Transatlantic trips to Italy take between two weeks and 16 days on average. Throughout your journey the weather changes, so prepare for both the cool waters of the open sea, and the warm winds as you get closer inland. Consult your physician before leaving home, to have plenty of necessary medication. If you're sensitive to motion sickness, also get a script suited to easing nausea. Put all your travel documents in one place and have a second copy in safe keeping with a friend or family member at home. This includes your airline tickets, cruise passes, passport or visa, and medical and/or travel insurance identification. Create a packing check list and review it one final time before you depart.
Cruises to Italy come in different sizes to fit different tastes. The majority of transatlantic cruises hold between 2,000 to 4,000 passengers. These large ships become floating hotels and amusement parks with water slides, rock climbing walls, exercise equipment, live shows, lush spas, and numerous eateries. This large space allows for a great variety of services, particularly to people traveling with children who need diversions at sea. There are three basic cruise ship ambiances from which to choose for your U.S. to Italy experience. A contemporary ship appeals to people of all ages and interests with a wide range of on-board and off-board experiences. A premium cruise to Italy has more elegant surroundings, often providing fine dining options and a higher standard of customer service. Finally, the luxury class cruises to Italy feel almost like a country club, offering greater personalized attention.
One way to save money on your cruise to Italy is to start at a U.S. port close to home. As of 2010, there are three United States ports regularly servicing transatlantic travel to Italy: Port Everglades, Florida; Fort Lauderdale, Florida and New York City, New York. Some cruise lines offer airfare with their vacation packages. The fare typically runs higher than those direct from the airline, but the cruise line assists with delays if you get stranded. None of these ports offers direct sailing to Italy. Depending on your cruise line's itinerary, you could stop in places like the Caribbean, Spain, Portugal and the Canary Islands--making it a truly multi-cultural adventure.
As you travel, talk to your cruise shore excursion desk to find out what type of art, music, food, architecture or other excitement you'd like to see personally. In Florence, you'll get a taste of the Renaissance; in Rome, there's the Colosseum and the Vatican; Venice has strong gothic overtones and the Tuscany region offers some of the finest wines in Italy. Other options include Naples, where you can see Pompeii; Sicily with luscious open-air food stands; Capri's Blue Grotto; and Genoa for a trip into the old city where Nobles once lived. No matter where you travel, the Italian Riviera stays relatively mild in the spring and fall. Summers can be rainy, while winter stays drier and cooler. The monetary base is the Euro and your cruise line offers a money exchange at the Purser's desk.
Peak season for transatlantic voyages to Italy and Europe occurs in winter and summer. From the months of June through August, especially, you'll experience crowds nearly everywhere you go. Nonetheless, check your potential ports of call ahead of time. As the heat increases, various shops and restaurants close for holiday. From a financial standpoint, the Months of May, June and September traditionally offer the best cruising fares both for on-board and air. If you want to travel during peak seasons, book your reservations and shore excursions at least six months in advance to get the best options.
