Hi All - haven't been on for a while. I am booked on a Mediterranean Cruise beginning late May and ending early June. Having not travelled to these parts at that time of the year before I have a question. I will be traveling via Milan to Venice then the cruise will be taking in Athens, Mykonos, Istanbul, Kusadasi, Naples, Rome, Florence/Pisa, and Monte Carlo and finishing in Barcelona (not in that order) what sort of average weather might one expect in these regions around that time? Will it be warm enough for t-shirts and short sleeved tops, lighter capri and cropped pants (I break these out at about the 22-25 degree celsius mark (around 70-75 farenheit) to give you a clue) with light jackets for the evenings. Or should I pack something warmer, or indeed, a mixture of both? Many thanks!!

topping

Late May should be fine for capris and tees as long as you have a light jacket and long pants for evenings - remember it can get chilly on the water at night.

Plan for rain as well. Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome all do get some rain late May.

Take a shawl/pashima, light sweater or jacket and ponchos. Plastic ones that are in small packages. May can be very rainy in Italy..Depending on the cruise line you may need evening clothes but you can stay out of the posh places easily. I took black silk pants, several tops (tees and silky shirts)and white pants for dinner..scarves take up no room 2 capris and one short skirt for the islands. 2 pair of sandals and 1 pair flats with the absolutely neccessary walking shoes although one pr. of my sandals did the job nicely most places except Delos and Ephesus..needed walking/running shoes there and was glad to have them..Some people didn't. BOOHOO for them. We also didn't use the ships tours but contracted our own. You can do the same if you'd like. Have a wonderful time..
You will see everything under the sun during your itin. It will surprise you!!!

Thank you all for your help!! Amer-can, I was planning to take a pashmina - they are just the most fabulous and versatile thing. I use them all the time.

I have travelled throughout Italy before but just not at this time of year (and certainly not by sea)...so it was hard to know what to expect - especially in so many different places. It does seem like a full itinerary as I'm usually a week in one place, a week in another traveller, this did all seem rather daunting. Glad to know we'll get to see a lot.

Another question Amer-can...On the days we are at sea will we get to see much of the coastline as we sale past or will the ship too far out to sea?

Thank you all again!!

Who are you sailing with?? Our experience IST. to Marseille on Oceania did not offer much land sighting but we had an intensive itin. and except approaching or departing harbors there wasn't much to see.

Thanks again Amer_can. We are travelling on the Ruby Princess which I think is part of P&O. I just wondered in case it was worth taking my telephoto lens - it's way big and a burden to carry so probably not worth it if we're a fair way out to sea. May be worth asking the cruise people directly.