A long Mediterranean cruise from Southampton typically takes around three to four weeks. These itineraries sail in both directions; however, shorter Mediterranean cruises are available if you’re prepared to fly. If you sail on a 4-week Mediterranean cruise or a 3-week Mediterranean cruise, your holiday will start and end in Southampton. If you book a Mediterranean fly-cruise, you’ll fly to meet your ship directly in the Mediterranean. 

The best months to cruise the Mediterranean are May to October.

If you like the weather to be warm (but not too hot) than May-June or September-October are the best months to visit. As these months fall outside of the school holidays, you’ll also find fewer tourists around.

If taking a swim in the sea is something you’d like to do in the Mediterranean, then you’d be better off visiting in September or October when sea temperatures are warmer – especially in destinations like Greece and Italy.

If you’re looking for the most sunshine and the hottest temperatures, the best time to visit the Mediterranean would be July and August. As these months coincide with the school holidays, however, you will encounter higher tourist numbers.

Packing for a Mediterranean cruise is all about balancing comfort, style and convenience.

If you’re planning on exploring off your ship, you’ll need footwear you can easily walk around in. As many Mediterranean streets are cobbled, we recommend supportive flats with a thick sole or trainers with a good grip.  

Cotton is a good fabric for daywear as it regulates temperature and can help to keep you cool. As its likely to be sunny on your visit, we also recommend packing sun lotion and after sun, a sunhat and sunglasses.

Swimwear is a must if you’re planning on taking a dip in the sea or swimming in your ship’s pools. As your ship is also equipped with a gym and sports courts you may want to bring a little workout wear so you can use these facilities – or take part in an activity like table tennis or a dance class. You should also pack some eveningwear options if you’d like to dress up on your ship’s Celebration Nights on board.

Other than this, it’s essential to bring any medications you need for your time away, as well as everyday items like toothpaste, a toothbrush, and chargers for your electrical devices. You may also want to pack some Euros to use on the days you go ashore and – most important of all – you’ll need to pack your boarding passes and your passport!

While not as fast as flying, cruising to the Mediterranean only takes a couple of days on average. You’ll spend the first night and day of your cruise crossing the English Channel and the Bay of Biscay, then it’s just a case of sailing between ports once you arrive in the Mediterranean, which mostly happens overnight while you’re asleep!

This is the case for our month long Mediterranean cruises, which sail roundtrip from Southampton, but we do also offer Mediterranean cruises where you can fly directly to your ship in the Mediterranean, cutting out the sail from Southampton entirely.

35 night Caribbean holiday from £2,299pp†

^†Early Saver price of £2,299 per person is based on two adults sharing a PF grade Inside cabin on cruise N604. Prices are subject to availability and may go up or down. Early Saver bookings are made at the relevant cabin grade and a cabin number is allocated by P&O Cruises prior to departure. Dining preferences are not guaranteed. Shuttle buses in ports are an additional cost. Early Saver prices apply to new bookings only. These terms and conditions vary, where relevant, the applicable booking conditions which are otherwise unchanged. 

Buy the Classic drinks package for £40pp per day^

^Book an applicable Select Price or Early Saver holiday of 5 nights or more departing before 27 March 2027 and receive the Classic drinks packages for £40 per person per day when purchased at time of booking. Offer excludes bookings made on Arcadia’s World Cruise, Classic Southern Hemisphere Journeys and Exotic fly-cruises. New bookings made between 13 May and 20 August 2025, subject to availability, limited numbers apply. Classic drinks packages must be purchased by all adult guests sharing a cabin. Guests aged 17 and under travelling with one adult only will be charged for a Classic drinks package but will receive a Refresh package, which is a variation of the standard drinks package terms. Offer combinable with current on-board spending money promotions, Blue Light Card discount and deposit offers on qualifying departures. If you are a Peninsular Club member, you may qualify for an additional discount. From 1 July 2025, new summer 2027 collection cruises departing between 19 March 2027 and 23 October 2027 will also be included in this offer. Except where these terms state otherwise, all drinks packages provided as per our terms at: pocruises.com/drinkterms