Exploring the Med on a Viking Ocean Cruise

Viking Sea from port

We set sail on the 13-day Mediterranean Odyssey aboard the Viking Sea, on 20 October 2025—a thoughtfully paced voyage that links iconic western and Adriatic ports from Barcelona through to Venice.

The itinerary balances big-name highlights and smaller, atmospheric stops so you’ll get both the marquee sights and the relaxed seaside moments that make the Mediterranean unforgettable.

Traveling later in the year allowed us to avoid many of the traditional summer crowds and enjoy the cooler temperatures of the fall season.

The ship

Aft infinity pool on Viking Sea

The Viking Sea is one of Viking’s award-winning, all-veranda ocean ships—a relatively intimate vessel for ocean cruising with about 930 guests, designed to feel calm and uncluttered while still offering elegant public spaces, thoughtful enrichment programs, and easy access to smaller ports. Expect long waterfront promenades, Scandinavian design details, and staterooms with private verandas that make for lovely mornings and evenings at sea.

We took full advantage of complimentary in-room dining for breakfast a few times, as well as the Nordic spa areas, which were calm and relaxing.

Dinner with a fun wait staff aboard the Viking Sea

The dining options were just perfect for us—we loved the ability to dine in The Restaurant with a wait-staff we adored, or to just stop by The World Cafe for a variety of foods and desserts.

Buffet choices at World Cafe

The itinerary

Port highlights on this route are a rich mix: in Marseille, France, you can sample the city’s irresistible Provençal character—from the basilica-capped views of Notre-Dame de la Garde to the bohemian lanes of Le Panier and the dramatic Calanques on short excursions.

In Rome (Civitavecchia), a shore day opens the door to the Colosseum, the Forum, and the Vatican’s masterpieces—ideal for a curated half-day or full-day tour that hits the essentials.

The Colosseum in Rome

Naples serves as your gateway to Campania’s wonders: classic options are Pompeii’s evocative ruins or a boat ride to picture-perfect Capri and its Piazzetta.

Further east, Corfu (Kérkyra) brings Ionian charm—Ottoman, Venetian, and British layers in the Old Town, fortress walks, and seaside tavernas—while Dubrovnik is the medieval jewel everyone remembers: a promenade along its dramatic city walls, limestone streets, and terracotta roofs feels cinematic and utterly transportive.

Dubrovnik with the beautiful Mediterranean Sea

Whether you linger over local cuisine, climb a fortress for panoramic views, or drift between small islands on a day trip, these ports deliver both history and blue-water beauty.

Our trip ended in Trieste, a short bus ride from the lovely Venice. Spending a day enjoying gondola rides on the canals, shopping, eating authentic pizza and gelato, and sites such as St. Mark’s Square, the Rialto Bridge, were the perfect way to end our time in Europe.

View of Amalfi Coast from a restaurant in Positano

Pre-cruise tips

We began our journey in Barcelona, Spain, two days before our cruise. We left the US on a Friday afternoon and arrived early morning on Saturday. I recommend choosing a hotel which will allow an early check-in time so that you can drop your luggage and freshen up before embarking on some site-seeing. This will not only help you maximize your time on your vacation, but also help you adjust to the time difference and have a day or so to relax and best enjoy your cruise.

I also recommend taking a few days before your cruise, if you are able, to maximize your vacation investment. Likely, you have already flown a lengthy flight, so it just makes sense to take in the sights in the port city before embarking on the cruise. Likewise, staying an extra day or two in the disembarkation port (if it is different) will give you the time to enjoy the city.

In port

Viking always includes one shore excursion in each port, but I also recommend exploring other platforms for add-on excursions, specifically looking for those marked “Worry-Free Excurisons” which will open other options for you.

Often, you will also find that the ports are very easy to navigate on your own—we took some time in advance to research our ports and explored on our own.

We also took private tours in two of the ports, and I highly recommend this as a way to see some of the busier ports like Rome or Naples.

Drink packages

I am often asked about the drink packages on cruise ships, and my answer is often, “It depends.”

To clarify—with Viking, wine and beer are included during meals. So, at lunch on the Pool Deck, you could order a couple of beverages. Or, during dinner at any of the restaurants, you can order wine or beer with your meal. If you ask, you could have them bring you a beverage to take with you at the end of your meal. For most individuals, this would be more than enough. Of course, while enjoying the evening entertainment, one could also order and pay for any extra beverages they wanted.

So, unless both individuals in the stateroom consume large amounts of alcohol every single day, the drink package is not worth the money.

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Cruises page.