Best time to cruise · Shoulder season
Western Mediterranean cruises in December
Winter loops carry on and the cities dress up: nativity workshops crowd Naples’ Via San Gregorio Armeno, the Santa Llúcia market fills the square in front of Barcelona’s cathedral, and lights line the Riviera promenades. Expect short days and the odd storm. Holiday sailings fill with European families, while early-December departures are often the cheapest of the year.
- Shoulder season
- Avg high 60°F
- 9 hrs daylight
Western Mediterranean in December: Shoulder season
Winter loops carry on and the cities dress up: nativity workshops crowd Naples’ Via San Gregorio Armeno, the Santa Llúcia market fills the square in front of Barcelona’s cathedral, and lights line the Riviera promenades. Expect short days and the odd storm. Holiday sailings fill with European families, while early-December departures are often the cheapest of the year.
Across Western Mediterranean cruise ports, December brings average highs around 60°F (16°C) and lows near 52°F, with about 2.3 inches of rain over the month and roughly 9 hours of daylight.
- Verdict
- Shoulder season
- Season
- April to early November; MSC and Costa sail year-round
- Average high / low
- 60°F / 52°F
- Rainfall (month)
- 2.3 in
- Daylight
- About 9 hours
- Typical cruise length
- 7 nights is standard; 10–12 nights adds southern Spain, Sicily or Malta
What to pack: layers you can add and remove: long pants, a warm fleece or sweater, a waterproof jacket and closed walking shoes.
How December compares with the rest of the year
- Jan: Shoulder season
- Feb: Shoulder season
- Mar: Shoulder season
- Apr: Good time to go
- May: Best time to go
- Jun: Best time to go
- Jul: Good time to go
- Aug: Good time to go
- Sep: Best time to go
- Oct: Good time to go
- Nov: Shoulder season
- Dec: Shoulder season
- No regular sailings
- Shoulder season
- Good time to go
- Best time to go
Western Mediterranean weather in December
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F (°C) | 5714 | 5815 | 6116 | 6518 | 7122 | 7926 | 8530 | 8630 | 8026 | 7323 | 6518 | 6016 |
| Low °F (°C) | 4910 | 5010 | 5211 | 5513 | 6116 | 6921 | 7424 | 7524 | 7021 | 6418 | 5714 | 5211 |
| Rain in (mm) | 1.949 | 2.051 | 2.461 | 1.846 | 2.051 | 1.129 | 0.616 | 1.128 | 2.050 | 3.282 | 3.793 | 2.357 |
| Daylight (hrs) | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 |
December weather port by port
| Port | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barcelona | 62°F | 46°F | 1.3 in | 9 h |
| Rome | 58°F | 51°F | 3.3 in | 9 h |
| Naples | 59°F | 46°F | 2.1 in | 9 h |
| Livorno (for Florence & Pisa) | 58°F | 54°F | 2.6 in | 9 h |
| Villefranche-sur-Mer (for Nice) | 58°F | 54°F | 2.7 in | 9 h |
| La Spezia (for Cinque Terre) | 56°F | 49°F | 3.2 in | 9 h |
| Palma de Mallorca | 62°F | 58°F | 1.9 in | 9 h |
| Marseille | 57°F | 43°F | 1.7 in | 9 h |
| Valletta | 64°F | 61°F | 1.5 in | 10 h |
| Monte Carlo | 58°F | 54°F | 2.7 in | 9 h |
| Málaga | 63°F | 57°F | 1.8 in | 10 h |
| Cádiz (for Seville) | 64°F | 55°F | 2.4 in | 10 h |
Average daily highs and lows, 2015–2024, from NASA POWER, adjusted to sea level. Rain is the average monthly total.
Other great cruise destinations in December
- Caribbean in December
- Eastern Caribbean in December
- Western Caribbean in December
- Southern Caribbean in December
- Mexican Riviera & Baja in December
- Panama Canal & Central America in December
- South America in December
- Galápagos Islands in December
- Canary Islands & Atlantic Isles in December
- Antarctica in December
See every destination for December, with a port weather map →
Western Mediterranean in December: FAQs
Is December a good time to cruise Western Mediterranean?
It can be, as a shoulder-season month. Winter loops carry on and the cities dress up: nativity workshops crowd Naples’ Via San Gregorio Armeno, the Santa Llúcia market fills the square in front of Barcelona’s cathedral, and lights line the Riviera promenades. Expect short days and the odd storm. Holiday sailings fill with European families, while early-December departures are often the cheapest of the year.
What is the weather like on a Western Mediterranean cruise in December?
Across Western Mediterranean cruise ports, December brings average highs around 60°F (16°C) and lows near 52°F, with about 2.3 inches of rain over the month and roughly 9 hours of daylight. Conditions vary from port to port and day to day.
What should I pack for a Western Mediterranean cruise in December?
Pack layers you can add and remove: long pants, a warm fleece or sweater, a waterproof jacket and closed walking shoes. Check your cruise line's dress code for evenings.
When is the best time to cruise Western Mediterranean?
April to early November; MSC and Costa sail year-round. The best months are usually May, June, September.
Where else can I cruise in December?
December is also a top month for Caribbean, Eastern Caribbean, Western Caribbean, Southern Caribbean, Mexican Riviera & Baja.
Updated November 2026 by the BookMyDreamCruise editorial team. How we research and fact-check.
Sources: NASA POWER climate data.