Venice
Canals, palazzi and the lagoon. Since 2021 large ships no longer sail past St Mark’s, so many itineraries now embark at Marghera, Trieste or Ravenna.
Cruising Italy & the Mediterranean
See Italy from the sea.
An independent guide to Italy cruises: which ports are worth it, how to spend your day ashore, and where to find the best sailings, from Venice and Rome to the Amalfi Coast and Sicily.
Explore the portsPhoto: Miranda Salzgeber / Unsplash
Why cruise Italy
Unpack once and wake up somewhere new: Renaissance cities, cliffside villages and ancient ruins, often just a short ride from the pier.
7,000+ kmOf Italian coastline, from Liguria to Sicily
4 seasLigurian, Tyrrhenian, Ionian and Adriatic
Apr–OctMain cruise season, with some sailings all year
Ports of call
Where the ships go
The ports most Italy itineraries visit, and what each one opens up. Full port guides with recommended tours are coming soon.
Rome
The Colosseum, the Vatican and the Forum. Civitavecchia is about 80 km from the city, roughly an hour or more by train or coach.
Amalfi Coast & Pompeii
Cliffside villages, lemon groves and the ruins of Pompeii, all within reach of the Bay of Naples.
Florence & Pisa
Renaissance art, the Duomo and the Leaning Tower. Florence is about an hour and a half from the port.
Cinque Terre
Five colourful fishing villages linked by coastal trails and a local train that starts close to the cruise terminal.
Sicily
Greek theatres, baroque towns and Mount Etna. From Messina, the hilltop town of Taormina is about an hour away.
Cruises
Choose how you sail
Big ships, small ships or a week on one coast. Curated cruise listings are on the way.
- 01
Western Mediterranean
The classic Italy loop: Rome, Florence, Naples and Cinque Terre, often with stops in France or Spain.
- 02
Adriatic & Greek Isles
Venice or Trieste to the Croatian coast, Montenegro and Greece, with Italian ports at either end.
- 03
Small ship & yacht
Fewer passengers and smaller harbours: Amalfi, Portofino, the Aeolian Islands and Sardinia.
- 04
Cruise & stay
Add a few nights in Rome or Venice before or after you sail, and see more than a port day allows.
How it works
Plan the cruise, then the days ashore
- We research Italy itineraries and the ports they call at, and shortlist what’s worth your time.
- You compare sailings, ships and shore excursions in one place.
- You book directly with the cruise line, tour operator or a trusted booking platform.
We’re independent. If you book through our links we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Compare & book
Start planning
Booking partners are being added. These links will go live shortly.
Cruises
Compare Italy cruises
Mediterranean sailings from the major lines, sorted by date, ship and price.
Search cruises SoonShore excursions
Plan your days in port
Small-group and private tours timed around your ship, from Pompeii to the Vatican.
Find excursions SoonBefore & after
Stay near your port
Hotels in Rome, Venice and Genoa for the night before you sail or after you return.
See hotels SoonPlanning
Good to know
When is the best time for an Italy cruise?
The main season runs from April to October. May, June and September usually bring warm weather with fewer crowds than July and August. Some lines sail the western Mediterranean all year, with lower fares in winter.
Which ports are best for seeing Italy?
Most itineraries combine Civitavecchia for Rome, Naples for Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast, Livorno for Florence and Pisa, and La Spezia for Cinque Terre. Eastern Mediterranean and Adriatic sailings add Venice, Trieste or Ravenna, and many include Sicily.
Should I book shore excursions through the cruise line?
Not necessarily. Cruise line excursions guarantee the ship will wait if a tour runs late. Independent tours are often smaller and cheaper, and the better operators plan their timings around your ship’s schedule.
How do bookings work on this site?
We are an independent guide. When you choose a cruise or tour, you book directly with the cruise line, tour operator or a trusted booking platform. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you, and it never affects what we recommend.