We just got back from an amazing Mediterranean Royal Caribbean Cruise on Voyager of the Seas. Here is an overview of our trip and some tips you can take away if you have a similar itinerary.
Voyager of the Seas
The Voyager of the Seas is a midsized ship with about 3600 passengers. It was refurbished in 2019. This class of ship has two water slides, flow riders, ice rink, climbing wall, an adult only solarium, and a promenade. Although it is not the newest and biggest, it is perfect for the Mediterranean.
The Itinerary
This 7 night cruise started in Athens, Greece and ended in Rome, Italy. There are not a lot of “open jaw” trips, meaning they are not round trip. I like this type of itinerary in the Mediterranean because you get to see different things in the beginning and end of trip. If you want to take a longer trip, you can book another 7 nights on the same ship and continue on to additional ports.
This is also a very port intense itinerary. There are 5 ports in just 7 nights. This itinerary included:
- Kusadasi, Turkey
- Mykonos, Greece
- Santorini, Greece
- Messina, Italy
- Naples, Italy
*If you prefer an open jaw vs roundtrip you can let your travel planner know and we can look at those for you.
The Ports
Here is a little overview of each port and what we enjoyed. We actually didn’t get to go to Mykonos because of winds that prevented us from porting. The good news is that we got to go to Santorini for an extra evening.
Kusadasi, Turkey
This port is most well known for the ancient ruins of Ephesus. There are several other ruins/religious sites as well. Turkey doesn’t accept Euros for payment so you either need Turkish currency (Turkish Lira) or a credit card. Credit cards are the preferred form of payment. The area of Ephesus is best seen with a guide as it is a large area of ruins. There are lots of tour options and it can be done through the cruise or with a private guide. We had a great day with our guide Zey from Tours by Locals.
There is also a nice little shopping area right around the port area if you want to walk around and shop. They may accept Euros in this area. The ship is docked so it makes it easy to get on and off.
Mykonos, Greece
We were not able to dock here because of winds. Although I don’t have specific information on the port I want to point out a few things. Ports can change due to weather conditions. All excursions booked through the cruise line were fully refunded and we were given a letter in our stateroom in case we needed to file an insurance claim. Just some things to keep in mind about cruising.
Santorini, Greece
Santorini is another beautiful island of Greece. It is one of the islands that is surrounded by cliffs on one side. This is a tender port. This means the ship is anchored near the port and you have to board a small boat to get to the actual port. Tendering is not always fully accessible. If you have accessibility needs you will want to discuss with the cruise line. You will also need tender tickets (free) to get off the ship at certain times. There are actually 2 ports in Santorini that you can tender to. It is important to have clear directions if you are meeting a private guide.
One port, Old Port of Fira, will take you to Fira, the capital of Santorini. There are 3 ways to get up to Fira on the top of the cliffs. You can take the cable car, donkeys, or walk up about 600 steps. Although walking is free, the cable car or donkeys will cost you about $10 Euros per person each way.
Fira is full of restaurants, shops, and amazing views. It is a great area to walk around if you don’t have anything planned. There is also a church you can visit. We were able to get my FAVORITE Greek dessert, galaktoboureko. I highly recommend the bakery, Sovoronos Bakery, next to a Mc Donald’s. You can also grab a meal in so many places around the area. Check out a great view at The Vine too!
If you go to the other port, (Athinios Port) it is sort of like a bus depot. Most excursions go there and there are lots of areas you can get to. The large buses drive back and forth up the huge hill.
Since this was a tender port, we did a cruise line excursion which makes it super easy to get off the ship and onto the tender. Our excursion took us by bus to Perivolos Beach. We spent the morning at Kelly’s Beach Bar. They had lounge chairs and umbrella’s along with delicious food and beverage options for purchase. The beach was absolutely beautiful with black sand and crystal clear, crisp water.
Messina, Italy
Messina, located on the island of Sicily is another great port. We docked right in town so it was easy to walk around. There are lots of tour group/trams you can purchase if you want. Be aware this is a very pushy/salesy area.
The Bell Tower and Astronomical Clock (Orologio Astronomico) in Messina, Italy, is a short walk from the docks. It is located on the main square in front of the Cathedral of Messina. You may also want to try some Limoncello as this is a local item. If you are looking for traditional pizza, wait until you are closer to Naples though.
Naples, Italy
Another amazing port is Naples, or Napoli as the locals call it. This is a great port because there are a lot of different things you can do. The ship docks in an industrial port, but its not a long walk right into the town. There are some great sites and lots of great food.
If you want to stay in the town area and go to walkable places, you may want to head to Castel Nuovo, a medieval fortress (you can purchase tickets ahead) or go on a walk to a great restaurant like Pizzeria Brandi and you will pass all sorts of shops, squares, and sites along the way. If you want a quick bite, check out CapaToast.
You may also want to go on excursion (private or through the cruise line) to the Amalfi Coast, Sorrento, or Pompeii. These are all great options, but would require transportation to get to.
We enjoyed an excursion through the cruise line to see Pompeii. The guide (Roberta) and ear pieces were great to be able to hear everything being shared. We saw some amazing ancient ruins! There is also some great pizza, gelato, and paninis at the entrance of Pompeii. If you have a quick minute, be sure to grab something.
Mediterranean Cruises
There are lots of cruises that go around the eastern and western Mediterranean and there are so many ports. Many itineraries are unique and have different combinations of ports. This is a sample of one itinerary, but there are many itineraries that will overlap with some of these ports. Summer is the time to visit the Mediterranean, but it is also a very hot time of year. It is a dryer climate, so there may be lots of sun without many clouds. Pack hats, water bottles, or umbrellas for personal shade. You are also in a more sheltered area so the seas are very calm. It is a great itinerary for those with motion sensitives.
We would love to help you plan your own cruise so you can experience the Mediterranean too!
