20 days, round-trip Eastern Mediterranean from Athens

About this cruise

If you've got 20 nights to work with, this sailing from Piraeus (Athens) on May 20, 2027 through Santorini, Mykonos and Valletta, with additional stops along the Western Mediterranean is genuinely one of the better ways to spend them. A few ports come in quick succession, which is great for sightseeing but means you'll appreciate the sea days when they arrive. The route threads through 5 countries along the Western Mediterranean coast: Greece, Malta, Spain, France and Italy. Keep an eye out for Palermo: Arab-Norman splendour in Sicily's capital. Around 9 hours per port on average, which is generous enough to go beyond the obvious. At 114,147 gross tons, Costa Serena is big enough that you can find a quiet corner or a crowd, depending on your mood. There are enough performances, events, and social mixers on a cruise this length that you couldn't do them all if you tried. And that's a good problem. Piraeus (Athens) itself is worth spending some time in. Don't just treat it as a departure point. Timing-wise, spring usually means comfortable temperatures and lower prices than peak season. That's 20 nights well spent.