Best for
Blackbury's shortlist of luxury Mediterranean cruises for families, couples and grandparents: which ship, which coast, which month, and the guide price for each.
The Mediterranean has more luxury ships in summer than anywhere else, so the question is never whether there is a good cruise but which one is right for your party. Here is how we shortlist it.
| Criterion | Explora Journeys | The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection | Silversea | Regent Seven Seas Cruises | Ponant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| For families | Explora I or II, Barcelona to Rome, 7 nights, from about £4,200 pp | ||||
| For couples | Evrima, Nice to Rome by Corsica, 7 nights, from about £6,900 pp; or Silver Nova down the Adriatic | ||||
| For grandparents | Seven Seas Grandeur around the Greek islands, 7 nights, from about £5,900 pp, excursions included | ||||
| For a small ship with children | Ponant Le Bougainville in the Greek islands on a summer kids'-club departure, from about £4,500 pp | ||||
| When | June and September for weather and value; July and August for school holidays, booked 9–12 months ahead |
Stars are Blackbury's editorial opinion, not independent ratings or customer reviews.
Western Mediterranean for a first cruise with children: short flights, famous ports, easy hotels at both ends. Greek islands and the Adriatic for couples and grandparents: small ships, overnights, late-season warmth.
Tell us who's travelling and what matters most. We'll say which of these we'd book for you, and why.
The lines
Modern, relaxed, generous with space, and genuinely happy to see children.
Hotel-style luxury on yachts of roughly 300 to 450 guests, with a surprisingly warm welcome for children.
Butler-served suites, serious destinations, and one of the strongest expedition fleets afloat.
The most inclusive fare at sea, on all-suite ships that take elegance seriously.
French small ships and a true polar icebreaker, with a children's programme in the summer holidays.
Good to know
Planning figures from about £3,800 to £7,000 per person for a week, depending on ship and suite, before flights and hotels. We give a firm price for your dates in writing.
Keep reading
Explora and Silversea are both luxury, both largely inclusive, and suit quite different parties. We compare ship size, formality, children, food, destinations and price, then say which we would choose for whom.
Regent and Seabourn both sell small-ship luxury with most things included. Regent includes more and is a little grander; Seabourn is smaller, warmer and more sociable. We say which we would choose for which couple.
Both are relaxed, modern and welcome children — one is a ship of around 900 guests and the other a yacht of 300 to 450. We compare space, price, children's programmes and where each goes.
Tell us who's travelling, where you'd like to go and what matters most. We'll recommend the ships we'd actually consider.