Greece and Med sailing - which is better month?

[Cruise Gopher]

Looking at sailing on the Equinox in 2025 on the 10 night itinerary that leaves from Barcelona and goes to Greece and Turkey and ends in Rome.  If price is exactly the same, which is the better date to do? End of June or end of August? One is over 4th of July and other is over Labor Day weekend (bonuses since less vacay to burn). 

 

I’ve done a few Med cruises but never one at the end of June/beginning of July. I’m sure it’s still blazing hot there no matter if I pick the end of June itin or the end of August one. 
 

Just wanted to see what other people would suggest?

[dani negreanu]

End of June -- days are longer.

 

End of August -- less kids.

 

Same itinerary?

[kwokpot]

End of June. Won't be as hot, less kids. I was on a similar itinerary on Royal this July 23rd -30th and it was so ungodly hot and although Celebrity will have less kids than Royal it was kids, kids, kids and families, families, families. The pool deck was a hot mess all seven days during the day. TBH I will NEVER ever do a Mediterranean cruise July or August again .NEVER. Santorini was unbearable with the hoards of tourists. Luckily I've been to all the places before. Mykonos was a bit better and what my family members who have never been on a Greek Islands cruise thought it would be. They really didn't like Santorini at all solely because of the crowds. It was over 95 degrees in Rome the two days pre- cruise.  

[upwarduk]

39 minutes ago, kwokpot said:

was over 95 degrees in Rome the two days pre- cruise

40c+ in August 2022(104F)

I said I would never do one again, so we did Canaries in October 2023 and it was just as hot.

Edited November 19, 2023 by upwarduk

[Georgia_Peaches]

I would opt for the end of June due to heat.  We did a med cruise in July and it was HOT.  In fact, end of June will be hot too but not as hot as July and August.  We are following up with another Med cruise, this time from Venice into Croatia and the southern tip of Italy.  We are going at the end of April/beginning of May when temps are in the mid 70's.

[Tyler414]

I did a Med cruise in late June and it was hot. One day in Ajaccio was the hottest most humid day I’ve ever experienced, was told it was because of the wind coming off the Sahara Desert. I did have a blast and there were zero kids (Virgin Voyages). 

[Jim_Iain]

Personally I would go either the earliest possible or the very end of the season.  The temperatures and really be HOT.    We were in Rome in Late July once and the heat was beyond oppressive. 

[gobblegobbletilluwobble]

We are also thinking of booking one for 2025, either early May or late October. Any advice?

[Cruise Gopher]

34 minutes ago, EmQ-CA said:

We are also thinking of booking one for 2025, either early May or late October. Any advice?

Late October would be questionable with weather, sounds like May might be better. 

[Loracpin2]

36 minutes ago, EmQ-CA said:

We are also thinking of booking one for 2025, either early May or late October. Any advice?

Both are great options!!! We did this itinerary 5 years ago in the Fall.

[Bucket List Ticked]

Definitely end of June is better. Lovely weather (August could be too hot) and in the UK kids are still in school. Late August kids are still off so will be more families away then.

[ETHTrader]

August will be unbearably hot and super crowded with summer vacation crowd

[HeddaGarbled]

End of June definitely better than August. July and August are the busiest and hottest in the Med.

 

Early May v late October not quite so clear cut. Both will be less busy and both unpredictable for weather. I think I might plump for May because Spring in Europe can be lovely (but take a raincoat).

[paulh84]

Probably June. We did a similar itinerary last year in early Sept. It was nice but I am doubtful we do any more Med cruises. Cruises have ruined places like Santorini. 

[HeddaGarbled]

31 minutes ago, paulh84 said:

Cruises have ruined places like Santorini. 

Agreed

[budmeister]

Sept. Was hot and busy and everyone kept telling us how cool and empty it was compared to august. 

[WonderMan3]

August in the Mediterranean is not a place you want to be. My first Med cruise was end of August and it was 100 degrees in both Dubrovnik and Athens. A fellow passenger passed out from the heat on one of our excursions. I would never cruise at that time ever again.

[Cruise Junky]

Not August! Never August. Mid to late September or late May are usually perfect.  

[wineoclock]

God not August. And I’m Cypriot and used to the heat. June or September are always safe. We usually do a Med cruise in October and that’s perfect. Occasionally day of rain but not always! 

[BigAl94]

Early June or October are the best times.

[Chewbecca]

June / September for me.

May would be my next choice.

October can be glorious but could be rubbish. 

July and August - too hot and too busy. 

[TheHawk1]

I did a Med cruise in early September, 2022 and it was still very hot.  Did the same itinerary again this year in early October and it was much nicer.  I've heard Oct can have more rain, but we lucked out with a perfect week of sun and temps in the high 70's (mid 20's celsius).

[RICCruisers]

We just did a B2B in the Med on Beyond in October. We were very fortunate with weather. No rain from October 9-20 and visited Crete, Santorini, Istanbul, Kusadasi, Athens, Naples. Temperature was great. 78-82F each day and mid 60’s at night. If you have the flexibility to cruise then I recommend it. The second cruise was Italy, Adriatic October 20-30 and was a couple of cooler days but mostly high 70’s. Crowds were still there, but not what mid summer brings. 

Edited November 20, 2023 by RICCruisers

[George C]

Our last Mediterranean cruise was in mid September and it was way to hot will never do that again.