While many travelers associate Mediterranean cruises with summer, winter voyages offer a unique experience. Windstar Cruises has recognized this opportunity, expanding its winter Mediterranean itineraries for the upcoming season.

Winter in the Med: Begin your journey in Rome’s Civitavecchia port, where Windstar includes stops in Livorno (for Florence and Lucca), Nice, Marseille and Barcelona. In addition to this core itinerary, Windstar now offers five variations that focus on Spain, the Adriatic and the Christmas markets season.

Visitors can expect pleasant temperatures, typically in the high 50s to low 60s Fahrenheit during the day. The atmosphere is noticeably calmer than during summer, allowing for a more relaxed exploration of sights and sounds.

Christmas markets: One of the highlights of winter cruising in the Mediterranean is the opportunity to experience the region’s Christmas markets. Cities such as Rome, Florence, Genoa, Nice, Monaco and Barcelona host festive markets from mid- to late November through Christmas Day, with some extending beyond.

These markets offer a trove of local holiday dishes, artisan crafts, ice skating rinks, musical performances and regional mulled wines.

Urban exploration: Winter itineraries in the Mediterranean are well-suited for urban exploration. Cities such as Naples, Genoa, Rome, Valencia and Messina in Sicily come alive during this season, offering a more authentic local experience without the summer crowds.

For those interested in independent exploration, Windstar offers “on your own” tours in some ports. These excursions provide transportation and basic guidance while allowing travelers the freedom to explore at their own pace.