Oceania Allura: 7-Night Mediterranean

Rome's cruise port is in Civitavecchia, a working port town about 80 kilometers northwest of the city. That distance is the single most important thing to understand about this stop.

Salerno is the eastern gateway to the Amalfi Coast, one of Italy's most celebrated stretches of coastline. Cruise ships dock at the Stazione Marittima in Salerno's port, a short walk from the city center and the starting point for trips along the legendary coastal road to Amalfi, Positano, and Ravello.

Messina cruise port sits at the northeastern tip of Sicily, directly across the narrow Strait of Messina from mainland Italy. Ships dock right at the city waterfront, making it one of the easiest Mediterranean ports to step off and explore.

Valletta cruise port is one of the most visually dramatic arrivals on any Mediterranean itinerary. Ships sail into the Grand Harbour, a deep natural inlet flanked by honey-colored limestone walls that rise straight out of the water, with Valletta itself perched on the peninsula above.

Corfu cruise port is one of the most visited stops on Eastern Mediterranean and Greek Islands itineraries. The island sits off Greece's northwestern coast, just a short ferry ride from the southern tip of Albania, and has a distinct cultural identity shaped by centuries of Venetian, French, and British rule rather than the Ottoman history that dominates other Greek islands.

Dubrovnik cruise port is the southern gateway to Croatia's Adriatic coast and one of the most visually striking stops in the Mediterranean. Ships dock at Port Gruž, about 3 kilometers northwest of the Old Town, with the walled medieval city perched on a rocky peninsula jutting into the sea.

Split cruise port is the main gateway to central Dalmatia and one of the most remarkable cities in Croatia. The city is built around and inside Diocletian's Palace, a 1,700-year-old Roman fortress that the emperor built as his retirement residence around 300 AD.