BEST VIATOR TOURS TO BOOK FOR MEDITERRANEAN CRUISES (Barcelona + Rome + Naples + Venice + Dubrovnik)

Going on a Cruise is an excellent way to explore the Cities around the Mediterranean Sea; if you factor in all the expenses for accommodations and food, it might end up being cheaper if you are able to find a discount cruise to go on. For those who haven't been on a cruise, I recommend getting to the city where the port of call will be a day ahead of time. This would allow for leeway if there are any delays and so you can explore the port of call city. Most Mediterranean Cruises start from either Barcelona or Rome because they are both Transport hubs and easily accessible by everyone from around the world. When you Cruise the Mediterranean, there are many fantastic stops along the way to see including Barcelona, Rome, Naples, Pompeii, and the surrounding Italian Islands around Mt.Vesuvius, Venice, Dubrovnik, Ephesus, Athens, the Greek Islands, Paphos, Jerusalem, and Alexandria. Although all cruises will offer offshore excursions, they are expensive, so I would consider looking into some of the Viator tours I have listed below. 

Barcelona

If you have a Day in Barcelona, there is plenty to do, as Barcelona is a city, filled with history, art, and architecture from different time periods, so it is like walking through a  time capsule. Of course, you are welcome to explore Barcelona on your own, if you are the more adventurous type, but if you just want to sit back and not think about planning where to go and how to navigate around sketchy neighborhoods, I highly suggest joining one of these Barcelona Viator Tours.

There are many Viators you could join in Barcelona, but perhaps the best tour would be Barcelona in One Day: Sagrada Familia, Park Guell & Old Town with Hotel Pick-up; this tour is $111.02 per person (varying by party size) and is likely to sell out. Get a taste of the top attractions in Barcelona during this small-group excursion for a maximum of 8 people covering the many highlights of the Catalan capital. Tour Passeig de Gracia, an elegant boulevard that hosts a wealth of modernist architecture like La Pedrera and Casa Batlló, before discovering Antoni Gaudí's Park Güell and La Sagrada Familia. You'll also explore the incredible history of Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter before finishing with sublime city views from on top of Montjüic. Another Tour I recommend is the Original Three Countries in One Day: France, Andorra, Spain from Barcelona; this tour is $155.09 per person and is likely to sell out.

Discover three countries in just one day on a full-day tour to Baga, Ax-les-Thermes, and Andorra from Barcelona. Emerge early, and head to Baga, a beautiful village shrouded in medieval heritage, and then cross the border to Ax-les-Thermes, a charming spa town with loads of French character. Continue to Andorra via a high mountain pass, stopping for a break in a mountain valley before going on to the capital to indulge in some duty-free shopping. The Third Tour I would recommend is the Girona and Dali Museum Small Group Tour with Hotel Pick-up from Barcelona; this tour is likely to sell out and is just $111.02 per person (varying by party size). Discover Catalonia beyond Barcelona with this small group day tour to the intriguing cities of Girona and Figueres. Uncover the ancient Roman history and stroll through the winding medieval streets of one of Europe's best-preserved Jewish quarters in Girona, and then get surreal with a visit to the Dalí Museum in Figueres, the birthplace of the groundbreaking artist. If you prefer exploring on your own but don't like taking public transport look into Hop on Hop Off Buses.

Rome

Rome was the center of the Ancient world and for that reason, it has many historical buildings and monuments that it's like visiting an open-air museum. Usually, people will spend a couple days in Rome to fully take in the history and lore of these Ancient buildings, but if you are going on a cruise and only have a day there, I recommend picking a tour to explore some places in depth and some places on your own because of time restrictions. Here are some Rome Viator Tours that I would personally

join if I only had a day in the city.

The first Viator tour I would recommend in Rome is the Small Group Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, & St. Peter’s Basilica Guided Tour; this tour is $76.99 per person and is likely to sell out.

Discover the Vatican on a group tour of the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums with an expert guide. Navigate the vast complex of rooms, artwork, and history with a guide, who brings the ancient collection to life. Skip all the entrance lines to explore halls such as the Gallery of the Maps; step inside the Sistine Chapel to admire ‘The Creation of Adam’ by Michelangelo and finish your tour visiting St. Peter's Basilica. Another tour I recommend is the Skip the Line: Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill Guided Tour; this tour is $58.02 per person and is likely to sell out. Skip the Line at three of the most significant surviving remnants of the Eternal City: the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum. Your English-speaking expert historian tour guide will share anecdotes and history throughout the 3-hour tour, rebuilding the impressive ruins with tales of Ancient Rome’s heyday. After you take a guided tour to one of these attractions, I would visit the other attractions that you have picked out yourself because Rome is pretty easy to navigate around using public transport.

Naples

Not all Mediterranean Cruises stop at Naples but if your cruise included Naples, there are many amazing attractions nearby such as Pompeii, Amalfi Coast, Ravello, and Sorrento. All of these places are stunning and worthy of visiting, but because you are restricted in time you need to make sure that you select the right itinerary for your wants and needs. The most popular of these attractions is Pompeii, which you can either go visit yourself or you could join a Viator tour which also provides port pickup and drop off. Surrounding towns like Amalfi Coast, Positano, and Ravello or also intriguing and are worthy of seeing. Here are some of the suggested Viator tours from Naples.

The Tour that I most recommend right now is the Daily Pompeii and Amalfi Coast Tour from Naples; this tour has a Special offer right now, normally the tour is $135.00, but now it is $108.90 per person.

Admire one of Italy’s most beautiful stretches of coastline, see the postcard-perfect town of Positano and discover the volcanic ruins of Pompeii, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on this day trip from Naples. Combine iconic Italian scenery, archaeology, and history as you learn about the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius and drive along the coastal road with fabulous photo ops. The tour departs from the Naples cruise port. Another recommended tour is Day Trip from Naples: Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius; this tour is $143.93 per person and is likely to sell out. Visit the ruins of Pompeii and the top of Mt. Vesuvius on a tour from Naples. Learn about the history of the ancient Roman city and its destruction more than 2,000 years ago, and gain insight into the geology of the region from expert guides. Includes round-trip transportation from central Naples and the choice of a pizza lunch or wine tasting. Includes pickup and drop-off at the cruise terminal, central train station, or central Naples hotels. If you aren't interested in Archaeological ruins, then I would suggest the Sorrento, Positano, and Amalfi Day Trip from Naples; the tour is $133.99 per person and is likely to sell out. This tour of Sorrento, Positano, and Amalfi is ideal for day-trippers from Naples who want to see the Amalfi Coast but don’t have a lot of time and is one of the few bus tours from Naples that allows groups to visit Positano’s downtown. Included in the tour is lunch, along with pickup and drop-off from your port or hotel in Naples. Naples is a tremendous place to book day tours from and even if you don't join any tours, you could get to Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Sorrento pretty easily by public transport. 

Venice

With its winding canals, striking architecture, and beautiful bridges, Venice has long been a popular destination for travel. It's a very unique city, that is literally built on 118 Islands which are connected by an incredible number of bridges (about 400), and instead of roads, they use over 170 canals to move from one place to another. If your cruise stops at Venice, you could definitely explore for yourself but if you visit all of the city's best attractions like St. Mark's Basilica, Doges Palace, and go on a Gondola Ride on the Venetian Lagoon, you might as well look into joining a Venice Viator tours with an expert tour guide. 

The Most recommended tour is the Legendary Venice St. Mark's Basilica with Terrace Access & Doges Palace; the tour is $109.34 per person. Delve into Venetian history on this tour that showcases two of the city's most iconic structures and sheds light on the stories behind them both. Enjoy skip-the-line access to both popular attractions. Your first stop is the legendary St. Mark's Basilica. Wander around the mosaic-covered interior and Byzantine treasures while a local guide fills you in on how this collection came to be. Enjoy the stunning view on Piazza San Marco with your special access to St Mark's balcony, then continue to the Doge’s Palace to explore the former political heart of Venice.

Another popular tour is Venice In a Day: Basilica San Marco, Doges Palace & Gondola ride; the tour is $155.09 per person and has the Badge of Excellence. Maximize your time in the city with a full-day itinerary that ticks off all the most memorable attractions. Stroll across the Rialto Bridge and browse the lively Rialto fish market, then hop aboard a traditional gondola for a romantic cruise along the Grand Canal. Finally, visit St. Marks's Basilica and enjoy skip-the-line entrance to the grandiose Doges Palace. This small-group tour is limited to 20 people ensuring a personalized experience. Now I realize that these tours might be beyond some people's budget if that is the case then I would search for the attraction you need tickets for like St. Mark's Basilica and Doges Palace, and you should get a better rate. Here is some information on public transport in Venice.

Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik is one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Mediterranean, due to its location along the Adriatic Sea, and it also happens to be one of Europe's historically most prominent travel destinations. There are many historical gems to see in Dubrovnik, but being that most of these attractions are quite far from the cruise port, I would suggest joining a tour. Viator has many amazing tours you can do in Dubrovnik, so you can choose accordingly based on the amount of time you have to explore. Here are the Viator tours in Dubrovnik I recommended.

The first tour I would recommend is the 'Game of Thrones' Walking Tour in Dubrovnik; this tour is $52.44 per person.  Discover the ‘Game of Thrones' film sites of Dubrovnik on this walking tour that takes in the real-life attractions used for some of the show’s locations. As you explore the city’s World Heritage-listed Old Town with your guide, enjoy views of the red-roofed skyline you know as King’s Landing. Follow in Joffrey’s footsteps at Lovrijenac Fortress, stand where Arya Stark stood, and hear behind-the-scenes stories about filming in the city. When booking, you can choose to upgrade to include a tour to Trsteno Arboretum, which was used as the palace gardens. This tour combines both a

tour of the City's Old Town with 'Game of Thrones', which is very neat. For those who are a little more sporty and adventurous, I recommend Adventure Dubrovnik - Sea Kayaking and Snorkeling Tour; this tour is $39.05 and is likely to sell out. See the 'Pearl of the Adriatic' from the water on a kayak tour from Dubrovnik. Accompanied by a guide, paddle past the city's medieval walls, leaving time for some snorkeling, swimming, and snacks at an isolated beach cave along Dubrovnik's coastline. This tour is a great way to get stunning views of the Old City walls and at the same time, kayak and snorkel in the Adriatic Sea. The third tour I would recommend is the Blue Cave Small-Group Boat Tour from Dubrovnik, which is $80.33 per person. Avoid the crowds that flock to the Blue Cave by booking a small-group tour to the popular destination. The boat’s crew is dedicated to creating an intimate trip and utilizes alternate routes and less-common departure times to ensure you have a less-crowded experience. Visit the iconic Blue Cave on a half-day boat tour and the tour also makes stops at other beaches and caves for snorkeling and swimming. Getting around the city is made easy due to the city buses, which allow you to get from one side of town to another in only 15 minutes. To make things easier for you to reference, I left an article about using Public Transport in Dubrovnik. 

This is Part 1 of Best Viator Tours to Book for Mediterranean Cruises. Next, I will be covering Athens, the Greek Islands, Ephesus, Paphos, Jerusalem, and Alexandria.