In short
Barcelona is the easier trip: the terminals are 10–15 minutes from the centre and half an hour from the airport, with sailings almost all year, winter included. Civitavecchia is Rome's port, 80 km from the city: choose it for Rome and Greece, as summer sailings head east more often. Many week-long itineraries call at both.
Sailings by month
- Busiest months
- May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov
- Where ships go
- Western Mediterranean · Greece, Turkey and the Adriatic
- Usual length
- 6–9 nights
- Round trips
- most
Which port suits you
You want an easy journey and more dates
A direct flight of about two hours, half an hour from the airport to the ship and the city right by the port. Early spring, autumn and especially winter bring more sailings from here, and in November Atlantic crossings leave too.
Barcelona port guide →You want Rome and the Greek islands
Two or three days in Rome before or after the cruise, and in summer more sailings to Greece, Croatia and Turkey, including week-long ones. Allow an hour from Rome or the airport, and bear in mind that winter sailings are few.
Civitavecchia port guide →Point by point
| What we compare | Barcelona | Civitavecchia (Rome) |
|---|---|---|
| Getting there from the Netherlands and Belgium | Direct flights from Amsterdam, Eindhoven and Brussels take about 2 hours. By train via Paris, around 11–12 hours from Amsterdam. | Direct flights to Fiumicino and Ciampino take just over 2 hours, then about an hour by road to the port. By train it takes much longer than to Barcelona. |
| Terminal to city centre | The Moll Adossat is 2–3 km from La Rambla: 10–15 minutes by taxi, or about 10 minutes on the Cruise Bus from the World Trade Center. | Central Rome is about 80 km away, an hour by regional train. Inside the port a shuttle runs from Largo della Pace to the ships. |
| Airport and train | From El Prat airport, about half an hour by taxi; cheaper is the Aerobus, the metro to Drassanes and the Cruise Bus. | From Fiumicino, about an hour by taxi (fixed fare) or transfer; by train with a change at Roma Trastevere, 1.5–2 hours. Civitavecchia station is on the seafront, 15–20 minutes' walk from the port entrance. |
| Season | Almost all year: most sailings from May to November, and week-long cruises in winter too. | Peak from May to October; few sailings from November to March. |
| Typical itineraries | A week in the Western Mediterranean; 10–14 nights to Greece and the Adriatic; Atlantic crossings in autumn and the odd Canaries cruise in winter. | A week in the Western Mediterranean; in summer many sailings to Greece, Croatia and Turkey, 7–14 nights; the occasional Atlantic crossing in autumn. |
| City before or after | Barcelona is right by the port: La Rambla, the Gothic Quarter, Gaudí, the beach. | Rome is an hour away and deserves 2–3 days. Civitavecchia itself is small: a fortress and a seafront promenade. |
| Where to stay | Port Vell, Barceloneta, the Gothic Quarter or Eixample: 10–15 minutes by taxi to the terminal in the morning. | Civitavecchia itself for a calm morning; in Rome, near Termini, in Prati or in Trastevere, with direct trains to Civitavecchia. |
Itineraries: what they share and how they differ
The key point: many week-long Western Mediterranean cruises are round trips that call at both Barcelona and Civitavecchia, with Marseille, Genoa, Naples or Sicily along the way. You can often board such a ship at any of these ports and leave it there a week later. In that case you are not really choosing a cruise, but a convenient flight and the city you want to see. The booking for the specific sailing shows where boarding is possible.
- Spring and summer are close to even. From May to October both ports have plenty of sailings, so in summer the itinerary and where you want to spend a couple of days matter more. In early spring, March and April, Barcelona offers more choice.
- The east is closer from Rome. In summer a large share of sailings from Civitavecchia head to the Greek islands, Croatia and Turkey, including 7-night trips. From Barcelona, cruises east are less frequent and usually 10–14 nights, with more days at sea.
- Autumn and winter belong to Barcelona. From September to November Barcelona has its busiest months, November adds one-way Atlantic crossings, and in winter week-long cruises carry on, with the occasional voyage to the Canary Islands. Civitavecchia has few sailings from November to March. More in our guide to winter cruises.
If you want both cities anyway
Fly to Rome a couple of days before the cruise and board in Civitavecchia, then see Barcelona during the port call. Or the other way round. Just remember that on a round trip you leave the ship where you joined it, so book your flight home from the same city.
Common questions
Which port is better for a first Mediterranean cruise?
Usually Barcelona: a short flight, the airport half an hour from the terminal and the port close to the city centre. Civitavecchia suits you if you want to combine the cruise with Rome and don't mind an hour's journey to the ship.
Can I join the same cruise in Barcelona or in Civitavecchia?
Often, yes: many week-long Western Mediterranean itineraries call at both ports, and you can board at either. You usually leave the ship where you boarded. The booking for the specific sailing shows which boarding ports are available.
Which port is better for a winter cruise?
Usually Barcelona: from November to March week-long Western Mediterranean cruises sail from there, sometimes voyages to the Canary Islands, and in November Atlantic crossings. Civitavecchia has only a few sailings in winter.
Which port is better for the Greek islands?
Civitavecchia: from spring to autumn many sailings head to Greece, Croatia and Turkey, including week-long ones. From Barcelona, cruises east are less frequent and usually last 10–14 nights.
How the club fits in
Cruises from Barcelona and Civitavecchia that are available in the club work on the same terms as any other route. You choose one way to pay per booking: the member price (INsider Pricing), roughly 17% below the listed price, or your Reward Points, which can cover up to half of the cruise price. They do not add up. To pay up to 100% with points, you need to have accumulated enough points and book 270 days or more before departure.
Not every cruise line can be booked through the club: check the specific sailing in the club's search, or ask us and we will tell you which Barcelona and Civitavecchia dates are available in the month you have in mind.
How booking with points works →
Seasons and destinations are summarised from cruise line schedules for 2026–2027 and may change; check the current itinerary and terminal information before you travel. Percentages describe the club's rules and are indicative. Reislite is an independent information site run by partners, not a website of inCruises.