ncl cruises mediterranean 2023

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Norwegian Cruise Line Mediterranean Cruises

Delicious fare, interesting people, and some of the most grand and historic landmarks in the world—welcome to the Mediterranean and Greek Isles with Norwegian Cruise Line. Cruise to the Mediterranean and become the epicurean adventurer you’ve always wanted to be, sampling Greek treats in the isles and fresh seafood on the Amalfi Coast. Adventure into the countryside of Italy for some one-of-a-kind cultural opportunities or rally with the locals in Barcelona for a game of fútbol. Monasteries, ruins, churches and more when you join Norwegian Cruise Line on a Mediterranean and Greek Isles cruise vacation.

Things to Do on a Mediterranean Cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line

Be inspired in the land of beautiful art, delightful cuisine and important history. In Turkey you can visit the home of the Virgin Mary, in Italy take a Gondola ride and in Monte Carlo enjoy a beautiful meal – all from your unforgettable Mediterranean cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line.

• Best of Athens & Its Scenic Coast (Athens, Greece) If you’d like the opportunity to see Athens in all of its glory, this is the excursion for you! You can experience the full history of this ancient region by visiting sites like the Parthenon, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and more. Cruise along the Saronic Gulf and see the beautiful suburbs, and even see the famed Temple of Poseidon. A true Grecian adventure.  

• Ephesus & House of Virgin Mary (Ephesus, Turkey) If you consider yourself a lover of history and architecture, visit the ruins of Ephesus for an experience like no other. You’ll stop in at the House of the Virgin Mary, a pilgrimage, and then continue to the crown jewel of the Aegean Region, Ephesus. Learn as you view the beauty of this incredible site.  

• Five Mountains & Camel Ride (Arrecife, Canary Islands) Enjoy the beauty of Lanzarote, featuring tranquil villages, boiling sea water and the wonderful Timanfaya National Park—where you’ll ride a camel. Visit high-temperature craters and tour the Fire Mountains, narrated and filled with incredible information, before you visit the wine-growing area of La Geria, where you can purchase an authentic vintage! A comprehensive and incredible voyage.  

• Flavors of Sorrento & Pompeii (Naples, Italy) Visit the roots of one of the finest civilizations the Earth has ever seen in Pompeii, where you can envision how this intriguing people lived and worked many years ago. See a cameo factory, learn how jewelry is made and then head to Sorrento. There you’ll enjoy the food, crafts and people of this wonderful cliff-top town.  

• Gondola Serenade (Venice, Italy) With this one-of-a-kind excursion you’ll make an unforgettable memory you’ll tell your kids and grandkids about for years to come. Float merrily along the gorgeous canals of Venice as music fills your heart with joy, and the sights bring a smile to your face.  

• Highlights of Monaco & Nice (Cannes, France) The bright, vibrant city of Nice is the perfect way to spend a day in the Mediterranean. This excursion will take you around the city, through Monaco, and allow for a delightful lunch before heading to Monte Carlo. Once you spend a day in these two cities, you’ll be planning your trip back!  

Top 10 Norwegian Cruise Line Mediterranean Cruises

• Norwegian Dawn 10 Night Europe - Western Mediterranean - Rome (CIV/BCN) Departing From Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy (Apr 2024)
• Norwegian Epic 10 Night Greek Isles & Italy (CIV/CIV) Departing From Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy (Apr 2024 - Oct 2025)
• Norwegian Escape 11 Night Europe - Western Mediterranean - Barcelona (BCN/VCE) Departing From Barcelona, Spain (May 2024 - Sep 2024)
• Norwegian Viva 10 Night Europe - Classic Mediterranean (CIV/VCE) Departing From Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy (May 2024 - Aug 2024)
• Norwegian Escape 10 Night Italy, Greece, & France: Mediterranean Jewels (VCE/BCN) Departing From Trieste, Italy (May 2024 - Oct 2024)
• Norwegian Pearl 9 Night Europe - Western Mediterranean - Barcelona (BCN/VCE) Departing From Barcelona, Spain (May 2024)
• Norwegian Viva 10 Night Europe - Classic Mediterranean (PIR/CIV) Departing From Piraeus (Athens), Greece (May 2024 - Oct 2024)
• Norwegian Escape 4 Night Europe - Western Mediterranean - Barcelona (BCN/CIV) Departing From Barcelona, Spain (May 2024 - Sep 2024)
• Norwegian Escape 9 Night Europe - Western Mediterranean - Barcelona (BCN/BCN) Departing From Barcelona, Spain (May 2024 - Nov 2024)
• Norwegian Escape 9 Night Europe - Western Mediterranean - Rome (CIV/CIV) Departing From Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy (May 2024 - Sep 2024)

Norwegian Cruise Line Mediterranean Departure Ports

Learn more about each of the possible departure ports for a Mediterranean cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line. Your Norwegian Cruise Line Mediterranean cruise could depart from any of the following cities:

Discover imaginative architecture, impressive Spanish dishes and beautiful excursions into nature when you cruise to Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia.

A cruise to Civitavecchia is a chance for you to hop a quick train to Rome and explore the enormous history through ruins, galleries and The Vatican museums.

Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul is a unique city that blends its two distinct influences – from its founding as the Christian capital of Constantinople to the Ottoman ruled Istanbul. Today you can discover both eras and the modern beauty in this thriving city.

Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon has deep cultural roots that are exposed through ruins and museum artifacts. Cruise to Lisbon and discover the culture and history of Portugal in its capital city.

Learn about the Greek gods and the early philosophy of Socrates when you visit the incredible ruins left in Athens, Greece. At night, go out and take in the culture with the modern Athenians.

The cruise port of Southampton features tons of diverse attractions that provide insight into England’s culture and storied past, including fortresses, gardens and national parks.

Trieste, Italy

Sit back and enjoy the sea breezes in Trieste, an Italian city that despite being close to Venice is more akin to Vienna, the capital of the Hapsburg Empire. 

Photo Gallery for Norwegian Cruise Line Mediterranean Cruises

View our photo gallery of Mediterranean cruising photos from Norwegian Cruise Line. Keep in mind, this is just a sample of the sights waiting for you on a Norwegian Cruise Line Mediterranean cruise vacation.

Camels at Timanfaya National Park in Lanzarote

Library of Celsus in Ephesus, Turkey

Mount Vesuvius and ruins of Pompeii in Italy

Monaco's coastline

Gondola serenade in Venice

Parthenon Temple in Athens, Greece

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NCL Cruises 2023

Browse through all available sailing dates, itineraries, and destinations for 2023 NCL cruise holidays. NCL is a fantastic choice for those looking for a great family cruising experience with a laid-back informal atmosphere.

If you are looking for an all-inclusive experience, why not upgrade to “Free at Sea” and benefit from having premium drinks packages, Wi-Fi, and speciality dining whilst you travel onboard an award-winning fleet that travels to spectacular destinations.

With NCL being one of the more popular choices for families to cruise with, 2023 is selling fast! Book today by calling our cruise experts or use our online booking system and receive additional discount.

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There is a selection of free drinks included on NCL that include iced tea, regular coffee, filtered water, and certain juices at buffet area. Sodas, specialty coffee, alcoholic drinks, frozen drinks, and bottled water are an extra charge unless you have an NCL drink package that covers these drinks. You can upgrade to a full package at the time of booking or you can upgrade at a later date.

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The currency used onboard a NCL ship is United States Dollar (USD). However, there is a cashless society onboard. When you check in, you open a shipboard account by registering your credit card, your final bill will be then paid at the end of your holiday before you disembark the ship.

Is NCL a formal cruise line?

An NCL cruise holiday is not a formal dress type of cruise. You will not see any formal nights with NCL. There is alternative ‘dress up or not’ nights where there is a suggested dress code, but this is not something you are required to take part in. An NCL cruise holiday is designed to be relaxed for all passengers.

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An NCL cruise has a very laid-back style and is a great fit for families traveling with children of all ages. The Breakaway Class of ships, which includes Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Escape and Norwegian Getaway, all have expansive kids club facilities that far surpass other ships in the fleet. The family suites on all class of ships are a fantastic and very spacious choice with plenty of onboard activities to keep the entire family entertained.

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Mediterranean ship excursions review

By littlelulu01 , January 21, 2020 in Norwegian Cruise Line

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littlelulu01

We did a two week med sailing in October/November of 2019 on the Jade.  Had a great time and met some wonderful new friends.  We usually book our shore excursions independently however this sailing had some extra perks and obc which made booking excursions through the cruise line too inexpensive to pass up.  We had done versions of this sailing a few times before so I’ll comment/compare independent excursions we have taken in the past to the NCL shore excursions.  Some were a bust but most had at least something worthwhile and some of NCL’s excursions were down right excellent.     

Here’s the itinerary:  Rome(Civitavecchia), Italy; Santorini, Greece; Athens (Piraeus), Greece; Mykonos, Greece; Argostoli, Kefalonia, Greece; Dubrovnik, Croatia; Venice, Italy; Venice, Italy; Kotor, Montenegro; Corfu, Greece; Messina (Sicily), Italy; Naples, Italy; Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Italy; Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy.     All things equal, I would say independent excursions are generally a much better deal financially and they are often smaller groups, less waiting and just more pleasurable.  A side effect I noted on this sailing – there were a few sick passengers onboard at the beginning of the sailing.  Towards the end of the sailing the tour busses were chock full of coughing, ill passengers.  DIY would avoid this extra layer of exposure.  We got our flu shots a couple weeks prior to sailing and somehow avoided getting sick.  We used the stairs whenever possible to avoid sharing elevators with sick passengers.  We also never visited the buffet. We had great weather starting out the vacation.  Up till the last couple days the weather held out.      When  we booked this sailing almost two years in advance it had some really good perks.  At the time they were offering the “distinctive voyage perk” which is extra shore excursion credits on top of the free at sea perks, ship to shore phone call package and additional internet packages along with a discount on airfare and hotel.  We were gone almost a month and are not retired so husband took full advantage of the ship to shore phone call package to get some work done.  We also upgraded for not much to the unlimited internet.  Husband was able to get some work done in the evenings while at sea.  We passed on the air and hotel credits.  We opted to stay closer to the action in Rome.  NCL also offered us a good chunk of extra obc for booking a suite so I justified a Haven suite on this sailing by using the shore excursions with the ship.  Most excursions were truly free or near free after factoring the lattitude discount and double excursion credits. We had a lot ports on the sailing so it was a great savings using NCL’s excursions.  We also had the luxury of the concierge getting us to the busses.. so we didn’t need to wait in the theater prior to excursions.  Omission of this layer of herding might have made the ship excursions a little more palatable?     For airfare I booked almost a year in advance to get the British Airways Avios (Mileage) flights from Seattle to Heathrow and then Heathrow to Rome.  I was able to snag what appear to be two of only two first class mileage seats for our flights.  We took a stopover on the return in London.  British Airways charges a hefty fee on their award flights through LHR but the first class security, concord room, massage before flight… is pretty slick at Heathrow. if only I could afford this type of travel regularly!   We also used miles for our hotel stay.  We ended up at the Argentina Residence near the Pantheon.  It was a fantastic stay.  Pretty much walking distance to everything.  Clean, a nice quiet room, comfortable bed, great staff and really good breakfast.  The hotel set up pickup at the airport and also a ride to the ship on embarkation day.  50 euro for someone waiting at the airport with a sign was money well spent.  On embarkation day they pulled into the courtyard at the hotel and took us right to the ship for 130 euro.  After the cruise we set up a transfer from port to airport with Romecabs and split the fee with a couple on our roll call.  I think it was 75 euro per couple for door to door service.

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There was a grocery store right around the corner from our hotel with yummy stuff and great restaurants everywhere.  I’m crazy about Italian food.  I also love how nice the romans are to tourists.  We had a fantastic time there with each meal better than the last. 

We did a lot of typical touristy Rome things while in Rome.  Top of the list was the Scavi Tour of the Vatican.  I highly recommend this tour underneath St Peter’s Basilica.  I booked this about a year out.  The other couple I had booked this tour with had to cancel at the last min but we picked up a last min replacement couple on our cc roll call to take the extra tickets.  We otherwise spent our days pre cruise adjusting to the time difference, trying some fantastic foods in the Trastevere area of Rome and also near our hotel and just having fun.  I felt very safe and comfortable walking around at night and early morning.  We also rented bikes at Bobli gardens one day and enjoyed the park and neighborhood around the gardens.  Future visits I would be equally happy staying at a hotel in Trastevere or Ludovisi Rome neighborhoods.  Both neighborhoods had a welcoming fun vibe. 

By the time we embarked on the ship the jet lag was gone and we were able to take full advantage of the ship and tighter schedule of touring.  I know many would prefer not to spend the extra $ on a Haven for these port intensive sailings but husband and I really enjoy the quiet and typically empty area of the Haven to return to after long days.  For the prices ncl charges we could do just about any land or sea vacation.  I think ncl knows they are pushing the limits on what they charge for their Haven on some of these Europe sailings so in return they try to deliver a product worth the cost.  I enjoy the specialty venues over the inclusive venues so I purchased an additional specialty package to supplement the FAS  perk and latitudes free diners. We had two meals outside specialty.  One was in Jasmine which was pretty bad and one was in the MDR which was pretty good.  We had one bad specialty meal in La Cucina.  We returned a subsequent night and it was probably the best meal and service we have had at sea to date so go figure.  Our meals in the other specialty venues varied from outstanding to good enough to stay in business as a standalone land based venue. All in all we found food and dining service to be better than years past.  Very appreciative for the return of lobster and jumbo shrimp along with higher quality cuts of meats to the menu.  

I am reliving our cruise with your review!!

Just now, TSUmom said: I am reliving our cruise with your review!!

Wasn’t this just a fantastic vacation! It was so much fun planning the vacation and meeting you guys. Was the best roll call.  Figures the one time ship excursions made sense was the one time with the independent planners extraordinaire.    

A few more pictures of the Haven area.  We really did enjoy coming back to this after long days.  There was rarely anyone around.  The courtyard butler Renaldo was awesome.  He was happy to serve breakfast or drinks... did a great set up for snacks and grab and go breakfast items.  He also set up the upper deck every day even though it did not seem to get much use. Tepenaki was fun but it’s probably a little too loud for me.  It’s hard for me to enjoy casual conversation with table mates with all the noise. Moderno has an incredible salad bar this time around.  Wasn’t crazy with the sides and the meats but the salad bar was fantastic. 

We did pretty much zero ship shows.  In fact I can’t even tell u who the cruise director was.  I’d usually run into friends when walking past a bar and ended up dining with a few couples we met onboard or with the roll call but with one sea day at the start of the cruise, going to a theater show wasn’t in the cards for us.  Shore excursion staff were really good.  They had been on all excursions and were great at suggesting or getting us on a waiting list... 

I am not a fan of the new “just water.” The taste was really off to me.  I REALLY wish they’d come out with a premium plus non alcoholic beverage package for those who don’t drink alcohol. 

So onto the ports – Santorini.  We booked Ancient Akrotiri and wine tasting.  We tendered to the alternative port where the ncl sponsored tour busses load.  Our tour guide was outstanding.  Filled us with fun and educational facts along the way to the winery.  We don’t drink alcohol but appreciated the venue for the peaceful setting and beautiful views.  Then onto Akrotiri for the tour which our guide made come alive.  He then dropped us off in the center of Thira.  Having been a few times before we wandered around a little and then made our way back down to the ship with the provided cable car tickets.  This day had an easy factor of super easy.  No thinking about what when and where.  Just enjoyed being taken around and educated.  In years past we have done Oia diy and via the ship and also booked Alex boat tours full day excursion on our own.  Of all these “Alex boat tour” was more fun but the Akrotiri tour was more educational.  I wouldn’t hesitate to book Alex boat tours again but it was a lot more $ than the ship excursion.  Being one of the last sailings of the season, Santorini had great weather and much lower crowds than in the past.  For a shoulder season visit to Santorini I would also venture a DIY to Oia but not when multiple ships in port and major crowding. 

Some finds from the archeological site like this goat are in Thira.  Other good stuff like the boxer mural we saw later in the archeological museum in Athens.   

Athens – We booked the Amazing Athens HOHO bus through the ship.   We had been to Athens a few times before but had yet to visit the Archeological museum. I actually enjoyed the at our own pace touring and taking in the sights and neighborhoods of the city.  The HOHO busses loaded right in port and we were off pretty quickly.   The Archeological museum is probably one of the best museums I have seen to date.  Lots of murals and finds from Akrotiri  and subsequent sights seen on this sailing are housed here.  If you visit don’t forget to hunt down and see the Antikythera mechanism housed here. It’s a computer that dates from the first century B.C.  I had done quite a bit of reading prior to our visit so we skipped a tour guide.  I could have spent days inside this museum.  Had this option cost us $, I would have opted just to take a taxi to sights but since it was no cost with all our credits it was not a bad way to spend the day. 

Mykonos – We booked Delos.  I warmed up to our tour guide as the tour progressed.  The ferry ride over was a little rough but not too bad.  I found it simply amazing that their cisterns from 3rd century BCE still hold water.  Also found it fascinating how they kept peace and control for so long.  From an educational standpoint a 5 star day.  Upon return to Mykonos the town was celebrating Oxi day and getting ready for their parade. I found it strange that we were walking along paths with pottery just sticking out of the ground. 

Argostoli.  Well the good luck with excursions kind of took a turn here.  I didn’t see anything really jump out at me. In hindsight I should have booked the tour to the caves but we did the Robola winery and St Andres Monastery.  The Monastery was pretty and we purchased some good Kefalonian honey at the winery.  We did not partake in the wine tasting but those that did said it was not the best wine.  In addition we stopped in a little town where a dog came out to greet us and some lady had ducks squawking.  It was a pretty comical stop.  Our guide showed us a restaurant that used to be open but the owner got sick so it closed a couple years ago.  I would think this was a stop to at least offer a bathroom break or chance to purchase some souvenirs but no such luck.  To top it off we somehow lost a passenger at this stop.  It was a pretty island and very lush.  I would not mind returning someday but would probably avoid the St. Andres Monastery and Robla Winery shore excursion.   For free I can’t complain.  

Dubrovnik – we had also visited here a few times in the past.  Diy is very easy.  I only booked a tour because it was free. We booked the GOT tour.  Got a little spin on the filming of GOT and some actual history thrown in.  We really enjoyed this tour but having walked the walls on our own in the past and also visited the town without a tour, I would say this tour was fun but definitely not necessary.  We somehow got separated from our tour guide at some point in the tour.  We found him sometime later and gave him our headsets.  Purchased some good chocolate and took the bus back to the ship.  Basically if you have a sticker on your shirt just hop on a bus going back to the ship. Just don’t hop on the wrong ship shuttle.  The walls have a lot of stairs.  I would not say I am in the best of shape but also not the worst of shape.  I was able to do the stair climb but in the heat of summer it would be a little challenging.

Venice – we overnighted here on Halloween.  NCL had candy set out, pumpkins carved and it was cute to see groups of passengers dressing up a little here and there.  We booked the Venice hoho with Leonardo Da Vinci Museum.  Not recommended even for free.  We did not have a terrible time but there are  much better ways to see Venice.  I had read reviews of this excursion prior to sailing so my expectations were tempered.  We took the boat to Murano, got off, walked around the island and had lunch and then took the boat back to the port.  I had planned to get off at St. Marks Square on the return but it started raining pretty hard so we went back to the ship.  It served a purpose for free so I couldn’t complain.  Had I actually spent $49 pp on this it would have been a waste of $49 pp.  We have also spent time in Venice in the past so had no burning desire to see all there was to see here.  The next day we took the people mover and then got lost wandering around Venice, the Jewish ghetto, did some shopping, had a great lunch somewhere and then found our way back to the ship.  The sail away was fantastic that evening.  It was a national holiday in Italy on November 1stand they had lots of celebrating going on. 

More of Venice and Halloween on the ship.    

Kotor – The sail in is as fantastic as they say.  Our first visit.  We did the Tuk Tuk tour.  Highly recommended!  Our guide was a local and was great.  We had fun exploring the island and after the tour  he volunteered to take us to the walled city.  Extremely charming city and all around great tour guide.  Our first visit but I hope not our last.  Long tender ride here.  The princess ship we were tagging along with was anchored much closer to town.  It was a much smaller ship so that may have been why they got such a close in anchor spot. I did hear a little rumbling about wait for tenders.  We had zero wait each way.  Likely because we were on an excursion and also stayed in Kotor till well after dark. 

Corfu – Best of Corfu.  I would not recommend this tour.  Didn’t help that it was pouring rain this day but Cici’s palace has likely not had a dime of investment since the filming of the James Bond movie in the 80’s.  To top it off, this crumbling palace is jam packed with tour busses.  The lunch was in a cute town and the food was good.  After the lunch we got dropped off in Corfu town for a little while and then taken back to the ship.  Fun seeing the pretty island but would definitely pass on Cici’s palace in the future.  One can easily diy here.   

Messina – We did the Godfather tour.  HIGHLY  recommend this tour and was happy we booked through the ship.  It was a great day.  Saw some beautiful mountain towns and also some newer seaside towns.  The winding hills and hairpin turns are a bit unnerving - it’s  a showdown coming down the mountain on a large bus with other busses trying to go up the mountains.  If you’re ok with your bus driver backing up the hills around hairpin turns with about an inch clearance then I’d say definitely go for this tour.  The jaw dropping beauty and that classic feel of Italy here.  Of course anything we ate this day was the best ever. 

Naples – Herculaneum through the ship.  Again a fantastic day, fantastic tour guide.  Could not have asked for better with our tour guide.  He was engaging, and educated. He was a fantastic story teller and could not have done any better bringing the city to life.   After this tour ended we walked to a restaurant our Concierge recommended for Pizza.  I had read much about Gritty Naples but I did not concur with what I had read.  It felt safer and nicer there than many cities here in the USA.  We visited Naples on a Tuesday so the museum was closed. Some of the stuff here was in the Archeological museum in Athens. Our guide was on GMA and Samantha Brown.  

And some pictures of Naples.   So much to see here!  I have to return. 

Livorno.  I had booked the jeep marble quarry tour.  Shore excursions said they had not actually had this excursion fill enough to run all season but as luck would have we actually had enough to fill the excursion for the first time.  But then the rain hit and we got canceled at the last minute.  Having spent quite a bit of time in Florence and Pisa in the past, and that it was pouring rain, we took the bus into Livorno, got some supplies, and went back to the ship.  Transfer to the city from the ship was a few euro.  I’ve read complaints on this charge but in all reality the bus ride to the city of Livorno is quite a distance so the charge to me seems justified.

For debarkation we had booked a 7 am 1 hour transfer to the airport. The concierge walked us off the ship and found our driver.  Our friends that we shared the transfer with were flying Luftunsa who was on strike.  They were dropped off at the wrong terminal due to the chaos of the strike but did make their 10:45 am flight.  We were flying British Airways to London.  We had plenty of time to spare.  British Airways has a nice lounge at the Rome airport where we had a nice breakfast and relaxed prior to our flight to London.  We enjoyed ending our trip with a stay in London and our flight home was uneventful.  We have flown business before but this was my first time in first on British Airways out of London.  The security for their first class, massage prior to flight, a nice relaxing meal in the Concord room is pretty dang nice.  Had business been available I would have gone with Business over first class to save on miles but the first class treatment was a real treat and made the end of vacation a breeze … all of which came to a jarring end with a most unpleasant welcome home from Seattle customs and immigration. I have never been in prison but I suspect prison guards might have better manners than Seattle Customs and Immigration staff/agents.     Anyways, I am happy to answer any questions.  We enjoyed our cruise.  Not all was perfect with this vacation - nothing ever is but the positives far outweighed the negatives and we really had a great time. 

northernrose

Very informative report

Also wanted to mention we did this trip with carryon only luggage.  No checked bags.  It was difficult packing for warm and cold weather but I managed.  Had to ditch dress up clothing.  It’s pretty freeing to vacation without big luggage. Ncl gave us free laundry for lattitude perk and we took full advantage.  Didn’t need the bag special days.  I think those were around  $20/bag.  Our Latitude Free laundry bags came back day after we turned in both times.  I can’t say it came back with a tide fresh scent or anything but it is the job and I can’t complain. 

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Oceania cruises debuts new mediterranean sailings for 2025.

New sailings highlight European cities, holiday islands and lesser-known ports

MIAMI , April 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Oceania Cruises , the world's leading culinary- and destination-focused cruise line, has debuted an array of new 2025 Mediterranean sailings, ranging from nine to 56 days, to whisk guests to some of the most breathtaking destinations in Europe. The line's Marina and Nautica will set sail on enticing voyages taking in iconic islands in the Mediterranean, Aegean and Adriatic; well-loved European resort towns and bustling cities, and lesser-known ports of call.

Cities including Athens, Barcelona, Istanbul, Rome and Lisbon frame the 16 voyages, allowing the ships to meander from lively jet-set resort towns such as Monte Carlo, Cannes, Positano and Sorrento, to hidden gems including Tirana and Sarande in Albania; Trapani in Sicily; Calvi and Propriano in Corsica, and Sibenik in Croatia.

Thanks to Oceania Cruises' extensive set of small-group, immersive shore excursions, guests can rediscover previously-visited favorites through a new lens, or discover new places for the very first time. For example, whilst in Santorini, guests can choose an adventurous tour of the island's active volcanoes, or whilst in Montenegro, see a new side of Kotor by exploring Europe's southernmost fjord, Boka Bay.

"Oceania Cruises is rightly renowned for its inventive and captivating itineraries, and our array of 2025 Mediterranean sailings is the perfect way to spotlight one of the most popular and exciting cruise regions of the world," stated Frank A. Del Rio, President of Oceania Cruises.  "With shore excursions to inspire everyone, from active adventurous types to history buffs to foodies, our small, luxurious ships are the perfect way to discover this majestic region of the world."

New 2025 Mediterranean Itineraries

Marina The 1,250-guest ship, Marina , will undergo an expansive refurbishment in May 2024. The refurbishment will include the addition of two new dining options: Aquamar Kitchen, the new wellness-inspired dining venue which debuted on Vista this year; and the al fresco evening Pizzeria, serving spectacular Italian dishes including pizzas and burrata with stunning seascape views; plus an expanded poolside ice cream parlor serving milkshakes and smoothies. All Penthouse Suites and bathrooms will be completely reinspired, and the ship's public areas will be refreshed.

Barcelona to Athens, May 26, 2025, 9 days : Barcelona, Valletta, Rhodes, Ephesus (Kusadasi), overnight in Istanbul, Mitilini (Lesbos), Athens 

Istanbul to Athens, October 16, 2025, 11 days:  One overnight stay in Istanbul, Pergamum (Dikili), Bodrum, Ephesus (Kusadasi), Santorini, Rhodes, Limassol, Marmaris, Heraklion (Crete), Mykonos, Athens.

Athens to Barcelona, October 27, 2025, 11 days : Athens, Split, Kotor, Corfu, Katakolon, Messina (Sicily), Valletta, Tunis, Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona.

Athens to Santa Cruz de Tenerife, October 27, 2025, 21 days : Athens, Split, Kotor, Corfu, Katakolon, Messina (Sicily), Valletta, Tunis, Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona, Malaga, Seville (Cadiz), Casablanca, Agadir, Arrecife (Lanzarote), Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Funchal (Madeira), Santa Cruz de la Palma, Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Nautica Elegantly charming,  Nautica carries just 670 guests, served by 400 crew members. Boasting luxurious, residential furnishings and decks of the finest teak, custom stone and tile work,  Nautica  features four restaurants, the Aquamar Spa + Vitality Center, plus eight lounges and bars, and a casino .

Istanbul to Athens, July 27, 2025, 12 days : Istanbul, Pergamum (Dikili), Izmir, Samos, Bodrum, Rhodes, Antalya, Alanya, Limassol, Kos, Heraklion, Santorini, Athens

Athens to Rome, August 8, 2025, 14 days : Athens, Dubrovnik, Kotor, Bari, Valletta, Tunis, Trapani (Sicily), Porto Cervo (Sardinia), Propriano (Corsica), Monte Carlo, Portofino, Florence / Pisa / Tuscany (Livorno), Rome.

Athens to Valletta, September 11, 2025, 14 days : Athens, Mykonos, Mitilini (Lesbos), Bozcaada (Troy), overnight in Istanbul, Ephesus (Kusadasi), Marmaris, Antalya, Limassol, Rhodes, Santorini, Heraklion (Crete), Valletta.

Grand Voyages

Rome round-trip, July 7, 2025, 46 days  

Venice to Rome, July 17, 2025, 36 days  

Rome to Athens, October 4, 2025, 23 days

Athens round-trip, August 8, 2025, 34 days

Athens to Malaga, September 11, 2025, 26 days

Athens to Lisbon, September 11, 2025, 36 days

Rome to Miami, October 4, 2025, 56 days

Istanbul to Barcelona, October 16, 2025, 22 days

Istanbul to Tenerife, October 16, 2025, 32 days

Oceania Cruises'  simply MORE value promise means virtually everything is included in the voyage fare: free roundtrip airfare and airport transfers; complimentary vintage Champagnes, premium wines and international beers during lunch and dinner; and a shore excursion credit of up to $1,400 per stateroom (credit varies by voyage length). Created to elevate the guest experience, simply MORE means travelers receive the greatest value in luxury cruising.

For additional information on Oceania Cruises' small-ship luxury product, exquisitely crafted cuisine and expertly curated travel experiences, visit OceaniaCruises.com, call 855-OCEANIA, or speak with a professional travel advisor.

About Oceania Cruises

Oceania Cruises is the world's leading culinary- and destination-focused cruise line. The line's eight small, luxurious ships carry a maximum of 1,250 guests and feature The Finest Cuisine at Sea and destination-rich itineraries that span the globe. Expertly curated travel experiences are available aboard the designer-inspired, small ships, which call on more than 600 marquee and boutique ports in more than 100 countries on seven continents, on voyages that range from seven to more than 200 days. Oceania Cruises has two additional ships on order scheduled for delivery in 2027 and 2029. Oceania Cruises is a wholly owned subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NCLH). To learn more, visit  www.nclhltd.com .

SOURCE Oceania Cruises

Released April 25, 2024

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The 13 best solo cruises for 2024 (no supplement fare).

Set sail for a solo adventure at sea.

The Best Solo Cruises

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Relax by the pool, attend shows, dine with new friends and more on your next solo cruise.

Whether you're embarking on your first cruise alone or you've been on solo cruises before, single travelers will find more options than ever when it comes to cruising solo. Many cruise lines offer single staterooms with the same amenities as other cabins, at a price similar to what you'd pay with double occupancy fares. You'll also find special promotions where the single supplement fee is reduced or waived, making it more affordable to reserve a spacious stateroom or luxurious suite with even more amenities – including personalized butler service, an added perk of booking with many luxury lines .

If you're ready for a maritime adventure, an extended vacation or simply a quick getaway from home, these top cruise lines offer some of the best options for solo travelers on waterways around the world.

Lines with solo accommodations and waived fees

Norwegian cruise line.

Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line

Launched in 2010, Norwegian Epic was the first cruise ship in the industry to feature studio accommodations for solo travelers. Norwegian Cruise Line offers this category on nine of the 19 ships in its fleet, including the newest ship, Norwegian Viva. These cabins, at an average size of 100 square feet, are designed and priced with the solo traveler in mind. They have no single supplements – and studio rooms on board Norwegian Bliss even boast virtual windows.

Guests of the studios get access to the private Studio Lounge. In this exclusive space, you can socialize with other solo travelers and enjoy complimentary refreshments. There are also singles meetups throughout the voyage and plenty of fun-filled onboard activities to mingle with like-minded cruisers. Solo travelers can check out all the fun for singles on Norwegian Viva this winter on a cruise to the Caribbean , or in spring 2024 as the ship sets sail for the Mediterranean .

Book a Norwegian Cruise Line voyage on GoToSea, a service of U.S. News.

MSC Cruises

Courtesy of MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises offers interior and balcony solo cabins for single cruisers on its Meraviglia-class ships: the MSC Meraviglia, Bellissima, Grandiosa, Virtuosa and the newest vessel in the fleet, MSC Euribia. The second-newest ship, MSC World Europa, has 28 cabins – 10 Studio Interior and 18 Studio Ocean View staterooms – designed specifically for solo travelers. MSC World America, set to debut in 2025, will also feature the solo studio staterooms.

During voyages with MSC Cruises , single cruisers are invited to a complimentary, hosted cocktail party to mix and mingle with other solo travelers. The daily program is also an excellent source to discover additional activities, entertainment and opportunities to meet other cruisers. You'll have onboard special events like the themed 70s-inspired Flower Party and the White Party, where the ship is decked out in festive white decor and guests don their best white attire. In addition, there are various sports tournaments, or you can show off your culinary expertise during a MasterChef competition.

MSC's Caribbean and Bahamas cruises departing from Miami and New York City feature an overnight visit to Ocean Cay, the line's private island and marine reserve. While there, singles can participate in fun-filled evening activities like a Champagne Sunset Cruise or a glow paddleboarding excursion in the lagoon, then attend the lively Luna Libre Party and the lighthouse show.

Find an MSC Cruises itinerary on GoToSea.

Holland America Line

Michel Verdure | Courtesy of Holland America Line

Three of Holland America Line's newest ships each offer 12 solo cabins to accommodate single travelers: the Pinnacle-class Nieuw Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Konigsdam. These ocean view staterooms range in size from 127 to 172 square feet and feature the same amenities as the double occupancy cabins but with a double bed. The cruise line's Single Staterooms are priced for one person. If a guest chooses to book a different stateroom, single supplements for double occupancy cabins are as much as 100% over the standard fare, depending on the voyage and the cabin category.

Long committed to solo travelers, the line offers many activities where guests can meet other singles such as wine tastings, cocktail mixers, exercise classes, daily quizzes, sports challenges and more. If you're a solo traveler and a member of AARP, Holland America is now the exclusive cruise benefit provider to AARP's members. Solo cruisers will have access to an AARP member-only onboard credit that ranges from $50 to $200, depending on the itinerary and stateroom category.

For itineraries, Holland America's Alaska cruises and cruisetours are perfect for solo travelers, offering many opportunities to connect with fellow cruisers. Another favorite for singles is the line's fall voyages sailing from Boston to Québec City or Montreal.

Explore Holland America Line deals on GoToSea.

Royal Caribbean International

Michel Verdure | Courtesy of Royal Caribbean International

Royal Caribbean International features studio staterooms on select ships that range in size from 101 to 199 square feet. These solo accommodations include interior rooms, virtual balcony staterooms and a super studio ocean view stateroom with a balcony. The cabins do not carry the single supplement fee singles encounter when booking other types of staterooms, making them an attractive option when traveling alone.

Once on board the ship, solo cruisers will have countless options to engage and socialize with other travelers. When it comes to dining with Royal Caribbean , make a reservation at the Japanese restaurant Teppanyaki for an entertaining meal with new friends, or join fellow foodies for the intimate Chef's Table experience (the dining venues vary by ship). Singles can also participate in onboard activities like trivia contests, drink seminars, escape rooms, dance classes and pool parties.

If you need more thrills to stay busy and to meet people, Royal Caribbean's ships feature world-class shows and entertainment alongside adrenaline-pumping rides and attractions. If you're sailing in the Caribbean, there are plenty of opportunities to meet and chat with other passengers at the line's private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Compare Royal Caribbean International cruises on GoToSea.

Atlas Ocean Voyages

Luxury line Atlas Ocean Voyages offers single cruisers 183 square feet of beautifully appointed space in solo accommodations that come without single supplement fees. These ocean view staterooms feature a queen bed, a panoramic picture window, a private spa bathroom with a rain shower and body jets, a stocked minifridge replenished daily with personal favorites, and other luxurious amenities. Single guests can also book other stateroom or suite categories with single supplements starting at 50% of the double occupancy price.

The line's three intimate yacht-style cruise ships – World Navigator, World Traveller and the new World Voyager, whose inaugural season begins in Antarctica in November 2023 – are all-inclusive . Meals at all the dining venues, premium beverages and wines, gratuities, culturally immersive excursions, and more are included in the fare. With fewer than 200 guests on board, there's an atmosphere of conviviality on these ships – especially when exploring remote destinations with like-minded and adventurous travelers during expeditions in Antarctica and the Arctic.

Read: The Top Cruises on Small Ships

Celebrity Cruises

Tim Aylen | Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises' new Edge-class ships offer some of the best options for solo cruisers. The line's two newest vessels, Celebrity Beyond and Celebrity Ascent (set to debut in late 2023), each boast 32 single staterooms with an Infinite Veranda. In addition, Celebrity Apex has 24 solo cabins, and Celebrity Edge features 16 staterooms for individual guests. These one-person accommodations offer a minimum of 131 square feet of space and the same upscale amenities you'll find in other category staterooms on their ships. Solo guests can look for special promotions where the single supplement is waived on select Celebrity voyages throughout the year.

Once on board the vessel, check out the daily program for activities conducive to meeting others – like wine tastings, cocktail-making classes and more. You'll also enjoy thrilling top-notch entertainment around the ship in The Theatre, The Club and Eden. A few popular cruises for singles are the line's Caribbean and Mexico itineraries on Celebrity Beyond.

Book a Celebrity Cruise on GoToSea.

Virgin Voyages

Courtesy of Virgin Voyages

The hip vibe on board the adults-only Virgin Voyages ships is ideal for solo cruisers looking to meet other travelers. Its superyacht-style ships – Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady and Resilient Lady – offer 40 interior cabins ranging in size from 105 to 177 square feet. There are also six Sea View staterooms with portholes boasting between 130 to 190 square feet of space. These Insider and Sea View cabins are designed and priced for single travelers, with amenities like high-tech mood lighting and roomy rain showers. The line also runs promotions where solo cruisers can book double occupancy staterooms without paying a single supplement.

Activities and festival-like entertainment around the ships foster fast friendships. Diners will enjoy the interactive experience at Gunbae, the lively Korean barbecue venue. The "grog walk" is a fun pub stroll where solo sailors can join fellow mates while sipping and snacking their way through all the signature bars. For even more fun, check out the evening shipwide events such as the themed Scarlet Party, which features live music and immersive experiences. The line also hosts meetups for singles throughout each voyage.

Read: The Top Adults-Only Cruises

Avalon Waterways

Courtesy of Avalon Waterways

Avalon Waterways' river and small-ship cruises traverse waterways around the world, including in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. The company waives the single supplement on a selection of staterooms, including its Panorama Suites, on select European and Asia departures. The company recommends booking early as the specially priced cabins do sell out. Solo travelers make up about 10% of the passengers on this river cruise line .

Avalon's fleet of Suite Ships operates in Europe and Southeast Asia and features cabins with a minimum of 172 square feet. About 80% of the staterooms are Panorama Suites, which have 200 feet of living space, beds with a view and the river cruise industry's only open-air balcony. With Avalon excursions, solo cruisers have opportunities to meet like-minded guests during immersive tours, cooking classes, wine tastings, yoga or fitness classes, biking or hiking trips, and more. Single guests can choose to dine at tables for just two people or ones that can accommodate up to eight passengers.

Read: Cruise Packing List: Essentials for Your Next Cruise

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AmaWaterways

Courtesy of AmaWaterways

Two single occupancy staterooms are available on four of AmaWaterways' river cruise ships: AmaDolce, AmaDante, AmaLyra and AmaCello. These accommodations do not have single supplement fees. Solo cruisers can also book staterooms with a 20% single supplement on select sailings in Europe and Southeast Asia. (Note that this pricing does not apply to certain stateroom categories and suites.)

With the friendly, small-ship atmosphere, solo cruisers will find it comfortable to socialize with other passengers and the crew. Onboard activities and immersive excursions also create opportunities for fostering friendships, especially among like-minded travelers. Excellent options for solo cruises include themed sailings centered around music and wine or the magical Christmas markets itineraries along the Danube, Rhone and Rhine rivers.

Explore AmaWaterways deals on GoToSea.

Lines with discounted supplement fares

Courtesy of Azamara

Azamara's special offers for solo travelers include reduced single supplements of 25% to 50% of the double occupancy rate on select sailings. The line's four midsized sister ships – carrying no more than 700 passengers – are mostly all-inclusive. Amenities included in the cruise fare include most meals; standard spirits, wines and beers; bottled water, soft drinks, and specialty teas and coffees; shuttle service in port; gratuities; and complimentary AzAmazing Evenings ashore or Destination Celebration experiences on the ship. Dining at the two specialty restaurants is an additional cost unless guests have accommodations in the Club World Owner's Suites, Club Ocean Suite or Club Continent Suite.

Single guests on Azamara cruises will find events during the sailing and venues around the ship where you can mix and mingle with other solo travelers and chat with the friendly crew. Intimate and culturally immersive excursions also create opportunities to meet passengers with similar interests. Azamara Onward, the latest ship, boasts the new Atlas Bar, a great spot to meet other travelers.

For itineraries, Azamara's signature "Country-Intensive Voyages" are a favorite of solo cruisers, including the 10- or 11-night Greece Intensive Voyage. For an extended sailing, check out the festive 12-night Carnival in Rio Voyage, which features a stop in Rio de Janeiro during the city's famed Carnival.

Compare Azamara cruises on GoToSea.

Cunard Line

Courtesy of Cunard Line

Cunard Line features dedicated solo staterooms on its three ships, priced at approximately 166% to 174% of the equivalent double occupancy cruise fare. Guests can choose between a spacious Britannia Inside or Britannia Oceanview cabin, or opt for a larger stateroom with a single supplement. For a little "me time" pampering while on board, solos will appreciate 24-hour room service, complimentary Penhaligon's toiletries and a chilled bottle of sparkling wine. Single guests will also be invited to get-togethers. You can either dine alone at venues around the ship such as the main dining room or choose to share a table with other passengers.

With an international mix of travelers, single cruisers will find many opportunities to meet and chat with others, especially during a Transatlantic Crossing. During the sailing, you'll find many enriching and relaxing activities that encourage socializing. According to Cunard , there's a sense of camaraderie and a passion around the voyage – and the unique travel experience of crossing the Atlantic Ocean.

Find a Cunard Line cruise on GoToSea.

Silversea Cruises

Courtesy of Silversea Cruises

Luxury line Silversea Cruises offers 25% single supplements on various voyages throughout the year, including expedition cruises to destinations like the Galápagos Islands , Antarctica and the Arctic, and Greenland. The line's all-inclusive fares include luxurious ocean view suites, gourmet dining, complimentary wines and spirits, gratuities, onboard enrichment and entertainment, shore excursions, and more. Solo travelers will even have personalized butler service to indulge their every whim.

The line's fleet of a dozen intimate ships, carrying no more than 728 guests, offers a clubby atmosphere perfect for meeting solo and like-minded travelers. Single guests will also have the opportunity to engage with other solo passengers during a welcome reception with Champagne at the beginning of each voyage. Popular itineraries for Silversea's single cruisers include its Transoceanic journeys, a bucket list trip for many cruisers .

Explore Silversea Cruises deals on GoToSea.

Courtesy of Seabourn Cruise Line

Seabourn has special offers throughout the year where solo cruisers can take advantage of reduced pricing equal to double occupancy fares or discounts on the single supplement starting at 25% above the double occupancy fares. These rates are available on select voyages, including expedition cruises. Frequent solo cruisers and members of the luxury line's Seabourn Club Diamond Elite will also find reduced single supplements on Diamond Elite Single Supplement Sailings. In addition, club members receive invitations to exclusive events, where they can meet and mingle with fellow cruisers. Solo passengers are also invited to sit with the ship's officers, crew and entertainers at dinner – and there are hosted get-togethers for single travelers.

Solo cruisers will enjoy beautifully designed oceanfront suites and all-inclusive amenities on board Seabourn 's intimate ships. These perks include world-class dining; complimentary premium wine and spirits; a spa and wellness program in partnership with Dr. Andrew Weil; included gratuities; and the line's enrichment series, Seabourn Conversations. Single cruisers looking for an extended holiday will enjoy longer voyages on the line's newest purpose-built expedition ship, Seabourn Pursuit.

Compare Seabourn cruises on GoToSea.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Gwen Pratesi has been an avid cruiser since her early 20s. She has visited destinations around the globe on nearly every type of ship built, including the newest megaships, luxury yachts, expedition vessels, traditional masted sailing ships and intimate river ships on the Mekong River. She used extensive research and experience as a solo cruiser to write this article. Pratesi covers the travel and culinary industries for major publications, including U.S. News & World Report.

You might also be interested in:

• The Top Party Cruises
• The Top Transatlantic Cruises
• The Top 3-Day Cruise Itineraries
• Solo Travel for Women: The Best Places and Tips
• The Best Cruise Insurance Plans

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Things to Do in Moscow in 2024

Top 30 things to do and explore in Moscow during your visit.

We have compiled a list of the top things to do during your stay in Moscow.

The list features all kinds of activities ranging from museums (State Historical Museum and Tretyakov Gallery) and theaters (The Bolshoi Theater) to various attractions (the Moscow Kremlin, and Red Square) and districts of Moscow (Patriarch Ponds and the modern City Skyscrapers district).

1 . Zaryadye Park

Zaryadye Park is one of the most notable attraction points in Moscow located steps away from the Read Square. It is famous for its “flying bridge” hanging over Moscow River. The bridge has become one of the top places to take a “selfie” in the city thanks to its killer views of the Kremlin and Moscow River.

Zaryadye is the only new park that was built in the center of Moscow during the past 200 years. The project was completed in close collaboration with Diller Scofidio + Renfro studio famous for their work on “The High Line”park in Manhattan.

It took 4 years and close to $800mln to construct the park.

In addition to the bridge, Zaryadye features several museums, a souvenirs store and several restaurants. There is a tourist center building where you can buy a ticket to one of their exhibitions or ask a question at the tourist info desk.

2 . Sparrow Hills (Vorobyovy Gory)

Sparrow Hills is an area that covers around 15,000 square feet (1,375 square meters) around Moscow State University. It is located 200 meters above sea level and has one of the best observation points of Moscow. Sparrow Hills observation point is remarkable for the fact that you can see 6 out of 7 Stalin era sky scrapers from there (including the building of Moscow State University).

You can use cableway to decent directly to the Luzhniki Park located across Moscow River from here. The cableway has 35 cabins. One way ticket will cost you around 400 Rubles (about $4).

3 . Patriarch Ponds

Patriarch Ponds is referred to as Moscow Soho district that has some of the most expensive real estate prices in the city, high class restaurants and fashion boutiques. The area is famous for its pond that has a nice adjacent walking area.

Patriarch Ponds was mentioned in of the chapters of the well-known novel called “The Master and Margarita” written by Bulgakov. By the way, the writer actually spent his childhood in the neighborhood.

4 . Moscow City (skyscrapers district)

Moskva City (translated as Moscow City ) is a modern business district also known as Moscow International Business Center famous for its sky scrapers. Here you’ll find the tallest building in Europe called The Federation Tower.

The district has lots of restaurants, several hotels and observation points located on the 89th floor of "Federation Tower" and 58th floor of "Imperia Tower". If you are looking for some great views of the city - also checkout the restaurant called Sixty located on the 60th floor of "Federation Tower".

Moscow City is located at the “Delovoy Tsentr” (or Mezhdunarodnaya) metro station. It takes around 10 minutes and 5 stations to get there from the “Aleksandrovsky Sad” metro station located steps away The Red Square.

5 . Ostozhenka District

Ostozhenka is considered to be the golden mile of Moscow with the highest real estate prices. This modern district stands out from other parts of the city with its modern architecture not typical for the rest of Moscow.

As stated by one of the leading real estate companies on the local market, in 2018 average apartment purchase amount value in Ostozhenka area was around $3mln. The most expensive apartment for rent was available for close to $50k per month.

6 . Frunzenskaya neighborhood

Frunzenskaya is one of the most prestigious neighbourhoods in Moscow. It is located right across the river from the Gorky Park and just minutes away from the famous Luzhniki Stadium.

The area is full of green in summer and it's a great place for various outdoor activities like walking or jogging.

Here you can rent an e-scooter at one of numerous rental points spread along Moscow River embankment. You can walk or ride towards Kremlin along the river and enjoy the city.

7 . Moscow aquarium

Moscow aquarium located at the premises of VDNKH Park called “Mosquarium” features 80 tanks with more than 12,000 sea animals. Lots of rare tropical fishes include arapaima from the Amazon River, clown fishes and cowfishes. Their neighbors include star fishes, caimans, sharks, piranhas, several kinds of octopus and jellyfish.

There are several pools at “Mosquarium” where they offer swimming sessions with dolphins. Check the aquarium’s website to get the latest schedule of their shows and pricing.

8 . Luzhniki Stadium

Luzhniki is the biggest sports park in the central part of Moscow. The park was completely renovated to host FIFA World Cup 2018. The renovation included Moscow River embankment adjacent to the park, the main stadium, sports fields, restaurants, swimming pools and shops.

New landscape design made Luznhiki Park much greener by planting more than 50,000 new bushes and more than 1,000 trees. Luzhniki is a great place for rollerblading, jogging or just taking a walk along Moscow River. The area has many open air street workout facilities and a large playground for the kids.

There is a cableway that you can use to cross Moscow River and get directly to Sparrow Hills, the area adjacent to Moscow State University.

9 . GUM Department Store

GUM constructed in the early 1800s was the biggest and most famous department store in USSR. Today it remains one of the oldest department stores in Europe. GUM is famous for its skating rink that opens every winter and attracts both locals and tourists.

10 . The Novodevichy Convent

Novodevichy Convent is one of the most beautiful monasteries in Moscow that is part of the State Historic Museum. The convent was originally constructed in 1524 and today consists of a museum, cathedral and cemetery.

The convent’s museum holds unique collection of church icons, ancient Russian paintings and jewelry. Older part of the cemetery is the final resting place for many famous Russian people like Chekhov, Gogol and Khrushchev.

11 . Cathedral of Christ the Savior

Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow is considered the main cathedral of Russia. The original cathedral was built in the 19th century as a memory to those who died during French invasion of Russia in 1812. It took 41 years to construct the building.

The cathedral was fully demolished and replaced by a public pool called “Moscow” during Soviet times following the order of Joseph Stalin.

The pool was closed in 1994 and the new version of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior with its own museum has been fully constructed by 1999.

12 . State Historical Museum

State Historic Museum is one of the best places to explore Russian history. It is located on the southern side of Red Square and has over 4 million works. The museum employs almost 900 people and its visited by almost 1.4 million tourists annually.

The museum is famous for its sixth century manuscripts, ancient gold artifacts, artworks owned by the Romanov dynasty members and millions of ancient coins.

Entrance tickets cost 1200 Rub (about $20) if you decide to purchase them online and include a personal audio guide in English, French, Chines, Spanish and Russian.

13 . The State Tretyakov Gallery

Tretyakov Gallery has the most comprehensive collection of Russian painting, sculpture and graphics art works. The famous arts museum was founded in 1856 by the Tretyakov brothers - Pavel and Sergy. Pavel started to collect his paintings in 1856 an initially kept them at his house in Lavrushin Lane that has later turned into the main museum building.

Today Tretyakov Gallery has about 180,000 works available to general public.

14 . The Moscow Kremlin

The Moscow Kremlin occupies around 69 acres (about 28 hectares) in the center of Moscow surrounded by walls that are more than 1.4 miles long (about 2.3 kilometers). Inside you’ll find 5 squares, lots of ancient buildings like churches and palaces as well as 20 towers.

Most of the towers were constructed by Italian workers that were invited to Moscow by Ivan the Great who ruled the country for almost 43 years. The most famous tower is called “Spasskaya” (Savior) Tower.

The official residence of the President of Russia is located inside the Senate building at the premises of Kremlin as well.

15 . Danilovsky Market

Danilovsky is one the oldest and most popular modern markets in Moscow. Inside you'll find lots of farmers selling all kinds of products. The market is also famous for its restaurants serving various streetfood as well as dishes from around the world.

16 . Garage Museum of Contemporary Art

Garage Museum of Contemporary Art is situated in the heart of Moscow's Gorky Park, one of the capital's most vibrant and popular public spaces.

The museum's location within Gorky Park adds to the museum's allure, as visitors can enjoy a day of art immersion followed by a leisurely stroll in the scenic surroundings, which offer a plethora of other recreational activities.

17 . Depo Food Mall

Depo is one of the biggest food malls in Europe opened at the premises of the reconstructed Soviet tram depot. The food court located at Depo features dousens of restaurants with various cuisines.

Since its opening, Depo has drawn food lovers from Moscow and beyond, solidifying its reputation as a premier destination for culinary exploration and socialization.

18 . The Central Market

Central Market takes 3 floors of a building located in one of the central parts of Moscow steps away from Trubnaya metro station. Two upper floors of the building are dedicated to restaurants and a food court area. The market area where you can by fruits, vegetables and other groceries is located at the ground level.

19 . Flotilla Radisson Royal Cruises

Radisson Royal Fleet offers daily all year round Moscow River cruises on one of their comfortable yachts. The cruises allow tourists to see all the key Moscow attractions like the Kremlin, Novodevichy Convent and St. Basil's Cathedral from the water.

Guests can pick their tickets depending on the level of comfort and privacy.

20 . Catholic Cathedral of The Immaculate Conception of The Blessed Virgin Mary

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Holy Virgin Mary located in the center of Moscow is the biggest catholic cathedral in Russia. There are just two catholic cathedrals in Moscow including this one. The second one is the Church of St. Louis of the French located on Malaya Lubyanka 12/7.

The cathedral is famous for its neo-gothic architecture and offers Mass in different languages that include Russian, Korean, English, Polish, French and Spanish.

21 . Red Square

Red Square covers an area of around 1300 feet by 490 feet (330 by 70 meters) in the center of the Moscow located right outside Kremlin walls. In Russian the square is called “Krasnaya Ploshad”. The first word is translated as “red” which also means “beautiful” in Old Russian.

Lenin’s Mausoleum and the most notable department store of USSR called GUM are just some of the additional attraction points you’ll find here.

22 . The Grand Kremlin Palace

Explore The Grand Kremlin Palace that was constructed as permanent Moscow residence for the emperor’s family when the capital of Russia was located in Saint Petersburg. You can often see its magnificent reception halls on TV during major official events including the president’s inauguration.

23 . New Arbat

New Arbat is a modern avenue located in the heart of the city parallel to another famous street called Old Arbat. New Arbat has been fully reconstructed and now has a comfortable pedestrian area full of cafes and restaurants. It takes around 10 minutes to get here from the Kremlin area by foot.

24 . Gorky Park

Gorky Park has become one of the city’s main recreational areas after going through over $500 million reconstruction. Located at the embankment of Moscow River the park features restaurants, a museum of contemporary art called Garage, beach volley ball area, open air sculptures museum called Muzeon and an excellent pedestrian area.

25 . The Bolshoi Theater

Bolshoi Theater is located at the Theater Square along with other two famous theaters: Russian Academic Youth Theater and Mali Theater. Bolshoi was opened in 1856 and remains one of the main symbols of Russia. It’s a great place to spend an evening enjoying one of its high class ballet and opera performances.

Some of ballet performances at Bolshoi Theater scheduled to take place in 2024 include Nutcracker and Ivan the Terrible.

26 . Saint Basils Cathedral

During Soviet times communist party had a plan to clear the Red Square from “unnecessary” buildings. This would allow to free additional space in the heart of Moscow required to hold parades.

One of Stalin’s close associates Lazar Kaganovich decided to deconstruct and remove Saint Basil’s Cathedral. He ordered to create the Red Square model without the cathedral in order to persuade Stalin to support his idea.

After exploring the area model without Saint Basil’s Cathedral, Stalin made a very strict remark: “Lazar, get the cathedral back!” This historic remark saved one of the symbols of Russia.

27 . The Moscow Metro

The Moscow Metro is the backbone of the city's public transportation network. It handles over 6 million passengers daily and provides frequent train services with minimal wait times, all year round.

28 . All-Russian Exhibition Center (VDNKH)

All-Russian Exhibition Center was originally opened as the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition (VSKhV) to showcase the achievements of the national economy of the USSR.

The exhibition covers an area of more than 2 square kilometers and includes more than 400 buildings, each with its own unique architectural style and purpose.

29 . Ostankino Television Tower

With a staggering height of 540.1 meters (1,772 ft), Ostankino Television Tower was the tallest free-standing structure in the world at the time of its completion in 1967, a title it held until the completion of the CN Tower in Toronto, Canada, in 1976.

30 . Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve

Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve is located about 30 minutes away from the center of Moscow by car. It comprises a magnificent palace complex, lush gardens, scenic ponds, and a vast array of decorative bridges, all designed in a captivating blend of Russian and Gothic architecture.

The Best New Cruises in the World: 2024 Hot List

By CNT Editors

It’s inevitable: Every spring when we pull together the Hot List , our annual collection of the world’s best new hotels, restaurants, and cruise ships, a staffer remarks that this latest iteration has got to be the best one ever. After a year’s worth of traveling the globe—to stay the night at a converted farmhouse in the middle of an olive grove outside Marrakech , or sail aboard a beloved cruise line’s inaugural Antarctic voyage—it’s easy to see why we get attached. But this year’s Hot List, our 28th edition, might really be the best one ever. It’s certainly our most diverse, featuring not only a hotel suite that was once Winston Churchill’s office, but also the world’s largest cruise ship and restaurants from Cape Town to Bali. We were surprised and inspired by this year’s honorees, and we know you will be too. These are the Hot List cruise winners for 2024.

Click here to see the entire Hot List for 2024 .

All listings featured in this story are independently selected by our editors. However, when you book something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

This story appears in Condé Nast Traveler 's Hot List issue. Never miss out when you subscribe to Condé Nast Traveler .

Celebrity Ascent — Celebrity Cruises Arrow

Celebrity is a premium big-ship cruise brand, focusing on exquisite dining, cutting-edge amenities, Instagram-worthy public spaces chock-full of bespoke art pieces, and avant-garde onboard entertainment. The ship makes passengers feel, in a word, glamorous. Celebrity Ascent ’s sumptuously designed interiors are flooded with natural light and evoke an air of playful sophistication that make a week on board an escape worth cherishing. Passengers may find themselves longing to return for just one more succulent crab claw at Raw on 5, one more martini poured by bottle-spinning bartenders in the Martini Bar, or one more dazzling, acrobatic stage show, in the days following their farewells to this beautiful ship. From $710 per person for a seven-night sailing. —Scott Laird

Emerald Sakara — Emerald Cruises Arrow

Now with two oceangoing vessels joining Emerald’s more established fleet of nine river-dedicated “Star-Ships,” the decade-old cruise line is extending a brand built on unpretentious luxury to more corners of the world. Christened last August, the 100-guest superyacht, Sakara, is a near twin to Azzurra, which in 2022 ushered in a new era for Emerald by taking to the high seas. Sakara, like its sister, delightfully blurs the line between the luxury and ultra-luxury cruise categories, offering attentive service, gourmet cuisine, tasteful decor, and an eclectic slate of activities at a price point friendly to more budgets. The cherry on top with both superyachts is a slew of perks atypical of small-ship sailing, ranging from an impressively comprehensive spa to a marina platform well equipped for more fun in the sun. Despite having so much good stuff, each vessel is remarkably spacious. Getting a sense of being on a private yacht is easy like Sunday morning. Sakara is homeported in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean through at least March 2026; Azzurra, too, in addition to the Middle East, Kenya, and the Seychelles. Emerald’s river operations are based in Europe and Southeast Asia. (Note that a third ship, the Kaia , has just been announced by the cruise line; it debuts in April 2026, and, for all the early birds, it is now open for bookings.) From $3,850. —David Dickstein

Explora I — Explora Journeys Arrow

With a showpiece lobby bar, upscale restaurants, and a sultry infinity pool, Explora Journeys' relaxed luxury-resort-at-sea vibe strikes the perfect balance on Explora I. Launched in August 2023, the all-inclusive ship is disarmingly beautiful. A sleek navy blue exterior cocoons 461 suites, all with deep balconies, walk-in closets, and marble bathrooms. There is free-flowing Champagne, 7,500 square feet of wellness space, and 18 drinking and dining venues. From Emporium Marketplace, with its decadent raw bar, to pan-Asian restaurant Sakura, the dining on Explora I is sensational. Marble & Co. Grill is an intimate steakhouse where aging meats hang in temperature-controlled cabinets. At Anthology, the ship's only supplementary restaurant, guest chefs—such as Claude Le Tohic of San Francisco's O' by Claude Le Tohic—curate sublime tasting menus. There's more: The only Rolex boutique at sea, huge hot tubs, and a shore program that sees some land experiences developed in partnership with revered explorer Mike Horn. From $698 per person per night. —Kerry Spencer

Icon of the Seas — Royal Caribbean International Arrow

Aboard the Icon, you can really get lost. The behemoth is just plain big, with capacity for nearly 8,000 when combining passengers and crew across 20 decks and 250,800 gross tons. Two and a half laps around the ship’s jogging track, a particular highlight onboard, and you’ve run a mile. So one can find themselves in need of a map—forgetting your sunscreen, for example, in your cabin is a bit of a chore depending on how far you’ve made it. But the abundance of things to do is also narcotic, and you feel a bit like a lotus-eater attempting to navigate it all while keeping your head. Amid the relentless entertainment, not to be missed are the top-notch performers present everywhere, from the Olympic-level aquatics show that you can watch from the windows of the specialty seafood restaurant should seating be elusive (it often is) to the cafeteria, where crew members dressed as food items sing songs reminding (commanding, actually, which is fabulous) passengers to wash their hands at sinks near the entrance. If you wish to enjoy the largest waterpark at sea, by the way, do what I did not and pack a swimsuit without zippers. From $2,249. —Charlie Hobbs

Jessica Puckett

María Casbas

CNT Editors

MSC Euribia — MSC Cruises Arrow

Looking at a row of cruise ships in port, you'll spot MSC Euribia right away. She's covered bow to stern by an ocean-themed mural by German artist Alex Flämig that bears the hashtag #SaveTheSeas nodding to the MSC's dedication to sustainable cruising: the European cruise line aims to be net-zero by 2050. MSC Euribia brings it one step closer to that goal, as it's the fleet's greenest ship yet, operating on liquified natural gas (LNG) and running advanced water and waste treatment systems onboard. But enough with the technical details—this mega-ship is packed with activities and entertainment, with 10 restaurants, 21 bars, five pools, two performance venues, and a bevy of family-friendly amenities, like an F1 simulator, a waterpark, and a bowling alley. More adult-oriented highlights include the MSC Aurea Spa, with a thermal suite outfitted with thalassotherapy pools, a salt cave, and a snow room, as well as the Helios Wine Maker bar for wine tastings. From $519. —Stefanie Waldek

Norwegian Viva — Norwegian Cruise Line Arrow

The second entry in Norwegian Cruise Line’s new Prima Class, Viva is like an Irish twin of older sister Prima . There’s the same stateroom count at 1,586, done in pristine and pleasing neutrals, as well as familiarly tricked-out amenities like the zippy 1,400-foot go-kart racing track that undulates over the top decks. Importantly, the Ocean Walk, which my colleague Mercedes Bleth adored aboard the Prima, remains. But round two afforded the premier name in large-ship cruising a chance to tweak and perfect, with an influx of seating options both in the ship’s complimentary dining hall as well as on its myriad decks. Across from the signature “zero-waste” Metropolitan Bar, where yummy drinks are whipped up from the ship’s food waste (I particularly enjoy a buttery Croissant Mai-Tai, for which hardening pastries are boiled down into sweetening syrup; the same is done with banana peels) is an interactive piece of digital art 52 feet wide that sees butterflies flit beside passersby. Breezy class all around. From $979. —Charlie Hobbs

Oceania Vista — Oceania Cruises Arrow

Vista, Oceania’s first new ship in more than a decade and the first of its Allura Class, debuted with small but mighty upgrades to its previous ships: better stabilizers for a smoother sailing experience; stronger Wi-Fi; lighting and architecture designed to make the ship’s common spaces look and feel roomier; a resort-like pool deck; and balconies in every cabin. The real star of the show, though, is the food and beverage experience— Vista ’s culinary program delivers on its promise of top-quality venues you’ll want to make the rounds at. New to the lineup are Ember, a steakhouse with decor straight out of Napa Valley, and Aquamar Kitchen, serving up lighter fare that doesn’t skimp on taste. Celebrate a birthday, an anniversary, or a just-because occasion with the Cellar Masters Wine Luncheon, a five-course meal and wine pairing. And don’t miss the elaborate sea day brunch, where towers of lobster, crab, and caviar await. Of course, the ship is just one destination. This year Vista is splitting time between the Mediterranean and the Caribbean; next year it will venture farther into Europe with ports of call like Istanbul, Stockholm, and Klaipeda, Lithuania. Its sister ship, Allura, sets sail in 2025 From $2,699. —Madison Flager

Scenic Eclipse II — Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours Arrow

The eagerly awaited Scenic Eclipse II is the new and improved version of Scenic's first expedition vessel, Scenic Eclipse . Dubbed "discovery yachts" for their sleek look and top-tier service, the sisters are nearly identical, with most changes so subtle that most guests might not even notice them, such as the slight enlargement of the steam room in the spa. But a big difference can be found on deck 10, where a plunge pool with jets for simulated lap swimming has taken the place of two hot tubs—and there's a new Sky Bar up here. Otherwise, Scenic Eclipse II has the same beloved amenities of its sister, most notably 10 exceptional dining experiences, from a sushi bar to a French restaurant with an attached Champagne bar; a 5,920-square-foot spa; two helicopters; and a submersible. Capable of sailing all over the world, including the polar regions, Scenic Eclipse II has itineraries for every type of traveler. From $7,455. —Stefanie Waldek

Seabourn Pursuit — Seabourn Cruise Line Arrow

Pursuit is a small “yacht-like” expedition ship with a distinct green exterior whose destinations range from Antarctica to warmer climes like the Kimberley in Australia. The decadent cabins, bigger than some standard hotel rooms, feel spacious and relaxing, complete with all the subtle touches that make you feel immediately at home. You can hang your evening attire in the walk-in closet and dry your wet swimwear—or damp Arctic expedition gear—in the built-in warming compartment; have sunrise breakfasts or sunset cocktails mixed at the in-room wet bar on your private balcony; and sleep in a plush, queen-sized bed. But what truly sets this cruise apart is the attentive and personable staff who quickly learn your name and personal preferences, providing VIP treatment throughout the journey. From $10,799. —Taylor Eisenhauer

Seven Seas Grandeur — Regent Seven Seas Cruises Arrow

Ports in the Caribbean, the Greek Isles, and the Riviera might be the draw, but the all-inclusive luxury line Regent Seven Seas Cruises produces ships that have travelers looking forward to those days at sea, as its sixth offering, Grandeur, further proves. All of the 372 suites, which start at a roomy 307 square feet, are decorated in calming neutral blues and beige, and feature furnished balconies; most have L'Occitane bubbles for the marble tub. Quiet comfort can also be had in the Serene Spa & Wellness outdoor lounge area, following a massage on a quartz crystal bed that mimics the feel of warm sand. Cravings for a porterhouse or a vegetarian Salisbury steak can be sated by Prime 7, with other venues serving specialty pan-Asian cuisine, French fare, ample buffets, and Italian offerings. Mainstay Compass Rose has been reimagined as a light, airy space where diners breakfast under playfully elegant pillars that resemble crystal trees. Grandeur 's whimsy extends to its reception area, where guests can check out Journey in Jewels, the Fabergé egg made specifically for the vessel, where it will remain for the rest of its jeweled ovoid days. The maximum number of 744 guests ensures unhurried service and uncrowded environs as you recover from a sunny day of swimming with Caribbean pigs. From $4,699 . —Alexandra Sanidad

Silver Nova — Silversea Cruises Arrow

A voyage on Silversea’s latest ship, Silver Nova, is one of taste and style. With expansive glass features throughout each of the 11 decks, and an ocean-facing saltwater swimming pool, the ship’s unique asymmetrical design leaves room for adults to run and play (with swank, of course). The Nova ’s reimagined culinary experience, SALT (Sea and Land Taste), is the first large-scale, regional restaurant at sea, and acts as an invitation to guests to experience more than an excursion. While initially introduced on Silver Moon, the Nova ’s SALT program includes SALT Lab by day: an intimate cooking class with highly acclaimed chefs and regional cuisine recipes inspired by the next destination. With one nightly seating, SALT Chef's Table offers an exclusive and creatively interactive dining experience. It’s all very intimate—as chefs showcase the art of their crafts firsthand, guests peek into a new culture, and place, before even disembarking. From $3,050. —Jessica Chapel

Viking Aton — Viking River Cruises Arrow

In the style of all Viking ships, the Rottet Studio–designed Aton is intended for comfortable and thought-provoking exploration—just look to the book-filled shelves in the cabins, curated by London’s Heywood Hill library, and the revolving door of on-board lecturers (on my trip, an English curator spoke about the evolving depictions of Egypt in 1900s popular art). It should be no surprise that in a destination as rich and storied as Egypt’s Nile, where the Aton is permanently based, the guides set apart what may read as a quintessential itinerary. On the Pharaohs & Pyramids journey, which takes travelers from the Valley of the Kings, where King Tut lies, to the Great Pyramid of Giza and well beyond over 12 days, esteemed Egyptologists oscillate from translating hieroglyphics on temple walls in real time, to shepherding travelers through modern night markets with endless fervor. On this ship it isn’t just what you see but how much you listen—and the team here, predominantly Egyptian, has much to say. These days, travelers crave perspective-altering experiences more than ever; get on the Aton and you’ll get once-in-a-lifetime access (until, that is, your next Aton sailing). From $5,999. —Megan Spurrell

Resilient Lady — Virgin Voyages Arrow

Stepping onto Resilient Lady feels a bit like heading to summer camp. The massive vessel is like a giant playground for adults, which is why it draws a fun-loving crowd. Theme night parties, a nostalgic arcade room, plenty of board games, and basketball courts are just a few of the seemingly limitless onboard activities. Compared with its sister ships, the newest Virgin Voyages addition includes upgraded onboard entertainment and exciting new ports of call like the Greek Islands, Bali, and Mumbai. Most of the shows on this specific ship are new to the line, such as Persephone, an interactive performance developed in collaboration with famed Brooklyn nightclub House of Yes, and Another Rose, an immersive dinner experience. Dining options are abundant on the ship—20-plus to be exact—and all of them are included with every passenger ticket. Plus, you can’t miss out on a visit to the several different sauna experiences in the Thermal Suite inside the Redemption Spa. From $2,000 . —Rachel Dube

World Voyager — Atlas Ocean Voyages Arrow

There are superbly comfortable spaces and floor-to-ceiling windows aplenty on World Voyager, the latest vessel from Atlas Ocean Voyages. On an Antarctica expedition, from the sauna or the spa’s relaxation room, with its heated loungers perfectly positioned in front of a wall of glass, you might watch turquoise icebergs float by. Back in your cozy stateroom, Champagne and strawberries await, as do the views from a Juliet or walkout balcony. The look throughout the 100 cabins and public spaces is Scandinavian modern, thanks to blond woods, marble floors, plush carpets in geometric patterns, and curvaceous furniture draped in velvety fabrics. In the elegant dining room, the focus is on international cuisine with a farm-to-table slant—think mushroom risotto and smoked duck with chargrilled vegetables. Meanwhile, the multipage cocktail menu beckons guests to a pair of spacious lounges. Blending yacht-style elegance and boutique-resort intimacy, this is a ship where you can make new friends easily but also retreat to a favorite spot to enjoy high tea in peaceful solitude while awaiting details from the crew on the adventures that lie ahead. From $1849. —Celeste Moure

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Cruising the Moskva River: A short guide to boat trips in Russia’s capital

There’s hardly a better way to absorb Moscow’s atmosphere than on a ship sailing up and down the Moskva River. While complicated ticketing, loud music and chilling winds might dampen the anticipated fun, this checklist will help you to enjoy the scenic views and not fall into common tourist traps.

How to find the right boat?

There are plenty of boats and selecting the right one might be challenging. The size of the boat should be your main criteria.

Plenty of small boats cruise the Moskva River, and the most vivid one is this yellow Lay’s-branded boat. Everyone who has ever visited Moscow probably has seen it.

This option might leave a passenger disembarking partially deaf as the merciless Russian pop music blasts onboard. A free spirit, however, will find partying on such a vessel to be an unforgettable and authentic experience that’s almost a metaphor for life in modern Russia: too loud, and sometimes too welcoming. Tickets start at $13 (800 rubles) per person.

Bigger boats offer smoother sailing and tend to attract foreign visitors because of their distinct Soviet aura. Indeed, many of the older vessels must have seen better days. They are still afloat, however, and getting aboard is a unique ‘cultural’ experience. Sometimes the crew might offer lunch or dinner to passengers, but this option must be purchased with the ticket. Here is one such  option  offering dinner for $24 (1,490 rubles).

If you want to travel in style, consider Flotilla Radisson. These large, modern vessels are quite posh, with a cozy restaurant and an attentive crew at your service. Even though the selection of wines and food is modest, these vessels are still much better than other boats.

Surprisingly, the luxurious boats are priced rather modestly, and a single ticket goes for $17-$32 (1,100-2,000 rubles); also expect a reasonable restaurant bill on top.

How to buy tickets?

Women holding photos of ships promise huge discounts to “the young and beautiful,” and give personal invitations for river tours. They sound and look nice, but there’s a small catch: their ticket prices are usually more than those purchased online.

“We bought tickets from street hawkers for 900 rubles each, only to later discover that the other passengers bought their tickets twice as cheap!”  wrote  (in Russian) a disappointed Rostislav on a travel company website.

Nevertheless, buying from street hawkers has one considerable advantage: they personally escort you to the vessel so that you don’t waste time looking for the boat on your own.

Prices start at $13 (800 rubles) for one ride, and for an additional $6.5 (400 rubles) you can purchase an unlimited number of tours on the same boat on any given day.

Flotilla Radisson has official ticket offices at Gorky Park and Hotel Ukraine, but they’re often sold out.

Buying online is an option that might save some cash. Websites such as  this   offer considerable discounts for tickets sold online. On a busy Friday night an online purchase might be the only chance to get a ticket on a Flotilla Radisson boat.

This  website  (in Russian) offers multiple options for short river cruises in and around the city center, including offbeat options such as ‘disco cruises’ and ‘children cruises.’ This other  website  sells tickets online, but doesn’t have an English version. The interface is intuitive, however.

Buying tickets online has its bad points, however. The most common is confusing which pier you should go to and missing your river tour.

“I once bought tickets online to save with the discount that the website offered,” said Igor Shvarkin from Moscow. “The pier was initially marked as ‘Park Kultury,’ but when I arrived it wasn’t easy to find my boat because there were too many there. My guests had to walk a considerable distance before I finally found the vessel that accepted my tickets purchased online,” said the man.

There are two main boarding piers in the city center:  Hotel Ukraine  and  Park Kultury . Always take note of your particular berth when buying tickets online.

Where to sit onboard?

Even on a warm day, the headwind might be chilly for passengers on deck. Make sure you have warm clothes, or that the crew has blankets ready upon request.

The glass-encased hold makes the tour much more comfortable, but not at the expense of having an enjoyable experience.

Getting off the boat requires preparation as well. Ideally, you should be able to disembark on any pier along the way. In reality, passengers never know where the boat’s captain will make the next stop. Street hawkers often tell passengers in advance where they’ll be able to disembark. If you buy tickets online then you’ll have to research it yourself.

There’s a chance that the captain won’t make any stops at all and will take you back to where the tour began, which is the case with Flotilla Radisson. The safest option is to automatically expect that you’ll return to the pier where you started.

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Norwegian Cruise Line Launches 2024 Europe Season: New Homeports, Endless Adventure and Unmatched Value

This Year, NCL Offers More than 100 Immersive Europe Itineraries from 13 Homeports Across Nine Ships, Including Its Newest Prima Class Vessels

Company to Launch First-Ever Summer Season of Sailings Between New York City to Reykjavik, Iceland Beginning July 2024 

NCL Delivers an Incredible Value-for-Money Travel Experience with Inclusive Vacation Enhancing Benefits with its Free at Sea Offer

• Norwegian Viva - Aerial - Lisbon Norwegian Viva in Lisbon during her first call on Aug. 19, 2023
• Norwegian Escape - Santorini - Composite
• Norwegian Prima in Reykjavik, Iceland
• Norwegian Star - Aerial Norwegian Star at sea Pacific Coast

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), the innovator in global cruise travel with a 57-year history of breaking boundaries, launched its 2024 Europe travel season on April 19, 2024 with the arrival of Norwegian Epic to its seasonal homeport of Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy, before embarking on a 10-day Greek Isles and Italy voyage.

During this summer travel season, guests embarking on NCL cruises in Europe will have the opportunity to choose from 101 distinctive itineraries with 38 roundtrips and 63 open-jaw sailings, calling to 140 captivating ports across Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, Greek Isles, and the Atlantic Coast.  Additionally, guests can fully explore highlight destinations such as Istanbul, Turkey; Florence (Livorno), Italy and Reykjavik, Iceland with select itineraries offering overnight calls. Cruises will be departing from 13 homeports with New York City; Le Havre (Paris), France; and Oslo, Norway being three brand new options for NCL voyages to Europe.  The Company will have a total of nine ships 1 in region, including its newest innovative vessels, Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva , as well as Norwegian Escape , which returns to Europe following its first successful season in 2022.

With an average of 10 hours in port, guests can explore at their leisure or choose from a wide range of shore excursions designed to provide guests with an in-depth experience of each destination. For more immersive experiences, NCL offers a unique collection of shore excursions including, Beyond Blueprints, where guests uncover the design secrets and stories of Europe's most iconic architectural landmarks; Gourmet Tours, designed for the foodie-driven traveler allowing them to go behind the scenes of local cuisines; and Go Local, a selection of excursions inviting guests to unveil the everyday rhythms and customs of life in destinations. Guests aiming to spend even more time in Europe and dive deeper into the rich history of the region can take advantage of NCL's expanding Cruisetours program, a pre- or post-cruise-option that includes roundtrip flights, hotel stays, transportation and excursions. Cruisetours are currently available in 10 European destinations, such as Istanbul, Turkey; Paris, France; Barcelona, Spain; Reykjavik, Iceland; Rome and Venice, Italy, amongst others.

“As we return to Europe for this season, our goal remains consistent—curating unmatched and captivating experiences for guests to immerse in Europe’s most iconic and sought-after destinations, while delivering value for them to maximize their journey with us,” says David J. Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line. “In fact, we have found that cruising to Europe with NCL offers up to 40% 2  more value than a similar land-based vacation, making it not just a memorable experience, but a cost-effective one. There is still time for guests to book that last-minute trip to Europe with NCL and enjoy the beauty of waking up in a new destination nearly every day.” 

Not only does a NCL cruise in Europe offer a great value when compared to a similar land-based vacation with comparable services and inclusions 2 , but it also provides a significantly enhanced experience with a variety of offerings to enjoy on board, including high-production value entertainment; up to 20 world-class dining options; and a wide array of shipboard activities suitable for the whole family, from thrilling races on the only three-level racetracks at sea to serene moments in the award-winning Mandara Spa ® .  Moreover, with NCL's Freestyle Cruising philosophy, guests have the freedom to tailor their vacation experience to their preferences, with no fixed schedules or dinner times.  NCL’s freedom of choice and value proposition invites guests to explore the world while enjoying the convenience of unpacking just once and waking up in a new and exciting destination almost every day.  Plus, with NCL’s Free at Sea offer, guests can customize their vacation even more to their desires by receiving value-enhancing vacation perks such as specialty dining, unlimited beverage package, shore excursion credits, free airfare for the second guest, and others.

As we return to Europe for this season, our goal remains consistent-curating unmatched and captivating experiences for guests to immerse in Europe's most iconic and sought-after destinations, while delivering value for them to maximize their journey with us. In fact, we have found that cruising to Europe with NCL offers up to 40% 2  more value than a similar land-based vacation, making it not just a memorable experience, but a cost-effective one. There is still time for guests to book that last-minute trip to Europe with NCL and enjoy the beauty of waking up in a new destination nearly every day.  

Itinerary highlights for NCL cruises in Europe include:

Norwegian Star Sails a Series of Open-Jaw Sailings to Iceland, Greenland and Canada

Norwegian Star, the only ship in NCL's award-winning fleet equipped for polar navigation, which makes it possible for it to reach ports above the Arctic Circle.  As such, the ship will be the first in the NCL fleet to offer a new summer series of breath-taking and port-rich 12- to 14-day open-jaw sailings between New York City and Reykjavik, Iceland with calls to Akureyri and Grundarfjordur, Iceland; Qaqortoq, Greenland; and St. John's (Newfoundland) and Halifax, Canada. These itineraries will embark in July and August 2024.

Explore the Blue and White Greek Isles with Norwegian Getaway

Norwegian Getaway will homeport in Athens (Piraeus), Greece on June 25 embarking on seven- to 10-day Greek Isles roundtrip itineraries . Each day, the ship will moor at a new port allowing guests to explore bucket-list destinations like Istanbul, Turkey; Iraklion, Santorini and Mykonos, Greece as well as hidden gem Izmir (Ephesus), Turkey. Select departures include overnight stays in Istanbul giving guests more than 24 hours to visit Hagia Sophia, Topkapı Palace and the Grand Bazaar.

Norwegian Viva’s Cruises to the Mediterranean

Between May and November 2024, NCL's newest ship, Norwegian Viva, offers guests a selection of nine, 10- and 11-day open-jaw voyages cruising the Mediterranean. These unique itineraries feature a different embarkation and disembarkation port in sought-after destinations such as Athens (Piraeus), Greece; Lisbon, Portugal; Venice (Trieste) and Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy, allowing travelers the opportunity to plan an extended vacation either pre- or post-cruise. 

Almost No Days at Sea Onboard Norwegian Escape’s Mediterranean Sailings

Norwegian Escape will be the Company's largest vessel in Europe this season at nearly 165,000 gross tons. The ship will homeport in Barcelona, Spain; Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy; and Trieste (Venice), Italy sailing eight- to 10-day roundtrip sailings in the Western Mediterranean calling to a sun-kissed port each day as well as seven- to 11-day open-jaw sailings with stints in Italy, Greece and France with only one day at sea.

Additionally, NCL cruises in Europe are already on sale through December 2025 giving guests the chance to plan and book their next summer getaway early.

For more information about the Company's award-winning 19-ship fleet and worldwide itineraries, or to book a cruise, please contact a travel professional or visit  www.ncl.com .   

1 Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Getaway, Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Prima, Norwegian Sky, Norwegian Star, and Norwegian Viva.

2 For the comparison, Norwegian Cruise Line compared the total prices for Fly-Cruise-Packages on peak season sailings onboard Norwegian Escape (Italy, France and Spain) to 4-star hotels in Spain and Italy. The comparison accounted for total prices including roundtrip flights from the U.S. to Spain or Italy, transfers at the destination, staterooms (incl. balcony with sea view), all-inclusive board or Free at Sea upgrade as well as service charges/tips.