--- title: "Messina Cruise Port" url: https://cruisello.com/destinations/western-mediterranean/messina description: "Sicily's gateway to Mount Etna and Taormina" --- # Messina ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น ยท Italy ยท Western Mediterranean > "Sicily's gateway to Mount Etna and Taormina" ## At a Glance - **Avg. Ships/Day:** 1.1 - **Avg. Time in Port:** 9.2h - **Departure Sailings:** 102 - **Visiting Sailings:** 1,090 - **Cruise Lines:** 9 ## Peak Season Busiest months: Oct (149 sailings), Sept (143 sailings), Jul (134 sailings) ## About Messina Messina sits at the northeastern tip of Sicily, facing the narrow strait that separates the island from mainland Italy. Ships dock steps from the city streets. Much of the city was rebuilt after earthquakes and wartime damage, and the reconstructed Baroque architecture reflects that long pattern of destruction and recovery. The Duomo's bell tower has one of the largest astronomical clocks in the world, with mechanical figures that move at noon. The waterfront has views straight across to Calabria. Fresh seafood, particularly swordfish, dominates the restaurant menus. Messina also works well as a jumping-off point: Taormina, with its Greek theatre and views of Mount Etna, is about an hour by bus or train. Mount Etna itself can be reached on a half-day excursion. Closer to port, the Regional Museum holds paintings by Caravaggio and Antonello da Messina. The city is walkable, and local buses cover the wider area. ## Quick Facts - **Currency:** EUR (Euro) - **Language:** Italian - **Timezone:** Europe/Rome (UTC+1) - **Tipping:** Service often included; โ‚ฌ1-2 for good service ## Location Coordinates: 38.1897, 15.5601 - [Open in Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/cruise+terminal+Messina/@38.1897,15.56012,13z) - [Open in Apple Maps](https://maps.apple.com/?q=cruise%20terminal%20Messina&ll=38.1897,15.56012&z=13) ## Things to Do in Messina Top-rated shore excursions that fit a typical ~9h port call. Prices are starting prices per person. | Tour | Rating | Duration | Fits Port Day | From | Provider | |------|------|------|------|------|------| | [Messina: Private Pasta Class with a Local by Cesarine](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/02b8ef7e-b0b8-4e77-8d00-8ec1437a3495.md?via=markdown) | 5โ˜… (58) | 3h | โœ“ | โ‚ฌ145 | Viator | | [Messina Pasta & Tiramisu Experience for Small Groups by Cesarine](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/ee443455-d6fd-4206-b813-8373a8f0c0d4.md?via=markdown) | 4.9โ˜… (56) | 3h | โœ“ | โ‚ฌ89 | Viator | | [Etna Jeep OffRoad Tour: Lava Flows,Etna Wines,Lunch at 6,561 ft](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/5e34b5da-16be-44aa-a7e6-cf50dae7d8b9.md?via=markdown) | 4.8โ˜… (109) | 5h | โœ“ | โ‚ฌ129 | Viator | | [Messina: Sicilian Street Food Tour by Do Eat Better](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/991b9d9f-93c8-46d4-9113-86b138b30418.md?via=markdown) | 4.9โ˜… (46) | 3h | โœ“ | โ‚ฌ65 | Viator | | [Cook and Taste with a Local in Messina by Cesarine](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/6f846a1f-df4d-4a93-b71b-e3e31c18308d.md?via=markdown) | 5โ˜… (30) | 3h | โœ“ | โ‚ฌ75 | Viator | | [Taormina and Messina Private Tour with Sicilian Cannoli tasting](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/6e3191b0-a60b-404c-837f-56a1aa01fc2d.md?via=markdown) | 5โ˜… (40) | 5h | โœ“ | โ‚ฌ159 | Viator | | [Taormina Private Tour from Hotel or Cruise Terminal of Messina](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/90411bde-869b-4b97-b29f-9b7bbcfd7c15.md?via=markdown) | 4.9โ˜… (39) | 5h | โœ“ | โ‚ฌ120 | Viator | | [Taormina and Castelmola Tour from Messina](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/2515151f-6b8b-4a19-b89f-333406f80edc.md?via=markdown) | 4.8โ˜… (827) | 6h | โ€“ | โ‚ฌ95 | Viator | | [Taormina Castelmola private tour](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/aa725693-1641-4462-a92e-589bec6994f6.md?via=markdown) | 5โ˜… (12) | 5h | โœ“ | โ‚ฌ150 | Viator | | [Cesarine: Market Tour & Dining at a Local's Home in Messina](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/93dd25a2-0807-46c2-b098-569f13449d93.md?via=markdown) | 5โ˜… (7) | 3h 30m | โœ“ | โ‚ฌ139 | Viator | | [From Messina Savoca and Taormina tour](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/0ec99730-4a3b-4166-ae48-0b64daba4003.md?via=markdown) | 5โ˜… (9) | 5h | โœ“ | โ‚ฌ139 | Viator | | [Messina Walking Tour & Traditional Cooking Class with Wine](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/6e4dea9d-3444-496f-ace5-6cff3ed467f4.md?via=markdown) | 5โ˜… (6) | 3h | โœ“ | โ‚ฌ99 | Viator | Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews. ## Nearby Ports - [Giardini Naxos (Taormina)](https://cruisello.com/destinations/western-mediterranean/giardini-naxos-taormina.md): 26 nm - [Catania](https://cruisello.com/destinations/western-mediterranean/catania.md): 47 nm - [Syracuse (Siracusa)](https://cruisello.com/destinations/western-mediterranean/syracuse-siracusa.md): 68 nm ## Cruise Lines Serving This Port - [AIDA Cruises](https://cruisello.com/cruise-lines/aida-cruises.md) - [Celebrity Cruises](https://cruisello.com/cruise-lines/celebrity-cruises.md) - [Costa Cruises](https://cruisello.com/cruise-lines/costa-cruises.md) - [Disney Cruise Line](https://cruisello.com/cruise-lines/disney-cruise-line.md) - [Holland America Line](https://cruisello.com/cruise-lines/holland-america-line.md) - [MSC Cruises](https://cruisello.com/cruise-lines/msc-cruises.md) - [Norwegian Cruise Line](https://cruisello.com/cruise-lines/norwegian-cruise-line.md) - [Princess Cruises](https://cruisello.com/cruise-lines/princess-cruises.md) - [Royal Caribbean](https://cruisello.com/cruise-lines/royal-caribbean.md) ## Cheapest Available Sailing **[View this cruise โ†’](https://cruisello.com/cruises/salt-siren-tyrrhenian-to-iberia~MSC-MAGNIFICA-20261130-4.md)** - **Price:** โ‚ฌ307 per person (โ‚ฌ614 total for 2 guests) - **Cruise Line:** [MSC Cruises](https://cruisello.com/cruise-lines/msc-cruises.md) - **Ship:** [MSC Magnifica](https://cruisello.com/cruise-lines/msc-cruises/msc-magnifica.md) - **Duration:** 4 nights - **Departure:** 2026-11-30 - **Itinerary:** Salt & Siren โ€“ Tyrrhenian to Iberia ## Featured Cruises from Messina Prices are per person, two sharing, in the fare's own currency. | Cruise | Ship | Line | Departure | Nights | Price | |------|------|------|------|------|------| | [Mediterranean Medley โ€“ Rome & Valletta](https://cruisello.com/cruises/mediterranean-medley-rome-valletta~NCL-STAR-20270329-10.md) | Norwegian Star | Norwegian Cruise Line | 2027-03-29 | 10 | โ‚ฌ970 | | [Sunken Empires โ€“ Valletta, Tunis & Palermo](https://cruisello.com/cruises/sunken-empires-valletta-tunis-palermo~NCL-DAWN-20270429-10.md) | Norwegian Dawn | Norwegian Cruise Line | 2027-04-29 | 10 | โ‚ฌ1,014 | | [Cobblestone Passage โ€“ Dubrovnik & Rome](https://cruisello.com/cruises/cobblestone-passage-dubrovnik-rome~RCL-MARINER-20270615-9.md) | Mariner Of The Seas | Royal Caribbean | 2027-06-15 | 9 | โ‚ฌ927 | ## Browse Cruises - 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