an alluring mix of impeccably preserved historic sites, renowned regional cuisines and natural wonders waiting to be discovered.

Here are eight of the best Italy cruises for every type of traveler.

Best Italy cruises for cultural immersion: Azamara

Azamara pioneered the concept of single-country itineraries, which allow for greater cultural immersion and even overnight stays in select ports. The cruise line’s 11-night voyage in October 2024 is one of its most comprehensive.

The sailing begins in Monte Carlo, Monaco, and ends in Rome (Civitavecchia), with visits to seven more Italian ports and Tunis, Tunisia. You’ll explore Genoa, Livorno (overnight for Florence/Pisa), Porto Santo Stefano (on the Tuscan coast), Cagliari (on Sardinia), Trapani (on Sicily), Amalfi and Sorrento.

This voyage is aboard the 684-passenger Azamara Onward, one of the cruise line’s four virtually identical ships. (All are former Renaissance R-class ships built in the early 2000s and renovated over the past several years.) The vessels’ intimate size and Azamara’s focus on cultural experiences and shore excursions emphasizing history and food (including cooking classes and market tours) make for an immersive cruise itinerary.

Other Italy-Intensive voyages in 2023 and 2024 include the following: a 10-night voyage in October 2023 aboard Azamara Quest, a 10-night voyage in April 2024 aboard Azamara Pursuit, and a seven-night voyage in May 2024 aboard Azamara Quest.

Best Italy cruises for small-ship lovers: Windstar Cruises

It’s rare to find a cruise itinerary so fully focused on one specific region of Italy, but Windstar Cruises ’ small ships — three classic sailing yachts and three all-suite motor yachts, which accommodate 148 to 342 guests — allow it to offer cruises to less-frequented ports.

Windstar’s 10-day Sicilian Splendors , aboard its 342-passenger sailing yacht Wind Surf, is available on multiple dates in 2023, 2024 and 2025. The ship will cruise round-trip from Rome and call on six Italian ports: Catania (for Mount Etna), Porto Empedocle (for the ancient ruins at Agrigento) and Trapani (for its signature colored salts and Marsala wines), all in Sicily; the island of Lipari (the largest of seven Aeolian Islands); and Sorrento and Amalfi on the stunning Amalfi Coast. The cruise also visits the neighboring islands of Malta and Gozo.

Five-masted Wind Surf is the world’s largest sailing ship. It manages to be intimate without feeling claustrophobic, although it is worth noting that none of its staterooms or suites has a balcony. There is, however, ample deck space for relaxation, with a pool and two hot tubs, as well as inviting alfresco bars and dining areas.

Related: The 2 classes of Windstar ships, explained

Indoors, the ship’s restaurants and social spaces, such as the Veranda Restaurant, Stella Bistro and the Compass Rose Bar, are light-filled, with elegant neutral decor refreshed in 2019.

Musical entertainment takes place in the Wind Surf Lounge and Compass Rose Bar, and Windstar’s excellent dining program reflects an ongoing partnership with the James Beard Foundation. In select tender ports, passengers can enjoy a watersports platform and take out sea kayaks and stand-up paddleboards.

Best Italy cruises for onboard pampering: Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection

If enjoying yacht-style indulgence as you explore Southern Italy is on your cruise wish list, consider the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s 10-night Rome to Valletta itinerary in May 2024. This cruise visits scenic hot spots such as Sorrento and Amalfi on the Amalfi Coast, history-rich Siracusa in Sicily and three ports (Gallipoli, Taranto and Otranto) in lesser-known Puglia, located on the heel of boot-shaped Italy, before passengers disembark in Malta.

Ritz-Carlton, which entered the cruise realm in 2021 with its 298-passenger luxury yacht, Evrima , offers an all-inclusive “yachting lifestyle” experience. This leisurely sailing features overnights in Sorrento and Taranto and two sea days with ample ways to enjoy onboard pampering. The ship’s spacious suites are designed with a contemporary residential feel and range in size from 300 square feet with an 81-square-foot terrace to 1,091 square feet with a 635-square-foot terrace.

Evrima also offers nine bars and dining venues featuring menus created to reflect the ports visited. For culinary indulgence, guests can book a table at S.E.A., a specialty dining experience designed by Chef Sven Elverfeld of Aqua, the Michelin three-starred restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton in Wolfsburg, Germany.

The ship also features chicly designed spaces for relaxing and socializing, such as the Pool House lounge overlooking an aft infinity pool, a second pool located next to the alfresco restaurant Mistral, a panoramic Observation Lounge and a full-service Ritz-Carlton Spa.

Related: The best luxury cruise lines for elegance and exclusivity

Best Italy cruises for foodies: Silversea Cruises

The three newest ships in the Silversea Cruises fleet — Silver Moon, Silver Dawn and 2023’s first-in-class Silver Nova — all feature the cruise line’s immersive culinary program known as S.A.L.T. (Sea and Land Taste). When Silversea’s next ship, the 728-passenger Silver Ray, debuts in 2024, it will also take its guests on culinary-focused journeys — among them an 11-day Rome to Venice itinerary in June 2024.

The itinerary includes calls on seven ports in Italy: Rome, Naples, Sorrento, Palermo, Siracusa, Trieste and Venice. The sailing also visits ports in Malta, Montenegro and Croatia.

Silversea’s sailings blend food-centric excursions — such as a visit to a family farm for a tasting of fresh cheese, salami and olive oil in Sorrento — with the onboard S.A.L.T. program to make sampling local cuisine a natural part of the cruise experience. The day-to-day menus at S.A.L.T. Kitchen are all inspired by the ports visited. The Terrain menu focuses on that day’s port while the Voyage menu draws from the best flavors of the entire itinerary.

Passengers aboard Silver Ray should definitely pack an appetite — in addition to S.A.L.T. Kitchen, the ship features seven other restaurants. They are La Dame for haute French cuisine, Atlantide for signature fine dining (think caviar and lobster), Kaiseki for Japanese sushi and teppanyaki (as well as pan-Asian dishes), Silver Note for tapas-style dining and live music, The Grill for casual burgers and salads, La Terrazza for handmade pasta and other Italian specialties, and Spaccanapoli for thin-crusted Naples-style pizza. With 11 nights aboard, there’s time to sample all of them.

Related: The ultimate guide to cruise ship food and dining

Best Italy cruises for families: Norwegian Cruise Line

 If an Italy adventure with the entire family sounds like the perfect cruise vacation in 2024, Norwegian Cruise Line ’s new Norwegian Viva, launching in August 2023 as the sister ship to 2022’s Norwegian Prima, is an ideal playground for guests of all ages.

The most Italy-focused itinerary? The 10-day Mediterranean: Italy, Greece & Croatia cruise (offered aboard 3,099-guest Viva in late June and late September 2024) calls on six ports in Italy — Rome, Livorno, Naples, Messina, Siracusa and Trieste — as well as the islands of Corfu and Malta; Koper, Slovenia; and Dubrovnik and Split in Croatia.

This itinerary is rich in history and culture, including the ancient landmarks of Rome, the archeological wonders of Pompeii and the Leaning Tower of Pisa near Livorno, plus the beauty and culinary treats (sweet cannoli and savory arancini) of Sicily, where Viva makes two port calls. Though the cruise ends in Trieste, the wonders of Venice are just 90 minutes away, so adding a few extra nights to explore its colorful, canal-laced islands is a must.

Onboard Viva, you’ll enjoy more than a dozen dining options (five of them complimentary, including the casual and family-friendly Indulge Food Hall), 16 bars and lounges and all the fun activities/entertainment (including a production of the Broadway hit “Beetlejuice: The Musical”) that the line offers.

Related: Best cruise lines for families

Top amenities include the three-deck Viva Speedway for exhilarating go-kart racing, three thrilling slides (two of them 10-story corkscrew dry slides and one tidal-wave-style waterslide), virtual-reality gaming in the Galaxy Pavilion, tech-enhanced minigolf and more. Also, Viva’s generous outside deck space — especially Deck 8’s Ocean Boulevard with its lively Indulge Outdoor Lounge and sleek Infinity Beach pools — is ideal for scenic cruising in the Mediterranean and Adriatic.

Best Italy cruises for couples: Oceania Cruises

The sophisticated onboard ambiance and a romantic itinerary are a lovely combination, and couples can enjoy both on the 12-night Mediterranean Tapestry sailing offered in June 2024 aboard Oceania Cruises ’ newest vessel, Oceania Vista.

The 1,200-passenger ship, which debuted in May 2023, will visit four top ports in Italy — Venice/Trieste in Northern Italy, Taormina in Sicily, Amalfi/Positano in Southern Italy and Civitavecchia for a day in Rome.

Beyond Italy, this itinerary offers a sampling of scenic locales in six other Adriatic and Mediterranean countries with a possible pre-cruise stay in Venice. You’ll visit Korcula and Split in Croatia; Kotor, Montenegro; Igoumanitsa and Katakolon in Greece; Ajaccio, Corsica; Monte Carlo, Monaco; Marseille, France; and Barcelona, Spain.

Oceania caters to couples seeking an upscale cruise experience with a culinary focus. Onboard Vista, the atmosphere is sleek and polished, with interior decor awash in elegant neutrals of varying patterns and textures, all woven together into a soothing mosaic (in some cases, literally, as tiled vignettes are used throughout the ship). Vista’s bars and lounges, especially the Martini Bar and the Grand Lounge, are so chic you’ll want to get dressed up every night to enjoy one of the craft cocktails on their newly enhanced menus.

All specialty dining is included in the cruise fare, and stand-out meals at Polo Grill (for an excellent steakhouse menu), Toscana (for authentic Italian, including recipes by Vista’s godmother Giada De Laurentiis) and Red Ginger (for flavorful pan-Asian) are just a reservation away. Two new eateries, Aquamar Kitchen and Ember, serve wellness-focused cuisine and casual American comfort food, respectively, and an expanded Culinary Arts Center lets guests who love to cook take hands-on classes.

Best of all, Vista is an all-balcony ship, so every stateroom features access to fresh air (French Veranda Staterooms don’t have an outdoor sitting area, however). Veranda Staterooms and Concierge Level Veranda Staterooms offer a spacious 290 square feet of indoor space — and some of the best standard bathrooms at sea with roomy walk-in showers and ample storage.

Related: The best cruises for couples seeking romance and together time at sea

Best Italy cruises for travelers on a budget: Royal Caribbean

To score a budget cruise fare in the Mediterranean, it helps to look for sailings aboard a cruise line’s older ships. If Italy is your main focus for a future cruise, it’s hard to beat the seven-night Western Mediterranean itinerary in September 2024 aboard Royal Caribbean ’s Voyager of the Seas.

It visits five Italian ports: Venice/Ravenna, Messina in Sicily, Naples, Rome and Livorno (for Florence and Pisa). The ship also calls on Marseille and Barcelona. Voyager’s Italy-focused cruise is a jam-packed itinerary with just one sea day.

Ideal for both couples and multi-generational families, the 3,600-passenger Voyager of the Seas (which debuted in 1999 and was last refurbished in 2019) features seven restaurants (including three complimentary dining venues and specialty restaurant favorites Chops Grille and Giovanni’s Table) and eight bars/lounges.

The ship has been “amped-up” so guests can enjoy features found on Royal Caribbean’s newer ships: Perfect Storm waterslides, FlowRider simulated surfing, Battle for Planet Z laser tag, Voyager Dunes minigolf, Studio B ice-skating shows and reimagined spaces for kids and teens.

Nights aboard Voyager of the Seas will be filled with complimentary entertainment options: production shows in the Royal Theater, pub performances by guest entertainers and bands, game-show competitions, pool parties, outdoor movie nights and a ‘70s disco party.

Best Italy cruises for adults-only ambiance: Viking

 Is Venice at the top of your wish list? Does an adults-only cruise on a ship with serene, Scandinavian-inspired interior decor and complimentary wine or beer with lunch and dinner sound ideal?

If so, check out Viking ’s 15-night Italy, the Adriatic and Greece itinerary , which sails from Athens to Rome and visits six Italian ports — Venice/Chioggia, Bari, Crotone, Messina, Naples and Rome — with three days spent in Venice. As a bonus, you’ll also visit ports in Greece (Katakolon and Corfu), Croatia (Dubrovnik, Split and Sibenik) and Montenegro (Kotor).

Offered on multiple dates in fall 2023, 2024 and 2025, this itinerary is chock full of port experiences; there are no sea days, and a total of 13 cities are visited. Viking includes one free guided shore excursion in each port, usually a panoramic bus tour or historic walking tour. Use that as an overview and then explore on your own or book one of the cruise line’s longer or more specialized excursions. Onboard guest speakers also offer insight into the ports visited and the cultural landscape.

The cruise line’s nine ocean ships are all identical and accommodate 930 passengers, most of whom are couples over age 55. Onboard dining is available in eight restaurants, including the main venue, The Restaurant and the buffet-style World Cafe, the casual Pool Grill and the Norwegian-focused Mamsen’s. Guests can also reserve dinner at two specialty restaurants (at no extra charge): Manfredi’s for Italian cuisine and The Chef’s Table for multi-course, wine-paired menus that rotate throughout the cruise.

Afternoon tea is served in the elegant Wintergarden. The Aquavit Terrace overlooking the aft infinity pool is a sunny spot to enjoy alfresco dining.

If you’re willing to come back early from port, Viking’s ocean ships offer plenty of ways to relax on board. All passengers enjoy complimentary access to the ship’s thermal suite in the LivNordic Spa. It features a thalassotherapy pool, steam room, sauna and snow room. The Main Pool has a retractable roof and can be enjoyed no matter what the weather. However, if you want to live it up at night, note that the ship does not have an onboard casino.

Bottom line

The best Italy cruises offer access to some of the country’s most-loved cities, as well as a chance to explore some of its sunny islands and lesser-known coastal ports. No matter the itinerary, you’re guaranteed to enjoy the splendid landscapes, treasured antiquities and, of course, the incredible gelato.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

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• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
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Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.