General
Fewer Crowds, Bargain Prices: ‘Quiet Season’ Cruising in the Mediterranean
Overtourism and summer heat have increased the allure of off-season travel in Europe, and the cruise industry is taking note with more winter itineraries. Added bonus: cheaper fares.
After a summer of overtourism in cruise ports like Barcelona and Amsterdam, and talk of caps on ship arrivals in Greece and other places, the cruise industry has come up with a surprising suggestion for where to sail in winter: Europe.
Traditionally, ships stationed in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe in the summer move to the Caribbean and other warm regions in winter. But a growing number of cruise lines are positioning ships in the Mediterranean in late fall and winter when crowds are fewer and the weather tends to be comfortable. Low-season sailings in Europe also offer itineraries at bargain prices, often half that of summer fares.
The Mediterranean is second only in popularity to the islands of the Caribbean, Bahamas and Bermuda for cruising, according to the Cruise Lines Industry Association. Its statistics show that offseason departures in the Mediterranean have risen 23 percent between 2019 and 2023.
“As the number of ships has grown and tourism itself has grown, more and more travelers desire to visit places when there’s not tens of thousands of other people descending on Europe,” said Samuel Spencer, the general manager of Ocean & River Cruises Travel, a travel agency based in Calgary, Alberta.
Isabel Rushton of Stoke-on-Trent, England, is one of those off-season passengers. A veteran of 76 cruises, she has sailed in the Mediterranean as late as December.
“You’ve got to accept you’re going to get rain and wind if you’re unlucky,” said Ms. Rushton, 76.
When it comes to sightseeing, she added, “The slight downside is that some places may not be open, but the upside is if they are open, they’re not so busy.”
