Our one-week Mediterranean cruise aboard MSC Opera took us through Italy, Montenegro and Greece. From the canals of Venice to the dramatic Bay of Kotor and the whitewashed villages of the Greek islands, every port offered a different experience. Here is our personal MSC Opera cruise review, including the itinerary, shore excursions, photos and the things we enjoyed most:
- We enjoyed the food served on board.
- The crew were welcoming and helpful.
- The evening shows were a highlight of our time at sea.
- There were several restaurants and bars to explore.
- Waking up near a new destination was one of the best parts of cruising.
- Arriving by sea gave us memorable views of the ports and coastlines.
- Despite the large number of passengers, we found the onboard activities and port stops well organised.
Our Mediterranean cruise itinerary: six ports across three countries.
- Venice
- Kotor
- Mykonos
- Santorini
- Corfu
- Bari
Below are our photos and impressions from each stop on our Mediterranean cruise.
Planning tip: This is our personal account of a past sailing, not a current MSC Opera timetable. Cruise routes, port access and excursion arrangements can change, so check your own sailing details and return-to-ship times before making plans ashore.
- Boat MSC Opera
MSC Opera was our home for the week. We particularly enjoyed the restaurants, bars and the chance to relax between excursions.
2. Venice – Italy
We arrived in Venice four days before boarding MSC Opera, giving ourselves time to explore the city. Embarkation took around three hours, including luggage drop-off and waiting in the terminal. Venice is wonderful on foot or by vaporetto: we visited the area around St Mark’s Square and explored Burano, known for its colourful houses and lace-making tradition, and Murano, famous for glassmaking. Spending several days here before the cruise was well worth it.
We spent several days in Venice before the cruise, so this beautiful city deserves a dedicated travel article of its own.
3. Kotor – Montenegro
Arriving in Kotor by sea was one of the most scenic moments of the trip. Our afternoon stop was short, but the compact old town was easy to explore on foot. The cruise port is close to the historic centre, making Kotor a convenient destination for a self-guided walk.
4. Fruit carving during the dinner captain reception
5. Mykonos – Greece
Mykonos was a favourite stop thanks to its whitewashed lanes, flowers, beaches and lively restaurants. We had most of the day and stayed until the evening. After exploring the town, we took a local bus and walked between three beaches, enjoying the beautiful sea and the energetic atmosphere of the beach bars.
Platis Gialos: beautiful blue water and plenty of beach bars
Many private Yachts
Walking route near Paraga Beach and Scorpios
Paradise Beach had a lively atmosphere and great dance music. We returned to the cruise port by bus.
6. Santorini – Greece
Our Santorini stop lasted only half a day, so we had to plan carefully. We took a boat transfer from the port area to visit Oia, famous for its white buildings and spectacular caldera views. After returning towards Fira, we walked down the long staircase to the tender port; the descent took us about 45 minutes. A cable car is another option, although queues can be long when several ships are visiting.
7. Corfu – Greece
Our Corfu stop was a short afternoon visit. We took a public bus to Paleokastritsa, where we enjoyed the beautiful beach and went swimming. The return bus journey took a substantial part of our limited time, so we also made a brief stop in Corfu Town before walking back to the cruise terminal, a walk of around 30 minutes for us. Allow extra time for transport if you plan a similar excursion.
8. Amazing Sunset from the cruise boat
After leaving Corfu, we watched a spectacular sunset from the ship. It was one of the most peaceful and memorable moments of our Mediterranean cruise.
9. Bari
Our final stop was Bari, in Italy’s Puglia region. Because we only had a short morning ashore, we stayed in the city centre rather than travelling farther into the region. We enjoyed walking around the port area and found prices relatively affordable. The walk between the cruise terminal and the centre took us around 35 minutes.
