For passengers, the ease of stitching together the highlights of the Mediterranean’s glittering shores or historic cities along scenic waterways over the course of a week or two is undeniably appealing. Clia forecasts that the global number of cruise ship berths will grow from 677,000 in 2024 to 730,000 by 2026.
Starting next year, Amsterdam will almost halve the number of ocean cruise ships docking at its city centre port, to a maximum of 100 per year. Longer term, it plans to relocate the cruise terminal outside the city centre.
In a post shared on X, Mr Estrosi said:
He hopes that limiting the ships that dock in the city will lead to a 70 per cent reduction in the number of cruise passengers to the region, but it will have to be agreed and ratified before his ambitions are realised.
However, there are “sweet spots” for land-lubbing tourists not keen to squeeze through busy streets, when few – and sometimes no – ships are docked.
Quietest month: March
Bigger cruise ships visiting the Cote d’Azur dock at the port of Villefranche-sur-Mer, a picturesque fishing port just a few kilometres from Nice (where smaller ships tend to dock).
square TRAVEL The cruise that nudges into deliciously remote corners of Europe
Read More
The busiest period for cruise arrivals is May, when 37 pass through. In March though, only three arrive, on 13, 28 and 31, making it the ideal time to explore with relatively few cruise crowds.
explorenicecotedazur.com
Busiest month: July
Dubrovnik is a popular spot for cruise passengers and can often feel too busy for many (Photo: Jeremy Woodhouse/Getty)
When overtourism threatened the city’s protected status, the port authority took action by limiting the number of cruise passengers simultaneously visiting the inner city to 4,000.
Dubrovnik’s port, Gruz, is two miles out of the old city centre, and July is the busiest month for cruise ship arrivals this year, with 83 ships scheduled to dock.
In April, temperatures peak at around 18°C – warm enough for exploring in a T-shirt, although bring a raincoat as Met Office data shows that there is an average of 123mm of rain for the month.
Although the sea temperature might not favour a dip on the Dalmatian coast, it’s a perfect time to hike on the many routes above the Adriatic Sea or explore the old town or, if it’s your thing, experience a Game of Thrones tour, taking in sights where the popular series was filmed.
square TRAVEL Croatia's cheaper and quieter alternative to Dubrovnik
Read More
Sip on a cocktail at Beach Bar Dodo, which offers plenty of vegetarian food options with views of the ocean in a sheltered bay.
visitdubrovnik.hr
Busiest month: October
Summer can be stiflingly hot so cruise arrivals peak in April and October, with 40 and 43 ships docking respectively. The terminal is also used by ferries that travel south to the Canary Islands.
The quietest time to avoid the crowds is February, when the mercury can climb to 17°C. From 2-8, 10-16, 18, 20-21, 24-25, and 27-28, there are no ships scheduled to dock.
Another reason to visit at this time of year is Cadiz Carnival, this year running from 27 February until 9 March, when parades fill the streets with music and traditional costumed characters.
Valletta, Malta
Quietest month: March
The island’s capital Valletta, is magnificent with its museums, palaces and grand churches dating back to the 1500s, as well as the Renzo Piano-designed City Gate.
Malta’s small capital can seem overly busy when cruise passengers arrive (Photo: Sylvain Sonnet/Getty)July and August are the busiest months for arrivals this year, with 46 and 40 cruises arriving at the port of Valletta, less than 10 minutes’ walk from the centre.
For day trips to Valletta, 4, 6 and 13 March are quietest on the cruise front, while 1-2, 8 and 9, 15 to 17, 22 to 24 and 28 and 29 are ideal for longer visits.
The Feast of St Joseph on 19 March is a big deal around Europe and, in Malta, churches are strewn with colourful lights, while there are parades in the streets, and alfresco picnics to celebrate, too.
Quietest month: June
While Cartagena is not one of the busiest cruise destinations in the Mediterranean – the highest concentration of arrivals this year will be 25 ships in November – its relatively small centre means that crowds are noticeable.
Cartagena is a popular spot by the water – and it can be relatively peaceful, depending on when you go (Photo: Maremagnum/Getty)
While January, February, March and December are quiet months for big boat arrivals, with numbers in the single digits, June is the best time to go this year, with just three ships docking on 2, 17 and 22.
For lunch, The Marquise, run by a mother-and-daughter team, offers Mediterranean fare in an understated environment.
turismodemurcia.es/en
Malaga, Spain
Busiest month: November
March, with highs of 20°C, is the perfect time to avoid the cruise crowds in this Spanish city, with just 12 ships arriving. If you’re visiting for a day trip, plump for the 1, 3, 5 or 30 and, for a longer stay, 8-14, 16-17, 19-21 and 23-27.
Cinema lovers will enjoy the 27th edition of the Malaga Film Festival, between 1 and 10 March, which showcases plenty of films and shorts, and puts on free concerts around the city, where Malaga-born actor Antonio Banderas has a promenade named in his honour and is director at the city’s Soho Theatre.
Quietest month: February
The proximity of La Spezia port in Liguria to the iconic towns of Cinque Terre – a fast train connects the two in around 15 minutes – means that passengers make a beeline for these five colourful, cliffside fishing hamlets, crowding their narrow streets.
Cinque Terre is a must-visit for many – but it’s not always packed (Photo: Ratnakorn Piyasirisorost/Getty)In April, when the weather starts to heat up to around 17°C, there will be 10 arrivals, but still plenty of days without any ships docking.
As well as exploring the five distinct towns, 25 April marks Liberation Day, a commemoration of the end of the fascist regime in Italy. Expect to see ceremonies, historical re-enactments, and events across La Spezia, a city worth exploring once you’ve seen Cinque Terre.
Palma, Mallorca
Quietest month: February, March
Mallorca is one of Spain’s most popular holiday destinations and its capital is no different, visited by city breakers, cruise passengers and holidaymakers alike.
Although 19 cruise ships are slated to arrive in March, days with no ships docking are 2, 5, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24 and 26. For longer stays, 8-9 and 12-13 March will also be ship-free.
Palma is just one spot which has become a must-see in Mallorca (Photo: Anton Petrus/Getty)
Don’t miss sampling Mallorcan cuisine at Finca14, a colourful spot in the heart of old Palma.
visitpalma.com/en
Genoa, Italy
Busiest month: October
While October sees 45 cruise ships arrive, March has just 12 – and temperatures start to climb to the mid-teens. No cruises arrive on 1, or the 4-8, 11-14, 18-22 and 25-29 March.
Ending on 30 March, don’t miss the Lisetta Carmi: Very Close, Incredibly Far exhibition at the Doge’s Palace.
visitgenoa.it/en
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( When to visit Europe’s prettiest cities without the cruise crowds )
Also on site :