Mediterranean cruises — an easy start from Poland, 2026–2027
You can fly to a Mediterranean cruise from Warsaw or Kraków, or choose to travel to the port in your own car.
Driving can be a particularly convenient option for people in southern Poland, especially for cruises that begin in Genoa and the other Ligurian ports. The current number of available cruises is shown above the list of offers, and the data is updated continuously with the availability and prices supplied by the operators. Below we suggest how to choose the right itinerary, what to look at when comparing offers, and what the price of a cruise actually consists of.
How do you get to the port? By air or in your own car
By air. From Warsaw and Kraków you can conveniently reach the main embarkation ports of the Mediterranean, including Barcelona, Rome (Fiumicino airport and the port of Civitavecchia), Marseille, Genoa, Athens (the port of Piraeus) and Venice.
Depending on the direction and the date, connections are either direct or involve one change. It is always worth checking the flight schedule for your specific date, as it changes with the season.
We recommend arriving a day before the cruise begins. The ship does not wait for passengers on delayed flights. It is worth reaching the port 2–3 hours before the scheduled departure. If you plan a transfer from the airport to the port, at least 5 hours should remain between landing and departure. The extra day adds comfort and reduces the risk of missing the cruise.
In your own car. For people living in southern Poland, driving to Genoa and the other Ligurian ports can be a very practical solution, and it is one our clients regularly use. Terminal parking is paid and usually requires a separate booking, independent of the cruise reservation.
What about sailing from Poland? Mediterranean cruises do not begin in Gdynia or Gdańsk. Cruise ships may call at Polish ports on other itineraries, but for Mediterranean cruises the journey starts in the ports of southern Europe.
| Port | What it offers |
|---|
| Barcelona | A wide choice of western Mediterranean cruises and a convenient link from the airport to the terminal. |
| Rome (Civitavecchia) | The port serves cruises from Rome but sits outside the city. It is worth allowing extra time for the train or a transfer. |
| Marseille | The gateway to Provence and a good choice for people who want to combine the cruise with a few days in France. |
| Genoa | The closest port for those driving from southern Poland, with Liguria and the Cinque Terre a short trip away. |
| Naples | A port in the city itself, with Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast within reach of a day trip. |
| Piraeus (Athens) | The port of Athens and an excellent starting point for cruises around the Greek islands and the eastern Mediterranean. |
What does the fare include, and what do you pay for separately?
The fare usually includes your cabin, full board in the main restaurant and the buffet, onboard entertainment and the voyage between the ports.
Items that may be charged separately include: port charges, the compulsory service charge, drinks, shore excursions, internet, speciality restaurants, the spa and laundry.
“All inclusive” on board most often means an additionally paid drinks package rather than the standard cruise fare. The baseline is full board, while the range of drinks depends on the offer you choose.
You will find more detail in the guide “What is included in the price of a cruise?”.
Travel documents
On cruises that stay entirely within the Schengen area, an identity card is usually sufficient for EU citizens. If the itinerary includes ports outside the area — for example in Tunisia, Türkiye or Egypt — a passport may be required.
The required document validity is set by the operator for each cruise, so it is worth checking it before making payment. Every child, regardless of age, must have a travel document of their own. Entry rules follow your citizenship and the route, so if you travel on a non-EU passport, it is worth confirming the requirements for your document before booking.
When to sail
The Mediterranean can be cruised all year round, but the main season runs from May to October.
July and August bring the highest temperatures, warmer seas, higher prices and more families with children. May, June, September and October usually mean milder weather and a calmer atmosphere on board.
In winter the choice of itineraries is smaller, as part of the fleet moves to the Caribbean. Cruises available in each month are listed in the overview at the foot of this page.
Who sells this and who is responsible
The organiser is Biznes i Turystyka Piotr Skupiewski (BIT Travel), with its registered office at ul. Łukowa 41, 32-823 Szczepanów, NIP 869-114-83-81, REGON 850455159.
The company is entered in the Central Register of Tour Operators and Entrepreneurs Facilitating the Purchase of Linked Travel Arrangements (CEOTiPUT) and pays the required contributions to the Tourism Guarantee Fund (TFG) and the Tourism Assistance Fund (TFP).
We hold insurance guarantee UNIQA no. 3800003856 for PLN 379,404.00, valid from 05.05.2026 to 04.05.2027.
The documents confirming this financial protection can be downloaded at the foot of this page.
Telephone: +48 576 977 555
We serve clients in Polish between 9:00 and 18:00. You speak directly with a person who knows the offer and sells these cruises, not with an anonymous call centre.
The contract is concluded in euros or US dollars, depending on the booking. Payment can be made by transfer in euros or in zloty. Payment via the payment link is processed in PLN only.
We do not offer instalment payments.
After you book, we stay in touch with you. We help with online check-in, changes to the reservation and the paperwork connected with your documents. It is the kind of practical support that is often missing when a cruise is bought directly from the operator.
