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Ultimate adriatic cruise guide: tips, port guides & review of msc sinfonia.

Are you looking for an alternative to the standard Mediterranean cruise ? If so, why not take an Adriatic cruise from Venice to the Greek islands?

Read on for my essential tips for cruising the Adriatic Sea , port guides and a comprehensive review of my experience onboard MSC Sinfonia. My one-week itinerary had five ports of call: Split, Dubrovnik, Santorini, Mykonos and Ancona.  

IN THIS ARTICLE

My Top Adriatic Cruise Tips

1. aim to cruise in june or september.

The Adriatic cruise season typically starts at Easter and runs until October. The Adriatic Sea is calmer during these months and less prone to thunderstorms and high winds that can make navigation hazardous. It is also warmer at this time of year and the islands are open for business. However, unless you are confined to the school holidays, I would avoid the peak season in July and August. Searing Mediterranean heat and jostling crowds are never a good combination. You will also pay more to cruise in these months. In my view, the ideal time of year to take an Adriatic cruise is June or September , when the weather is more predictably good and crowds are fewer. That said, I took an Adriatic Sea cruise in October and, for the most part, the temperature was balmy but not oppressive.

2. DO A LITTLE HOMEWORK TO PICK THE BEST ADRIATIC CRUISE FOR YOU

There is considerable variety in itinerary lengths, ports of call and types of ship. The  duration  of Adriatic Sea cruises generally ranges from seven to 14 days. As with all cruises, you need to think about the  ports of call.   Some itineraries concentrate on the  Balkan peninsula . They will include stops at ports on the mainland and, usually in the case of smaller ships, at some of the 1,300 islands dotting the Adriatic Sea. These ports include Zagreb, Zadar, Sibenik, Split, Hvar, Dubrovnik, Kotor. Other cruise operators offer itineraries that include  Italian ports , including Ravenna, Bari and Ancona. Many of the mainline cruise operators will also throw in a few  Greek ports  of call for good measure, including Piraeus (for Athens), Santorini, Mykonos and Corfu. Check out the available Adriatic cruise itineraries to see which combination of ports is the right one for you. Also, consider  where your cruise starts . For example, many sail from Dubrovnik or Venice. Sailing into and out of Venice used to be an unforgettable experience, offering you a unique perspective of the city’s landmarks. However, following a decree signed by Italian ministers in 2021, cruise ships are no longer allowed to sail into Venice’s historic city centre.

There is a spectrum of  ships  that sail along the Adriatic Sea, accommodating all  budgets , from mainstream behemoths to smaller ships offering a more intimate experience (and that berth at some of the smaller islands). Again, just pick the one that is the right fit for you.

Although not an exhaustive list, here is a selection of mainstream operators that offer Adriatic Sea cruises:

• MSC Cruises
• Norwegian Cruise Line
• Royal Caribbean
• Celebrity Cruises
• Costa Cruises
• AIDA Cruises
• Marella Cruises
• Silversea Cruises
• P&O Cruises

3. PACK APPROPRIATELY

Except for the extreme ends of the booking season, the weather in this region is predictably warm. This makes packing easy. For exploring the ports of call, wear t-shirts with shorts, linen trousers/chinos or skirts. I also like to pack a few easy-to-wear cotton summer dresses. For cooler days and evenings, pack a jumper or lightweight jacket. If you are travelling to the Adriatic in April / May or late September / October, predict unpredictability and stuff a few more warm layers in your suitcase. Ditch the stilettos for sensible walking shoes or trainers. And don’t forget your glad rags for the formal evenings on board! Pack an umbrella at any time of year in case of unexpected downpours.

4. BOOK A BALCONY CABIN

Selecting the right cabin is an important part of planning a cruise . I recommend booking a  balcony cabin  when cruising the Adriatic Sea to the Greek islands. Unlike some cruises, part of the appeal of an Adriatic cruise is the scenery as you sail by. And where better to take in the view than on your private balcony, sipping on an Aperol Spritz?

However, I suggest that you take a look at your cruise itinerary before deciding on the type of cabin. If this is port-intensive with few days at sea, this may not be a worthwhile investment.

A final cautionary note: not all cruise cabins are equal. Therefore if you don’t want to end up under the promenade deck or next to the laundry,  research your cruise cabin  before you book.

Adriatic Sea Cruise Ports & Itinerary

Day one: leaving venice.

Not off to the best of starts. Due to restrictions on departure time from Venice, our scheduled time of 16:30 was put back almost three hours. At 19:15, MSC Sinfonia released her moorings and set sail through the Guidecca Canal.

We should have been able to see the city’s iconic landmarks as we sailed past, including the Cathedral of San Marco. But as the sun had well and truly set by the time we reached St Mark’s canal, we couldn’t and we didn’t.

The ship then continued towards Split, our first destination, 218 nautical miles southeast of Venice.  

DAY TWO: SPLIT, CROATIA

Split, Croatia’s second-biggest city, is one of the oldest settlements along the Adriatic coast, thought to be at least 1700 years old.

The jewel in Split’s crown is its old town, once home to  Diocletian’s Palace . Built by the eponymous Roman Emperor in the 4th Century, this area is now a seductive tangle of churches, chapels and houses.

When you’ve had your fill of the town’s rich history, escape the crowds in Split and walk along the Marjan Peninsula. 

Walk for ten minutes along Riva, Spilt’s café-lined, seafront promenade, until you reach a set of stone steps. From here, it’s an easy uphill climb to the Vindlica viewpoint and its panoramic view of the old town.

MSC Sinfonia berthed at Split’s port, a ten-minute walk along the quayside from the old town.  

You should not need to use public transport within Split.  As the city’s main attractions are scattered over a compact area, everything is walkable.  

• Explore Diocletian’s Palace
• Join a  Game of Thrones  walking tour
• Take a walk along the Marjan Peninsula
• Admire the panorama from the VindNarrowlica viewpoint
• Visit Froggyland
• Shop at a UNESCO-protected supermarket

DAY THREE: AT SEA

Continuing on her south-easterly route in the Adriatic Sea, MSC Sinfonia crossed the Splitska Vrata Canal between the islands of Brac and Solta. A relaxing day at sea, skirting the eastern coast of Italy from Brindisi to Cape D’Ortranto. and passing Kefalonia and Zakynthos.

Balcony seat, a good book and a glass of wine in hand.  

DAY FOUR: SANTORINI & MYKONOS, GREECE

Welcome to  Santorini , the poster child of the Greek islands. One of the most photographed places on the planet, this striking island is quintessential Greece.

Traditional churches with blue domes teeter on the edge of the volcanic caldera. Whitewashed houses tumble in waves down the vertiginous cliffside until they reach the Gulf of Santorini below.

There’s even the occasional photogenic cat.

Cruise ships anchor off Thira, the port town on Santorini’s western coast, and disembarkation is by a tender boat service. From the port, you need to take a cable car to Fira, on the rim of the caldera.

However, Santorini is a very popular port of call for cruise ships and when I visited late in the season, four had dropped anchor there. Fellow passengers reported waiting times of 90 minutes to board the cable car.

The alternative was a strenuous 45-minute walk in the morning heat. Donkeys also transport human cargo up the cliffside but let’s not go there!

If only to avoid these challenges, this is one port of call on this Adriatic cruise where I considered a shore excursion to be of value, particularly if you want to visit places outside of Fira. However, if you want to take your chances with the  public bus connecting Fira and Oia , this runs twice an hour. 

The neighbouring island of Mykonos is famed for its nightlife against the backdrop of stunning beaches and its numerous windmills, vestiges of a bygone age when they ground the wheat for bread-making.

Cruise ships dock at Mykonos’s Port Terminal. From here it is a 15-minute boat ride to Mykonos Old Town.

Mykonos is compact and pedestrian-friendly. If you are confining your exploration to the town itself you won’t need public transport. 

DAY FIVE: AT SEA

Leaving Mykonos in the wee small hours of the morning, MSC Sinfonia started on her 600 nautical mile journey to Dubrovnik.  

DAY SIX: DUBROVNIK, CROATIA

One of the jewels in Croatia’s crown, the extravagantly gorgeous UNESCO World Heritage Site of  Dubrovnik  is instantly enchanting.

Its beauty and historical heritage have always attracted visitors but since Dubrovnik became one of the settings for HBO’s  Game of Thrones , its tourist numbers have exploded.

MSC Sinfonia berthed in the Old Harbour, 3 km from the old town. Some cruise companies may provide a free shuttle bus; others don’t, including MSC.

I took one of the frequent city buses (1, 1a, 1b, 3) to Dubrovnik’s old town’s Pile Gate from the cruise port. The bus stops on the main road outside the bus station.

Dubrovnik’s old town is small enough to navigate on foot.

DAY SEVEN: ANCONA, ITALY

Poor old Ancona hasn’t had the happiest of histories.

The capital of Italy’s Le Marche region was pounded by bombs in WWII and then devastated by an earthquake in 1972. Despite this, it does boast a few historic sights, including a 12th Century cathedral, and is home to an art gallery and the region’s archaeological museum.

However, I suggest that you set your sights further afield and use this Adriatic cruise stop as an opportunity to visit the gorgeous medieval city of  Urbino.  This UNESCO World Heritage site was the cultural capital of the Italian Renaissance in the 15th and 16th centuries and is the birthplace of one of the greats from this period,  Raphael .

Ancona’s cruise port is within easy walking distance of its historic town centre. Useful maps are available from the cruise terminal.  

Ancona’s historic centre is small enough to navigate on foot. 

DAY EIGHT: ARRIVAL BACK IN VENICE

This cruise didn’t have a happy ending for many passengers.

Thick fog forced the closure of the Port of Venice, putting back our arrival time of 08:00 to 13:30. Hope slowly ebbed away from those who had a lunchtime flight out of Venice’s Marco Polo Airport.

MSC responded well to this delay, keeping the buffet restaurants and bars open until passengers had disembarked.

My Experience Onboard MSC Sinfonia: Ship Review

Built in 2002, and refitted in 2015 to the tune of $200 million, MSC Sinfonia has an elegant and contemporary design. Spread over 13 decks, nine of which are for passengers, she is 32 meters wide and 275 meters long and weighs over 66,000 tonnes.

Unlike many other ships in this price bracket, MSC Sinfonia does not feature a show-stopping central space. Instead of a glitzy chandelier dangling from a great height, there is the use of more restrained primary and neutral colours with touches of marble, brass and glass.

Although getting acclimatised was easy, I found it frustrating that only the forward and aft elevators and stairwells reached all decks.

MSC Sinfonia had 721 crew members for its maximum of 2,679  guests, a higher passenger-to-staff ratio than other ships on which I have sailed. This was reflected in its levels of customer service, but more about that later.

EMBARKATION AT THE PORT OF VENICE

Question: how many queues do you need to join to board an MSC cruise ship in Venice? Answer: four.

Queue #1 to deposit your luggage. Queue #2 to receive your embarkation card. Queue #3 to have your hand luggage scanned and to embark. Queue #4 to have your photo taken for your cruise card.

And I thought that it was the British who loved a queue.

There were a few other aspects of the embarkation process that were surprising:

• At no stage were we asked to complete a health questionnaire to identify if we had an infectious disease
• Credit card details were not required at this stage of the cruise (and registering your card on-board was optional)
• My cruise pass was not handed to you but placed in the cabin

All that said, my cabin was ready, the luggage delivered and the cruise pass primed and ready to go within 15 minutes of boarding. Probably because we had been queuing for so long.  

MSC SINFONIA BALCONY CABIN

I had a balcony cabin, which was decorated in tasteful burgundy and gold tones, complementing the beech-veneered walls. The large, comfortable bed had good quality linen and a choice of pillows (soft or firm).

In contrast to balcony cabins on P&O or Celebrity Cruises or when I sailed on NCL Epic , this was a small space and did not have a sitting area with a sofa and desk. Whilst this is perfectly adequate for a solo traveller on a cruise, two people sharing this cabin for a week might struggle.

Lighting in the cabin was good with overhead, bedside and vanity unit lights. The small TV had a limited choice of channels. There were two-pin EU and US plug sockets.

It took me three days to locate the cabin’s safe, cunningly hidden behind the vanity unit’s mirror!

A small fridge housed the cabin’s mini-bar, but there was no kettle. The following items were also not provided: tissues, a bathrobe, slippers and an umbrella.

Storage space was perfectly adequate for one person but, again, two people might struggle. There were no wall-mounted hooks which are a useful feature of cabins on other cruise lines.

The small  bathroom  had limited storage space and soap, shower gel and shampoo were provided in refillable dispensers.  Bring your hairdryer from home as the one provided is one of those nasty wall-mounted contraptions that resemble vacuum cleaners.

A major plus point is that there is a proper shower cubicle, not just a shower tray with a nasty nylon curtain.

The  balcony  was a decent size, accommodating two reclining chairs and a small table.

FOOD AND DRINK

There are 11  bars  on MSC Sinfonia to choose from, each with a theme. None of them had the wow factor for me.

One of the largest bars is the gloomy Shelagh’s House, which is the ship’s Irish pub.

The Buddha Bar, Sinfonia’s piano bar located on deck 6 was less oppressive.

Unusually, there was  no speciality dining  on MSC Sinfonia. Instead, there was the option to purchase upgraded menu items in the main dining room.

The food in the  main dining room  was consistently good and occasionally very good. The food from the buffet service for lunch and dinner at La Terazza Buffet was acceptable but unexceptional.

Breakfasts were OK, but freshly cooked options were limited. The one omelette station was manned by one member of staff, resulting in considerable queues.

As you might expect from an Italian cruise company, the barista-prepared coffee was excellent. You just needed to be prepared to wait for it. 

RELAXING ON DECK

There was a busy main  pool  with the Doremi Spray Park on deck 11. Pool towels were provided in the cabin.

There was also a power walking track and a small  gym.

Mini golf  and  shuffleboard  were available at the aft of the ship on deck 13.  

ENTERTAINMENT ON MSC SINFONIA

The  entertainment programme  was so underwhelming that I did not attend any of the shows in the ship’s cramped  theatre . There was a slightly odd system whereby, for some shows, you needed to pre-book your place using one of the ship’s touch screens (which did or did not work).

Also underwhelming was the ship’s  programme of activities . Don’t expect cultural immersion or art classes. Instead, daily activities centred on games and fitness with the odd trivia quiz thrown in.  

MSC CUSTOMER SERVICE

This is where MSC Sinfonia failed, often spectacularly.

Although a few of the staff were friendly and welcoming, too many others were disinterested, bordering on contemptuous.  Long waits to be served  in the ship’s bars and restaurants were unacceptable, and this may be a reflection of its staffing levels.

However, the icing on the cake was the  overcharge  on the final bill. I was charged for drinks when I had a drinks package. There was a charge for the all-day shuttle bus at Dubrovnik where I used public transport.

And if that’s not bad enough, this charge was for two people when I had sole occupation of the cabin! How does that work?

Although I remain very cynical about the charge for the shuttle bus, I accept that mistakes can be made. But if these are rectified with grace, a smile and an apology they can be forgiven.

As you might have guessed by now, this was far from the case on MSC Sinfonia. Nothing approaching an apology, let alone a smile, passed the Guest Services assistant’s tightly pursed lips.

Worse still, mine was not an isolated experience. Fellow passengers reported similar issues but others, looking at the length of the queue snaking through the Guest Services area of the ship, gave up the fight.

FELLOW PASSENGERS

MSC is the Eurovision of cruise lines. Expect a  cosmopolitan  crowd onboard. The majority of passengers were Italian but there were also British, French, Spanish and  German passengers. Consider a cruise on MSC as an opportunity to hone your foreign language skills by tuning into the multilingual tannoy announcements. The downside of accommodating a plethora of languages is that it feels like the mandatory emergency drill goes on for a week.  

Adriatic Sea Cruise on MSC Sinfonia: The Good, The Bad and The Downright Ugly

Sailing with MSC is a mid-range budget cruise experience. It cost just over £2,000 for the week’s cruise and return scheduled flights with British Airways from London. This was a good itinerary, with diverse ports of call, each of which had something different to offer. My one regret is that we only stopped in Mykonos at night. With hindsight, I would have looked for an itinerary that would have allowed me to explore the island during daylight hours. The ports of call were very busy, especially Santorini, which was challenging at times. I’m very glad that we didn’t decide to take this cruise in July / August when it is reportedly tourist carnage. MSC Sinfonia is an elegant ship, although it felt a little claustrophobic in places, and a few design aspects were frustrating. The cabin was comfortable, albeit small. Food was generally of good quality. However, the poor customer service I experienced means that it is unlikely that I will cruise with MSC again. I had a great time despite them, which is a sad indictment.

Thank you for reading my Adriatic cruise guide

If you have found this article helpful, take a deeper dive into the stops on this cruise:

• Exploring Diocletian’s Palace in Split
• Croatia Off the Beaten Path in Split, Croatia
• Should You Visit Santorini on a Cruise?
• A War Walk in Dubrovnik: A Scarred Beauty
• A Day in Urbino, Italy: A Renaissance Gem

Finally, if you are new to cruising, I also have advice on  how to pick your first cruise  and  which cruise cabins to book , as well as advice on  solo staterooms  if you are  cruising alone.

Happy sailing!

About Bridget

Bridget Coleman has been a passionate traveller for more than 30 years. She has visited 70+ countries, most as a solo traveller.

Articles on this site reflect her first-hand experiences.

To get in touch, email her at [email protected] or follow her on social media.

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MEDITERRANEAN CRUISES

Come on board one of our Mediterranean cruises, and immerse yourself in the Egyptian, Greek, Persian, Iberian and Roman cultures, just to mention a few. Discover the popular Mediterranean cuisine where olive oil, wheat, grains, fruits and vegetables are always abundant. Whether you're on a romantic Mediterranean vacation as a couple or traveling with family or friends, Southern Europe is a fantastic place to visit and explore some of the most emblematic monuments around the world. Explore the Colosseum in Rome , the Parthenon in  Athens or the Basílica de la Sagrada Familia in Barcelona  and create unique experiences and memorable moments aboard one of our MSC cruises around the Mediterranean. Discover the hidden gems in Spain, Italy, France, Greece, Morocco, Croatia, Cyprus, Malta, Montenegro, Portugal, Slovenia, Serbia, Albania, Tunisia and Turkey, while on a cruise in the Mediterranean Sea.  Adventure and culture await you. Browse through our available Mediterranean trips and choose from a list of unforgettable visits to the Acropolis in Athens, make a wish by the Trevi Fountain in Rome or savor French cuisine in Marseille . We'll organize everything for you so you can enjoy every moment of your Mediterranean vacation. There's no better time than now to plan your vacation. Book one of our Mediterranean cruises for 2024 and 2025, or treat yourself to a last-minute trip on a Mediterranean cruise with MSC Cruises.

Mediterranean Countries

If you have always wanted to go abroad and learn more about Europe, discover the best of the Mediterranean with MSC Cruises and explore the most authentic Spanish, French, Greek or Italian cultures, among many others. A Western Mediterranean cruise will take you to destinations such as the ports of Barcelona and Valencia in Spain, Civitavecchia (Rome), Genoa (Portofino and Le Cinque Terre), Naples (Pompeii, Capri and Sorrento) in Italy, or Marseille (Provenza) and Cannes (Montecarlo) in France, just to mention a few. You can also book an Eastern Mediterranean cruise and visit places such as Venice, Split and Dubrovnik in Croatia, Istanbul in Turkey, Piraeus (Athens), Katakolon (Olympia) in Greece and the Greek islands of Corfù, Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes and Heraklion in Crete. Get to know the cornerstone of our modern culture and explore their rich history and colorful, picturesque streets brimming with culture and activity.

Greece & Greek Island Cruises

Are you familiar with Greece and The Greek Islands? Known for their white sandy beaches, turquoise-blue waters and fabulous greek cuisine, their vast cultural and historical heritage influenced the rest of Europe for millennia. Unsure of what to see in Greece and its islands? Come aboard a Greek cruise with MSC Cruises and discover destinations such as Rhodes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with an incredible medieval city, the ruins of Kamiros, or the temple of Athena Lindia. You'll also be able to explore Katakolon, the gateway to Olympia which was home to the first Olympic Games and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore Heraklion, the location of the famous and mythical Minotaur labyrinth, and capital city of Crete, where you will also be able to visit the Palace of Knossos, the Palace of Phaestos, and much more. Don't miss the magnificence of this country, with world-famous attractions such as the Acropolis and La Plaka in Athens, and also home to smaller coastal towns with charming and picturesque harbors in Corfu, Santorini or Mykonos. Explore these and many more destinations on our Greek island cruises. Enjoy the treasures of each destination. FIND YOUR CRUISE

Italy Cruises

As you may know, Italy holds a prominent position in the Mediterranean, and its extensive coastline offers many cultural opportunities and spectacular views for those traveling by sea. Our ships will take you to the main cruise ports in Italy, and from there, to famous cities such as Rome, Naples (Pompeii, Capri and Sorrento), Venice, Genoa (Portofino and Le Cinque Terre), Messina (Taormina), Siracusa or Palermo, among others. We'll do all this and even more for your Mediterranean vacation. MSC Cruises can also offer calls and trips to more obscure gems like Trieste where you'll find the Miramare Castle, Livorno – the gateway to Florence and Pisa - , or the wonders of Puglia and Basilicata, featuring Bari, Brindisi, Lecce, Alberobello and Matera. Whether you are traveling with family, friends, or in a couple's getaway, experience life aboard a spectacular cruise ship while visiting cities surrounded by the turquoise blue of the Mediterranean Sea: immerse yourself in the local culture and enjoy the different cuisine offered by each Italian region. Every cruise is special experience with MSC Cruises. FIND YOUR CRUISE

Croatia Cruises

Croatia, located across from Italy on the other side of the Adriatic Sea, is known for its many islands and coastal towns which are famous for their picturesque buildings, enhanced by the natural beauty of their surroundings. Choose to cruise through Croatia and discover the city of Dubrovnik, a UNESCO World Heritage Site: enjoy the Rector's Palace, the Modra Spilja Cave, or take a stroll down charming streets with the Mediterranean on one side, and idyllic mountains in the background. If you're looking for a place with a little more bustle, our Croatia cruises will take you to Split, an Ancient Roman town that is now a busy city and no longer resembles a Roman settlement. Explore its seafront cafés and businesses as well as historical sites such as the Temple of Jupiter. FIND YOUR CRUISE

mediterranean-cruise-deals

mediterranean cruise deals

The perfect moment for amazing new experiences in the Mediterranean at the best price is now. Take a look at the Mediterranean cruise deals and packages by MSC Cruises and explore Italy, Spain and the French Riviera, or enjoy delicious Greek food while taking in the breathtaking views of Athens. It is never too early to start planning your idyllic vacation and discover the best Mediterranean cruise deals for 2024 and 2025. Whether you prefer to visit the Eastern Mediterranean and immerse yourself in the streets and history of Croatia, Greece and Turkey, or visit the Western Mediterranean, to sample delicious Spanish tapas or authentic French crepes, we have eastern and western Mediterranean cruise deals to cater to your preferences. Either of these options will take you to some of the most beautiful places in Italy. Enjoy the treasures of each destination at the best prices with the best Mediterranean cruise deals by MSC Cruises.

Mediterranean Ports

Choose your favorite Mediterranean port and venture into a world of discovery with MSC Cruises. Whether you prefer to embark in the Spanish port of Barcelona, the French ports of Marseille (Provence) or Cannes, the Greek port of Piraeus, or one of the ports along the Italian Riviera such as Genoa (Portofino) and Civitavecchia (Rome), MSC offers you a wide variety of interesting places to enjoy during your trip. For centuries, Mediterranean ports have been gateways to some of the oldest cities of Europe, and today you can take advantage of them, and enjoy the treasures of each destination.

VENICE CRUISE

Enjoy a vacation in Venice and discover one of the most beautiful and unique cities in Europe thanks to one of our best Italy cruises. Experience the excitement of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, built upon 118 small islands, interconnected by more than 400 bridges. Venice has been a hugely influential port since the Middle Ages, when it amassed great wealth that is now visible in its impressive architecture and art. During your vacation to Venice you can stroll around Saint Mark's Square, visit the city's museums, or go for a Gondola ride. The "Queen of the Adriatic" awaits you: come aboard an MSC Cruise and discover the treasures of each Mediterranean destination.

BARCELONA CRUISE

Choose a Barcelona cruise and experience a city that combines the intricate, winding street patterns of a medieval settlement and the structured avenues of a modern town. This city, known as the "Ciudad Condal" to Spanish natives, is attractive to visitors for countless reasons and At MSC Cruises we organize excursions for you to see some of the famous landmarks, such as the Sagrada Familia, the Camp Nou Stadium, or the Casa Milà, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you want to know more about Barcelona, this is the cruise for you. The port of Barcelona is also a sight in itself: it is one of Spain's main ports, and it has a history that dates back almost 2,000 years. It's the perfect place to begin your Barcelona cruise and treat yourself to an unforgettable vacation.

SANTORINI CRUISE

Are you familiar with Santorini? If not, imagine a paradise on a Greek island with turquoise blue waters and little white and blue houses: the perfect stop for your MSC cruise ship. Enjoy all this port has to offer while on your trip, and experience Greek cuisine and culture. A cruise to Santorini means a time of rest and relaxation among the breathtaking backdrop of the Cyclades, the island group to which Santorini belongs. There, you can sunbathe on the beach, walk among the white and blue streets of its capital city, Fira, or explore the island and its views. Chief among the landmarks of the island is the Caldera, a volcanic depression in the shape of a half moon, which resembles a cauldron. For those interested in history, a Santorini cruise will grant you access to many cultural spots and archaeological museums where you can learn about the people who lived in the Cyclades millennia ago: After all, classical Greek culture was the cornerstone for our modern society.

view all MEDITERRANEAN PORTS

• Ajaccio, France
• Alicante, Spain
• Ancona (Urbino), Italy
• Bar, Montenegro
• Barcelona, Spain
• Bari, Italy
• Bodrum, Turkey
• Brindisi (Lecce) , Italy
• Cadiz (Seville) , Spain
• Cagliari (Sardinia) , Italy
• Cannes, France
• Cartagena, Spain
• Casablanca (Marrakech) , Morocco
• Cefalonia, Greece
• Ceuta, Spain
• Chania (Crete) , Greece
• Civitavecchia (Rome) , Italy
• Corfu, Greece
• Dubrovnik, Croatia
• Funchal (Madeira Is.) , Portugal
• Genoa (Portofino) , Italy
• Gibraltar, Gibraltar
• Heraklion (Crete) , Greece
• Ibiza (Baleari Is.) , Spain
• Istanbul, Turkey
• Izmir, Turkey
• Katakolon (Olympia) , Greece
• Koper, Slovenia
• Kotor, Montenegro
• Kusadasi, Turkey
• La Goulette, Tunisia
• La Spezia (Cinque Terre) , Italy
• Limassol, Cyprus
• Lisbon (Cascais) , Portugal
• Livorno (Florence) , Italy
• Mahon, Spain
• Malaga (Granada) , Spain
• Marmaris, Turkey
• Marseille (Provence) , France
• Messina (Taormina) , Italy
• Mykonos, Greece
• Naples (Pompeii) , Italy
• Olbia, Italy
• Palermo (Monreale) , Italy
• Palma de Mallorca (Baleari Is.) , Spain
• Piraeus (Athens) , Greece
• Ravenna, Italy
• Rhodes (Lindos) , Greece
• Rijeka, Croatia
• Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Canary Is.) , Spain
• Santorini, Greece
• Sarande, Albania
• Split, Croatia
• Syracuse, Italy
• Tangier (Tetouan) , Morocco
• Taranto (Alberobello) , Italy
• Tarragona, Spain
• Trieste (Venice), Italy
• Valencia, Spain
• Valletta, Malta
• Venice - Marghera, Italy
• Villefranche sur Mer (Montecarlo) , France
• Zadar, Croatia
• Zakynthos, Greece

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MSC Cruises – Cruise with MSC Fantasia in the Adriatic Sea

11. June 2022 Categories: Travel reports , Europe , Italy

Around the Adriatic Sea there are many beautiful and worth seeing places like Venice, Dubrovnik, Trieste, Split, Kotor, Zdar, Šibenik, Piran, Bari or Ancona. We were able to explore some of them during our Cruise with MSC Fantasia . We have taken a number of river and ocean cruises in recent years and are always thrilled with this type of travel. Cruises are predestined to combine multiple destinations in a convenient and stress-free way. You virtually always have the hotel with you, there is no daily packing and unpacking of suitcases, you don’t have to worry about food and you have a great entertainment program every day. Whether on the sea or on rivers, there is always so much to experience.

Table of contents

Booking, Flight & Transfer

We have looked at various shipping companies for cruises in the Adriatic – from AIDA, Norwegian, Costa to TUI Mein Schiff. In the end, MSC Cruises had the best route and the best price for us. Since we didn’t know MSC before and wanted to try it out, we finally decided to go with this provider.

After we had decided on the suitable route, we considered whether we book only the cruise or everything all-inclusive including arrival and departure in the package. Since individual flights would have been very expensive, we ultimately opted for a complete package, which we booked directly through the MSC Cruises website. One finds in addition, very many suitable last minute and special offers at ehoi.de .

For our 8-day Mediterranean trip, we paid a total of 2,308 EUR for 2 adults & 1 infant , including a Balcony cabin, hotel service charge, flight, transfer as well as Corona insurance.

Frankfurt Airport

Our flight to Venice

Approach to Venice

The route of our cruise with MSC through the Adriatic Sea

We deliberately chose the 8-day cruise with MSC Cruises from Trieste because it included some places that had been on our bucket list for a long time. In total, our trip took us through four countries: Italy, Montenegro, Greece and Croatia . We were able to experience six eventful and varied days ashore: We started in Trieste, then continued to the port city of Ancona, through the breathtaking Bay of Kotor to Bari. The journey continued to the green island of Corfu and to medieval Dubrovnik with its impressive city walls, from where we returned to Trieste. Since our plane was leaving from Venice, we were even able to take a little side trip to the gondola city at the end of the trip, which was another highlight of the trip.

Our cruise with MSC through the Adriatic Sea

The cruise ship MSC Fantasia

The MSC Fantasia is a cruise ship of MSC Cruises , which was put into service in 2008. 3,274 passengers can be accommodated on the ship and in the 1,637 cabins . To our surprise, our route was only 50% booked, meaning there were just under 1,600 passengers on board. We really liked that, because it was not so crowded, there was no waiting time at the buffet, etc..

The ship MSC Fantasia

The deck plan

The MSC Fantasia is divided into 18 decks , 14 of which are accessible to passengers. What you can find where on which deck, you can see on the following deck plan. You can also download it here as a PDF version in full size.

The deck plan of the MSC Fantasia

Our balcony outside cabin

When booking the cruise, we didn’t think twice about whether to take an inside cabin or a balcony cabin. The choice fell on a balcony cabin ! The reasons were many: the balcony cabin is larger and equipped with an additional double sofa bed, we can permanently enjoy the beautiful view of the sea, we can fall asleep with the sound of the sea in our ears and be awakened in the morning by daylight. Even though we were of course always on the road during the day, we did not regret the choice of our cabin.

Our balcony cabin was on the 9th floor port side. We chose the cabin ourselves when we booked because we wanted to make sure we had a glass balcony as well. Certain cabins also have a steel balcony – we definitely didn’t want that.

Our premium balcony cabin had a size of about 19-20 m² and a balcony of about 4-6 m². The cabin was equipped with a comfortable double bed, a sitting area with a double sofa bed, a desk, TV, telephone, safe, a minibar with a fee, a hairdryer and air conditioning. The bathroom with shower was quite compact, but served its purpose.

Our cabin 9077

Our balcony cabin

The bathroom

Our balcony

The food & buffet restaurant

On the ship, we had the opportunity to enjoy culinary delights almost around the clock. The MSC Fantasia has different inclusive restaurants, such as L’Etoile, La Cantina Toscana, Il Cerchio d’Oro or Red Velvet. In addition, there is the specialty restaurant Butcher’s Cut Steakhouse. We ate at the L’Africana/Zanzibar buffet restaurant every night, partly because of our little ones. The selection there was ok, but often there was the same thing every day: different pasta dishes, hamburgers, hotdogs, fries, pizza, fish, different side dishes, sausage & cheese and a few small ready-made salads. For dessert, there was mainly fruit and cake or small tarts. On other ships, we had a much larger and more varied selection in the buffet restaurant.

Buffet Restaurant

The pool area

We were especially enthusiastic about the large pool area on the ship. This consists firstly of the Aqua Park on deck 14 with a large main pool, 2 whirlpools and a surrounding shallow water area for children. This was really great for our little one to play and splash around. In addition, there is a large indoor pool with 2 more whirlpools, a smaller pool at the rear of the ship, a water slide, and a separate sundeck for suite guests from the MSC Yacht Club.

The indoor pool

The outside deck

The outside deck of the MSC Fantasia is very spacious and we generally liked it. Due to the fact that the ship was only 50% booked, there was enough space everywhere, there were enough free loungers and chill lounge chairs. We found the animation in the Aqua Park on deck 14 a bit disturbing, as it was sometimes just too loud and the speakers reached their limit.

Facilities on board

We love exploring the different decks of a ship. And the MSC Fantasia really has a lot to offer: there is a large atrium with live music and several bars, many small boutiques, a piazza with an espresso bar, a casino, a library, an art gallery, the Panorama Liquid Disco, a gym, spa, kids club, 4D cinema, Formula 1 simulator and the large Avanguardia theater.

View from the L'Insolito Lounge

Our conclusion about MSC Cruises & the MSC Fantasia

After AIDA, Carnival, Celestyal Cruises and Princess Cruises, MSC Cruises was the 5th cruise line of an ocean cruise for us. If you look at the reviews of MSC Cruises on Trustpilot , the reputation is unfortunately not really good. 60% of the users only award one star, i.e. an insufficient. We didn’t think it was quite that bad – if only because of the great route – but even so, we weren’t completely satisfied either. Here is a brief summary of our positive and negative impressions.

What we liked:

– The route along the Adriatic Sea is really super. – We liked the ship MSC Fantasia and our cabin very much. – Especially the different pool areas were great, also for kids. – The price was cheap compared to other shipping companies. – The cabin service and waiters were all super friendly.

What we did not like so much:

– Venice is not in the itinerary, although it is THE highlight of the Adriatic. – The flight went to Venice, although the trip started in Trieste. That meant another 2 hours bus transfer. – We almost missed our flight to Venice because the MSC booking hotline gave us wrong information about the ticket! – Our questions in advance (e.g. at what time is the return transfer, does MSC offer storage for suitcases at the airport) no one could answer. – The food in the buffet restaurant was ok, but could be more varied. – The departure from the ports was not celebrated as beautifully as, for example, with AIDA . – There were no daily announcements and information from the captain “Welcome to the city…”. – Some of the moorings were not good (e.g. in Dubrovnik). Other shipping companies were far more centrally located here. This results in extra costs for the transfer to the city.

All travelogues of our cruise through the Adriatic Sea

Adriatic Cruise from Piraeus - MSC Sinfonia

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Departures: Every Thursday from 28/3 until 31/10 2024

Renaissance logo MSC has included a new 319 m2 area to fill with music and dancing. With the help of prestigious partners like Chicco, LEGO® and Namco®, new play areas have created for children of all ages, starting with an exciting spray park packed with fun water features.

Day 1: Piraeus

Embarkation on MSC Sinfonia. The ship departs at 17:00

Day 2: At sea

Day at your leisure to explore and enjoy the megaship MSC Sinfonia. 

Day 3: Split, Croatia

The ship arrives at Split port at 07.00 and departs at 17.00

The captivating port of Split, located on the Dalmatian coast, is one of Croatia’s star-attraction cities. Immerse yourself in the ancient atmosphere of its old centre, admire Diocletian buildings, or wander the city’s spectacular waterfront and shade yourself under the palm trees.

Split is a vibrant city with an atmospheric old town centre. An excursion guides you into its most ancient district, home to fashionable boutiques, galleries, and cafés. At the core of Split’s old quarter is Diocletian’s Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Chosen by the Roman Emperor Diocletian as his retirement residence, this vast 4th-century A.D. mansion sets the tone for the aesthetic of the neighbourhood. Afterwards, visit the St. Duje, a 4th-century cathedral featuring an Imperial Roman mausoleum and bell tower. Then, wander the narrow streets and passageways to soak up the city’s culture.

If you love magnificent landscapes, take an adventurous excursion to Krka National Park in beautiful Šibenik-Knin County. There, you’ll have the opportunity to walk among the wildlife and visit the scenic Skradinski Buk waterfall. Fed from the glorious waters of the River Krka, the waterfall cascades into a green-blue natural pool. Conclude your tour at a captivating ethnographic exhibition housed in a picturesque old mill.

Travel south-east of Split to the little town of Omis, situated at the point where the Cetina River flows into the Adriatic sea. After a short journey along the banks of the Cetina River,  arrive at the Radmanove Milnice restaurant and picnic site. this popular excursion destination is not just the perfect place to enjoy a local snack of smoked ham and cheese with a glass of local wine, but also to take some photos. Head back to Split and explore the the town’s attractions on foot before returning to the ship.  

Day 4: Marghera, Venice

The ship arrives at Marghera port at 09:00 and departs at 16:00

Venice a romantic destination, an artisan masterpiece. The city is built on 118 small islands, separated by canals, in a shallow lagoon in the Adriatic Sea. This UNESCO World Heritage Site overflows with beauty – from the gondola-lined canals and ancient marble palaces to historical architectural feats like St. Mark’s Basilica and the Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo. Visiting Venice is like being in a fabled land, a scintillating mix of culture, history, and water.

MSC Cruises excursion to the illustrious St. Mark’s Square, Venice’s cultural, religious, and political centre. See the iconic Basilica, an Italo-Byzantine masterpiece, with its beautiful bell tower and golden mosaics. Next door, Doge's Palace, a Gothic jewel, will impress with its seriously sublime ornamentation. Next, cast your eyes over the Bridge of Sighs, an ornate white limestone beauty. At the end of the tour, unwind in one of the piazza’s chic cafes for a coffee and a sweet. People watch, read a book, or gaze down to the sea.   Explore Venice’s fascinating museums on a cultural excursion. After a leisurely boat ride to iconic St Mark’s Square, you’ll visit an array of museums near the piazza. Explore Correr Museum to glimpse collections of historical Venetian paintings. Swing by the Archaeological Museum to discover is a treasure chest of antique sculptures, pottery, coins, and gemstones. Finally, wander the Biblioteca Marciana, one of most extensive libraries in Italy. This literary paradise houses one of the world’s greatest collections of classical texts including Greek, Latin and Oriental manuscripts.    Explore the romantic city of Venice with an exciting cruise along its mysterious canals. This excursion will see you taking a boat ride through the city’s world-famous waterways, admiring magnificent bridges, grand patrician palaces, and the city’s famous narrow streets, the calli. Soak up the ancient atmosphere as you make your way through the world’s most incredible aquatic maze. Afterwards, enjoy a guided walk around the calli to learn more about the city.

Day 5: Brindisi, Italy

The ship arrives at Brindisi port at 16:00 and departs at 22:00

The Italian port town of Brindisi boasts a characterful ancient centre, home to a vast array of treasures.

Sites such as the 11th-century Duomo and Alfonsino Castle are architectural jewels just waiting to be discovered. The perfect starting point for visiting other destinations, namely Lecce, Ostuni, and Alberobello, Brindisi delivers culture, colour and Italian romance along its palm-fringed streets and seafront promenade.

Discover beautiful Lecce, not far from Brindisi. Affectionately named 'the Florence of the South', the town is known for its amazing feats of Baroque architecture. Take in the vibrant Piazza St. Oronzo, the ancient Roman Amphitheatre, the richly decorated Church of the Holy Cross, and the ornate Celestine Convent. Explore Lecce's labyrinth of charming streets before learning about papier-mâché, a local art.

Take an excursion to the enchanting whitewashed town of Ostuni, a short distance from Brindisi. Its picturesque medieval centre overlooks an endless expanse of olive trees in the glorious Itria Valley. Discover brilliant white houses along winding pebbled paths and the 15th-century Ostuni Cathedral with its Gothic style architecture. Then, partake in a delicious olive oil tasting session in a traditional mill before a relaxing drive back to the port. 

Enrich your travel experience with an excursion to charming Alberobello. Forming the famous 'heel' of Italy's boot, the town is resplendent with hundreds of iconic stone houses.  Known as 'trulli', these historical dwellings are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tour the streets to see their conical roofs, whitewashed walls, pretty pot plants, and trailing vines. Visit the trullo church of Sant Antonio and discover the fascinating history behind Alberobello’s magical architecture. Learn about the curious symbols painted on the roofs before returning to port through the countryside.

Day 6: At sea

Day 7: mykonos.

The ship arrives at Mykonos port at 09.00 and departs at 20.00

During the 18th-century, Mykonos’ maze of tangled lanes would confuse even the most well-travelled pirates. Nowadays pretending to get lost in these winding alleys makes for a day of entertainment! This island is known for its romantic Greek Island glamour. See brilliant beaches, turquoise waters, and picturesque whitewashed villages. 

Book an MSC Cruises excursion around Mykonos and discover a glamorous and cosmopolitan town. A gem of the Cyclades archipelago, Mykonos draws visitors from all over the world. Explore whitewashed houses on narrow streets, a labyrinth built to thwart pirate attacks! Then, visit the world-famous Venetian windmills which date back to the 16th century. Used to grind wheat, these rustic structures were a fundamental part of the island’s former economy. Today, they provide a great photo opportunity, so remember to bring your camera!   Visit the gorgeous Greek island of Delos. This archaeological site overlooks the beautiful Aegean Sea and is considered the mythological birthplace of the sun god Apollo. Soak up the glory of this ancient Greek civilisation and discover the Avenue of Lions, an incredible row of 7th-century marble-sculptures. Then, wander the trail to Mount Cynthus to marvel at the views of the ocean.   Discover Mykonos the exciting way. Experience the sights of this gorgeous Greek Island in the comfort of a four-wheel-drive! Visit Kalo Livadi beach where you can take a swim in the Mediterranean Sea or stretch out on the sand. Then, visit the monastery and church of Panagia Tourliani in the village of Ano Mera. Before returning to port, experience warm island hospitality in a traditional Greek tavern.  Sip Ouzo, the anise-flavoured spirt, before tucking into a plate of tasty appetisers.

Day 8: Piraeus

MSC Sinfonia ship arrives at Piraeus port at 07.00 

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Adriatic Cruises

Discover the azure water and sweeping romance of the Mediterranean

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Cruises to the Adriatic Sea

Make your way along island-specked coastlines on one of our Adriatic cruises and marvel at pine-fringed beaches, medieval castles, and terracotta-roofed towns. Experience vibrant, cosmopolitan communities, enchanting seaside villages, and a blend of fascinating cultures.

On cruises to the Adriatic Sea, you’ll enjoy this lovely mélange in the area’s varied cuisine, architecture, and history. Spend balmy summer days on one of the pristine beaches along the Adriatic coastline, or go hiking and wine tasting in the countryside. Uncover the historic sites of the region and wander through captivating city centers. From Italy to Croatia and Montenegro, this region of Europe has a wealth of cultural gems waiting to be discovered.

Adriatic Cruise Highlights

Forts and castles.

Immerse yourself in the history of the Adriatic by visiting its castles, forts, cathedrals, and palaces. In Dubrovnik, stroll along the chunky ramparts that have encircled the city for centuries.   In Split, wander through Diocletian’s Palace, still a living community, where the Roman emperor once escaped for rest and refuge. In the handsome city of Trieste, visit the Cathedral of San Giusto Martire, from where you’ll enjoy a breathtaking view of the Adriatic Sea. 

Sparkling Coasts

Discover the Adriatic’s breathtaking coastlines, where sparkling blue water, bleached white islands, and bottle-green pine forests await. From Dubrovnik, hop on the ferry to the wooded island of Lokrum, where you can swim off the rocks in crystal-clear water. In the Bay of Kotor, a deep fjord hemmed in by mountains, swim from small pebble beaches and kayak against a backdrop of tiny islands and coastal villages.

Culinary Delights

Treat your taste buds to new flavors during your cruise around the Adriatic. Taste crisp white Graševina wines, perfect with salty cheese and smoked ham. Try the famous black squid ink risotto and feast on plump peaches and sweet cherries, all grown locally. Enjoy fresh oysters from Ston, near Dubrovnik, and the wide variety of pasta dishes that reflect the proximity of Italy. Learn to drink coffee like a local, sitting in a café for hours while chatting with friends.

Featured Ports

Split, croatia.

The elegant old city of Split has a long history. At its heart is the magnificent Diocletian’s Palace—more a bustling self-contained community than a typical palace—built for the Roman emperor in 4 AD. Wander through the winding alleys and explore the vaulted substructures where musical performances are held. Join a wine tasting, and sample local smoked hams and cheese. Take a trip to Krka National Park, where waterfalls tumble over natural travertine platforms into blue-green pools.

Kotor, Montenegro

Nestled between the Bay of Kotor and the mountains of Mt. Lovcen, Kotor is a lovely old harbor town with a mountainous backdrop and a beautifully preserved medieval center. Explore the Old Town, where al-fresco cafés line sunlit squares. Step into the quirky Cats Museum, which is full of all things feline. Climb the ramparts that snake over the hills behind the city for awe-inspiring views over the rooftops and the long Bay of Kotor.

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Between Italy and Montenegro, you’ll find the spectacular city of Dubrovnik, a heavenly coastal city in Croatia that has risen to the top of many travelers’ bucket lists. Walk around the historic old city walls, where you’ll see unparalleled views of Dubrovnik’s terracotta-roofed buildings and shimmering Adriatic beyond. Explore the area’s forts and monasteries, and take the aerial tram up craggy Mount Srd for the best view of the tangled streets of the old town.

Adriatic Cruise Itineraries

On a cruise to the Adriatic Sea with Celebrity Cruises, choose from seven to 11-night itineraries that depart from Barcelona, Rome, Athens, and Ravenna (Venice). Cruise between April and November and visit ports of call such as Dubrovnik, Trieste, Kotor, and Split.

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Discover the beauty of the region on an Adriatic Sea cruise with Celebrity Cruises. You’ll sail to picturesque towns and popular ports in supreme comfort while enjoying world-class service onboard. Join exciting shore excursions and spend your days learning about the area’s rich history, sampling its unique cuisine, and relaxing on the Adriatic coast’s famous beaches.

Once you’re back on board, enjoy balmy evenings in the Sunset Bar, book a massage at The Spa, or relax on your own private veranda and breathe in the fresh ocean breeze. At night, savor global cuisine at any of our restaurants and cap off the evening with a drink at one of our lively lounges, where you can listen to live music or dance under the stars.

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The 10 best cruises for teens in 2024.

The best cruises for teens provide the right mix of autonomy and time with family.

The Best Cruises for Teens

Amy Smith | Courtesy of Disney Cruise Line

Teen spaces on cruise ships foster friendships through games, music, events and more.

Cruises make the perfect family vacation, especially when traveling with teens. Teens can mix and mingle with others their age in teens-only clubs, play games, listen to music, or grab a pizza and watch a movie under the stars. If your tweens and teens need more action-packed fun to keep them entertained, some cruise ships act like floating amusement parks with zip lines, racetracks, roller coasters, ice skating rinks, laser tag, waterslides and more.

The following lines offer the best cruises for teens and tweens, along with their parents.

Find your perfect cruise

MSC Cruises

Courtesy of MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises offers plenty of family fun and activities for teens on its ships, including sports tournaments, waterslides and a family disco. On select ships, you'll also find the full-size MSC Formula Racer simulator, an interactive XD cinema, a virtual reality experience, zip lines and an arcade room. The Young Club programming by MSC Cruises offers daily activities for 12- to 14-year-old tweens, while teens 15 to 17 can participate in sports and dance competitions as well as video game tournaments at the Teen Club. Older kids can also participate in fun themed events, karaoke, piloting practice at the Drone Academy and flash mobs – and there's a teens-only disco.

On MSC Seascape , teens can stay busy in three new concept spaces. "Future" features a state-of-the-art technology area with the latest-generation consoles, VR and video screens for hours of entertainment. "Chill Out" is just as it sounds – a place to hang out, chat, and play foosball and pingpong. Meanwhile, "Music" is a dance club where kids can choose their own tunes and dance the night away with cool lighting and sound effects. If all that isn't enough, Robotron, the first of its kind at sea, is an amusement park-like ride that combines the thrill of a roller coaster with personalized music and lighting.

MSC World Europa boasts the largest and most engaging kids area in the fleet with an impressive 8,245 square feet of action-packed space. The new Teens Lab features an immersive area for teenagers with more than 20 of the latest consoles, seven VR stations and dozens of video games. Drone Academy 2.0 is a high-energy relay race for drones. There's even more onboard fun at Z Active, a sports program that offers basketball, football and zorb ball alongside two firsts for the line – pickleball and hoverboards. Teens can also take a spin on the bumper cars at the MSC Sportplex.

MSC Euribia – the line's newest ship, which set sail on its inaugural cruise in June 2023 – has a total of 7,500-plus square feet of space dedicated to kids ages 0 to 17. The new Teens Club Extra Space offers three different areas: the Young Club (ages 12 to 14), the Teens Club (15 to 17) and the Teens Lab (12 to 17). Some of the activities include those found on other MSC ships, such as Z Active, Drone Academy 2.0 and the MSC Dance Crew competition. Teens will also have access to new video games; pingpong; World Quest, an interactive game show based on trivia and geography; and Caravaggio, an immersive spy game show about an art heist.

Compare  MSC Cruises on GoToSea , a service of U.S. News.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line boasts a teens-only venue, Entourage, which caters to young adults 13 to 17 years old. This supervised space – available on 16 of the line's 19 ships – keeps teens busy in an adults-free lounge that's filled with video games, movies, music, arts and sports. Teen counselors on Norwegian Cruise Line plan activities and challenges to keep kids entertained throughout the cruise. A list of detailed activities is available on embarkation day so teens can plan out their schedule for the cruise.

Norwegian Prima , the first vessel in the Prima class, features many first-at-sea innovations perfect for entertaining families and energetic teens, including the three-level Prima Speedway. With cars reaching up to 30 miles per hour, this quarter-mile-long racetrack is one of the highest-rated attractions on Prima. Adventurous teens will also want to check out The Drop and The Rush. Billed as the fastest slides at sea, these chutes offer thrill-seekers a heart-pumping 10-story freefall plunge.

If that's not enough action, teens can also play The Bull's Eye, a classic game of darts that uses a video tracking system, or check out Tee Time for a pumped-up version of mini-golf set against a Las Vegas backdrop. In the Galaxy Pavilion, an indoor gaming complex, you'll find more than a dozen attractions, including immersive simulator experiences, escape rooms and the Topgolf Swing Suite – all of which are unique to Norwegian Prima. When it's time to cool off, the Tidal Wave waterslide is another first for the brand, letting guests ride inner tubes to catch the surf.

Norwegian Viva, the second vessel in the Prima class, is set to launch in August 2023. As the newest ship in NCL's fleet, Viva will also feature these exciting high-tech attractions, including Viva Speedway. If you and your teens are fans of the movie "Beetlejuice," you're in for a treat: The Broadway musical adaptation will debut on the new ship.

The line's Breakaway Plus class – Norwegian Escape , Joy , Bliss and Encore – is also popular with families as these ships offer plenty of activities and attractions suited for active teens, such as go-kart tracks, outdoor laser tag and VR games in the Galaxy Pavilion.

Find  Norwegian Cruise Line deals on GoToSea .

Disney Cruise Line

Courtesy of Disney Cruise Line

Disney Cruise Line features two cool spaces dedicated to teens and tweens, who can hang out on comfy couches, watch shows or movies, and play video games. These hangouts, called Edge (for ages 11 to 14) and Vibe (ages 14 to 17), are available on all Disney Cruise Line ships.

On Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream , the space at Vibe also features a private outdoor deck with chaise lounges, wading pools, foosball and more. While indoors, teenagers can mingle with others their age, or just kick back and relax in individual nooks. There's a dance club area for karaoke contests, talent shows and dance competitions. The trendy indoor-outdoor space – at almost 9,000 square feet – is accessible with a teens-only card or DisneyBand+. On the new Disney Wish ship, Vibe has a French twist inspired by a Paris artist's loft with neon signs and funk pop art.

For tweens sailing on Disney Fantasy or Dream, Edge is a bright, loft-style gathering spot – located in the funnel – that has individual computer stations for gaming and a massive video wall for screening television, movies and games. There's also a lit-up dance floor for dance parties. Two nifty features of the space – and its location – are views of the pool decks below as well as three portholes that allow for glimpses of the riders on the water coaster, AquaDuck, as they zoom by.

On the first night of the cruise, kids receive information on what activities and events will be available during their vacation so they can curate a personalized entertainment itinerary. Some fun options throughout the week may include "Gotcha," a game of elimination where one teen will become the ultimate victor. For a special treat – and a bit of pampering – guests ages 13 to 17 won't want to miss an afternoon at Chill Spa, located inside Senses Spa & Salon.

Book a  Disney cruise on GoToSea .

Royal Caribbean International

Michel Verdure | Courtesy of Royal Caribbean International

The newly updated space for teens 13 to 17 years old on Royal Caribbean International vessels is hidden behind a secret speakeasy entrance. The dedicated venue, which has a gaming lounge and music, is a cozy place to hang out to meet other teens on the ship. There's also an outdoor patio where you can relax in the sun or chill out under the stars. Teens will find planned activities throughout the day at the lounge, including sports tournaments, a nightly teen disco and themed parties.

Social 100 is an exclusive new space for ages 13 to 17 on Wonder of the Seas . The outdoor space sits next to the waterslides and boasts a hot tub, lawn games, cozy seating, a selfie area, and a bar serving zero-proof cocktails and shakes. The indoor part of Social 100 features a gaming area, foosball tables, a vending machine and more comfortable spaces for teens to mingle.

Teens have plenty of activities they can do with their families on Royal Caribbean's ships, especially on the new Icon of the Seas, the first vessel in the Icon class. Slated for its inaugural sailing in January 2024, Wonder of the Seas will be the  world's largest cruise ship .  Cruisers of all ages will have endless opportunities for fun with more venues, activities and attractions than you've ever seen on a cruise ship.

Teens and their parents will appreciate Chill Island, a three-level pool deck with the first swim-up bar at sea. The new water park, Thrill Island, boasts six waterslides, including exciting firsts at sea, such as Pressure Drop, the first open freefall slide. If that's not enough to get the adrenaline pumping, teens can check out Crown's Edge – a combination thrill ride, skywalk and ropes course – or other Royal Caribbean favorites like Adrenaline Peak, Sports Court, the FlowRider surf simulator or the reimagined mini-golf course.

If you're hanging out in the new Surfside neighborhood on Icon, a dedicated space for young families, teens will have easy access to the supervised teens-only club, Social 020, from this open-air space.

When you head ashore to Perfect Day in CocoCay, one of the best  cruise line private islands , teen cruisers will find plenty of fun land-based activities like Thrill Waterpark and 1,600-foot-long zip lines. Be sure not to miss another thrilling experience: Up, Up and Away. The helium balloon ride soars 450 feet above the ground to the highest vantage point in the Bahamas , offering incredible panoramic views of the island and surrounding turquoise waters.

Explore  Royal Caribbean cruises on GoToSea . 

Holland America Line

Michel Verdure | Courtesy of Holland America Line

The Kids Club on Holland America Line offers a fun supervised program for 13- to 17-year-old guests in an adult-free zone known as The Loft. The name is in the process of changing to High Score!, and you'll already find the updated concept on Oosterdam and Eurodam . The line's other ships will change over to the new venue throughout 2024. High Score! is a family game room that serves as a secret getaway for teens by day. In the evenings, entire families can come to play skeeball, board games and join in other activities.

The teens-only space (during the day) on Holland America Line resembles a New York artists loft where kids can listen to music, watch movies, play games and meet and hang out with same-age cruisers. Programs and activities at the current space, The Loft, include themed events, karaoke, a teen disco and nighttime activities such as Poker Night and video game tournaments. Youths can also participate in pingpong, basketball and other teens-only sporting events. If they still need more entertainment to keep them busy, the Kids Club offers origami lessons and watercolor painting as well as competitions in "Mario Kart," air hockey, foosball, pinball and more.

The Kids Club is complimentary for guests. The space is open daily, and you'll also find teen events around the ship. When it comes to dining, there are many teen-friendly dining options – where teens can even enjoy mocktails like nonalcoholic mojitos – at venues throughout the ship.

If you're cruising to Alaska with Holland America or other adventure-filled destinations, look for excursions that will appeal to younger family members like zip lining tours, trail hikes, float trips, helicopter tours and wilderness safaris. Alaska is a teen favorite, especially in Skagway (one of Alaska's top destinations ), where travelers can get a thrill out of dog mushing with a team of Alaskan huskies, taking a ride on the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad, or going on a rock climbing excursion.

Find  Holland America Line cruises on GoToSea .

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Princess Cruises

Courtesy of Princess Cruises

The modern Beach House lounge is the go-to place for passengers ages 13 to 17 to socialize and meet others their age when sailing on a Princess Cruises ship. Fun activities for teens include late-night movies and tournaments where they can challenge their peers in video games or at air hockey, foosball and table tennis. For more energetic activities, join in the fun during indoor dodgeball and basketball games. Or, learn new dance moves from some of the dancers in the crew, then hit the dance floor for one of the competitions. At the "Rock the Boat Party," teenagers can dress up and party the night away with mocktails and new friends on the ship.

"Movies Under the Stars" is one of Princess' signature events. Guests can watch movies, sporting events and concerts while bundled up with cozy blankets on the pool deck outdoors. Teens will enjoy the complimentary snacks – not to mention the special movie nights designed with them in mind, such as "Scary Movie Night." You might even find teen makeovers and glitter tattoos some evenings on the ship.

The line's three newest ships – Discovery Princess , Enchanted Princess and Sky Princess – offer the most activities for teens, but all of the ships in the fleet host youth programs in partnership with Discovery, along with plenty of other family-friendly activities. These offerings include Discovery Family and Animal Planet shore excursions and onboard entertainment like "The Voice of the Ocean," a musical competition.

Parents will be able to keep track of their busy teens anywhere on the ship with the state-of-the-art Princess MedallionClass system. The quarter-size wearable medallion and accompanying app allow guests to personalize their itinerary and locate family members and friends on board.

When Sun Princess launches in February 2024, as the first vessel in the line's Sphere class, it will feature Park19. This top-deck family activity zone boasts many outdoor adventures, including Sea Breeze – the first Rollglider at sea. The ADA-accessible seated ride offers a hang-gliding experience with panoramic views of the ocean and ports of call. Families and teens can also check out the climbing obstacle course, cargo nets and lookout points. The ship also has a recreational court – which offers pingpong, shuffleboard, fitness classes and more – and a splash zone where you can cool off after all the outdoor activities.

Inside Sun Princess, tweens and teens will find two centers just for them: Neon Grove and The Underground. Both spaces offer cozy and colorful areas for young adults to hang out, socialize, and play video games on the PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch. They'll also find foosball, skeeball and air hockey on top of planned activities like movie nights, dance parties and scavenger hunts.

Explore  Princess Cruises on GoToSea .

Adventures by Disney

Adventures by Disney offers river and expedition cruises for the whole family; the itineraries span many choices and experiences for tweens and teens with a focus on culture, history, gastronomy and adventure. The river cruises are operated in partnership with AmaWaterways, while the expedition cruises are a collaboration with luxury French cruise line Ponant.

If you're sailing on the Adventures by Disney Rhine River Cruise itinerary, for example, guests can choose between various exciting excursions. While you're docked in Strasbourg, France , for the day, teen-friendly options include a tour of the Black Forest, complete with a toboggan run and a visit to a woodworking museum. Another choice here is to visit Germany's Europa-Park, a one-of-a-kind theme park located between the Black Forest and the Vosges Mountains. In Melk, Austria, on the Danube itinerary, families can go for a bike ride along the Danube River, hike to the castle in Dürnstein or visit a family-run apricot farm.

Another great feature of these cruises is that teens can opt to have dinner and evening get-togethers with same-age cruisers, so they don't have to dine with their parents or younger siblings every night. Adventure Guides also curate special activities for teens like game shows and pool parties.

In destinations like Antarctica, the Adriatic and the Galápagos Islands , expert naturalists lead tours during these bucket list trips. You might even find a bit of Disney storytelling woven into the presentations by the Adventure Guides.

Keep in mind if you have younger kids as well as teens that children need to be 5 or older to sail on the river cruises. For the Galápagos Islands expedition cruises, the minimum age for Junior Adventurers is 7, and for expeditions to the polar regions, kids need to be 10 years of age or older.

Read: The Best Cruise Insurance Plans

Carnival Cruise Line

Courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Celebration, which launched in November 2022, is the line's newest Excel-class ship. It features an expanded family and youth program, including its offerings for teens. The line also rolled out the new program fleetwide in spring 2023.

The Carnival Cruise Line teen programming at Circle "C" is for tweens ages 12 to 14, while Club O2 is for ages 15 to 17. In these venues you'll find entertainment like themed dance parties – and even a Carnival prom – as well as video games, movies and karaoke. Circle "C" stands for "Cruise, chill and connect," and that's what teens can do in this colorful, contemporary space with engaging counselors. New activities include anime drawing lessons and pop culture games at Circle "C." Older teens can foster new friendships while engaging in Japanese crafts and authentic tea ceremonies at Club O2.

Teens will appreciate Carnival's onboard water park, Waterworks, which includes a splash park and slides. Carnival Panorama even has the trampoline park Skyzone. Teenage passengers won't want to miss the first roller coaster at sea, BOLT, on Excel-class ships: Mardi Gras , Celebration and the upcoming Jubilee, scheduled to launch in December 2023.

For even more action, Vista-class ships feature Skyride. This two-lane, bike-like ride is suspended above the top deck of the ships and extends out over the ocean. More indoor fun can be found at Thrill Theater (on Horizon and Vista ), an immersive cinematic experience where you'll feel the seat rumble, the wind blow through your hair and even a spritz of water during the action-packed video.

Book a Carnival cruise on GoToSea .

Celebrity Cruises

Michel Verdure | Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises

This line's Teen Club features activities focused on kids 13 to 17. Some of the events offered for teens in the Camp at Sea program on Celebrity Cruises range from video game tournaments and sports competitions to culinary classes and silent disco parties. Teen cruisers can even book glass-blowing classes on Celebrity Solstice , Equinox and Eclipse . The offerings for young passengers are similar at either The Basement on Edge-series ships ( Edge , Apex , Beyond and Ascent, set to launch in November 2023) or at X Club on Solstice- and Millennium-class ships. Note, however, the line's three Galápagos expedition vessels do not have the teen venues. Families who need accessible accommodations, activities and programs will also find autism-friendly cruises on Celebrity.

When it comes to pampering, Celebrity's spas offer spa menus for 13- to 17-year-olds. Teens can book facials that are designed for young sensitive skin or have express pedicures and manicures. When you're ready to relax, schedule a two-by-two massage, where parents and kids can have a side-by-side treatment.

Celebrity also offers family-focused excursions that highlight cultural attractions, wildlife sightings and adventure. Some of these tours include seeing gentoo, king and Magellanic penguins in the Falkland Islands; taking an aerial tram through the treetop canopies of a rainforest in Costa Rica ; and going on a small culinary or sightseeing group excursion in Europe and other destinations around the world. On Caribbean sailings – especially when school is out for summer or on holidays – Celebrity has additional family-friendly shore excursions on its five- and seven-night sailings.

Find a  Celebrity Cruises deal on GoToSea .

Cunard Line

Cunard Line offers programs and activities for passengers ages 13 to 17 years old in its Teen Zone. This dedicated space is a place for teens to hang out with cruisers their own age and play video and team games, table tennis, and more. On the first day of the cruise, you'll find an activity program for young guests delivered to the stateroom so your teens can plan out their vacation experience, which may include entertaining theme days, deck sports, quizzes and dancing at the disco.

Teens on Cunard Line can participate in the activities around the ship, hit the pool for a dip, practice their putting or try their hand at croquet. If you're sailing on Queen Mary 2, those interested in science, wildlife and the solar system can watch up to four 3D films a day (on sea days) in the largest planetarium at sea.

Compare  Cunard Line cruises on GoToSea .

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Gwen Pratesi has been an avid cruiser since her early 20s. She's sailed to destinations around the globe on nearly every type of cruise ship built, including the newest megaships, luxury yachts, traditional masted sailing ships, and expedition vessels in Antarctica and the Galápagos. Pratesi covers the travel and cruise industries for major publications, including U.S. News & World Report.

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Moscow (Russia)

Cruise port schedule, live map, terminals, news.

Region Russia Rivers

Local Time 2024-04-29 08:07

Moscow is a Volga River cruise port, Russia's capital and largest city (population over 12,2 million, metro 17 million). Moscow City covers a total area of approx 2610 km 2 (970 mi2). By population, the city is ranked the world's 14th largest. Moscow is one of the Russian Federation's all 3 federal cities - together with St Petersburg and Sevastopol .

Being Russian Federation's capital, Moscow is a major economic, political, scientific and cultural center, as well as Europe's biggest city.

According to Forbes 2013, Moscow has been ranked as the 9th most expensive city in the world by Mercer and has one of the largest urban economies, being ranked as an alpha global city according to Globalization and World Cities Research Network. It is also one of the fastest-growing tourist destinations in the world according to MasterCard Global Destination Cities Index. Moscow is the northernmost and the coldest megacity and metropolis on the Earth. It's home to Ostankino Tower, the tallest free-standing European structure; the Federation Tower, the tallest European skyscraper; and the Moscow International Business Center. 

Moscow is situated on Moskva River in the Central Federal District of European Russia, which makes it the most populated inland city in the world. Moscow city is well known for architecture, particularly its historic buildings like Saint Basil's Cathedral. With over 40% of its territory covered by greenery, it's one of the greenest capitals and major cities in Europe and the world. Moscow is the seat of power of the Russian Government, being the site of Moscow Kremlin, a medieval city-fortress that is now the residence of the President of Russia. Moscow Kremlin and Red Square are among the several World Heritage Sites in the city. 

Moscow has 2 passenger terminals, North River Terminal (Rechnoy vokzal) and South River Terminal. The regular ship routes and cruises along Moskva and Oka rivers are used mostly for entertainment. North River Terminal (1937-built) is currently the main hub for long-range routes along the river. There are 3 freight ports that serve Moscow.

In late-July 2021 the city announced plans to incorporate a fleet (unspecified number) of fully electric passenger ferries into its public transportation network from summer 2022, the goal being to reduce the dependence on cars.

• The boats are designed with length ~22 m (72 ft), passenger capacity 42, modern amenities (Wi-Fi, USB charging points, tables for working commuters), spaces for storing scooters and bicycles.
• Moscow Transport confirmed that two routes (with max daily capacity ~16,000 passengers) have already been mapped out.
• Passengers will be able to pay via bank cards, the city’s Troika card (smart card for travel by any public transportation) or biometric payment cards. Those with monthly/yearly public transit tickets will use the boats at no extra cost.
• The new electric ferry service is up to 5 times faster (in comparison to other city public transports) and ~2 times faster than by car.

Moscow cruise terminal

Moscow's cruise terminal is called North River Terminal or River Station  ("Rechnoy Vokzal" / "речной вокзал").

The terminal was opened in 1937 and is one of 2 passenger terminals (the other being South River Terminal) of the city's river transport. North River Terminal is the main hub for long-range (including cruise) shipping routes. 

South River Terminal (above photo) was opened in 1985.

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Moscow - user reviews and comments

Moscow - Russian Rivers and Waterways Port of Call

Moscow is a wonderful city to visit, and travelers on river ship cruise tours to or from St. Petersburg spend a few days in Moscow . This capital city of Russia was our last port on a river cruise tour, and we had about four days to see most of the highlights. Our first day we did an overview driving tour and rode the subway under the Mockba (Moscow) River to Red Square. The next day we toured the State Armory and the Kremlin.

These photos show some of the other highlights you can see with three or four days in Moscow .

The Northern River Terminal is located on the Moscow Canal in the northwest section of Moscow at the Khimki Reservoir.

Most river cruise ships sailing between Moscow and St. Petersburg use the ship as a hotel while in Moscow. Because of traffic, it's often a long drive into the city, but the sights along the way are interesting, and you only have to unpack once for the river cruise.

View of Downtown Moscow from Sparrow Hills

Sparrow Hills is the best place to get a great panoramic view of Moscow. The Sparrow Hills overlook the Mockba River and are near Moscow State University.

Novodevichy Convent in Moscow

Novodevichy Convent in Moscow was founded in 1524, and was once used as a sort of prison for the unwanted wives and sisters of the Tsars. Peter the Great sent both his first wife and his sister to Novodevichy. Since the convent had such famous nuns, it was very wealthy due to the many donations of the Tsars and their families. At one time in the 1700s, the cloister had over 36,000 serfs working in 36 villages. Novodevichy was ravaged by the French armies in 1812, but the brave nuns saved the buildings by disarming the fuses set to blow them up. The Soviets wanted to make the convent into a museum in the early 1920s, but it was again saved.

Novodevichy also has a cemetery with the graves of many famous Russians, including Nikita Khrushchev, Anton Chekhov, Raisa Gorbachev, and Yuri Nikulin.

View of the Mockba River in Moscow, Russia

The Mockba (Moscow) River runs into the Volga via the 79.5 mile long Moscow Canal.

River ships sailing between Moscow and St. Petersburg on the Baltic Waterways embark and disembark at the Northern River Terminal about an hour's drive from the city. The drive time can vary significantly in length because of the heavy Moscow traffic. The river looks peaceful here, as it winds around the cosmopolitan area of Moscow.

Cathedral of Christ the Redeemer (Cathedral of Christ the Savior) in Moscow

The Cathedral of Christ the Redeemer, also known as the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, is the largest church in Russia, holding 10,000 worshipers.

The original Cathedral of Christ the Savior was built over 44 years to celebrate the 1812 victory over Napoleon. It was completed in 1883. Stalin had the church destroyed in 1931, but it was rebuilt using mostly private funds in 1999. The new church is a replica of the original. Note that it took 44 years the first time and only 4 years the second to complete the church! Isn't modern technology impressive.

One interesting tidbit is that it took three attempts to blow up the church in 1931. Stalin planned to build a huge Palace of the Soviets on the cleared land, but engineers determined that the land was too boggy. In the 60 years intervening, the space was used for a variety of things, including a year-round swimming pool!

Vendors' Market and Ski Jump at Sparrow Hills in Moscow

The panoramic view of Moscow from Sparrow Hills is a stopover for most tour groups, so we were not surprised to see a large number of vendors. The ski jump was a surprise, but Moscow gets very cold in winter, so winter sports are very popular. This ski jump is near Moscow State University and has a great view of the city. Seeing this ski jump reminded me of the famous Holmenkollen Ski Jump in Oslo, which also has a great view of that northern capital city.

Russian Soldiers' Memorial in Victory Park in Moscow

Matryoshka dolls for sale in moscow.

I thought this display of dolls was beautiful! The Matryoshka nesting dolls range in price from just a few dollars to thousands of dollars.

Central Museum of Armed Forces in Moscow, Russia

This small band greeted us at the Central Museum of Armed Forces in Moscow. They played a variety of band music and made us all feel very welcome.

Grand Triumphal Arch Celebrates the Victory Over Napoleon in the War of 1812

This arch looks a little like the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, and it is located near the Victory Park Metro Station in Moscow.

This Grand Triumphal Arch is decorated with the coats of arms from the 48 Russian provinces. To celebrate the victory over France in the war of 1812, it also includes bas-reliefs of the "Expulsion of the French." The arch was originally built in 1834, but has only been on this site since 1968.

It is a little ironic that this arch resembles the Paris Arc de Triomphe , which Napoleon built between 1806 and 1836 to celebrate his French victories.

Moscow Metro Station at the Ploshchad Revolyutsii (Revolution Square)

This station near Red Square has many statues honoring the workers of Russia.

Moscow Metro Station near Victory Park

The Metro in Moscow is one of its shining industrial achievements. Construction on the Metro was begun in 1931 and continues today. The system has over 165 stations and 155 miles of track. Over 9300 trains, traveling sometimes as fast as 56 mph, navigate the huge system each day. Almost 10 million people ride the Moscow Metro every day, which is more than the New York and London systems combined. We found the Metro to be very efficient, with trains arriving every few minutes.

Navigating the Metro system can be somewhat of a problem for non-Russian speaking riders. Most of the signage is in Cyrillic only, and the stations are quite large. Trying to find the correct exit while walking long distances underground can be challenging.

On our cruise tour, we rode the Metro as a group with our program director from near Victory Park under the Mockba River to Red Square. Several of the group ventured out on their own during our time in Moscow, and many rode the Metro. They all returned with stories of getting lost underground, but none seemed the worse for the experience, and they all loved telling the tales.

Red Square in Moscow

Red Square in Moscow is a must-see for visitors to the capital city of Russia.

The Kremlin in Moscow, Russia

The Kremlin is a favorite of Moscow tourists. Inside these walls are buildings for the government of Russia, cathedrals, and the wonderful State Armory museum.

Taras Bulba Restaurant in Moscow

We enjoyed a traditional Ukrainian lunch at this cute restaurant in Moscow before checking in at our hotel.

Buses Wait for Passengers Outside Museum

River cruise tour groups are usually divided into groups for the duration of the tour. Each group had their own bus when touring.

Military Airplanes at the Central Museum of Armed Forces in Moscow, Russia

Although much of the military museum was indoors, there was quite a collection of planes, helicopters, missile launchers, and tanks outside.

Foreign Ministry Building, One of Moscow's Seven Stalinist-Gothic Skyscrapers

Seven skyscrapers with layers giving them a "wedding cake" appearance dot the Moscow skyline. The style is considered Stalinist-Gothic.

Russian and American War Veterans at the Central Museum of Armed Forces

Meeting with some World War II Russian War veterans was a highlight of our day at the Central Museum of Armed Forces in Moscow.

Rocket Launchers and Missiles at the Central Museum of Armed Forces in Moscow

The inside of this museum is particularly impressive, but you will need a guide since all of the signage is only in Russian.

Old Arbat Pedestrian Shopping Area in Moscow

We all enjoyed exploring the shops on this mile-long pedestrian shopping area.

Food prices were high in the tourist attraction, with two small pizzas, two small beers, and a bottle of water at an outdoor cafe costing $40. Many of our group ate at the large McDonalds, where prices were more reasonable.

Female Cosmonaut Model at Star City Cosmonaut Training Center near Moscow

Female cosmonauts play an important role in the Russian space program. In 1963, Valentina Tereshkova from Yaroslavl was the first woman in space.

Souvenir Shop in Old Arbat Shopping Area in Moscow

The area of Old Arbat had many English signs to attract the tourist trade.

Centrifuge at Star City Outside Moscow, Russia

This 18 meter centrifuge is the world's largest. The centrifuge weighs over 30000 tons, and the maximum load is 30 G, but most tests are run at 3 or 4 G.

A centrifuge ride is the first test for a cosmonaut, whose entire training school takes from five to eight years. The centrifuge can simulate the extreme force of gravity that cosmonauts (and astronauts) face when going into space. A centrifuge training session lasts about 30 minutes, and the trainee experiences both the centrifugal force as well as the spin of the pod he/she is riding in. Just typing this makes me a little queasy!

Cosmonaut's Bathroom Facilities on First Space Flights at Star City

Just like in the USA, everyone who visits the Star City cosmonaut training center near Moscow wants to know how cosmonauts "go to the bathroom". They have more sophisticated equipment today, but this contraption from the early space flights is fairly self explanatory.

Star City Tank Used for Cosmonaut Weightlessness Training near Moscow

This 12-meter deep pool is used to simulate weightlessness training. The pool is flooded and the cosmonauts perform repair tasks on the model of the International Space Station. SCUBA diving underwater is very similar to the weightless experience the cosmonauts experience when working in outer space.

Mir Space Station Replica at Star City near Moscow

The original Mir disintegrated when it fell to earth in 2001. Mir, which means peace in Russian, was launched in 1986.

Marvel Paull with Statue of Yuri Gagarin at Star City near Moscow

Yuri Gagarin was the first man in space, and the Star City Cosmonaut training center was named after him in 1968.

River Cruise Passengers with Yuri Onufrienko, Russian Cosmonaut at Star City

In case you can't tell, Yuri is the one in the middle. My famous traveling mother, Marvel Paull, is on the left and Dick, a cruise friend is on the right.

A highlight of our day in Star City was a visit with Yuri Onufrienko , a Russian cosmonaut who spent extended time in space at the Mir space station in 1996 and the International Space Station in 2001-2002. Yuri patiently took many questions from our small inquisitive group.

Cosmonaut Space Suit at Star City near Moscow

Cosmonauts sit in this position on take off. Thanks to Jerry G. for the tip about the sign. It says, "Don't touch!"

Stained Glass Window at Star City near Moscow

Program directors at farewell dinner in moscow.

After 16 days of discovery, learning, and fun, we had a farewell dinner with the six Program Directors - Evgeny, Olga, Vladimir, Svetlana, Violetta, and Marina - in Moscow.

The Kremlin is a triangular, walled citadel in the center of Moscow. The Kremlin is considered by most to be the heart of the city. First conceived in the 12th century, the Kremlin (which means fortress) was expanded by Tsar Ivan III (Ivan the Great) during the 15th century. His architects designed the magnificent Cathedral of the Assumption and the Faceted Palace, and the Kremlin was an interesting mix of both Russian and Renaissance styles. During the Soviet time of the 1930s, many of the Kremlin buildings were destroyed or vandalized, and the complex remained closed to the public until 1955.

Today the Kremlin is home to the Russian President and his administration. Many buildings are open to the public, but you may need to be with a guide (check in advance).

I visited the Kremlin when in Moscow on a Russian Waterways cruise tour from St. Petersburg.

The Kremlin was also one of the 21 finalists for the New Seven Wonders of the World.  

Red Square in Moscow, Russia

Red Square's name has nothing to do with Communism or Soviet Russia. The old Russian word for "beautiful" and "red" was the same; the square was supposed to be called "Beautiful Square". Red Square has been the center of Moscow activity since the 16th century when the Tsar cleared the area and allowed vendors, shoppers, and businesses to fill the square. Today this square is surrounded by the Moscow Kremlin, the State Historical Museum, GUM Shopping Mall , and St. Basil's Cathedral .

Many of the important events of the last three hundred years in Russia have been marked by parades or demonstrations in Red Square. Anyone who enters Red Square will have memories from TV or movie reels of this magnificent public square. Those of us who grew up during the Cold War era can remember the parades of soldiers, tanks, and other armaments past Lenin's Tomb just outside the Kremlin Wall. The World War II generation remembers Red Square as the site of a huge victory celebration at the end of the war.

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