You don’t have to go looking all that arduous to seek out the most effective Italy cruises — most main cruise strains supply dozens of itineraries that go to Italian ports, usually together with neighboring international locations France, Greece and Croatia.
The rationale? Italy has all of it: coastlines on each the Mediterranean and the Adriatic, historic port cities (Rome, Venice and Naples amongst them) and spectacular islands (together with Sicily, Sardinia, Capri and Elba).
For extra cruise guides, information and ideas, join TPG’s cruise publication.
Plus, with a cruise season that runs from early April via late October (and even year-round for a number of cruise strains), Italy gives one thing for everybody. Journey right here to seek out an alluring mixture of impeccably preserved historic websites, famend regional cuisines and pure wonders ready to be found.
Listed below are eight of the most effective Italy cruises for each sort of traveler.
Greatest Italy cruises for cultural immersion: Azamara
The crusing begins in Monte Carlo, Monaco, and ends in Rome (Civitavecchia), with visits to seven extra Italian ports and Tunis, Tunisia. You’ll discover Genoa, Livorno (in a single day 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 many cruise line’s 4 nearly equivalent ships. (All are former Renaissance R-class ships constructed within the early 2000s and renovated over the previous a number of years.) The vessels’ intimate measurement and Azamara’s deal with cultural experiences and shore excursions emphasizing historical past and meals (together with cooking courses and market excursions) make for an immersive cruise itinerary.
Different Italy-Intensive voyages in 2023 and 2024 embody the next: 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 Could 2024 aboard Azamara Quest.
Join our every day publication
Greatest Italy cruises for small-ship lovers: Windstar Cruises
It’s uncommon to discover a cruise itinerary so totally centered on one particular area of Italy, however Windstar Cruises’ small ships — three traditional crusing yachts and three all-suite motor yachts, which accommodate 148 to 342 friends — permit it to supply cruises to less-frequented ports.
Windstar’s 10-day Sicilian Splendors, aboard its 342-passenger crusing yacht Wind Surf, is obtainable on a number of dates in 2023, 2024 and 2025. The ship will cruise round-trip from Rome and name on six Italian ports: Catania (for Mount Etna), Porto Empedocle (for the traditional ruins at Agrigento) and Trapani (for its signature coloured salts and Marsala wines), all in Sicily; the island of Lipari (the biggest of seven Aeolian Islands); and Sorrento and Amalfi on the gorgeous Amalfi Coast. The cruise additionally visits the neighboring islands of Malta and Gozo.
5-masted Wind Surf is the world’s largest crusing ship. It manages to be intimate with out feeling claustrophobic, though it’s value noting that none of its staterooms or suites has a balcony. There may be, nevertheless, ample deck house for rest, with a pool and two sizzling tubs, in addition to inviting alfresco bars and eating areas.
Associated: The two courses of Windstar ships, defined
Indoors, the ship’s eating places and social areas, such because the Veranda Restaurant, Stella Bistro and the Compass Rose Bar, are light-filled, with elegant impartial decor refreshed in 2019.
Musical leisure takes place within the Wind Surf Lounge and Compass Rose Bar, and Windstar’s glorious eating program displays an ongoing partnership with the James Beard Basis. In choose tender ports, passengers can take pleasure in a watersports platform and take out sea kayaks and stand-up paddleboards.
Greatest Italy cruises for onboard pampering: Ritz-Carlton Yacht Assortment
If having fun with yacht-style indulgence as you discover Southern Italy is in your cruise want listing, take into account the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Assortment’s 10-night Rome to Valletta itinerary in Could 2024. This cruise visits scenic sizzling spots resembling Sorrento and Amalfi on the Amalfi Coast, history-rich Siracusa in Sicily and three ports (Gallipoli, Taranto and Otranto) in lesser-known Puglia, positioned on the heel of boot-shaped Italy, earlier than passengers disembark in Malta.
Ritz-Carlton, which entered the cruise realm in 2021 with its 298-passenger luxurious yacht, Evrima, gives an all-inclusive “yachting life-style” expertise. This leisurely crusing options overnights in Sorrento and Taranto and two sea days with ample methods to take pleasure in onboard pampering. The ship’s spacious suites are designed with a up to date residential really feel and vary in measurement from 300 sq. toes with an 81-square-foot terrace to 1,091 sq. toes with a 635-square-foot terrace.
Evrima additionally gives 9 bars and eating venues that includes menus created to replicate the ports visited. For culinary indulgence, friends can ebook a desk at S.E.A., a specialty eating expertise designed by Chef Sven Elverfeld of Aqua, the Michelin three-starred restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton in Wolfsburg, Germany.
The ship additionally options chicly designed areas for stress-free and socializing, such because the Pool Home lounge overlooking an aft infinity pool, a second pool positioned subsequent to the alfresco restaurant Mistral, a panoramic Statement Lounge and a full-service Ritz-Carlton Spa.
Associated: The most effective luxurious cruise strains for class and exclusivity
Greatest Italy cruises for foodies: Silversea Cruises
The itinerary consists of calls on seven ports in Italy: Rome, Naples, Sorrento, Palermo, Siracusa, Trieste and Venice. The crusing additionally visits ports in Malta, Montenegro and Croatia.
Silversea’s sailings mix food-centric excursions — resembling a go to to a household farm for a tasting of recent cheese, salami and olive oil in Sorrento — with the onboard S.A.L.T. program to make sampling native delicacies a pure a part of the cruise expertise. The day-to-day menus at S.A.L.T. Kitchen are all impressed by the ports visited. The Terrain menu focuses on that day’s port whereas the Voyage menu attracts from the most effective flavors of the whole itinerary.
Passengers aboard Silver Ray ought to positively pack an urge for food — along with S.A.L.T. Kitchen, the ship options seven different eating places. They’re La Dame for haute French delicacies, Atlantide for signature nice eating (suppose caviar and lobster), Kaiseki for Japanese sushi and teppanyaki (in addition to pan-Asian dishes), Silver Word for tapas-style eating and dwell music, The Grill for informal burgers and salads, La Terrazza for handmade pasta and different Italian specialties, and Spaccanapoli for thin-crusted Naples-style pizza. With 11 nights aboard, there’s time to pattern all of them.
Associated: The final word information to cruise ship meals and eating
Greatest Italy cruises for households: Norwegian Cruise Line
If an Italy journey with the whole household appears like the proper cruise trip in 2024, Norwegian Cruise Line’s new Norwegian Viva, launching in August 2023 because the sister ship to 2022’s Norwegian Prima, is a perfect playground for friends of all ages.
Essentially the most Italy-focused itinerary? The ten-day Mediterranean: Italy, Greece & Croatia cruise (provided 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 — in addition to the islands of Corfu and Malta; Koper, Slovenia; and Dubrovnik and Break up in Croatia.
This itinerary is wealthy in historical past and tradition, together with the traditional landmarks of Rome, the archeological wonders of Pompeii and the Leaning Tower of Pisa close to Livorno, plus the wonder and culinary treats (candy cannoli and savory arancini) of Sicily, the place Viva makes two port calls. Although the cruise ends in Trieste, the wonders of Venice are simply 90 minutes away, so including a number of further nights to discover its colourful, canal-laced islands is a should.
Onboard Viva, you’ll take pleasure in greater than a dozen eating choices (5 of them complimentary, together with the informal and family-friendly Indulge Meals Corridor), 16 bars and lounges and all of the enjoyable actions/leisure (together with a manufacturing of the Broadway hit “Beetlejuice: The Musical”) that the road gives.
Associated: Greatest cruise strains for households
High facilities embody 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 within the Galaxy Pavilion, tech-enhanced minigolf and extra. Additionally, Viva’s beneficiant exterior deck house — particularly Deck 8’s Ocean Boulevard with its energetic Indulge Out of doors Lounge and modern Infinity Seashore swimming pools — is right for scenic cruising within the Mediterranean and Adriatic.
Greatest Italy cruises for {couples}: Oceania Cruises
The subtle onboard ambiance and a romantic itinerary are a beautiful mixture, and {couples} can take pleasure in each on the 12-night Mediterranean Tapestry crusing provided in June 2024 aboard Oceania Cruises’ latest vessel, Oceania Vista.
The 1,200-passenger ship, which debuted in Could 2023, will go to 4 prime ports in Italy — Venice/Trieste in Northern Italy, Taormina in Sicily, Amalfi/Positano in Southern Italy and Civitavecchia for a day in Rome.
Past Italy, this itinerary gives a sampling of scenic locales in six different Adriatic and Mediterranean international locations with a potential pre-cruise keep in Venice. You’ll go to Korcula and Break up in Croatia; Kotor, Montenegro; Igoumanitsa and Katakolon in Greece; Ajaccio, Corsica; Monte Carlo, Monaco; Marseille, France; and Barcelona, Spain.
Oceania caters to {couples} searching for an upscale cruise expertise with a culinary focus. Onboard Vista, the ambiance is modern and polished, with inside decor awash in elegant neutrals of various patterns and textures, all woven collectively right into a soothing mosaic (in some circumstances, actually, as tiled vignettes are used all through the ship). Vista’s bars and lounges, particularly the Martini Bar and the Grand Lounge, are so stylish you’ll wish to dress up each night time to take pleasure in one of many craft cocktails on their newly enhanced menus.
All specialty eating is included within the cruise fare, and stand-out meals at Polo Grill (for a superb steakhouse menu), Toscana (for genuine Italian, together with recipes by Vista’s godmother Giada De Laurentiis) and Purple Ginger (for flavorful pan-Asian) are only a reservation away. Two new eateries, Aquamar Kitchen and Ember, serve wellness-focused delicacies and informal American consolation meals, respectively, and an expanded Culinary Arts Heart lets friends who like to prepare dinner take hands-on courses.
Better of all, Vista is an all-balcony ship, so each stateroom options entry to recent air (French Veranda Staterooms don’t have an out of doors sitting space, nevertheless). Veranda Staterooms and Concierge Stage Veranda Staterooms supply a spacious 290 sq. toes of indoor house — and among the finest customary bogs at sea with roomy walk-in showers and ample storage.
Associated: The most effective cruises for {couples} searching for romance and collectively time at sea
Greatest Italy cruises for vacationers on a price range: Royal Caribbean
To attain a price range cruise fare within the Mediterranean, it helps to search for sailings aboard a cruise line’s older ships. If Italy is your principal focus for a future cruise, it’s exhausting to beat the seven-night Western Mediterranean itinerary in September 2024 aboard Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas.
It visits 5 Italian ports: Venice/Ravenna, Messina in Sicily, Naples, Rome and Livorno (for Florence and Pisa). The ship additionally calls on Marseille and Barcelona. Voyager’s Italy-focused cruise is a jam-packed itinerary with only one sea day.
Very best for each {couples} and multi-generational households, the three,600-passenger Voyager of the Seas (which debuted in 1999 and was final refurbished in 2019) options seven eating places (together with three complimentary eating venues and specialty restaurant favorites Chops Grille and Giovanni’s Desk) and eight bars/lounges.
The ship has been “amped-up” so friends can take pleasure in options discovered on Royal Caribbean’s newer ships: Good Storm waterslides, FlowRider simulated browsing, Battle for Planet Z laser tag, Voyager Dunes minigolf, Studio B ice-skating reveals and reimagined areas for youths and teenagers.
Nights aboard Voyager of the Seas can be crammed with complimentary leisure choices: manufacturing reveals within the Royal Theater, pub performances by visitor entertainers and bands, game-show competitions, pool events, out of doors film nights and a ‘70s disco get together.
Greatest Italy cruises for adults-only ambiance: Viking
Is Venice on the prime of your want listing? Does an adults-only cruise on a ship with serene, Scandinavian-inspired inside decor and complimentary wine or beer with lunch and dinner sound splendid?
Supplied on a number of dates in fall 2023, 2024 and 2025, this itinerary is chock filled with port experiences; there are not any sea days, and a complete of 13 cities are visited. Viking consists of one free guided shore tour in every port, normally a panoramic bus tour or historic strolling tour. Use that as an outline after which discover by yourself or ebook one of many cruise line’s longer or extra specialised excursions. Onboard visitor audio system additionally supply perception into the ports visited and the cultural panorama.
The cruise line’s 9 ocean ships are all equivalent and accommodate 930 passengers, most of whom are {couples} over age 55. Onboard eating is obtainable in eight eating places, together with the principle venue, The Restaurant and the buffet-style World Cafe, the informal Pool Grill and the Norwegian-focused Mamsen’s. Friends may also reserve dinner at two specialty eating places (at no further cost): Manfredi’s for Italian delicacies and The Chef’s Desk for multi-course, wine-paired menus that rotate all through the cruise.
Afternoon tea is served within the elegant Wintergarden. The Aquavit Terrace overlooking the aft infinity pool is a sunny spot to take pleasure in alfresco eating.
When you’re prepared to come back again early from port, Viking’s ocean ships supply loads of methods to calm down on board. All passengers take pleasure in complimentary entry to the ship’s thermal suite within the LivNordic Spa. It encompasses a thalassotherapy pool, steam room, sauna and snow room. The Foremost Pool has a retractable roof and might be loved it doesn’t matter what the climate. Nevertheless, if you wish to dwell it up at night time, notice that the ship doesn’t have an onboard on line casino.
Backside line
The most effective Italy cruises supply entry to among the nation’s most-loved cities, in addition to an opportunity to discover a few of its sunny islands and lesser-known coastal ports. Irrespective of the itinerary, you’re assured to benefit from the splendid landscapes, treasured antiquities and, in fact, the unimaginable gelato.
Planning a cruise? Begin with these tales:
