The number of cruise passengers is on the rise – There were 8.2m passengers in Europe in 2023, up 6.5 per cent on pre-pandemic numbers according to the Cruise Lines International Association (Clia).
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.
However, the increase in passenger volume has seen some European ports – notably Venice and Barcelona – cap numbers in recent years to preserve their heritage and reduce pressure on city infrastructure.
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.
Most recently, Christian Estrosi, the Mayor of Nice, told local media that he intends to ban large, “low-cost” ships that carry more than 900 passengers from the Cote d’Azur port city by next July.
In a post shared on X, Mr Estrosi said:
“Overtourism and pollution generated by these floating cities are scourges that we want to combat in Nice. The truth is that these are activities that are not very profitable for our territory, which pollute a lot and threaten the health of the people of Nice and Villefranchois [Villefranche-sur-Mer].”
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.
While the effects of up to 3,000 passengers disembarking for a day of sightseeing in tourist destinations puts pressure on infrastructure and residents, it can also add to the sense of overcrowding for other holidaymakers.
However, there are “sweet spots” for land-lubbing tourists not keen to squeeze through busy streets, when few – and sometimes no – ships are docked.
We’ve looked at port data and schedules from the ship tracking database Cruise Mapper to identify the least busy times for cruise ship arrivals in eight of Europe’s most popular and scenic coastal destinations.
Quietest month: March
Busiest month: May
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).
Disembarking passengers might join a coach tour to explore the Riviera, or simply stroll its 16th-century citadel, admire the colourful houses of the old town and the Jean Cocteau-painted Chapel of St Pierre. There are also two golden beaches in town.
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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.
Temperatures reach up to 15°C, perfect for sightseeing in just a light jacket. Just a stone’s throw from the water’s edge, sample southern French cuisine – think escargot and bouillabaisse – at the traditional La Grignotière.
explorenicecotedazur.com
Quietest month: February
Busiest month: July
Dubrovnik, famous for its striking walled historic centre, was added to the Unesco list of World Heritage Sites in recognition of its outstanding medieval architecture and fortified old town in the 1970s.
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.
However, it remains one of Europe’s most visited cities, with 4.5 million overnight arrivals in 2023 – compared to a population of just over 41,500.
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 February, there are only two small ship arrivals, and in March, 11 – mostly small ships – followed by 27 in April.
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.
Cruise-free days are scheduled to be 9, 11, 13 and 20 April. For longer stays, opt for the 1-5 April inclusive, or the 16-17, or 23-24.
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.
Easter weekend is also an atmospheric time to visit, particularly around the old town’s cathedral, as well as the processions around the ancient streets.
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Sip on a cocktail at Beach Bar Dodo, which offers plenty of vegetarian food options with views of the ocean in a sheltered bay.
A 10-minute ferry will get you to nearby Lokrum island with its botanical gardens that will be bursting to life. Entry plus a round-trip ferry is €27 (£22.75).
visitdubrovnik.hr
Quietest month: February
Busiest month: October
On Andalucia’s Costa de la Luz, this ancient city that’s sometimes called “Little Havana” is a good year-round destination, thanks to temperatures that hover in the mid-teens.
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.
With the port just 500 metres from the historic centre of the city, a big ship’s arrival can make its atmospheric, cobbled streets feel overwhelmingly busy.
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.
Make time for a coffee or some tapas in the opulent surroundings of the 1912 Cafe Royalty.
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.
andalucia.org/en/provincia-cadiz
Valletta, Malta
Quietest month: March
Busiest month: July
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)It’s also Europe’s second-smallest capital after the tiny Vatican City, meaning that tourist influxes are noticeable. A record number of cruise passengers visited Malta last year, with just under 1m passenger movements recorded in Valletta.
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.
In contrast, in March there are just 17 arrivals, when temperatures match this number by peaking at 17°C.
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.
Try Maltese food, like local sausages and pork fillets with honey and thyme at Rubino, which dates back to 1906.
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.
visitmalta.com
Quietest month: June
Busiest month: November
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.
It’s a brief, 10-minute stroll from the port to the Murcian city’s historic centre, so many passengers opt to disembark the ship and explore Cartagena’s Roman ruins, 18th-century rampart and National Museum of Underwater Archaeology, which showcases pieces recovered from shipwrecks dating back to the Phoenician period.
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.
Temperatures can reach highs of 26°C in June, which is ideal for swimming at the nearby Mar Menor coastal lagoon, with its golden sandy beaches.
For lunch, The Marquise, run by a mother-and-daughter team, offers Mediterranean fare in an understated environment.
The Rock Imperium Festival takes place near the harbour, in Batel Park from 26-29 June, with The Cult headlining.
turismodemurcia.es/en
Malaga, Spain
Quietest month: March
Busiest month: November
Balmy Malaga’s temperatures rarely drop below 17°C and can get close to the 40°Cs in summer, with the busiest time for cruise arrivals in the shoulder season – November will see 48 ships arrive on the Costa del Sol city’s shores.
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.
Try Casa Lola’s extensive tapas menu, which can be enjoyed on outside seating when it’s warm enough.
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.
visita.malaga.eu/en
Quietest month: February
Busiest month: June, September
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)June and September are the busiest months for cruise arrivals in La Spezia (32 each month). In February, there will be none with just one arriving in December.
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.
For day trips, opt for 1, 6, 10, 12, 16, 18 or 21 April and, for a longer visit, go for 24-29 April.
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.
Pay a visit to L’Osteria della Corte, an established restaurant serving highlights of regional cuisine including artfully plated risottos and pastas.
Palma, Mallorca
Quietest month: February, March
Busiest month: October
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.
Cruise ship arrivals – which mostly dock at the Estacion Maritima, about a 40-minute walk from the historic centre – peak in May and October, when 66 and 73 ships are scheduled to arrive respectively. There are also frequent ferry arrivals from the Spanish mainland.
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.
Temperatures around 18°C are ideal for exploring the Gothic Santa María cathedral and the Bay of Palma.
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.
1 March is a public holiday in honour of the Day of the Balearic Islands, celebrating the day the archipelago became an autonomous community 42 years ago, with markets, fairground rides and outdoor concerts in and around the capital.
visitpalma.com/en
Genoa, Italy
Quietest month: February, March
Busiest month: October
March is also the ideal time to visit Genoa, the Ligurian capital in northwestern Italy. With its medieval city gates, laundry-strung caruggi (narrow lanes), markets, historic port (another modern Renzo Piano transformation) and the childhood home of Christopher Columbus, it’s easy to see the appeal.
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.
For views of the city and great pizza, head to the Montallegro Restaurant, founded over 100 years ago.
Ending on 30 March, don’t miss the Lisetta Carmi: Very Close, Incredibly Far exhibition at the Doge’s Palace.
Celebrating the 100th anniversary of Genoese photographer Lisetta Carmi’s birth, the show is a great way to get to know the city through art. Tickets €14.00 (£11.75)
visitgenoa.it/en
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