We sailed our first Mediterranean Cruise 2024 | Our Honest Full Review | The Good, Bad and Ugly

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In our JJ Cruise News today, just like the World’s Largest Cruise Ship Wonder of the Seas Cruise did in 2022, we sailed on our First Mediterranean Cruise and share our review of our Mediterranean Cruise 2022! We share our First Impressions of our Mediterranean Cruise onboard the New Celebrity Cruises Celebrity Beyond Cruise Ship 2022! We tell you the Good, the Bad, and the UGLY of our first Mediterranean Cruise Review 2022!
In the cruise news latest, join us as we chat through this cruise news today. The latest cruise news we are bringing is all about our first Mediterranean Cruise Full Review including New Things we have experienced on the New Celebrity Cruises Celebrity Beyond Cruise Ship 2022. This latest cruise news proves Mediterranean cruises 2022 are full of interesting experiences that are unique to Mediterranean cruises first impressions review include people onboard, demographics as well as age range, family cruisers, overall vibe onboard, views, food and dining experiences as well as excursion comparisons, new activities as well as favorite cruise activities, Mediterranean food, WiFi connection onboard, pool deck and outdoor activities, weather, currency exchanges, and so much more! On Celebrity Beyond, Celebrity Cruises’ new cruise ship class for Mediterranean, there are so many things to do! Those things include Theatre, Specialty Restaurants, Celebrity Cruises Celebrity Beyond Cruise Ship architecture, Martini Bar, solarium, Casino, and Hot Tubs. Other venues onboard the New Celebrity Cruises Celebrity Beyond Cruise Ship and that are on the Celebrity Cruises Celebrity Edge Cruise Cruise Ship 2022 include Eden, Magic Carpet, and favorites such as Oceanview Buffet, Raw on 5, Luminae, Blu Restaurant, Mast Grill, and Sunset Bar! Will this Mediterranean Cruise Ship Celebrity Cruises Celebrity Beyond Cruise Ship 2022 make cruise news headlines? What are your first impressions of Mediterranean Cruises 2022? This is the latest cruise news allowing cruising to restart in the US! We are talking about what this cruise ship news means for the major North American cruise lines, Royal Caribbean International, Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Virgin Voyages, and Disney Cruise Line and how it ties into the US Cruise Restart.
We had the incredible opportunity to climb aboard Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's Adventure of the Seas FIRST sailing out of Nassau, Bahamas on June 12th, 2021. We were also onboard the FIRST sailing out of the US on Celebrity Edge on June 26th, 2021. Celebrity Cruise Lines was the first major North American cruise line that sailed from a North American port since March 2020. We were also on the first Carnival cruise out of Florida on July 4th Carnival Horizon sailing. We were on the Inaugural Season Carnival Mardi Gras cruise ship maiden voyage sailing on July 31st! We were on one of the first Disney Cruise Line ships sailing out of the US on Disney Dream on August 20th, 2021! We were on one of the first Alaska sailings in 2021 on Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas on August 27th, 2021! We are thrilled to be on these ships to bring you the latest cruise news and information about the future of the cruise industry in 2022.
Don't miss important information about upcoming Royal Caribbean Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruises, Disney Cruises, Virgin Voyages and Carnival Cruise Line cruises, and cruise news latest about the future of cruising.
Comment and tell us what you think! What are your honest thoughts - what are your thoughts on Mediterranean Cruises? Are you ready to book a Mediterranean Cruise?
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4 окт 2024

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@JJCruise 2 года назад

We will never do our Ugly again!! So disappointing but at least for good reasons! Let us know your tips or thoughts on Mediterranean Cruises below! 👇🏼

@baboran Год назад

No-=-- you MUST do the ugly. Your videos are fantastic. BUT--the best advice here was to not make the ship the center of the cruise in the Mediterranean.TRUE TRUE TRUE- becuase most of the time is in port!!

@agustinguevara8054 Год назад

Aweosme video, thank you. We are going to Greece and Croatia this summer !!

@JJCruise Год назад

Have a blast! 🥳

@andyb2706 2 года назад

As a European I love cruising the Mediterranean and there are still a few ports I've not visited and the ports I have visited there is still a lot of places I can visit from them, but can I give you all a tip. At some point don't miss out on the Adriatic which is the East coast of Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro and Albania. These cruises seem to be a little bit more relaxed from the Med cruises and you get a chance to visit some stunningly ancient cities and the scenery of sailing in and out of some of the ports just took my breath away. I'm just a little over a month before my next cruise and I'm returning to the Adriatic for that one.

@RachaelStern Год назад

Which line did you see those countries on? I cant' find any that incudes all of them

@melton68 Год назад

@@RachaelStern NCL. We are doing one in July. Italy, Greece, Croatia, Montenegro, Slovenia.

@orthodiva7487 Год назад

@@RachaelStern we went on Holland from Barcelona to Venice which includes the Adriatic Sea on Croatia and Montenegro. Loved it.

@jules2565 Год назад

My original NCL cruise had Croatia and Montenegro which was one of the reasons I chose it, as it had a nice mix of Italy, Greece and Adriatic....and then they changed the itinerary and took out Croatia and Montenegro :(

@lisadee1623 2 года назад

Now that we’re retired, this is our plan for fixing the “Ugly”: book the last Med cruise of the season (usually late Sep/early Oct) back-to-back with the transatlantic cruise returning to the US. This gives a mix of focused port days ashore followed by a lot of sea days to enjoy the ship. Love your content!

@JJCruise 2 года назад

That’s a great call!! Definitely the best way to do a Transatlantic cruise 🥳 Just be sure to give yourself a few days before the cruise to get through the jet lag 😅

@thiggs333 2 года назад

What a great plan!

@pookerwesley 4 месяца назад

I'm taking my first cruise in October 2025 io the west mediterranean. What was the weather like in October? 😊

@kirstenvigh776 Год назад

Very very helpful, thank you. As an Australian, I really needed to hear the truth about not picking the ship for this destination as I won't be on the ship but out exploring. I was going crazy trying to look at all the cruise ships and the newest and the best out there. I definitely have a new perspective on how I will plan my trip now. Great video.

@penelopepitstop762 Год назад

Me too! Most of the European/Mediterranean Celebrity cruises are their older ships and same for Royal Caribbean. I am kind of scared to go on an older ship, but after hearing what they said, maybe I will consider it.

@NFNJP 2 года назад

I just got back from a Mediterranean cruise. You guys were spot on. I also liked that you told people the toilet, you had to pay to use - everywhere! We stayed in Barcelona for a few nights on each end of our cruise. I need to let people know, the crime in Barcelona is super high. Four people staying at our 5 star hotel were robbed! At gun point. One of our Cab drivers was robbed as well. Be very very careful in Barcelona.

@cruisecrazy7066 2 месяца назад

Why pay to use a toilet? Just pee on the sidewalk.

@azielnik 2 года назад

Please note that if you are at all mobility limited the Med is not your friend and to research shore excursions or just rambling around port carefully. Uneven surfaces, stairs and transport without ramps, etc, are common although major sites such as the Coliseum or Vatican in Rome are generally more "ADA "-compliant"

@JJCruise 2 года назад

Great tips!! Thanks for the help! 🤗🥳

@genebelledulay3593 5 месяцев назад

This was a pleasure to watch and in sharp contrast to another channel that I just watched before this where they faces were scowled the whole time. Doesn’t sound like they enjoyed themselves as much as you guys did and even though you guys included a “bad & ugly” your faces were still light and welcoming. 👍🏼👍🏼

@texasboy5117 2 года назад

As someone who has been to Europe probably 35 times over the years, it is very different then many other cruises. The best advice is really drill down and read about the ports. Watch RU-vid videos and ask questions of your travel agent for advice. And yes prepare to spend a lot of money. We always fly in 4 for 5 days early for a mini vacation before or after the cruise. This way you get to see more based on the fact we fly over in business class and want to see more for what we spend. Also go hungry!

@jeffdinter600 2 года назад

You can always ask some of the crew members on board your ship for some local places that they go when they have their day off the ship. Because they Cruise the area frequently they have special places that they like to go that are off the beaten path that they know of for you to be able to go and enjoy a good meal at a great price.

@suewolf3279 Год назад

Thanks for reminding people of the VAT Tax. Now if you're staying in Europe keep your receipts and you can redeem the vat tax at the airport, with a customs agent when you're leaving the country.

@PL-mu1cp 2 года назад

I have done 2 cruises in the Med. At the time I was 50 and my travel companion was about 30, Both of us said we would have liked the cruise to be a couple days longer just to have a couple sea days to relax and recharge. We did the 11 night Greek Island cruise on Celebrity and a 14 night repositioning from Rome to Florida. Both on the Equinox (My favorite ship out of 30 cruises). I like seafood and Mediterranean food so I was very happy with the food on the ship. On Thanksgiving night I was the only one at the table that had ordered the Thanksgiving Turkey dinner, the rest of our table were Europeans. I noticed that Europeans do dress up more then Americans for Formal nights. The lady in the cabin next to us was surprised to see me in a Tux for a formal night. "You clean up well for Americans" was her comment.

@suewolf3279 Год назад

Wow! A real snarky remark from your next-door neighbor on the ship

@DiG900 Год назад

In Europe we do buy clothes that are much dresser than American clothes… Most Europeans would only wear what Americans wear in the gym or doing jobs at home ie gardening housework!! So not really a rude comment as 90% of European think it,, but may not say it to your face 😂😂

@ParkWinters Год назад

Wow, amazing advice! I especially appreciate knowing the information you gave about the long distances from the ports to the attractions.

@MikeHInCT 2 года назад

I agree that the long days can be exhausting but our attitude is when will we get this opportunity again. June 2019 we did a Baltic cruise that included overnight in St Petersburg. We did a 9 hour castle tour the first day, went to the ballet that evening and then did 10 hour tour on day two of the inner city and museums. Were we tired, yes, but considering where the world is today I don’t think anyone will be cruising to St Petersburg for the next decade we a glad we had the opportunity. BTW we were both 67 years old. Just did our second Mediterranean cruise in July yes it was hot but we saw Venice, 2 cities in Croatia, 4 Greek islands in 9 days ( cruise line cancelled stop in Montenegro) your advice is right on point choose for the destinations not the ship.

@DinaCruisingThruLife 2 года назад

I totally agree that Mediterranean cruise are port heavy and a port costs are more expensive. This is why I did choose NCL for my first Mediterranean cruise to get that shore excursion credit for each port. It’s worth it. Also, I love my sea days, and Eve though it was my first Mediterranean cruise, I didn’t want to be tired on my “must see” excursions. I made a decision to stay on board for our stop in France. This worked out for me since it was the day after a 10 hour excursion and knowing the next day I would be on another long excursion. The cruise had one true sea day towards the end of the cruise and this was great to break up my cruise for my “rest” days. My thought was I would be going back so I didn’t feel as if I was missing anything.

@aquascoob 2 года назад

Really check out private excursions. People are usually reluctant because they are scared to missed the ship, but these companies do this all the time and most guarantee you will get back in time or they will get you to the next port. Also you will usually pay less and have a more customized itinerary. For Naples I booked a private Amalfi Cost tour where I picked which stops we would make and for how long, there were four of us (2 from the roll call) and the price was the same per person as the cruiseline's big bus tour. The private tour guide I had in Florence recommended a driver for pickup from port. Our group took the transportation but only two of us went with the private guide for an in depth walking tour, and just the guide and myself did an Uffizi Gallery tour. Best day EVER! Do your research, it can turn a nice trip into a once in a lifetime vacation.

@svetlanaz5904 5 месяцев назад

What company? Or website did you use to find them? Need some for ibiza and majorca

@bethsimpson1916 2 года назад

We're doing our first Mediterranean cruise next week out of Rome, 12 days on the Apex. We'll be in Israel for 3 of those days. One of the excursions is 10 hours! We will have 4 much needed days at sea. Thanks for the tips guys. This Canadian always appreciates your views and input.

@brianbarriger8553 Год назад

Great Job Guys!!!!! You are soooooo right. Really expensive Excursions, definitely have to do the tours on your own, and arrange if possible, pre-cruise. There are companies and websites that can help you plan and arrange your tours. The cruises will mark up their Tours 2X to 3X if you arrange the Tours through the cruise companies. And you nailed it on Rome, and also Florence/Pisa is the same thing,....at least a 1 or 2 hour distance between the Port and the Cities. We were looking at a Celebrity cruise that had an Overnight in Florence. Sounds great, but think about going back and forth 4-times to see Florence over the 2 days. Nope. So we would go and see Pisa and Florence again on the same day, stay late in Florence and have dinner, maximizing our time there, and then head back late to the ship with our pre-arranged Driver. But 1-day only, and on day 2, we would either hang out around the port City on day 2, or plan another area to see, again, pre-arranged if so, for the 2nd Tour. And a Med cruise is work, for sure, and not really relaxing. You GO GO GO throughout the days, as it it really educationally and culturally focused. But exhausting. And then the Time difference, which takes you at least the first 2 days to adjust to. We always pay for a Suite when we do a Caribbean cruise, but a Balcony room when we do a European or Med cruise, and put the Cabin savings into the private Excursions and Food around those Cities. Also, because we are purchasing more Food and Drinks on these Tours, we are not eating as much on the Ship, which we already have paid for, so it's like a double charge. Therefore, a Balcony room makes more sense for us. And we also try and cruise in the Spring or Fall, before and after the Tourist season rush. You save some cash AND avoid the long lines and craziness. Anyway, just a few thoughts to share. Again, EXCELLENT review!!!!!

@JJCruise Год назад

Thanks Brian for adding some great additional insights to cruising the Med! 🥳

@aonetruthr 2 года назад

You two are killing it! I envy your life experiences and love that you made your own theme song. Keep it going JJ

@JJCruise 2 года назад

Thanks Alain! We are super blessed to be able to cruise the world and can’t wait to do more cruises soon! 🥳

@briannao3967 2 года назад

@@JJCruise Me and my family were thinking of doing a Mediterranean cruise again but we don't know if we wanna go back to rome or go to greece or leave from london on royal caribbean but we cant deside also love your videos🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

@rayvaul3539 Год назад

Don’t envy other people, be glad for their experiences instead

@lisathaviu1154 Год назад

One reason you might not be closer to the cities when you go into ports is how big the modern ships are. These are old places, actually ancient, so the original ports were not built for the gigantic ships most big lines use. This is one reason that river cruises might be preferable for some European cities that are not on the beaten path. Also, smaller ocean cruise lines can get to places you might not be able to go to in a big ship.

@danielbobberson9849 2 года назад

This is a great comprehensive review of cruising in the Med. A real must see video for first timers. Excellent point on the distances to get to the major cities...that can be a real drag. Agree all about the ports...thanks for the great video.

@splatmacpuffin Год назад

Very helpful advice. We sailed the Med for 12 days on the Brilliance of the Seas and made the ports the destination. Great content guys, love the Good, Bad and ugly format.

@JJCruise Год назад

Thanks Matt! Definitely the right way to do things! 👏🏽

@sarahmcgrath462 2 года назад

Just a quick tip, Europe is HOT in the summer and our aircon is not the same as that in the US. The bus aircon was the main complaint on excursions from US guests on our Greek cruise on Beyond

@orthodiva7487 Год назад

If you’re going to take the time and the money to go across the pond, we don’t take a round trip Med cruise. We take ones that leave one port and end at another port and get in two to 3 days before and after to really enjoy the city. Example, stayed one day extra in Barcelona and. 2 days extra in Venice. Stayed 3 days extra in Paris for our river cruise. Taking my daughter back to the Med later in the summer this year and planning on being in Rome 4 days early and Athens 2 days after.

@fredopere7134 Год назад

I took my family on a Western Mediterranean cruise in October 2022 on Wonder of the Seas. If I was just with my wife I would agree to not make the ship the destination. However, if you are with kids (I had boys of 13, 12 and 9), having the mega ships helps since they are not into the cultural aspects as much as adults may be. That being said, my kids did love the experiences in Barcelona, Rome and Pompeii (Napoli).

@paulkeay5032 2 года назад

The Non EU ports in the Med to look out for on your itinerary are Montenegro and Gibraltar. If these ports are on your itinerary your cruise will be VAT free.

@JJCruise 2 года назад

Thanks for sharing!! 🤗

@kathycoutinho5665 2 года назад

We did a 12 day cruise from Venice thru Greek Islands and ended in Rome. I discover after 2 days of long excursions that I had bitten off more than I could chew so I was a the excursion desk changing things up. We had stops in Montenegro and Croatia and did have to get currency to use rest rooms and not all our stops used Euros so that was different. The vat fee is around 20-22 % and varies slightly by country. (I sell internationally so I run into the VAT stuff all the time) and it does mount up fast. I'd love to do another Med cruise but next time with Spain Portugal and France.

@laurieackerman94 2 года назад

That's great advice for everyone! We're doing Israel/Egypt in June of 2023; you are so right the ship isn't the destination. We're sailing RCCL Rhapsody of the Seas, which is an older ship that's ok with us. It's still a nice ship, just not all the bells and whistles. The cruise was less expensive than other ships which is a plus because with flights, hotels pre, post besides the excursion's it gets very pricey! So, I totally agree with all the best tips you had for Mediterranean Cruises. We are so excited about this cruise! Thanks for the great video!

@Amanda-tw4xy Год назад

Thank you for sharing your tips. I’ve been watching a lot of videos preparing for my cruise and yours has given me probably the best knowledge to prepare. Thank you!

@thiggs333 2 года назад

That was a great review. Most appreciated. Fortunately for Mima and I we will be getting on Beyond in New Jersey in October and visiting Bermuda, Aruba, Curaçao and have 4 sea days to enjoy the ship. We tend to be more about the ships than the ports.

@nowgettheretravel6877 2 года назад

I am counting down, 7 weeks till my very first cruise. Onboard Quantum of the Seas from Brisbane through South Pacific for 8 nights. Can't wait! Vanuatu and New Caledonia here I come!

@jenniferperez946 Год назад

Thank you for this! We are sailing on HAL at the end of April. I was looking at the itinerary last week and noticed the long days at each port. Normally we're back on the ship by 5-6p, but all the ports have us there til 10-11p, I thought, how are we going to enjoy the ship?! 🤭 we're still planning our excursions, but we will also be staying in Rome an extra 5 days after the cruise so I intend to use that time to eat the local food then. Thanks again, your info is much appreciated!

@JJCruise Год назад

So happy to help! Thanks for watching! Enjoy your cruise! 🥳

@orthodiva7487 Год назад

@ Jennifer Perez, we sailed HAL because of the ports that are on the itinerary. You’ll love it. Sailed 14 days from Barcelona to Venice. Stayed one day extra in Barcelona and saw La Segrada Familia and the gothic district. Stayed in a hotel right on Las Ramblas and went to La Boqueria market and stayed 2 extra days in Venice. Stayed in a hotel on the same canal as the Bridge of Sighs and only two blocks from St Mark’s square. Go attend mass at the cathedral. It’s in Italian and the mosaics inside the church is magnificent. Enjoy.

@josellefebrero6686 Год назад

Thank you for your honest review, to be honest the bad and ugly are still good for us, we booked the inside cabin, a cheaper room option, for the first time because we know we will only sleep on the ship most days.. moreover, we plan on skipping a port day to spend extra day Onboard, while others are out and exploring, we will be there enjoying.. and most importantly glad to hear they have a different cuisine served on the ship.. it will be very exciting to eat something you don't normally eat at home.. it's like experiencing Mediterranean / European culture onboard, it will be exciting and amazing experience.. we don't normally go for long excursions because we don't want to exhaust ourselves especially when port days are almost every day, we will take everything easy and do things as we please.. we are going to sleep in and not wake up too early, it's a vacation anyway it's a relaxing time for us.. again thank you, as you made us more elated to go to our next cruise this coming April, glad to hear about the weather, now I can pack clothes accordingly.. very helpful and informative review.. More power to your channel, looking forward to see more videos of you guys.. Cheers🤗

@katiekendrick8866 2 года назад

I haven’t done a Mediterranean cruise but did Asia and it was very port intensive! Not a lot of time to hang on the ship! But it was a cruise of a life time! ❤️

@JJCruise 2 года назад

Yes! Such an awesome experience! We hope to do an Asian cruise some point in the future 🤞🏽

@lynnleipold2617 Год назад

We are sailing soon on Oceania from Bangkok to Tokyo. We’re old,77 and 85. Sometimes you just have to go for it while you still can!

@JenniferLloyd-n5f Год назад

Thank you so much for the info about not being on the ship a lot. We’re planning a Mediterranean cruise for next year and this was the most helpful tip of all the reviews I’ve watched!

@brucetodd443 Год назад

OF our 4 cruises 3 were in the Mediterranean and most of them did not have long times to the destination. We have never done the Spain France and Italy cruise specifically because the time traveling is large and my wife is an Italian citizen so we have done a lot of those places on land.. We have not done the Caribbean because the ports are not that exciting to us and we have never thought of a cruise as the "Ship is the destination" but that makes sense. I am really enjoying listening to you all and I am glad I have found this channel (not sure what the real term is)

@JJCruise Год назад

Thanks Bruce for watching! Glad you found our channel and subscribed. 🥳

@kathryncashner3294 2 года назад

Suggestion--look at a map before you go. You'll quickly see that many of the big cities are located inland, which is why you have long transportation times from the port to the city. There are cruises that focus more on smaller locations where you can dock near the location. There are many different itineraries around the Med. Each is different, each cruise line is different. VAT is charges on all purchases in Europe, whether on the ship or on land. It is built in to the prices on land. You nailed it--in the Med, the ports matter more than the name on the ship.

@caseytcat888 2 года назад

My first two cruises were Western and Eastern Mediterranean. I took a map and taped it to the glass on the large picture attached to the wall of the cabin. I was able to follow our itinerary and see exactly where we were. It was kinda fun seeing exactly what was nearby the port city.

@AvtarSidhu-w7c 8 месяцев назад

Thanks for sharing about making the ports the destination and not the cruise ship. We are trying to plan our first Mediterranean cruise from Canada and you advise was very interesting with very good tips all around, much appreciated and please keep up the good work 🙏👍

@McAlhanies Год назад

Thank you for sharing your experiences that very helpful and give us ideas what to expect.

@JJCruise Год назад

Happy to help! Thanks for watching! 🤗

@df.dominguez2746 Год назад

Thanks for all of your tips and advice. Planning my first European cruise and this was all super helpful!

@JJCruise Год назад

Have a blast!! So happy to hear you found this helpful! 🥳

@mariemolloy2392 Год назад

I was bummed to see only one Carnival ship mentioned in your review. You guys really did a lot of different cruises to fascinating places.

@JJCruise Год назад

Carnival Celebration was in the running for Best Casual Food, but we were let down by Guy’s food onboard. 🥹

@pigeon-mu7fk Месяц назад

Thanks guys ! Excellent info !!!!

@diegoc1818 Год назад

I am so so so glad I watch your video. I will have my first cruise in the Mediterranean on the end of July with my mom to celebrate her 60 & my 40. We leave Rome and will spend 10 days thought Greek Islands. First, I was about to set up everyday excursions, not anymore, I’ll definitely just enjoy a beach club or cute beach and have easy days in between heavy excursions like Athens or Pisa, etc. The one you shared that I am most relieved about it, I’ve been questioning myself “why I didn’t get Virgin or Celebrities cruise ship? They look so fancy”, you’re right we liberally just sleep on the ship and I should focus on the ports, Mykonos, Santorini, Naples, Malta. Thank you for your video!

@OutcastRichard Год назад

Thanks guys. Appreciate the insights on the excursions and the vat. Oh and the heads up on the “Swipe to Wipe!”

@marilainefontenot8220 Год назад

Thanks for the great information. We are planning a Mediterranean cruise next year to celebrate 70/50 birthdays and your video was eye opening. We love Celebrity cruises and most likely will do that line while there.

@suewolf3279 Год назад

I'm in my 70s, and I remember either needing a nickel or a dime and even some places a quarter to use the restroom in the United States. To include the restrooms in places like large department stores and even chain stores. I remember as a young kid people sneaking underneath the door, because they didn't have change. Not necessarily money they simply didn't have change. You younger people just don't know what it was like in the 1950s and 1960s

@JJCruise Год назад

You are correct! We have never paid to use the restroom in the U.S. 😅

@caseytcat888 2 года назад

My very first cruise was a 14-day Western Mediterranean and it was fantastic. It's what sucked me into cruising and 47 cruises later, the Mediterranean is one of the most enjoyable cruise itineraries for me. So much so, that the next year I did another 14-day to the Eastern Mediterranean. That was a long time ago and today, many Mediterranean cruises are only seven days. That's the problem. The Mediterranean has so many exciting ports. Shorter cruises pack too many ports into the itinerary to make them exciting and provide many port experiences. That also creates a fast forward and hectic cruise. The ports are so exciting that we all want to see everything and rush around. Yes, with such an itinerary, there's not much time to enjoy the ship. Also, the port cities have wonderful local cuisine that is part of the experience ashore. That adds an additional expense for food that's already included on the ship. So, Mediterranean cruises may be for a different type of cruiser, but they are a cruise like no other for the exciting ports. I still love them.

@carenciaharris7987 8 месяцев назад

What ship would you recommend for a longer western med cruise?

@aracelisvalentin5275 2 года назад

Outstanding. Very helpful. Thank you sooooo much

@donnawatson5606 Год назад

Thank you for the tips. Especially having some euros for the toilet. (LOL). Having heard your "ugly" makes sense as we will be booking excursions for every port. Will be sailing in July 2024 on one of the Celebrity ships. ☺

@joanevans3872 Год назад

LOVE you guys, I.m doing a medterranean cruise in May 2023 (I;ve only done one Canada Cunard cruise in2019) but my companions are virgins ...so I really APPRECIATED your hint to not do too many huge days .. I;ve actually changed my tours to reflect this, more half day and only full day 12-14 hours on other days. were on going on Celebrity Relflection on 13 May .. from Australia !! (ps my beautiful son , aged 40.. has a trans partner.. want to do a cruise with them - let me know if theres a cruise which will make them feel good and not different)

@karendarrell6626 Год назад

Thank you! Thank you! This was so helpful! My husband and I are about to cruise the Mediterranean for the first time and I am so glad we made the ports our main destination!!!!

@JJCruise Год назад

We are so happy to hear!!

@coralgwyn-williams9933 Год назад

very good observation about picking the expensive ship that you won't spend much time on. I am looking to go on a Mediterranean cruise and would never have even thought about how little time I would actually spend on board.

@JJCruise Год назад

It’s something that truly surprised us too!

@bellazimring8701 2 года назад

You are so right, I've done 3 European cruises, not fancy ships, not much entertainment, it was all about the ports for us, so we were ok with paying more for excursions.

@JJCruise 2 года назад

Thanks for watching and sharing your experiences as well! Definitely doing things differently next time 😊

@MACHSS7 Год назад

We're retired in Florida. I think we've cruised to every Caribbean port from St. Thomas to Bonaire and every port in between. We done the Panama Canal and Alaska. So lately we've been discussing a Med cruise. Your tips and advice are a huge help and very much appreciated. Thank you!

@Sharkfan 10 месяцев назад

do you have a favorite spot ?

@normafuentes9153 Год назад

Thank you. Information was very helpful. Taking some of your advice and doing my research on all the ports I will be visiting in Aug.

@JJCruise Год назад

Glad we could help! Thanks for watching! 🥳

@michaelbertolone5758 Год назад

Going on our first Mediterranean cruise, July 2023 on royal Caribbean enchantment of the seas can’t wait. Great video thank you.

@TMTMcruz 2 года назад

I keep missing the live chat on these lately. Ughhh Great video! ❤️

@lakelorain 2 года назад

Wear your most comfortable, slip proof shoes. Uneven cobblestones are a challenge for even the most agile visitor. High heels are forbidden at some locations.

@JJCruise 2 года назад

Great tip!! 🥳

@singalingbooberrylynch4575 Год назад

Great, great information. So many things I hadn't thought about. We are thinking about a Mediterranean cruise for 2023. Thank you!

@susanknight4043 4 месяца назад

Loved your review, I did learn about a Vat Tax Refund that you can get an application from places you buy from and scan at the airport for a small refund in a few days to your account. we are going on a med cruise soon, will keep watching you

@TheDjuku Год назад

Great informative video. As an EU citizen it was more of open doors. Love the added perspective (at 16min mark). One way to pick port and ship as a destination is to book a transatlantic with ports on both sides. Like the Odyssey of the Seas 27 october sailing.

@mignonevans1563 6 месяцев назад

Thanks for sharing. Cruising to the Med on Celebrity Ascent in June for my birthday.

@francismcilvaine9083 2 года назад

Thanks for the tips.... If you 2 were overtired with long back-to-back days I hate to think how I would be. I hadn't considered this.... but I will in the future

@Pandbswideworldofports 2 года назад

Thanks for the great tips guys! My first cruise ever was a Mediterranean cruise in 2012 and I really want to go back!

@lisathaviu1154 Год назад

If you go to the UK, there is a VAT tax on lots of items, but you can fill out some forms and get a refund at the airport.

@krisharrell8696 2 года назад

Thanks for sharing! We are looking at the Med next year and trying to decide between Beyond vs Reflection. There is a $3k price difference (granted for 12-day vs 10-day) and your “ugly” now makes the decision a no brainer.

@46foryounger Год назад

I’m doing my first transatlantic cruise next month. First international cruise. Great tips JJ❤

@JJCruise Год назад

Enjoy your first TA!! So exciting! 🥳

@mcbrides1 Год назад

I'm doing Celebrity Reflection next September. We chose this one because it stays the night in La Spezia. We can do Florence one day and La Cinque Terre the other. The rest, we aren't going to the bigger cities.

@JJCruise Год назад

Good overnight to have!

@bajanboinoho5378 Год назад

Doing Atlantis Mediterranean cruise this august! CANT WAIT!1

@JJCruise Год назад

Enjoy!! 🥳

@suewolf3279 Год назад

Your tip about making the ports/ destination your number one instead of the ship is spot-on. Which is why I recommend either a transatlantic or repositioning that will take you to several ports in the Mediterranean.

@gwynethglas-brown9171 2 года назад

Lovley to see you both 🥰. Yes Europe is getting more expensieve ( just as a round the world at the moment ) I say always have some currency of the country you travel to with you ( number of time i heard of peoples bank cards or credit that wouldn’t work its unbelievable ) it happens You don’t want to be left in a tricky situation 😱 Yes the summer this year in Europa has been a very long dry one ,we still at temps of 25 thats begin September. Crazy But later this week we are going fully in to Autumn with much lower temps 🙏 thank goodness. The very very dry condition is horrible,,so much grass / trees have died from the heat 😱. I sadly not do a Mediterranean cruise ,not good with Heat ,so be probably Norway ,Iceland for me . Have a Great week 🥰🥰

@cissyd.2070 2 года назад

We are doing a Meditation cruise next year on NCL Gem & our prospective was exactly that. The boat isn’t the focus it’s the ports are. For this trip for us anyway.

@JJCruise 2 года назад

Yes! Completely true!

@Mzladiie226 2 года назад

A Greek Isle cruise is on my list. Great advice. I wanted to book my cruise on the Celebrity Ascent with you guys. But I jumped on it without thinking.

@paulkeay5032 2 года назад

Word of warning - Croatia in the Adriatic doesn't use the Euro, they use the Kuna. Easy currency to buy but a difficult currency to sell back after you leave Croatia - ship and banks in Italy and Spain didn't want it. Barcelona Airport Currency exchange bought t from us at rubbish rates.

@JJCruise 2 года назад

Yes, definitely buy currency in small amounts and try using credit cards with 0% foreign transaction fees for best rates (if possible)

@dianej1714 2 года назад

I'm very surprised you guys didn't consider the time you wouldn't be able to spend on that big, new ship before you chose it. I think smaller Royal ships with less than 3,000 passengers are the best for a Med cruise.

@cathystahl2921 Год назад

My first med cruise. First trip to EUROPE. Thank u for the tips, especially the one about paying for bathroom.. and the excursions being far away

@scottnovak6107 Год назад

Thanks guys for making this video. My wife and I are booked on the Symphony of the Seas in May of next year and you answered many of our questions. I lived in Europe for 8 years, 5 in Germany and 3 in Italy. One thing that I would like to add about currency exchange is that you may want to exchange money in the airport at an exchange service or an ATM. Never spend dollars in Europe if you can help it. No matter where you are they will give you a terrible exchange rate. We are also planning an eastern Mediterranean cruise for 2024. We really want to see Greece, Turkey, and Croatia. If you guys are planning that cruise we would love to hear your opinions. Keep the vlogs coming.

@miketansey8321 2 года назад

In your Drink upgrade scenario, if you upgrade before your cruise would you still have to pay the VAT?

@michaelb9673 2 года назад

Did you do this? Last time I did a cruise there my wife bought a leather coat on Florence and we recovered the VAT at the airport before we flew home. We traveled from Barcelona.

@denisebenjamin7139 2 года назад

Awesome information and I'm glad you enjoyed it.

@deborahhoward5471 Год назад

This was great. Just starting to look at the Ascent for July 2024 to celebrate my 50th birthday. Greece, Italy and Turkey itinerary. We aren’t going to do an interior room, but I think we won’t go too high up the scale in terms of room level based on your “ugly.” Getting excited!

@HollyPlake 4 месяца назад

Thank your for your tips! My dad and I are looking into maybe doing a Mediterranean cruise next year with Holland American Line. Your ugly made me feel more at ease since the ship this one will be on is one of the early 2000s ships.

@JJCruise 4 месяца назад

Yes! Great choice for the Med!

@HollyPlake 4 месяца назад

@@JJCruise 😃

@annettebyrd8259 2 года назад

A Mediterranean cruise is on my list. Thanks for these awesome tips. I hope the cruise lines start going to Cuba again, because that is on my list too!!!

@sandravasquez4458 Год назад

Great video!! I have always cruised in the Caribbean, so it will be the first time in the Mediterranean

@JJCruise Год назад

Enjoy sailing he Mediterranean! 🥳

@empowercarole11 Год назад

Great tips as I am traveling on a Mediterranean cruise in 2023. Question… Is it better to bring Euros while in port or a credit card when visiting the different destinations? 🔆

@JJCruise Год назад

Credit Card with 0% foreign transaction fees is the best exchange rate. That said, a few smaller denomination euros is important for water closet/restroom payment and small vendors who may only take Euros.

@empowercarole11 Год назад

Good points. Thank you so much!

@DaveM-FFB Год назад

Great advice! We have an upcoming Mediterranean cruise, so your advice is timely. I wasn't sure if we could exchange cash on the ship. But we were prepared for long touring days.

@JJCruise Год назад

So good to hear! Yes, you usually can exchange onboard but it may be limited. Thanks for watching!

@bradschwamberger1217 7 месяцев назад

Thank you for all the info!

@seemoreseascruises3791 2 года назад

Good points for the Med. Thanks for sharing

@ReachThatForYou Год назад

Hi, guys - this is such valuable and accurate advice! Just did a med cruise in June, and discovered each of these things for myself. Wouldn’t change anything about that trip, but I’m saving this video to share with friends who can use it for planning later. Thank you!

@JJCruise Год назад

Thank you for sharing your experience! We are so happy to have your thoughts on this as well! ☺️

@Susankerchner125 2 года назад

Thank you. We have not sailed the Mediterranean and have only sailed a transatlantic to Barcelona. This information is really helpful as the Mediterranean is on our bucket list.

@JJCruise 2 года назад

We are so happy to hear! Definitely worth it but on a cheaper cruise.

@Susankerchner125 2 года назад

@@JJCruise What Mediterranean cruise would you suggest first?

@penelopepitstop762 Год назад

Nice video, thanks! I’ve been browsing Celebrity for Mediterranean cruises. I’m one of those people who likes new ships and I try to avoid the older ones. I noticed for 2024 most of the cruises were their old ships and that concerned me a bit so I was glad to hear your point about not being on the ship as much as you would a Caribbean cruise.

@JJCruise Год назад

Yes! Definitely know that Celebrity will be a fantastic choice as you can rely on great accommodations and great food every night which are of most importance after long days at port. 👍🏽

@sweetypatnett6123 Год назад

You guys are amazing. Thank you for sharing this video. I'm longing to go on a medditteranian cruise 🛳 it's on my bucket list. I've been on quite a few and I can totally relate to what you're talking about. Continue to enjoy life!😊😊

@gerardkiff2026 Год назад

Thx guys. Learned a lot !

@dmac1111 Год назад

Great information! I have my first mediterranean cruise planned for July 2023. Didn’t know about the VAT, very helpful. I’ll be on RCL and I did notice there is only one sea day.

@JJCruise Год назад

Have a wonderful cruise! 🥳

@debsterlee3801 2 года назад

I would never exchange money on a ship. Use your debit card at any ATM (I do this at the airport as soon as I arrive...use Barclays or another well known bank) and get the best rate with no fees (make sure your bank does not charge foreign transaction fees).

@JJCruise 2 года назад

Yes, we definitely use our credit cards with 0% transaction fees first and only take out a small amount of currency elsewhere. Our issue was definitely the bank we use which was not available in Italy.

@caseytcat888 2 года назад

You can exchange money before you leave home at your local bank.

@misskc82 4 месяца назад

Last time we went to europe, we got a special debit card from our bank where we exchanged our money beforehand, and they put it into a Euro account tied to that specific card. So it worked the same as our existing debit card, but it was preloaded with our Euro spending money

@ruthadams7133 Год назад

This was extremely helpful. I’m cruising the Mediterranean next June

@JJCruise Год назад

We are so happy to hear!

@laurenmaureen Год назад

Thank you for all these tips! We’re thinking about a Med cruise for our honeymoon in 2024. Based on your “ugly,” would you say that it’s worth it to have a room with a balcony/sea view, or is that an area you would save money on?

@JJCruise Год назад

Great question! There is a lot of beauty on the coast but most of your sailing is during dinner and overnight (docked in early mornings). Thus, we would honestly say as long as you are okay with an inside or oceanview cabin, it would be a great way to save money!

@dunder2006 Год назад

We agree with th ugly. Instead the fancy Symphony OTS we book Celeb Reflection. Much smaller and way less to o onboard but we don't plan to be onboard much. Dinner, a show and then to sleep to get up early!! Great video.

@rondapressley2615 2 года назад

I'm going on a Mediterranean Cruise in 12 days. I'm co concerned about the Euros. How much Euro should I bring? Do they accept credit cards? I will be on a 12 day Cruise with Holland America. Please tell me your thoughts. Thanks 😊.

@FloridaRaider Месяц назад

I'm new to cruising. I'm curious what what is/was your favorite cruise.

@Asemar162 Год назад

Thanks for this information! We are planning Europe for 2025 and will definitely consider these tips and do some additional research before choosing our booking.

@kaitlynking7513 10 месяцев назад

We are looking at 2025 as well. The pope has announced a jubilee year. So just be aware of that. I'm actually super disappointed because it's the only year we can feasibly go for a while and it will make it super busy 😭 Have the best time