6 still-warm Italian ports to visit on a cruise this autumn

Cruising Italy this Autumn offers something for everyone – especially when you pack in a wealth of other Mediterranean gems and dish out wallet-friendly prices as Norwegian Cruise Line voyages do.

These NCL cruises around Italy take in multiple famous Italian destinations – as well as a couple you might not know well – so you can explore to the max like Marco Polo during the day while your ship keeps you well-fed and finely-accommodated post-adventure.

The best news is that there are still a number of awesome Med cruises available to snap up! – so we’ve rounded up some of the top sailings and delved into the delightful destinations you’ll see on your Italy cruise portion. We’re talking some hefty la dolce vita here…

If last-minute doesn’t suit then fear not, Norwegian Cruise Line has plenty of 2025 and 2026 Italy voyages for you to check out too – scroll to the bottom to discover more.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s fleet of 20 modern ships, including the new Norwegian Viva and the upcoming Norwegian Aqua launching in 2025, offers unparalleled experiences. Embark on a journey to explore Italy’s captivating cities and coastal beauty, from Rome to Naples, while enjoying the convenience of unpacking just once.

NCL provides a variety of options for every traveller, whether you’re drawn to intimate vessels perfect for small ports or large ships with aqua parks and onboard racetracks. Indulge in up to 21 dining choices per ship, ranging from Mediterranean seafood to international cuisine, and immerse yourself in award-winning entertainment, including stage shows and musicals.

Families can experience the ultimate holiday with tailored accommodations, delicious dining for all tastes, and exclusive teen spaces like Entourage. With NCL, you’ll discover Italy’s rich culture and stunning landscapes with unmatched freedom and flexibility, allowing you to enjoy a holiday that truly reflects your desires.

The following ships all sail to Italy this year and next: Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Viva, Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Epic and Norwegian Breakaway. Onboard highlights range from Brazilian cuisine at Moderno Churrascaria, the award-winning Mandara Spa and adult-only venue Posh Beach Club to towering climbing walls, a plank which extends eight feet over the side of the ship and dazzling casinos.

Florence with its golden-hued landscapes is a cruise destination you’ll want to return to again and again, but timing could make all the difference. Summer, paired with a surplus of tourists, can prove a sweaty affair, while outside-school-holidays autumn is blessed with warmer temperatures of up to 20°C, providing a calmer getaway.

If it’s your first time calling at Livorno Italy cruise port (the gateway to both Florence and Pisa) start by wandering through the Florentine historic centre to the iconic Duomo, with its wow-inducing Renaissance architecture. Enjoy the quieter atmosphere in the Uffizi Gallery, where masterpieces by Botticelli and Michelangelo can be appreciated without the summer crowds.

Stroll across the Arno River via the picturesque Ponte Vecchio and eye up the Oltrarno district, known for its artisan workshops and charming cafes. Fancy a break? The Boboli Gardens are a grand historic park behind the Pitti Palace, featuring remarkable Renaissance landscaping, sculptures and views. The Bardini Gardens are a lesser-known alternative.

Second and third-timers on cruises to Italy might want to visit other less-obvious gems such as the Brancacci Chapel’s frescoes by Masaccio and Masolino, depicting the life of Saint Peter; the Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella – one of the oldest pharmacies in the world dating back to 1221; or potter through the San Niccolò District, the oldest district of Florence.

Wilting might be considered trendy in Pisa given its famous Leaning Tower but autumn climes can ward against this state while still giving you a good daily average of five hours of sunshine and a pleasant 20°C. Bene!

All the better to explore this resplendent Italian city on your cruise around Italy 2024: visit the Piazza dei Miracoli, where the Leaning Tower’s spiralling steps won’t be so puff-pinchingly clammy in the cooler temperatures, rewarding you with panoramic views of the city and its autumnal landscape. Pisa’s medieval city walls are also good for vistas – they’re among the best-preserved in Italy.

Soak up the nearby Cathedral and Baptistery, appreciating the intricate details of their Romanesque architecture without the summer throngs, and for more medieval and Renaissance art, including works by the likes of Donatello and Pisano, head to the San Matteo National Museum housed in a former Benedictine convent.

The nuns of old might not have been able to overindulge but be sure to tuck into hearty Tuscan dishes during your stay: think wild boar stew and porcini mushroom risotto paired with a glass of local wine. Chianti for us, please!

Okay, the Italian capital can be as sizzling as a Roman roasted pig in the summer and the tourist crowds mean business so this is a city that truly benefits from a later-in-the-year trip.

You’ll get much warmer than Blighty on such cruises to Italy, mind, thanks to highs of 22°C, but sightseeing will be infinitely more pleasant. Cruisers on their inaugural visit should swing by the big hitters: the Colosseum, Roman Forum and the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel (ciao Michelangelo’s masterpieces!) but don’t overdo it – you literally cannot see Rome in a day so pick your battles.

Museo delle Mura (which examines the development of Rome’s fortifications), the Basilica of San Clemente, and the Catacombs of Priscilla (among the oldest in Rome, complete with impressive frescoes and early Christian burial sites) are some off-the-beaten-track gems to tick off.

For a more leisurely pace on cruises to Rome, Italy, meander through Villa Borghese Gardens, where the autumn leaves will add a splash of colour, or peek at the Protestant Cemetery – the final resting place of many famous figures, including poets John Keats and Percy Bysshe Shelley. Alternatively, do as the Romans do and enjoy the city’s piazzas, such as Piazza Navona and Campo de’ Fiori, where you can sip an espresso or enjoy a gelato while soaking in the local ambience. Now that’s a Roman Holiday.

Naples, in the south, is another excellent continental highlight offering warm temperatures later in the year – highs of 22°C with an average of six hours of sunshine per day no less.

Bustling Spaccanapoli is the heart of Naples’ historic centre, where the plexus of streets are lined with chirpy shops and baroque churches. The cooler weather is also ideal for marvelling at the ancient ruins of Pompeii, just a short trip away, where you can wander through the exceptionally preserved streets (and feel relieved there are no volcanoes in the UK).

Back in Naples, there’s the Naples National Archaeological Museum – for more treasures from Pompeii and Herculaneum – and Naples’ underground tunnels, where ancient Greek and Roman ruins lie beneath the modern city. Elsewhere, the Quartieri Spagnoli will give you a taste of authentic Neapolitan life.

Sardinia isn’t a regular feature on Italy cruises so you want to make the most of this one on your NCL voyage! Plus, it basks in lovely highs of 23°C come autumn. Your ship will call at the island’s capital of Cagliari so start with a visit to the ancient Castello district, perched on a hilltop with stonking views of the city and the shimmering Mediterranean Sea.

Historic architecture abounds too, from the imposing Cagliari Cathedral to the medieval Torre dell’Elefante. The ancient amphitheatre offers a glimpse into Cagliari’s Roman past while the Museo Archeologico Nazionale showcases an extensive collection of artefacts from Sardinia’s prehistoric and ancient history.

To embrace the modern-day, wander through such buzzy markets as Mercato di San Benedetto, where you can feast on the season’s bounty of freshly harvested olives and figs, or recline on nearby Poetto Beach.

Chia, roughly an hour’s drive from Cagliari, is also renowned for its beautiful beaches such as Su Giudeu and Cala Cipolla. Those looking to stretch their legs should consider the Monte Arcosu Nature Reserve (about a 30-minute drive away), home to hiking trails through beautiful landscapes, with opportunities to spot wildlife such as wild boar and deer.

More Italian island idyll awaits on Sicily where the port city of Messina serves as a picturesque gateway and is bathed in highs of 22°C during autumn. On cruises to Sicily, Italy, culture vultures should take in the historic centre and the splendid Cathedral of Messina, with its astronomical clock – the largest and most complex of its kind. If you time it right (no pun intended) there’s a mechanical show at noon depicting scenes from Messina’s history! The nearby Fountain of Orion and Church of the Santissima Annunziata dei Catalani are also worth checking out.

Beautiful Taormina with its ancient Greek Theatre is a fantastic day trip on a spell in Sicily while adventure lovers might fancy Mount Etna: Europe’s most active volcano and around an hour and a half drive from Messina. You can take guided tours, hike on the volcanic trails and even visit the craters and lava fields.

Autumn is also a super period to visit local vineyards in the surrounding hills where you can sip on such Sicilian wines as Nero d’Avola amidst the harvest season. Fresh seafood at a seaside trattoria is also something to relish during your port of call; why not try swordfish caponata? Hey, the sweet life can be savoury too.