The Prices of River Cruises to the Mediterranean
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Is there a more relaxing way to travel than by river? River cruises around the Mediterranean offer the perfect mix of tranquility and adventure, whisking you away to fascinating cities, picturesque villages, and natural wonders all along the water. In the Mediterranean, these cruises offer a front-row view to history, culture, and stunning landscapes, without the hassle of packing and unpacking.
In this article, we'll explore the costs and prices of river cruises through the Mediterranean, highlight the best cruise options available, and guide you to the most scenic and popular routes that make these tours such a special way to see the world. We've done the research to uncover the best value cruises, looking at prices, quality, destinations, and amenities. Whether you're a river cruise first-timer or a regular passenger, let us help you find the perfect sailing for your next trip.
Why does the Mediterranean appeal to river cruise passengers?
River cruises in the Mediterranean appeal to travelers for their relaxed pace, scenic views, and access to culturally rich, often less-touristed destinations. Rome, Istanbul, and Seville offer plenty of amazing museums and sights to explore. Rome is known for its iconic archaeological sites such as the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, as well as its gelato, Italian cuisine, and strong religious roots. Rome, Istanbul, and Amalfi are foodie destinations with fantastic cuisine and world-class restaurants. With easy, all-inclusive travel arrangements and immersive stops in culturally rich areas, river cruises provide a convenient and enriching way to explore multiple regions in comfort and style.
How much do River Cruises in the Mediterranean cost?
The average price per day for river cruises in the Mediterranean is $336, based on our analysis of 53 tours. While the overall prices can vary greatly, when we look at the daily price of these tours, the costs range from $101 to $671 per day.
Budget-friendly tours average around $173 per day, while higher-end luxury tours average about $522 per day.
Budget tours will usually provide less luxurious accommodation, have larger group sizes, and visit less expensive destinations. They will also sometimes have you pay for more activities on your own instead of including everything up front.
Mid-range tours often provide a step up in accommodation and transportation, and include more guided activities.
Luxury tours usually provide the highest levels of service, luxury hotels, more gormet food choices, comfortable transportation, and offer more all-inclusive payment options.
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The Best Cruises in the Mediterranean
Budget-Friendly Cruises
Budget-friendly and affordable river cruises in the Mediterranean average $173 per day, with daily prices from $101 to $232. Budget tours usually include hotels, meals, and activities that are not quite as nice as other tours. Often, they might only include transportation, lodging, and some activities, leaving you on your own to pay for meals and other attractions during the tour. This can be a very convenient and economical way to visit France without spending too much money, as it gives you control over the amount you spend on meals and extra services. If you're looking for a really great option, check out Europa Railroad: Urban Vibes & Alpen Heights here.
Mid-Range Cruises
For typical river cruises in the Mediterranean that fall in the middle range of prices, the average cost is $312 per day. Daily prices range from $238 to $412. Taking this step up in price from the cheaper tours to mid-range will often get you plenty of extra amenities and service for a great price. These tours usually include very comfortable hotels, meals at delicious local restaurants, comfortable transportation, knowledgable guides, and entry to many of the top attractions. One of the best tours is Portugal, Spain & the Douro River Valley (2027) (Porto to Lisbon, 2027).
Luxury Cruises
Luxury river cruises in the Mediterranean average around $312 per day, with daily costs ranging from $417 to $671. At this price, you'll be very well taken care of and pampered on your journey through the scenic destinations. Knowledgable guides, the best accommodation options, the finest restaurants, comfortable transportation, and quick entry into attractions are all part of the itinerary. Every luxury and detail has been planned and thought about so that you don't have to deal with any hassle, you simple show up and enjoy your vacation. One of the best luxury tours here is Croatia Land & Sea.
Which tour companies offer these trips?
A number of fantastic tour companies offer river cruises in the Mediterranean. These are a few of the best, because they offer the highest rated service, provide the best overall quality, and have the most five-star guest reviews to prove it.
CroisiEurope River Cruises
Focusing on river cruise tours through France, Germany, Cambodia, and Vietnam, CroisiEurope River Cruises is a well established tour provider. Most participants on their tours are adults and their tours range in length from 2 days to 3 weeks. Some of their offerings cater to families with children. This company's tour offerings are generally priced lower than others, which makes them attractive for budget travelers.
See All Tours from CroisiEurope River Cruises
Gulliver Travel
Gulliver Travel is a smaller international tour company with tours to 4 countries, including Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegowina, Slovenia, and Montenegro. Traveling with Gulliver Travel provides for a very personal experience, because most of their tours have less than 15 people. Some of their offerings cater to families with children. This company's tour offerings are generally priced lower than others, which makes them attractive for budget travelers.
See All Tours from Gulliver Travel
Wingbuddy
Wingbuddy is a large international travel company offering tours all over the world. Some of their most popular destinations include Italy, Greece, Portugal, and Spain. There are opportunities to customize some tours to specifically meet your needs. The company appeals to travelers of all ages, with many tours focusing on families with children. Many of the tours fall into the mid-range price category.
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection is a large company with a focus on river cruise tours through Germany, Austria, Hungary, and France. Most participants are adults and the tours range in length from 8 days to 3 weeks. The tours offered by Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection are usually luxurious, high-end, and provide a top-tier level of service.
See All Tours from Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
Departure Destinations in the Mediterranean
Wondering where tours launch from in the Mediterranean? With a variety of stops and destinations along the way, there's something for everyone.
Split
Split is the second largest city in Croatia and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. It sits on the Adriatic Sea and is filled with water sports, beaches, historic sights, and nightclubs. The city is popular with backpackers for its fun social scene, but families and couples will appreciate the beauty and cuisine of the area as well.
Trogir
Trogir is a town on the Adriatic Coast that has an old town on a small island. It's connected to the mainland by a bridge and there are many Renaissance and baroque buildings. Also nearby are beaches and beautiful islands.
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is one of the most popular tourist cities in Croatia. It sits dramatically on the edge of the Adriatic Sea and its surrounded by medieval stone walls that you can explore. The old town includes stone churches and lively squares. There are pedestrian areas where you can shop as well as restaurants where you can sample local seafood. Outside of the old town you'll find larger hotel chains, and inside there are Airbnbs and local residences where you can rent a room.
This historic city has a famous walled old town. It sits beautifully along the coast and offers stunning views of the area.
Korčula
Korcula is a scenic island in the Adriatic Sea. It's a beautiful place to explore with a charming old town in Korcula Town. There are also many hiking and walking trails around the island as well as beaches and beautiful blue water.
The old town is charming and the surrounding natural areas are pristine and beautiful. The ancient buildings of the town set against the bright blue water make for a photogenic contrast.
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Other popular destinations for river cruise tours through the Mediterranean include Salamanca, Vukovar, Osijek, Ilok, and Makarska.
Which is cheaper?
Is traveling independently less expensive than taking guided river cruises? The answer isn't straightforward. Guided tours often include services like hotels, transportation, meals, entry tickets, guides, and activities, all of which you would need to arrange and pay for individually if traveling on your own. To determine the cost difference, you'd need to compare the total cost of the tour package with the cost of booking everything separately. You may prefer a less expensive hotel or splurge on dining, so the cost of a tour could either save you money or cost you more. Be sure to review what's included in the tour package before making your comparison.
Also, before booking a tour, make sure you know exactly what is included as tour companies sometimes change their itineraries or included amenities to keep them updated with seasonal changes and customer interests.
More Tour Options
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Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
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