Guide to a Mediterranean Cruise

Page Contents:

• What we learned From Our First Mediterranean Cruise
• What you should know about Royal Caribbean
  • The Rooms
  • The Food
  • Amenities
  • Fitness Center
  • Kid’s Club
• Ports of Call/Itinerary
• Getting to the Ship from Venice
  • Ravenna, Italy
  • Sicily, Italy (Messina)
  • Rome, Italy (Civitavecchia)
  • Florence and Pisa, Italy (Livorno)
  • Toulon, France
  • Barcelona, Spain
• Budget-Friendly Tips
• Booking The Cruise
• On The Ship
• Excursions
• Off Ship
• In Conclusion

What We Learned From Our First Mediterranean Cruise

Our family of 6 decided to take a European cruise for our summer vacation. We thought it would be a relaxing and fun way to spend some quality time together. Little did we know, it would also be a test of our patience, endurance, and sanity. But hey, we learned a lot.

We used Cruise Critic to help find which cruise would be best for us.

 

Our cruise left from Ravenna, Italy and ended in Barcelona, Spain. Myself, my husband, and our daughter have been traveling the world since our daughter was born and have dreamed of the day we could take our families to see Europe! With the number of people and everything we wanted them to see, we decided that a cruise would be the perfect option for us. If you are thinking about visiting Europe, I highly recommend a cruise, as it is the perfect way to experience multiple countries and cultures, which is the epitome of the European experience. Here I will break down what we learned about the boat itself, the ports we visited, and how we did it all on a budget. Don’t forget to read to the end where I will share some tips on how we saved hundreds, even thousands of dollars on this cruise!

What You Should Know About Royal Caribbean

There are a lot of cruise options out there, so finding one that is good for you does take a little bit of research. We were looking for comfort, great food, amenities, interesting destinations, and kid friendly, all while keeping the cost as low as possible. Royal Caribbean fit the bill for us! Through all of our research, it was hard to find an honest review about the ship itself. I filtered through numerous websites, reading articles and blog posts that were so long, but never really answered all or most of my questions. It took forever, and honestly, ain’t no one got time for that. So here, you’re welcome, I’ll answer all of my most pondered questions about the boat here, in one spot, a gift from me to you.

The Rooms

Since we were traveling as a family of 6, we tried to find rooms all next to each other. They had balcony rooms and ocean view rooms all next to each other, so we opted for the ocean view. It saved us a few hundred dollars and having a small child, with a balcony, is a little nerve racking for us. Not long before your departure date, you may be asked if you would like to bid for an upgraded room. We all tried it because why not? My parents were the lucky winners! They were upgraded to a balcony room for only a couple hundred (extra) dollars. 

This also gave us the chance to compare both rooms. 

The ocean view room was great. It fit 3 of us comfortably (we shared a bed with our daughter who had just turned 4). The bed was very comfortable, the ocean view window was much larger than expected, there was a good amount of storage space, 24 hour room service, and the bathroom was spacious with more storage. 

Of course the balcony room was larger, especially when the balcony doors were open. But the bed and bathroom were the same size and comfortability. Most people want the balcony to see the ports when you arrive, but honestly there’s not too much to see when you pull in, and there are plenty of indoor and outdoor seating around the ship for you to sit anywhere and watch as you arrive.

Moral of the story, if you are traveling on a budget, definitely choose the interior or an ocean view room. If you have extra money to splurge, then by all means choose a balcony!

The Food

Royal Caribbean offers up some amazing food. We have been on a Princess cruise before, and their food is extremely good, so the bar was high. Also having a culinary background makes me a tough critic. I had read an equal amount of reviews claiming the food was the best ever, to the worst ever. So in my honest opinion, the food was good. I had maybe two memorable items the whole cruise, but nothing that ever made me say “ew”.

We had a set dining time for dinner and each night they offered a themed 4 course menu with options. There seemed to be a staff issue during our trip, so we never got the same server and the service was either too slow or everything came out too fast. Everyone we encountered was still very happy, friendly, and helpful.

The buffet was actually our favorite place to eat on board. It was still themed, but with way more options..obviously. The freedom of eating what you want, when you want, and how much you want, is a good feeling. 

They do have a selection of specialty restaurants and room service, all offering excellent options. The hours for the specialty restaurants do vary, so make sure you check through the ship to ensure they are available when your stomach is ready for them.

Amenities

Royal Caribbean ships offer a ton of things to do, for people of all ages. This was one of the reasons why we chose this cruise, as we were traveling with people ages 4-60. There was always something going. Never a dull moment on Royal Caribbean!

Fitness Center

The fitness center on the ship is great, and included in your cruise. Generally open from 6am-midnight, but hours may vary by ship and sail date. Fully stocked with free weights, weight machines, stationary bikes, stair steppers, treadmills, sauna, whirlpool, steam room and thermal suites. The views from the gym are amazing. It is situated on top of the boat, the highest standing structure, and if you are lucky to get one of those treadmills in the morning, you get beautiful, unobstructed views of the ocean. It kinda makes you zone out and you forget you’re working out! They also offer varying fitness classes throughout the trip.

Kids Club

Kids Club is offered to kids from 6 months to 17 years. The kids clubs are called Adventure Ocean and provide fun and educational activities, supervised by trained staff. Some activities include arts and crafts, games, science experiments, sports, and themed parties. They are open every day of the cruise and are free of charge, except for the Royal Babies & Tots Nursery, which has a fee for drop-off sessions. The kids clubs are divided into the following groups:

• Royal Babies & Tots Nursery: for children aged 6 to 36 months, with play areas and toys for parents or caregivers to interact with their children, as well as drop-off sessions for an extra fee ($6-$8 per hour typically).
• Aquanauts: aged 3 to 5 years old, with activities such as story time, music, puppet shows, and treasure hunts. *Our child participated in a few of these events, and the Muffalo Potato tv and craft series was her favorite. 
• Explorers: for children aged 6 to 8 years old, with activities such as science experiments, trivia, games, talent shows, and movie nights.
• Voyagers: for children aged 9 to 12 years old, with activities such as sports tournaments, video games, talent shows, and movie nights.
• Teen Club: for teenagers aged 13 to 17 years old, with a lounge and a club where they can socialize, dance, play games, and participate in teen-only events.

For the Thrill Seekers

If you are looking for something exhilarating, most of these ships will offer rock climbing, zip lines, FlowRider surf simulator, water slides, or laser tag! All of these are included in your cruise ticket, but some require reservations. 

While we were on our cruise, the rock wall was closed at random. When asked, some staff had no idea why it was closed, and others would say it was weather related.

 

For an Additional Fee

Here are some amenities that are offered at an additional fee:

• Specialty restaurants
• Shore excursions (keep reading to see how we saved the most money on this!)
• Spa and salon services
• Internet access, such as the VOOM high speed Wi-Fi package
• Drinks, such as alcoholic beverages, soda, bottled water, and specialty coffee
• Shopping

 

*Most ships, but not all, will have these amenities on board. Once you book your cruise, you will be able to find exactly what is offered on your ship.

Ports of Call

During our 8 day Western Mediterranean Cruise, we were able to see multiple countries and experience a myriad of different cultures and cuisines. One of the main reasons we chose this cruise was because of the route. Again, little could be found on what to expect when we arrived. Here I will give you a breakdown of each port to help you navigate your future cruise (or be the cruise expert of the group).

 

Itinerary:

• Day 1-2: Ravenna, Italy
• Day 3: Sea Day
• Day 4: Sicily (Messina)
• Day 5: Rome (Civitavecchia) 
• Day 6: Florence and Pisa
• Day 7: Toulon
• Day 8: Barcelona

 

Getting to the Ship

This was the most confusing situation of our entire cruise. I’ll go ahead and say it – Royal Caribbean does not have good communication. We didn’t receive most paperwork until a week or so before our trip, and there were no clearly stated or written details about how to get to the Ravenna Port. This was originally supposed to leave from Venice, but cruise ships have since been banned from docking there.

Address Please

We called the customer service department at Royal Caribbean and they informed us that there would be a bus picking everyone up from Venice, and transporting us to the dock in Ravenna. All they did was give us an address. We put it in our maps and when we arrived they said we were at the wrong station, and gave us vague directions but said it was within walking distance. 

After walking 30+ minutes, we found a police station who pointed us in a direction. Not the right direction. We came to a busy street under construction, and literally nowhere to go. We saw a few other stranded cruise goers who were just as confused as we were. Luckily, a cab pulled up and understood where we needed to be. I ended up having to leave my husband with a group of strangers so this cab could make multiple trips to get us all there. It was about a 10-15 minute drive from the spot where this lone cab found us. There is no way we would have made it there on our own. 

Mind you, there was a reference to a ‘People Mover’ that would get us to the bus terminal, and we also noticed a water taxi stop right next to the bus station, but we were told both of these were not in operation on this particular day, just our luck.

Almost There

Once we arrived at the bus station, the lines were very long, it was extremely hot and humid out, and there was no place for shade. The staff from the Royal Caribbean just kind of told people to stand, but offered no water or cool washcloths, especially for the elderly that had been standing out there for hours.

Once we got to the very front of the line, we noticed there were a few food vendors out. How come no one told us?! I ran and got food, then was informed that no food or drinks were allowed on our almost 3 hour bus ride. There was also no Wi-Fi or bathroom on the bus. It did make a quick pit stop where you could pay to use the bathroom, but it was very rushed. Side note: The men’s restroom did not have a traditional toilet, but rather a flat area in the stall with a hole where you just squat and do your business, I guess?

This whole situation was so stressful. Royal Caribbean really needs to help streamline this process. My family has been on a lot of cruises and has never had to deal with the confusion and stress of simply getting to the ship.

Once on the ship, it was smooth sailing!

 

Ravenna, Italy

Once you are safely boarded onto the ship, you have the option to get off and explore Ravenna, or find your way to Venice to explore. We were docked in Ravenna for 2 days. 

Click Here to explore things to see and do in the area!

After the stress, confusion, and long bus ride to the ship, once we boarded we were ready to relax. We got ourselves a few drinks, some food, and much needed rest.

The next day we decided to venture off of the boat. Directly next to the ship was a beautiful sandy beach. It was about a 7-10 minute walk to the beach. There is a beach club right as you walk in which has lounge chairs and towels available for a small fee.

We opted for the budget friendly version of just putting our towels in the sand!

The water was very shallow and warm, perfect to take kids in. The sand was soft and full of shells. The name of the beach is Corallo Beach. 

Take a look at the video below and please comment if you know what the heck these animals are that were sprinkled all throughout the shallow waters here. We had locals tell us (confidently, I might add) that they were all sorts of things from jellyfish eggs to sea cucumbers. Even ‘Google Lens’ gave us a plethora of possible classifications with nothing very concrete.

Royal Caribbean does offer excursions in Ravenna (or to take you back to Venice). Ravenna is known for being a charming seaside port full of art and architecture, including 8 UNESCO World Heritage sites. You can also participate in activities such as mosaic-making workshops and explore historical sites like Dante Alighieri’s tomb.

Sicily (Messina), Italy

When you arrive at the port in Messina, Sicily, you can expect to see a bustling harbor with an exceptional view over the Strait of Messina. The port is just a short walk from the city’s main streets and attractions. This was by far the easiest port to navigate, so I recommend not booking an excursion here, unless there is something specific you really want to see.

Save Your Money

There were a lot of people standing outside offering excursions for about half the price as the cruise ship ones! (There are a few risks in accepting these deals, but it will save you a lot of money) There was also a mini train that would take you around the town and give you a history lesson, and the Hop On Hop Off buses parked right out front.

We decided to explore at our own pace. Within 5 minutes we were standing in front of the Cathedral of Messina where the bell tower is home to the biggest and most complex astronomical clock in the world!

Click here to see all of the different things you can do while in Messina!

We strolled around the town, stopping for an espresso, and just soaking it all in. We explored beautiful churches, parks, found a car show going on, and found the Fountain of Neptune which was created in 1557!

Next up was finding some pizza. We did so much research, trying to find the best pizza in this place. Most restaurants were not open during the time frame we were there, and others had very mixed reviews. We decided to just stop at whatever place we found next, and it ended up being the best decision ever! We had the best pizza at La Casa Della Pizza and right next door happened to be an award winning gelateria, Perigolosi.

It was the perfect way to end our day in Messina!

Royal Caribbean does offer excursions to take you to see Mount Etna or the town of Taormina.

 

Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy

Our family was so excited to see Rome. Myself and my husband were lucky enough to visit a few years ago, and I knew I needed to bring my family back. We decided to figure out our own excursion as a way of saving money (read below to find out how we did it).

Unfortunately, the trains were very behind schedule that day, and our daughter was not feeling well. The train ride itself takes a little over an hour to get to Rome. After waiting an hour, in the heat, for our train, we decided to scratch that idea and explore the port instead. Yes we were bummed, but things happen.

The port has a lot going on though. There was a big farmers market with clothing, local made goods, produce, alcohol, and souvenirs. A circus with rides for kids was right on the beach. We found a restaurant with a great view of the beach and the Fortezza Michelangelo, and it actually ended up being a really good day!

Click here to find out more things Civitavecchia has to offer! 

The boat does offer excursions to see Ancient Rome, Vatican City, and the Piazzas and Fountains. I am unaware of what Royal Caribbean did in that situation. I am sure they gave a refund to the people who could not get on the train.

 

Pisa and Florence, Italy

We figured out our own way to get to Pisa and Florence, which saved our family thousands of dollars. We booked our own train tickets from the port to Pisa (which takes about 40 minutes) and then train tickets from Pisa to Florence (which takes about 1 hour). 

Click Here for train tickets!

Pisa

Once you get off the train in Pisa, it is about a 20 minute walk to the Leaning Tower and Duomo. There is a big cab line directly outside of the train station, and the cab took about 5 minutes.

There are plenty of restaurants on the way to the Piazza del Duomo and shops selling local goods and souvenirs around the square.

Florence

We made our way back to the train station and got on our train to Florence. Luckily today there were no delays. When you arrive in Florence, it is about a 5-7 minute walk to the city center. This is one of my favorite walks in Italy. You are just strollin down the sidewalk looking at the big buildings, then you turn a corner and come face to face with the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. Once here, we found a restaurant with outdoor seating and a view, and soaked it all in.

As we were walking around we saw a horse and carriage ride that takes you around the city, so we decided why not. When split between 5 people it really isn’t that bad. It was not an informative ride, but our daughter loved it and it was a great way to explore. 

The best part about Florence, is quite literally staring into the abyss. Grab some gelato, find a bench, and just sit. There is so much to look at, so much to get lost in. 

Royal Caribbean does offer excursions to both places, full or half days, for an additional fee.

 

Toulon, France

This was the one place we didn’t know much about. Located in the south of France, it is known for its fishing, wine making, naval construction, and art. We did some quick research and found that there is a little train that will take you around the city and that there would be taxi cabs at the port. 

That was not the case. At all. We arrived in Toulon on a Sunday, which meant everything was closed. There were no taxis or Ubers available. So we decided to just walk around until we found something. Once you exit the port you can go left or right. There were no signs on where to go, and our cell reception off the ship was terrible. We decided to go right, and walked for about 20 minutes before we found any signs of life.

We found a cute bakery where we stopped for some coffee and pastries, then walked another 10 minutes until we got to a town. Most shops were closed, but there were a ton of people (mostly men only) sitting outside at cafes and drinking. There was a cute farmers market throughout the middle of town that seemed very much like a locals only type of thing, filled with produce, meat, seafood, and more.

Royal Caribbean does offer excursions from the port to explore its naval heritage at the Musee de la Marine, take a boat tour of the Rade de Toulon, or visit Mont Faron for panoramic views of the city.

 

Barcelona, Spain

Here is where our cruise came to an end. Royal Caribbean did a good job of disembarking, and it was easy to find our luggage. The process typically requires you to leave the ship around 9:30-10:00 am, however, they offer a “Stay Awhile” program in some ports, which allows guests to extend their stay on the ship beyond the standard checkout time for a fee. With this program, you can enjoy the ship’s amenities until mid-afternoon, although you will need to vacate your cabin by the usual time.

Right after you get your luggage and exit, you walk straight to the cab line where there are plenty of cabs coming and going. I had read about people having to wait a long time for a cab, but that did not happen on that day! You can also pre book an Uber or other ride share in the area (Cabify is a popular one).

Or Click Here to set up your transfer before you arrive!

Once off the ship, there is so much Barcelona has to offer. You have to stop and get patatas bravas and a pitcher of sangria! These are my most favorite cheap eats here!

Click Here to find more adventures in the city!

Budget-Friendly Tips

We love traveling, but it can get pretty pricey. We get asked, like all of the time, how we can afford to do this!? First off, my husband is incredibly savvy.  A lot of planning goes into our trips, and the majority of our research is budget related. 

Let me fill you in on how we saved thousands of dollars on this particular cruise. 

 

Booking the Cruise

We had been thinking about doing a European cruise for a few years, so we were constantly checking out different cruise websites and yearly specials. We just so happened to find a special, plus it was during the Kids Sail Free promotion. Those two things helped us save over $2000 and the low price made it easier in convincing our whole family to do this with us!

We opted for a smaller room in order to save a few hundred dollars as well. You can also bid for an upgraded room which would get you into that balcony room for a steal! (Although bidding is not guaranteed.)

 

On the Ship

While on board, we did not spend any money on anything that required an additional fee. We honestly didn’t miss the specialty restaurants! All of the food included in your trip is very delicious. Why would I pay extra for something of the same or similar value?

We also didn’t do any spa treatments or gambling. I understand a lot of people do these things while vacationing, and that is great if you can afford it, but I’d rather save my extra money for something off of the ship. We did include our gratuities when booking the cruise, but based on the itinerary we did not feel the need to add the ‘Drink Package’. Most port days lasted for 8-12 hours, so by the time we got back on the ship, all we wanted to do was drink water and go to bed. Maybe an evening dip in the pool if the heat was still a factor. We especially didn’t want hangovers on those early mornings before long, hot days, with miles of walking.

While on land, most beer and wine is actually cheaper than water. It became a daily ritual for us to find the closest restaurant/bar to our port so we could put down a few drinks before getting back on the ship. You are allowed to bring one bottle of wine per person, when you first board, which kept us content on our 1 day ‘At Sea’. All alcohol bought at the ports will be kept until you disembark.

 

Excursions

This is where we saved the most money. We, and by “we” I mean my husband :), did a lot of research. So much time. And planning. Late nights and frustration. We had traveled through Europe via train a few years before this trip, so we were pretty familiar with the train lines.

After figuring out how much it would be to pay for everyone’s EuRail Pass and train tickets and comparing it to the amount of the excursions from Royal Caribbean, we were shocked at how much money we’d be saving. 

We knew it was going to take a lot of time and careful planning, and there is the risk that something doesn’t work out and you need to figure out a plan B on the fly, or you lose out on your money. It was hard to make that decision. There was a lot that could go wrong. Things did go wrong, like our delayed and missed trains in Rome, and we did lose out on the money for those train tickets (about 15 Euro per person), but we were lucky that was the only thing that didn’t work out.

To do something like this yourself, you will most likely need a EuRail Pass (click on the link to better understand the EuRail Pass), and do some research into where the ports are, the location of the train station, and the train lines that run through there. We purchased all of our Italian trains through Trenitalia.

 

Off Ship

Most of these ports are catered towards tourists, so expect to pay a lot more for everything. You’ll usually find a lot of souvenir shops and specialty restaurants, but if you were to travel 5-10 minutes outside of this zone, you’d save quite a bit more. Especially when it comes to food. 

We would always plan to eat a lot before getting off the boat, so once we were on land we could walk a while and end our outing with our meal. You could always not eat once off the ship, but I highly recommend trying the food on the mainland. Especially in these ports.

In Conclusion

Would we take a cruise again while trying to travel on a budget?

Definitely. 

The initial shock from the price tag of a cruise is, well, shocking. But if you follow these simple steps, you will see that it actually ends up being quite a steal given the destinations and all that’s included.

Would we cruise with Royal Caribbean again?

Yes! The lack of communication at the ports was really the only downfall of this cruise, but the food and amenities made up for it.

The most important thing here is not the cruise line itself, but the opportunity to take a Mediterranean Cruise. There are so many cruise lines and itineraries to choose from. Every port in Europe has a unique history and something to love. When you factor in the daily costs of hotel, food, drinks, etc at any major city in Europe, the savings are tremendous by taking a cruise and waking up in a new awe-inspiring destination every day. It also makes for some incredible life time memories for yourself, or with your family. So get out there, broaden your horizons, eat some authentic food, and wake up somewhere new everyday. Live.