Help me choose

[olesiabr]

Hello fellow cruisers!

Help me decide which cruise would be more enjoyable in March/April 2024. 

1. Europa (Palermo and Valletta the only new ports for me)

2. Fantasia (La Spezia and Naples are new)

We will go early March or April 1 to 12 to avoid the worst of EU spring break.

 

Thanks!

[Tierun]

My preference would be the newer ship. I like shiny new things

[olesiabr]

LOL, there is that!

[Best Cat Mom]

Some considerations to help you:

 

Are they both the same number of days and price?

 

If so, does one start or end in a city where you'd prefer to add on a few days for a land-based holiday?

[relaxatsea]

We were docked next to the MSC World Europa in Barcelona this past April, and it was absolutely spectacular!  That would definitely be my choice.

[insidecabin]

With Easter March 31 you are hitting UK school holiday window in April.

[perakcruiser]

On 9/29/2023 at 6:57 AM, olesiabr said:

1. Europa (Palermo and Valletta the only new ports for me)

2. Fantasia (La Spezia and Naples are new)

OK, this is a clear call for me. 

 

La Spezia / Cinque Terre is one of the 10 best cruise ports in the whole world, I doubt that anyone who has ever been to Cinque Terre dares to deny this. Naples is also one of my favorite ports in the Med, one of the few I could go 10 times and always something to do and see (and eat). Palermo and Valletta are both nice ports for a fine city walk, but not the category of the two others.

 

So I would only choose the Europa if you are 1000 percent sure that a later (better sooner) day you will visit Cinque Terre anyway and 100 percent sure about Naples. 

 

If you choose the Fantasia starting the cruise in Naples is the best choice for a lot of reasons🙂 

[olesiabr]

3 hours ago, perakcruiser said:

OK, this is a clear call for me. 

 

La Spezia / Cinque Terre is one of the 10 best cruise ports in the whole world, I doubt that anyone who has ever been to Cinque Terre dares to deny this. Naples is also one of my favorite ports in the Med, one of the few I could go 10 times and always something to do and see (and eat). Palermo and Valletta are both nice ports for a fine city walk, but not the category of the two others.

 

So I would only choose the Europa if you are 1000 percent sure that a later (better sooner) day you will visit Cinque Terre anyway and 100 percent sure about Naples. 

 

If you choose the Fantasia starting the cruise in Naples is the best choice for a lot of reasons🙂 

Thank you!   That is the feedback I wanted.   Ultimately for me the ports are most important.  

 

We are looking at early March to completely miss the Easter/Spring break periods. 

 

I was worried that Valletta and Palermo were more of a "beach destination."

 

Otherwise they are both 7 day cruises with one day at sea.