Italy’s coastline has long attracted travelers with its incredible blend of history, food, architecture, and culture. For cruise lovers, few experiences match the magic of exploring Italy by sea—where every port is a postcard and every day feels like stepping into a new chapter of history. Royal Caribbean offers some of the most immersive, exciting, and diverse Italy-focused itineraries across the Mediterranean, giving travelers access to iconic Italian cities like Rome (Civitavecchia), Naples, and at times, Venice through nearby ports.
This in-depth guide will help you understand exactly which Royal Caribbean cruises include these Italian destinations, what itineraries look like, which ships typically sail here, and how each city creates a unique Mediterranean experience. Whether you're dreaming of Roman ruins, Neapolitan pizzas, or Venetian canals, this article gives you a complete overview of the best cruise options.
Royal Caribbean’s Mediterranean operations center heavily around Italy. The country often serves as:
A departure port
A major port of call
A featured highlight in multi-country sailings
Most itineraries that include Italy range from 6 to 14 nights, combining Italy with destinations such as Greece, Spain, France, Turkey, and Croatia.
Royal Caribbean designs its Mediterranean itineraries around demand—and Italy consistently ranks among the most visited countries for cruise tourism. There are several reasons why:
Italy offers multiple deep-water ports, ideal for large ships.
The cities are tourism powerhouses—Rome, Naples, and Venice are bucket list destinations.
Italy is geographically central, making it the perfect linking point between Eastern and Western Mediterranean routes.
Italian ports provide easy access to world-famous attractions like Pompeii, the Colosseum, the Amalfi Coast, and the canals of Venice.
Royal Caribbean visits Italy most frequently during:
April to October (Peak Mediterranean Season)
With limited repositioning or transatlantic sailings visiting Italy during spring/fall transitions
Some ships also homeport in Italy, especially around Rome, making Italy the starting point for many itineraries.
Royal Caribbean visits several Italian ports, but the most iconic ones linked to the itinerary keyword are:
Rome (Civitavecchia)
Naples (Napoli)
Venice (via Ravenna or Trieste)
Below is a deep dive into each city, what you can expect, and the itineraries that commonly include them.
Rome is one of Royal Caribbean’s most frequently used ports in Italy. Technically, the ship docks in Civitavecchia, but travelers access Rome within 60–90 minutes.
Royal Caribbean often uses Rome as:
A starting point for Mediterranean trips
A mid-route call during Western or Eastern Mediterranean itineraries
A turnaround port for 7–14-night cruises
Rome is included in itineraries such as:
7-Night Western Mediterranean
7–10 Night Greek Isles & Italy
12–14 Night Mediterranean Explorer
Repositioning / Grand Mediterranean sailings
These itineraries usually combine Rome with destinations like Barcelona, Marseille, Athens, Naples, Santorini, or Mykonos.
While ship deployment changes seasonally, the following classes and ships often include Rome:
Oasis Class itineraries occasionally include Rome as a port call
Odyssey of the Seas (Quantum Ultra Class)
Explorer of the Seas
Brilliance of the Seas
Jewel of the Seas
Voyager of the Seas
Enchantment of the Seas
These ships operate various roundtrip or one-way itineraries involving Italy.
Naples is one of the most popular Italian ports included in Royal Caribbean cruises thanks to its proximity to:
Pompeii and Herculaneum ruins
Mount Vesuvius
Sorrento
Capri
Amalfi Coast
Naples is included in a large number of Mediterranean itineraries, especially those focusing on Western or Central Mediterranean routes.
You will commonly find Naples on:
7-Night Italy & Greece
7-Night Western Mediterranean
9–12 Night Grand Mediterranean
Italy, Turkey & Greek Islands itineraries
Naples is often paired with Rome as the second Italian highlight during a cruise.
Royal Caribbean ships commonly sailing to Naples include:
Odyssey of the Seas
Explorer of the Seas
Jewel of the Seas
Oasis Class (occasionally)
Voyager Class ships
Because Naples is centrally located, it is easy to include on single-country and multi-country itineraries.
Due to limits on large ships entering Venice’s historic lagoon, Royal Caribbean uses Ravenna or Trieste as its access points for Venice.
Even with this change, Venice remains a highlight of many itineraries, especially those heading toward:
Croatia
Montenegro
Greece
Eastern Mediterranean islands
Venice is typically seen on:
Greek Isles itineraries
Adriatic Sea itineraries
Croatia & Montenegro routes
Eastern Mediterranean 7–12 night voyages
Sometimes Venice is used as a homeport, making it the embarkation point for cruises heading toward Athens, Santorini, or Dubrovnik.
Royal Caribbean ships commonly accessing Venice include:
Explorer of the Seas
Jewel of the Seas
Brilliance of the Seas
Rhapsody of the Seas
These sailings emphasize culture, scenic coasts, and ancient ports.
This section helps you clearly identify the exact types of Royal Caribbean itineraries that include Italy’s major ports and how they fit into each style of Mediterranean route.
Western Mediterranean cruises are the most common Italy-focused itineraries, often including:
Rome
Naples
Florence/Pisa (La Spezia)
Barcelona
Marseille
Palma de Mallorca
Focus on history, architecture, and iconic cities
Multiple port-intensive days
Great for first-time Europe cruisers
Civitavecchia (Rome)
Naples
Sometimes Sicily
These are among the most popular Royal Caribbean offerings, letting travelers see both Italian culture and the paradise-like Greek islands.
Italy → Greek Isles → Turkey (Optional) → Italy Return
Rome
Naples
Sometimes Ravenna (for Venice)
Perfect mix of beaches and history
Includes bucket-list islands like Mykonos, Santorini, Crete
Covers both Eastern and Western Mediterranean flavors
These itineraries almost always include Venice (via Ravenna/Trieste).
Venice
Dubrovnik
Kotor
Split
Corfu
Athens
Venice region ports
Occasionally Bari or Trieste
These sailings highlight scenic coastlines, medieval cities, and vibrant Adriatic culture.
These are longer cruises (10–14 nights) that combine multiple regions of the Mediterranean, offering the highest chance of including all three major Italy ports.
Rome
Naples
Venice (Ravenna/Trieste)
Florence/Pisa (La Spezia)
Sicily (Messina)
Visits 3–4 Italian regions
Covers multiple countries (Spain, France, Greece, Turkey, Croatia)
Great for travelers wanting a comprehensive Europe experience
Sometimes Royal Caribbean offers spring or fall repositioning cruises in which ships moving between regions stop in Italian ports such as:
Rome
Naples
Venice
Sicily
These cruises usually last 12–15+ nights and offer unique one-time itineraries.
Beyond stunning scenery and rich culture, Italy offers practical advantages for Royal Caribbean guests.
Rome → 1.5 hoursNaples → 10–15 minutesVenice (Ravenna) → 2.5 hours
Italy offers:
Art & architecture
Culinary experiences
Archaeological wonders
Coastal escapes
Medieval towns
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Italy is the perfect anchor point to link Mediterranean regions such as:
France
Spain
Croatia
Greece
Turkey
With so many choices, the best itinerary depends on what kind of experience you want.
Choose:Western Mediterranean (Rome + Naples)You’ll get iconic highlights in a manageable route.
Choose:Grand Mediterranean including Rome, Naples, and Venice
Perfect mix of ancient history and varied landscapes.
Choose:Greece & Italy routes
Beautiful islands paired with Italian landmarks.
Choose:Adriatic & Venice itineraries
Expect medieval towns, crystal-clear waters, and Venetian charm.
Royal Caribbean offers one of the broadest selections of Italy-centric itineraries in the cruising world. Depending on the itinerary type—Western Mediterranean, Greek Isles, Adriatic, or Grand Mediterranean—you can explore iconic Italian cities such as Rome, Naples, and Venice along with some of Europe’s most beautiful coastal regions.
Whether you’re dreaming of walking through the ruins of Pompeii, tossing a coin into Rome’s Trevi Fountain, or gliding through Venice’s historic waterways, there is a Royal Caribbean cruise itinerary designed to bring that dream to life.
If you're planning the ultimate Mediterranean vacation, Italy should absolutely be part of your cruising journey—and Royal Caribbean makes it easy, comfortable, and unforgettable.
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