A quick pivot to replace cruises in the Middle East has opened a new opportunity for winter cruising in the Mediterranean.
Windstar Cruises has received so much demand it’s decided to keep Star Legend in Europe for a second winter with more varied itineraries.
It’s part of a trend that is seeing MSC Cruises operating ships year-round from Italy and Spain and a plan for AmaWaterways to start cruising as early as February on European rivers.
Enthusiastic reception for the winter option by cruisers who enjoy exploring popular European cities without throngs of tourists is driving the trend, Windstar said. It cited “positive feedback and an influx of bookings and demand” in announcing a 2024/25 Mediterranean encore season. The line had to make a shift away from a planned season by Star Legend in the Middle East due to political uncertainty. The seven-night Legendary Winter in the Mediterranean that was created as an alternative includes Barcelona and Rome, Marseille, Niece and Livorno.
“On our inaugural sailing in December, every single travel advisor and guest on board told me ‘this is genius’ as we enjoyed the sunny weather of Europe’s most walkable cities when few cruise lines sail Europe’s oceans,” said Windstar chief commercial officer Janet Bava . “’Our biggest learning from this winter’s season was we were limited by the possibilities and experiences we could offer with just the one itinerary. We have responded to that with a variety of new itineraries for our guests to enjoy the Mediterranean’s most storied destinations in the winter.”
Windstar has created five winter Mediterranean itineraries in the 2024-25 season, plus three special holiday and event sailings. The expansion also allows travelers to combine back-to-back itineraries with different destinations on each and there will be more overnight stays, again prompted by feedback from guests.
Winter Italy & the Dalmatian Coast will be offered on five dates. The eight-day itinerary sails from Civitavecchia (Rome) to Venice, with stops at Naples, Taormina, an overnight in Dubrovnik, then Zadar, Croatia and ending with a Venice overnight. The route and timing, particularly the beginning of January, will take advantage of Italy’s strict rules surrounding retail sales (with winter sales allowing items to be sold at up to 70 per cent off).
A seven-day Europe Winter Riviera itinerary will have eight departures. From Civitavecchia, passengers will sail to Livorno for an overnight stay, followed by a day in Genoa and then Nice, France before ending with a Barcelona overnight stay.
A single eight-day departure of Winter in Italy and the Adriatic is also planned. Leaving from Piraeus, Star Legend will sail through the Corinth Canal to Itea (Delphi) before overnighting in Corfu. Then it’s off to Crotone, Italy, followed by an overnight in Taormina before a day in Naples, with the journey ending at Civitavecchia.
Southern Spain Winter Escapes is a nine- day round-trip from Barcelona. Starting with an overnight in Barcelona, passengers will sail to Valencia, Cartagena, Málaga (overnight), Gibraltar and Palma, Mallorca. Passengers can hop on the high speed train to/from Madrid for pre- or post-cruise stays there.
Winter in Croatia & Greece departs March 26, 2025 for an eight-day sailing from Venice (overnight) to Piraeus. Port calls include Koper, Slovenia; Zadar and Dubrovnik, Croatia; Kotor, Montenegro; Delphi, Greece and a Corinth Canal transit.
A Christmas holiday cruise will sail from Civitavecchia to Barcelona, Dec. 23-30. It includes an overnight in Livorno for the opportunity to attend Christmas Eve mass at the Duomo in Florence followed by stops in Genoa and Nice before ending in Barcelona (overnight).
A New Year’s cruise sails round-trip Barcelona, departing Dec. 30, 2024 . New Year’s Eve will be celebrated with an overnight call at Palma, one of Europe’s party meccas. Then it’s on to Cartagena, Málaga overnight, followed by stops in Gibraltar and Valencia.
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