I would like to take a cruise around the Mediteranean next year. The ports of call for the cruise I am interested in will be Barcelona, Villefranche (Nice), Livorno (Florence), Civitavecchia (Rome), Mykonos, Kusadasi (Turkey), Piraeus (Athens), Santorini, and Naples.

My question is regarding when to go. There is one sail date for mid to late October. I was originally interested in this date for 2 reasons:

1. The last time I was in the Med. it was August, it was EXTREMELY hot, and I thought that maybe October would be more pleasant.

2. I have frequent flyer miles for 2 R/T tickets to Europe. Before May 15th and after October 15th, each ticket is only 40,000 frequent flyer miles but, between May 15th and October 15th, each ticket would be 60,000 FF miles. It would be nice to get 3 R/T tickets for 120,000 FF miles rather than just 2, if I can.

So, how is the Med during the second half of October? I would like cooler temps than the 90s, but I also don't want very cool, damp weather, either.

There is also a cruise beginning Sept. 29, and others beginning late May through the Summer.

Please tell me what you think. I would love to read your opinions.

Thanks.

I thought this post looked familiar. You just posted this today on the cruise board.

I would go in September.

Yes, Budman, I did. But I also wanted to post it to the Europe board since it gets exposure from different people. The more opinions, the merrier.

Thanks for yours!

I agree that September would be a womderful time to go.

Also remember that some of those cities aren't on the ocean, and would require 90 minute drives to get to/from the cities--such as Rome and Florence.

I've made a few cruises all over the Med, West and East, and as much as I love cruising the region, I very much prefer itineraries including small ports/villages than an itinerary with Livorno, for Florence, and Civitavecchia, for Rome, unless the cruise starts and ends in one of them. In a few words, too long bus rides, and too much to see in a very limited time.

Weather wise, early October would be still pleasant, exception made for the French Riviera, because of the Mistral. Mid May is usually very pleasant, too, with mild temperatures, and sunny weather.

Surlok, thanks for your input. I agree with you regarding the long rides to the major cities. I have already been to Rome twice, so I think that I will take an excursion to someplace closer. I have also been to Florence and Tuscany. I will probably return to Tuscany, which is also a long ride from the port, but worth it to me since I have been wanting to visit again -even if only for a day. I have also stayed in Barcelona and Nice, and have visited Naples. Another visit, however short, will be enjoyable. However, the reason I have selected this cruise is for Greece and Turkey. I have never before visited these countries.

I am most interested in knowing what I should expect in regard to weather during the second half of October. I know that you mentioned that the beginning of October is pleasant, but what about the end. I think I have read that October begins the rainy season. I don't mind cooler temps, but I wouldn't enjoy damp, raw weather.

Thanks again for your help.

Sorry, I can only talk about my experience.I cruised the Med three times from October onwards. Twice, it was early October, and another time, early November. In early October, we cruised from Greece to Italy, and it was sunny and warm enough to allow us to use the pool and go to the beach in Sicily and Sardegna. The other time, we left from Barcelona and cruised the French Riviera: the weather was dump, windy, not pleasant at all, unless for a couple of days.

In early November, we cruised from Athens to Istanbul, and after through the Red Sea. We haa rain in Atehns, and rain and cold weather in Istanbul. However, as soon as we reached the Red Sea, where it was Spring, as opposed to the the Greek and Turkish coast, where it was late Fall, the temperatures were much warmer, and it was always sunny.

I made another Med cruise in late April, early May, from Athens to Venice. We had some rain but not cold temps in Greece, and gorgeous, sunny weather all over the Adriatic sea.

We traveled to Greece in October and the weather was very pleasant. We spent three days in Athens and then took a four day cruise through the Greek Isles, followed with another day or two in Athens. I took mostly cotton clothes and was very comfortable. I don't remember needing a wrap in the evenings and to the best of my recollection we had no rain. We had one port in Turkey and again the weather was sunny and nice.

Giovanna, thanks for sharing. Your post is very encouraging.

I just did a very similar Celebrity Cruise on Sept 8 - Sept 20. The weather was beautiful and warm. I did not wear pants once. I considered going in Oct but did not go. I don't have an opinion on the when. Others will have to give you their opinion.
FYI on the cruise....once you land in Livorno, it took us 2 hours to get to Florence. We took a taxi from the boat, to the train station to Florence. It ate up a huge portion of the day.
The other one was Civitavecchia. It's (minimum) 1 1/2 hr bus ride to Rome. Luckily we did not take the Metro that day (we could have but chose to take the cruise's bus tour) because the Italians were striking and we might have been stuck in Civitavecchia or we might have gotten stuck in Rome, trying to get back to the trip.
Just wanted to let you know what time constraints you will be up against at these ports.
Either month, it will be a very enjoyable trip. Naples was a hole but the rest of the itinerary is just wonderful!

We did a Celebrity cruise in September, and the weather is a crap shoot. We had great weather in Villefrance, Palma, Barcelona, Malta, and in Naples and spent the day on Capri.

In the ports for Rome and Florence, nothing but rain.

The weather may be a little better in Greece and Turkey.

We usually visit in either late Sept/early October or in late April/earlyMay. I prefer the spring-especially in Greece. I find that in Oct. the locals are VERY tired with the tourists. In the Spring, especially in places like Kusadasi, some shops are just re-opening and the prices tend to be lower. We did do an October cruise several years ago and the weather was just fine.

Thanks everyone! It seems like September is a good month, and even early October, but I am still wondering about the end of October.

The exact dates of the cruise I am interested in are 10/17-10/29. I am hoping that it will not be much rainer at that time of the month. I don't mind cooler though.

The comment regarding the attitude of the locals makes sense, though. I am sure they are tired of tourists by then. I wonder if it's worth saving the extra $300-400 and the FF miles to go at the end of October.

Thanks again to evryone who has posted. I looked at the dates again and there is an August 30 sailing, as well as a Sept. 23 sailing. I don't think that the August date will work out for us, so that leaves September 23.

Do you think that this September date is still too late in the season? If it is, I think that I will have to wait until spring 2005. I was hoping not to wait that long, but I will if the trip will be that much more pleasant.

Thanks again for your help. I am looking forward to your further input.

Just hoping for a bit more feedback. Thanks.

Happy 2 travel-

SEPT 23 is PERFECTO to travel-- GO FOR IT!!