Why Viking and the Mediterranean During Quiet Season Are a Match Made in Heaven
Imagine sailing the Mediterranean with your well-traveled best friend, the one who seems to know someone everywhere you go, who knows the waitstaff at the perfect cafe, and can share the right time to visit the best museums when no one else is there. It’s a simply an incredible way to travel. Attainable? With Viking, yes.
Viking is the curious traveler’s cultural partner, your eyes on the world, your dialed-in travel companion who knows just where to go and how to see it best. These are cruises for the thinking person, those who won’t settle for commonplace or cookie-cutter experiences.
Along with the behind-the-scenes access, thoughtfully curated itineraries, and well-heeled service befitting a floating boutique hotel, Viking has one of those best-friend secrets for you: Sail the Mediterranean in the quiet season. The coast lights up throughout the fall and winter, allowing real life to happen around you, immersing you in the culture you seek.
SPRING SALE
Special savings on all-inclusive fares. Receive free international airfare, $25 deposit, and $100 per person shipboard credit. Please note, this offer is only valid on reservations made by April 30, 2025, and terms & conditions apply.
Connect with a Cadence travel advisor here to claim your offer.What Sets Viking Apart
When you are named #1 for Rivers, Oceans, and Expeditions by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler two years in a row, where do you go next? For Viking, the answer is onwards … always onwards. Here’s how they do it.
Onboard Experiences with You in Mind: Expect enriching onboard activities like cultural lectures, cooking demonstrations, and regional performances.
Shore Excursions that Dive Deep: Enjoy exclusive experiences such as market tours with the ship’s chef, behind-the-scenes access to renowned venues, and rare viewings of museum collections.
Just-Right Ships: Sail on intimate, modern ships with Scandinavian design, offering boutique hotel amenities and breathtaking views crafted to enhance every moment.
Unparalleled Suites & Staterooms: Step into Viking’s patented corridor design, which allows for versatile accommodations, from spacious Verdanda staterooms to two-room Explorer Suites.
Destination-Focused Dining: Dine on locally inspired cuisine and always available classics. Plus, experience multiple dining options, from Mamsen’s Norwegian Deli and the open kitchens of the World Cafe—to Manfredi’s Italian trattoria.
Across the Viking fleet, you can expect pricing that covers everything you need—and nothing you do not.
Top 5 Reasons You Should Visit the Mediterranean During Quiet Season
Now to that special secret: The Mediterranean shines brighter from fall to spring. Viking knows this is the special time when the iconic destinations clear out after the peak travel crowds have returned home and the region takes a deep breath. Experience the charm of coastal cities and villages in the mediterranean in a different light during this time of year. Pure charm surfaces, from Barcelona to Rome, allowing you to discover historic landmarks, uncover hidden gems, and engage with locals at a more leisurely pace.
1. Fewer Travelers (No Lines!)
Don’t waste your precious vacation hours queuing up at popular sights or in restaurants. Experience Barcelona, Florence, Dubrovnik, and more like a local, stopping into any cafe you wish, exploring on a whim and not a timetable, and snapping gorgeous photos unhindered by the crowds.
2. Linger at Landmarks
Take all the time you like at the places that interest you most, from Rome’s Colosseum to The Vatican and Athen’s Acropolis. Instead of feeling carried away on the crowd wave, you’re free to sit quietly on a bench and ponder ancient history, meditate on a particularly emotional piece of artwork, or simply take a long, leisurely luncheon (with coffee and dessert!) at a sidewalk cafe.
Coast of Dubrovnik, Croatia
Beach town in Sicily
3. Favorable Weather Temperatures
Here’s another secret: Just because it’s not the high season doesn’t mean the weather in the Mediterranean is subpar. Quite the opposite, in fact. Walking around ancient ruins and timeless cities is much more pleasant when the sun isn’t beating down. Avoid the summer heat and humidity and enjoy a mild, moderate climate as you explore.
4. Join the Holiday Festivities
Embrace international holiday traditions amidst colorful light displays and vibrant holiday markets in one of the world’s most appealing regions, including Barcelona, Sicily, and Corfu. Plus, celebrate the holidays on a Viking ocean ship complete with gingerbread houses, elegant decorations, and a festive Christmas dinner and caroling.
5. Reduced Airfare & Cruise Fare
Get more value when you sail the Mediterranean with Viking in the quiet season. Expect lower airfares and reduced cruise fares. And, with Viking Inclusive Value, enjoy a complimentary shore excursion in every port, complimentary beer, wine, and soft drinks with onboard lunch and dinner, free WiFi, and much more.
Experiences We Love Across the Mediterranean
Explore these unforgettable moments and hidden gems from fall to spring:
Olive Harvest Season, Crete, Greece
Harvest season runs from late October to mid-January, the perfect time to learn about ancient and modern olive oil production methods. Experience the intense flavor of the young fruit’s oil.
Pizza in Its Birthplace, Naples, Italy
Reservations for Neopolitan-style pies will be easy to come by in the winter and spring. Savor soft dough, flavorful tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and sweet basil in Naples, home to the world’s first pizzeria.
Renaissance Treasures, Florence, Italy
Spend peaceful hours in the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral and prestigious museums such as the Accademia Gallery, home to Michelangelo’s David.
“Paradise on Earth,” Dubrovnik, Croatia
Experience what playwright George Bernard Shaw once called the walled city of Dubrovnik. Stroll through quiet streets of the well-preserved Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Gaudí’s Architectural Brilliance, Barcelona, Spain
Soak up the whimsical and surreal works of this Barcelona native and famed architect, from the UNESCO-Listed Park Güell to the towering La Sagrada Família.
The Glitz and Glam of Monte Carlo, Monaco
Live like a local in Monte Carlo, with its world-class shopping, luxurious mega-yachts, and elegant Prince’s Palace. Nearby French towns offer fine perfumes and fantastic contemporary art.
Privileged Cathedral Concerts, Valletta, Malta
As a Viking guest, enjoy exclusive Privileged Access® concerts in Valletta’s baroque St. John’s Co-Cathedral, a repository for dramatic paintings and cultural events.
