Suggestions from Rome or Venice for Mediterranean cruise..

[Seachief]

Hi fellow cruisers..

Just finished up a 14 day land tour of Italy and am now planning a Mediterranean cruise out of Rome or Venice for 8-14 days. Just looking for suggestions from folks who have sailed from these ports before and to ask a few questions. Is there any one cruise line you really liked that had a great itinerary? Since we're coming out of Italy did anyone find a language handicap speaking English alone that hindered your on-board experience or personal interactions with the other guests? What's the best time of year to go?

Thanks a lot and hope to get some feedback..

Seachief...

[AF-1]

Hello, I have taken cruises that started or ended in both Rome and Venice. I have been on Royal Caribbean and NCL in the Med. What would you like to know?

[JimnKaren]

The best time of year is when you have the opportunity. You must realize that some cruise lines do not offer much in the winter months in the Med. You need to ask a travel agent to help you with information like that.

 

Jim

[AF-1]

I always went in May. I have been on four med cruises and they were all in May. Weather and seas were just perfect. Temps in high 70's low 80's and seas were always calm

[Essiesmom]

July And August are the hottest months in the Med, particularly the Eastern Med. August is also the month Europeans traditionally vacation, so venues will be crowded. WE sailed HAL from Venice for 24 days, and the next year Celebrity from Venice for 12 days. We booked for Venice and itinerary. The second one was in May. they are listed in my signature (2012/2013).

Go to http://www.cruisetimetables.com and look at cruises from your two chosen ports. Choose what suits you. EM

[JMorris271]

I have done both of those ports and had not a single issue arise, language wise or other. I used Celebrity both times.

The big negative now during the high and side seasons is the crowds. If all you want is an embarking station in Venice in the spring thats one thing, but remember the once nice strolls down the Venician ally ways are gone. Just too many people. Window shopping is not pleasant anymore. It is a very sad state of affairs .

Get a nice coat and go in the winter.

Please have a nice cruise.

Edited September 5, 2018 by JMorris271

[LHT28]

You will probably find most people on the cruise will speak English

 

Exceptions might be with Pullmanteur, Hapag Lloyd maybe Costa & MSC

 

 

 

The ship is secondary pick a line that has the ports you want to visit with more time in the ports

 

You can use the search feature in the FIND A CRUISE line at the top of the page

 

Do you want a big ship ?small ship ? budget? time of year ?

 

 

maybe talk with a cruise specialist in your area

[Gwendy]

English is language of choice for most cruises. MSC use 4 languages and repeat all announcements in those 4. I think it depends on what the passenger make up us as to choice of language. They also offer Italian lessons. My personal point of view is sailing into or out of Venice was the most magnificent thing, of all my 30 cruises.

 

 

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[Hlitner]

We think that best time to travel in the Med (whether cruise or land) is from mid-April into early June....and from September through October. These are what I call the "shoulder seasons" when you have fewer tourists, cooler weather, and just about everything is still open and functioning. Once you get into November there are some places (such as on many of the Greek Islands) that start to change to a winter schedule which means less transportation and the closing of some shops/restaurants.

 

If you must travel during the busier (and hotter) summer months then we have always preferred late June through July. August is a strange month in Europe when many Europeans take their own annual "holiday" which causes some issues for all tourists. For example, one might find that their preferred restaurants in places like Paris are closed for the entire month. While this tradition seems to be slowly changing, August is still our least favorite warm weather month to be anywhere in southern Europe. When we do travel this time of the year we tend to gravitate towards the Northern parts of Europe including the Scandinavian countries, Baltic, and even places like Iceland.

 

Hank

[johnson6ofus]

I would just say stay away from NCL. They have gone so cheap now.

 

No bringing soda or water on board at any time (more ways to extract $$$ from you). No lobster night, escargot was two served on a cracker, no shrimp cocktails..... sigh. Cutting costs by serving the cheapest food.

 

No pillow chocolates. No drawer in the nightstand (silly, but helpful) and another obvious cost cutting thing. And the shows were also "cheap" ... production show was worse than high school.

 

Go to RCCL or Princess.... and nothing to add to the above posts. Go in the early spring.

[united retiree]

I would just say stay away from NCL. They have gone so cheap now.

 

No bringing soda or water on board at any time (more ways to extract $$$ from you). No lobster night, escargot was two served on a cracker, no shrimp cocktails..... sigh. Cutting costs by serving the cheapest food.

 

No pillow chocolates. No drawer in the nightstand (silly, but helpful) and another obvious cost cutting thing. And the shows were also "cheap" ... production show was worse than high school.

 

Go to RCCL or Princess.... and nothing to add to the above posts. Go in the early spring.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=56602535

 

Per the board above, you seem to have a very personal vendetta against NCL. Have you ever been on an NCL cruise? Are you getting this from personal experience or just pushing other cruise lines?

 

Please use these boards for constructive criticism, not bashing.

 

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[evandbob]

We had lovely weather throughout our Rome to Venice 10 dayer in early September. After we got back to NY, we saw pictures of tourists in thigh high water in St Marks Square as monsoon season began in Venice.

[JMorris271]

You will probably find most people on the cruise will speak English

 

Exceptions might be with Pullmanteur, Hapag Lloyd maybe Costa & MSC

 

I had the pleasure of cruising on both Costa and MSC lines in the Med and had absolutely no problems with communicating.