In the summer of 2025, I traveled with my husband, my three sons, and my nephew on my third Royal Caribbean Mediterranean cruise. This sailing was on the Voyager of the Seas. We love Mediterranean cruises as a way to explore new spots in Europe from a floating hotel with a lot of activities for the boys.
Voyager of the Seas
The Voyager is a medium-sized Royal Caribbean ship with a lot to do, including FlowRider, ice skating, minigolf, and all the shows and dining we love on this cruise line. My family appreciates the large card room on deck 7, the perfect place for our nightly card games.
The Ports on our Mediterranean Cruise
Rome
The cruise departed from Civitavecchia, a port town situated approximately one hour from the city of Rome. Most travellers spend a few days in Rome before boarding. Check out my guide to 2 Days in Rome.
Since we had visited Rome a few years prior as part of a Western Mediterranean cruise, we spent a few days in and around Naples, specifically on the lovely island of Ischia.
Getting from the City of Rome to Civitavecchia
To get from Rome to Civitavecchia, you can drive (or be driven) or take the train.
You can take a private transfer from Rome or the airport, which is the most convenient choice, but also the most expensive.
Another option is to take the train, which departs directly from Rome Termini train station and arrives in Civitavecchia. When you arrive in Civitavecchia, shuttles are available for a small fee to transport you to the cruise port.
Naples, Italy
There isn’t much to do around the port in Naples, but Naples is an excellent starting point for exploring the Amalfi Coast by boat or small-group tour, visiting Pompeii, or the islands of Capri or Ischia. Many ferries depart from near the cruise port, allowing you to reach various destinations.
Messina, Italy
Messina is a port on the island of Sicily. The main spots to visit from this port are Taormina and Mount Etna. You can take a taxi or train to reach Taormina, which is about a 40-minute trip.
I have visited Taormina three times, and my family and I love it! One time I visited was as part of a trip to Sicily, so I was able to spend the night. Check out my guide to Taormina, a magical town in the hills over the ocean below the volcano, Mount Etna.
On this trip, we did a lovely wine tasting and lunch at Gambino Vino on Mount Etna. You can book a private tour of Taormina, which includes a wine tasting experience.
We also spent a few hours exploring the beach at Isola Bella.
Kotor, Montenegro
I found Montenegro an unexpected delight. The mountains along the coastline appear fjord-like in their steepness and the way they meet the clear, crystal blue water, but there are many beaches by the shoreline.
This port typically requires a tender to access the land, so it takes a bit of extra time to start your explorations.
Blue Cave, Submarine Tunnels, and Our Lady of the Rocks
We started the day with a private boat tour, which turned out to be one of our favorite experiences on the cruise. If you would rather be part of a group boat tour, you can book that here.
First, we took a beautiful boat ride through Montenegro’s gorgeous bays, stopping at the submarine tunnels that were used during World War II and the Cold War to hide submarines. We then entered the Blue Cave and had the opportunity to snorkel and swim.
Our last stop was one of my favorites – time to tour a uniquely decorated church on an isolated island, Our Lady of the Rocks.
Explore Kotor
After we returned to town, we explored inside the walled city and had a nice lunch. The town has a lot of cats, and even a cat square, which I loved.
Kotor Gondola
We then took a taxi to the gondola station to ride the gondola to the top of the mountain. You will be amazed at how high you get. There are many hikes and viewpoints at the top, as well as a roller coaster and restaurants.
Kotor Castle
If you are up for a hike, you can take the steep path to Kotor Castle as an alternative way to get stunning views of Kotor.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Dubrovnik boasts a stunning walled city overlooking gorgeously clear waters.
A taxi ride to Trebinje, Bosnia
Since we were so interested in the history of the Balkans, we had a taxi take us into Bosnia and Herzegovina for the first half of our day. It was a long drive, but the food was good and we were happy to see and experience it. Book a private tour from Dubrovnik to Trebinje. On the way back, our taxi brought us to a viewpoint with gorgeous views of the walled city. He said it was a much better view than you get from Dubrovnik’s gondola.
Walk the Dubrovnik Walls.
We spent the afternoon exploring the walled city. Entrance onto the walls requires a ticket that can be purchased upon entering the main gate of the town, or you can book a small group tour.
Enjoy the Ocean of Dubrovnik.
The water surrounding the city is beautiful, and I recommend bringing a bathing suit and towel (I love a Turkish towel for travel) to enjoy it. You will see spots right outside the wall where you can dive off a cliff into the refreshing water.
Another way to enjoy the water in Dubrovnik is with a kayaking tour.
Split Croatia
Krka Waterfalls
Seeing the Plitvice National Park has long been on my bucket list, but it is a far drive from either of our Croatian ports, so I will have to wait for a different trip. Luckily, there is a slightly smaller, but still beautiful National Park, full of waterfalls, that you can see in a little over half a day from Split.
You can do that as a private tour, including wine tasting, or as part of a group tour.
Whichever tour you do will require a few miles of walking on well-maintained wooden pathways. They also include a pretty boat ride up the Krka River.
The Klis Fortress
This medieval fortress is located between Split and Krka. It looms over the landscape and was featured in Game of Thrones.
Diocletian’s Palace
The Diocletian’s Palace is the walled area of Split. It is now home to a town, but also features placards sharing its history as a Roman palace, dating back to the 4th century, when the Roman Emperor Diocletian used it.
Entrance inside the walls is free, but once inside, you can decide whether to purchase tickets for attractions such as the bell tour, Venus’ Temple, and the Cathedral of Saint Domnius. You can also take a guided tour of the Diocletian’s Palace, which includes some of these entry fees.
Museum of Wine
Just outside the main entrance to the Diocletian’s Palace is a wine museum.
Venice
It’s a long ride from Ravenna to Venice. The options are limited, so the transfer through the ship is a good idea.
Make reservations for St Mark’s, including the museum and loggia. The best views of Venice can be seen from the loggia.
To learn about Venetian history, consider taking a guided tour of the Doge’s Palace.
Later, I will write a post about how to spend two days in Venice.
Taxis in this Part of Europe
Taxis are easily accessible at the ports, but many only take cash. Almost every cab we encountered only took Euros, and the ATMs around the ports have exorbitant fees, so I recommend bringing a fair amount of money with you from abroad.
We were happy to take a taxi at each of the stops in the Balkans, as the history is both fascinating and recent (these countries were once part of Yugoslavia until 1991), and we gained many different viewpoints from each driver.
