Mediterranean Cruise Mistakes That Caught Me Off Guard in 2026! (Heat, Airports & Packing Fails)
Planning a Mediterranean cruise this year or next? There are a few things you’ll want to know before you go.
I’m currently cruising in Europe, and in this video I’m sharing real, firsthand Mediterranean cruise tips to help you prepare for the heat, busy ports, crowds, airport issues, and the little surprises that can make travel feel a bit chaotic right now. This includes new travel rules & requirements to navigate at the airport as I share our experience with new European EES as we entered the EU in Rome.
We talk about what it’s really like in popular European cruise ports, how to handle hot weather on port days, what to expect with current travel delays and changes, and the cruise packing must-haves that can make your trip so much easier.
Whether this is your first Mediterranean cruise or you’ve cruised in Europe before, these cruise tips, packing ideas, and travel updates will help you feel more prepared and avoid common Mediterranean cruise mistakes.
We’re currently onboard Princess Cruises Enchanted Princess sailing from Rome on a 7 day Med itinerary.
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ABOUT ME
Hi! I’m Ilana! I live in Montreal, Canada with my husband Frank. We can often be found dreaming about and planning future cruises, ideally to hot and sunny destinations! I believe in having fun, being kind and that you are never too old, or too young, to live the life of your dreams!
Please note that I do not sell cruises on Life Well Cruised. This and all other videos are for entertainment purposes only. I share my own opinions, personal experiences and information with other cruise travellers, which I hope can be helpful. Please contact your travel agent or the cruise line directly for advice and any information specific to your booking.
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Have done several B2B cruises. Usually connected to a transatlantic cruise. Last one was to Athens then stayed on for a Greek Isles cruise.
I’d love to see a video on the tax back please
Thank you for the private transfer recommendation! We really don’t want to fuss with taxis or trains when we go. Now I just need to find a driver/tour to take us from the cruise port to Tivoli for the day when we get back from our cruise 🤩
The older I get, the more difficult it is for fingerprint machine to recognize my fingerprints. They suggest using a small amount of lotion 20-30 minutes before (not sanitizer, which is too drying)
Hello, I'm looking for advice if booking a back to back sailing with 2 different cruise lines Carnival and Celebrity is a good idea. They arrive and leave the same day, Miami port and Carribean cruise.
Any advice is appreciated!
We are New Zealanders and did not need to use the kiosk on arrival in Rome. We stayed in an AirBnb apartment near the Vatican for four nights before one night in Civitavecchia before boarding the Enchanted Princess on 23 June for fourteen nights disembarked 7 July 2026. We did an even8 g golf cart tour which was ideal in the heat and on a 36 degree day we were fortunate to have pre booked a pasta cooking class. There were only six of us and it was a great choice. Fourteen days on the Enchanted Princess and nine different ports certainly let us experience this section of the Mediterranean. It is a great ship with great staff and we loved it.
So we have been thru the EES system 3 times now! And I thought same as you after the first time it would be smoother and faster because we were "registered". But each and every time they still have had us do the finer and facial shots like the 1st time we registered. Not sure why? Our 1st time in Madrid Airport flying to US, 2nd Time in Lisbon disembarking a TA cruise on Oceania and the 3rd time flying Lisbon to US with connection in Madrid. Just an FYI. Love your channel and always great useful info!
Love the dresses you wore on this trip. Can you link them?
We just booked our first b2b- but ours is actually a b2b2b ending in a trans- Atlantic!
We have booked back to back cruises and enjoyed them very much. Be sure to think about the itineraries as it can be a long time and some are interesting and some are not so be sure to back to back itineraries that you really like. Do you want them both to be very busy or one busy and one not so busy?
Hi… unrelated question. I’m heading to Montreal in September. Any recommendations? Thank you!
Leaving in a couple weeks for a back to back on the HAL Oosterdam from Rome to Barcelona then Barcelona to Lisbon. Got lucky and got a nonstop flight from Calgary to Rome for $400 per person cad on Westjet. Staying for three nights at a B&B Hotel near the Tuscolano station which is the last stop before Rome Termini, and well connected to public transport, with A/C and breakfast for 100 euros a night. Will take the train from the airport and to the port. Hopefully I will leave Rome with my wallet, not so lucky a couple years ago but now I have cargo pants with zippers!!!
Staying a couple nights in Lisbon at the Melia Lisbon Airport because our flight home via Halifax leaves at 6:15 in the morning and the subway doesn't start running until 6:00 am.
Really enjoy your videos and can't wait to see the rest of your cruise.
We are cruising in the mediterranean in Oct so should be much cooler but thanks so much for your valuable tips and advise
The size of that balcony! Did you book a three bedroom ultra mega suite? And using the private transfers in Rome are great…if you’re rich. I travel solo.
You asked tour guides about whether they liked tourists. Of course they’ll say yes. SMH.
I did a 14 day transatlantic Cruise on the Celebrity Beyond from Fort Lauderdale Florida to Rome Italy. It was my first back to back because I did a 8-day Mediterranean Cruise after that. They made me pack up everything like I was going home which pertured me so I was a little mad at celebrity. What I found out later is the Italian government that requires you to do that. My new room was two doors down. Well worth it. The 11-hour flight home to Atlanta was not so good with no onboard entertainment or Wi-Fi. Free booze.
Hi You have great videos! Yes we have done back to back cruises on princess and NCL It is the way to go. Thanks for all the great information. WE are going on the enchanted in October
for 21 days!!!
We always book B2B cruises when we travel outside of the USA!
We only do b2b, mainly because flying from Atlantic Canada, flying is expensive. Nov 2027 we are doing b2b starting in Athens and going to Barcelona and then off to FLL for a 22 days total.
Thank you 🇨🇦love your polka dots
Great video! A small travel hack I’d add: using a card with good foreign currency support can save you money abroad. I use Revolut for this and have found it very convenient. Happy to share my referral link if anyone wants it.
B2B cruises… yes! Vancouver ("home" or close enough) to LA then onwards to Sydney. Then we've just come off a Singapore-Cape Town-Lisbon B2B with Oceania.
It is very satisfying to see all the luggage outside in the hallway and know that you don't have to do that.
We've often arranged airport pick ups etc. with the hotel we are staying at. It might be a little more expensive than an Uber or taxi, but so very convenient.
Are tourists welcome? We had a couple of young men make rude gestures at us during tours on our last cruise (Singapore-Cape Town-Lisbon B2B ) but I think that was just a couple of disgruntled young men.
In general we have always been treated well as tourists… but the key, I think, is to learn a few simple phrases/words (please, thank you, excuse me, pardon me) in the local language, smile and be differential.
Pointing to a display case of food and saying, "Please" while pointing at an item and holding up two fingers (be careful… it means different things!) and a smile will go a long way.
I’m quite fond of back to back cruises. Especially if I’ve paid for flights to international destinations to be on a ship. It’s always a treat to add more ports to my trip before heading back home. I’ll be watching for your videos on this cruise because next spring I’ll be doing back to back on Enchanted Princess in that region. Thanks for your ideas.
If everything goes as planned I be there next year but in October
I do viator
We fly into Rome on September 2nd. and board the Sun Princess on the 5th. for a 14-day cruise (Rome-Barcelona). We also are staying at the Regency Hotel. So, I do have one question which maybe you can help us with and that would be Uber or Taxi service? This will be our second time in Rome and I recall walking everywhere, but there might be some difficulties there now.