Med itinerary recommendation Sun Princess

[Zeikah]

Hi All,

 

First of all I realize that no one can decide for me, just after your thoughts. This will be my first trip to Europe. I would like to cruise on the Sun Princess. Looking to do 14 nights but there are 3 x 7 nights segments. Just after some advice which 2 segments you would recommend for a first time trip to the region.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

The segments are,

 

Barcelona depart 5.00pm

Sea day

Gibraltar 7.00am-4.00pm

Sea day

Marseille 8.00am-6.00pm

Genoa 8.00am-8.00pm

La Spezia 7.00am-7.00pm

Rome arrive 6.00am

 

Rome depart 6.00pm

Naples 7.00am-7.00pm

Sea day

Crete 8.00am-6.00pm

Sea day

Ephesus 7.00am-6.00pm

Mykonos 7.00am-9.00pm

Athens arrive 6.00am

 

Athens depart 7.00pm

Santorini 7.00am-7.00pm

Sea day

Kotor 7.00am-5.00pm

Corfu 7.00am-4.00pm

Messina 7.00am-4.00pm

Sea day

Barcelona arrive 6.00am

 

 

[cruisinsince75]

46 minutes ago, Zeikah said:

Hi All,

 

First of all I realize that no one can decide for me, just after your thoughts. This will be my first trip to Europe. I would like to cruise on the Sun Princess. Looking to do 14 nights but there are 3 x 7 nights segments. Just after some advice which 2 segments you would recommend for a first time trip to the region.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

The segments are,

 

Barcelona depart 5.00pm

Sea day

Gibraltar 7.00am-4.00pm

Sea day

Marseille 8.00am-6.00pm

Genoa 8.00am-8.00pm

La Spezia 7.00am-7.00pm

Rome arrive 6.00am

 

Rome depart 6.00pm

Naples 7.00am-7.00pm

Sea day

Crete 8.00am-6.00pm

Sea day

Ephesus 7.00am-6.00pm

Mykonos 7.00am-9.00pm

Athens arrive 6.00am

 

Athens depart 7.00pm

Santorini 7.00am-7.00pm

Sea day

Kotor 7.00am-5.00pm

Corfu 7.00am-4.00pm

Messina 7.00am-4.00pm

Sea day

Barcelona arrive 6.00am

 

 

First and second.  If the cruise was actually stopping in Kotor, which it won't, I would have a different take.  The cruise will stop in Bari instead and not nearly as exciting.

[insidecabin]

I would pick the end ports where I wanted to spend extra days

 

Also consider the flight,hotel, transfer  cost  and transfer times.

[sailingkiwi]

Having never done a Med Cruise, but having travelled extensively in Europe I would do first and second. I’d do at least 3 days in Barcelona first. 
 

Good variety of countries and opportunities to see different types of sites depending on what you are interested in. 

[beg3yrs]

1 hour ago, cruisinsince75 said:

First and second.  If the cruise was actually stopping in Kotor, which it won't, I would have a different take.  The cruise will stop in Bari instead and not nearly as exciting.

I too agree if you're only doing two segments (we're on the third segment as I type this), the first two are the best. We're on the way to Bar in Montenegro, not Bari which is an Italian port across the Adriatic. Took a ferry from there once and it wouldn't be on my top list of ports to visit.

[Esprit]

I personally wouldn’t bother with the first week for cruising.

However Barcelona is a fantastic city to start a cruise with a pre stay.

Gibraltar and Marseille are not great and Genoa is not pretty to visit either.

Edited June 16 by Esprit

[Justpackingmybags]

2 and 3 for me. Although I enjoyed Marseille, Genoa and La Spezia very much, I find Gibraltar underwhelming, plus all the sea days are at the beginning of the week. Weeks 2 & 3 have an interesting mix of ports and you get a sea day towards the end of week 3 which definitely helps when it comes to packing! Plus you could then stay on a few days in Barcelona. 
whichever you decide is right for you, I hope you enjoy visiting Europe

[ISABELLA]

On 6/16/2024 at 12:27 AM, Zeikah said:

Hi All,

 

First of all I realize that no one can decide for me, just after your thoughts. This will be my first trip to Europe. I would like to cruise on the Sun Princess. Looking to do 14 nights but there are 3 x 7 nights segments. Just after some advice which 2 segments you would recommend for a first time trip to the region.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

The segments are,

 

Barcelona depart 5.00pm

Sea day

Gibraltar 7.00am-4.00pm

Sea day

Marseille 8.00am-6.00pm

Genoa 8.00am-8.00pm

La Spezia 7.00am-7.00pm

Rome arrive 6.00am

 

Rome depart 6.00pm

Naples 7.00am-7.00pm

Sea day

Crete 8.00am-6.00pm

Sea day

Ephesus 7.00am-6.00pm

Mykonos 7.00am-9.00pm

Athens arrive 6.00am

 

Athens depart 7.00pm

Santorini 7.00am-7.00pm

Sea day

Kotor 7.00am-5.00pm

Corfu 7.00am-4.00pm

Messina 7.00am-4.00pm

Sea day

Barcelona arrive 6.00am

 

 

Have been to all of these ports. Rome - Barcelona will take my vote.

Stay in Rome before the cruise and few days in Barcelona after. We just finished almost the same itinerary on the Sun few weeks ago.

[EDVM96]

On 6/16/2024 at 9:02 AM, beg3yrs said:

Bari which is an Italian port across the Adriatic. Took a ferry from there once and it wouldn't be on my top list of ports to visit.

The top highlight is near Bari. It's Matera, which is only a 1 hour drive away.

 

 

Many movies were filmed here.

 

 

[MyriamS]

I would do first and second. Kotor, Corfu and Messina are nice but not must sees for a first European trip in my opinion. Santorini is, but it will probably be too crowded to enjoy even if the off season. (Mykonos was too, to be fair.)

[Wishing on a star]

The last two, for me.

I would have a greater interest in Italy and Greece, and the Italian ports in the last two seem better.

 

Rome or Barcelona to spend more time along with your cruise, is a personal preference.

As just mentioned,  Rome and Barcelona would be preferable to Athens.

 

Too many preferences, like you said,  only you can pick!!!

 

 

[ISABELLA]

Some of Greek islands are over rated. More like a turist trap.