Albania Cruises: Sailings, Embarkations & Ports of Call
23 ships from 12 cruise lines
Albania cruises at a glance
Waterways Cruise lists 62 upcoming sailings on 23 ships from 12 cruise lines visiting Albania, calling at 2 places. Cruises visit Albania as a port of call and do not start or end here. More Mediterranean cruises.
Reviewed and fact-checked by J. Richard · About this page · About us
Compare Albania cruise lines
See every Albania cruise line by ocean and river and by ultra-luxury, luxury, premium and contemporary style, with fares, cruise lengths, ships and ports.
About Albania
Albania is the Mediterranean's most intriguing underdog: a rugged, mountain-backed coastline of Adriatic and Ionian waters, Ottoman towns of exceptional beauty, and archaeological layers stretching from Greek colonies to Cold War bunkers. For the American traveler seeking a milestone trip without being herded, Albania rewards patience with authenticity. Cruise calls are still niche, mainly small-ship and boutique, and the infrastructure is less polished than Italy or Greece—but that is precisely the point.
Typical routes
- Adriatic Old Towns & Greek Isles: Venice/Ravenna to Athens, often calling at Dubrovnik, Kotor, and Corfu, with Albanian stops in Durrës or Sarandë.
- Ionian Riviera & Greek Islands: Corfu to Sarandë, Vlorë, or Himarë, emphasizing beaches, archaeology, and uncrowded scenery.
Ports overview
Albania's cruise calls are coastal rather than river-based. Durrës is the main commercial and passenger port, while Vlorë, Sarandë, and Himarë are smaller, sheltered calls for boutique and small-ship itineraries. Infrastructure is improving, but tendering and basic quays are common.
Cruise season
May-June and September-October are best; July-August is hot and crowded, but viable for beach-focused cruises.
Find your Albania sailing
Upcoming sailings calling at Albania, earliest departure first.
39 Days One-Way from Piraeus-Athens to Miami
Visits Albania. Also visits Greece, Italy, France
Azamara Quest
21 Days Piraeus-Athens, Greece Round Trip
Visits Albania. Also visits Greece, Montenegro, Italy
MSC Explora 2
11 Days Piraeus-Athens, Greece Round Trip
Visits Albania. Also visits Greece, Montenegro, Italy
MSC Explora 2
Why Book With Waterways Cruise?
Four decades of expertise, one dedicated advisor, and every detail handled, from your front door to the gangway and back.
Cruise Concierge
A dedicated advisor who learns your name, your travel style and your preferences, then stays with you from the first conversation to the day you return home. Not a call center. Never a stranger.
100% Custom‑Built
No cookie-cutter packages. Flights, hotels, transfers and shore days are designed from scratch around how you actually like to travel, then refined until the trip feels like yours.
40+ Years in Travel
Founded by J. Richard, a four-decade veteran of the travel industry, and focused solely on premium river and ocean cruising. Decades of ship and itinerary knowledge go into every recommendation.
Book With Total Confidence
A travel agency that is a proud member of Signature Travel Network, CLIA, ASTA and IATA.
25 Days One-Way from Villefranche-Sur-Mer to Venice
Visits Albania. Also visits France, Italy, Spain
Silver Shadow
23 Days One-Way from Barcelona to Trieste
Visits Albania. Also visits Spain, France, Italy
ms Oosterdam
13 Days One-Way from Villefranche-Sur-Mer to Venice
Visits Albania. Also visits France, Italy, Montenegro
Silver Shadow
8 Days One-Way from Piraeus-Athens to Dubrovnik
Visits Albania. Also visits Greece, Montenegro, Croatia
Emerald Kaia
22 Days One-Way from Piraeus-Athens to Barcelona
Visits Albania. Also visits Greece, Turkey, Malta
ms Oosterdam
12 Days One-Way from Piraeus-Athens to Trieste
Visits Albania. Also visits Greece, Turkey, Crete Greece
ms Oosterdam
11 Days One-Way from Venice to Istanbul
Visits Albania. Also visits Italy, Slovenia, Croatia
Oceania Sirena
8 Days One-Way from Lavrion to Zadar
Visits Albania. Also visits Greece, Croatia
National Geographic Orion
8 Days One-Way from Zadar to Piraeus-Athens
Visits Albania. Also visits Croatia, Greece
National Geographic Orion
Where Albania cruises start and end
Embarkation ports (0)
No cruises start here.
Disembarkation ports (0)
No cruises end here.
Ships by type: 22 ocean 2 expedition · a ship that visits several places here is counted once; an expedition ship that also sails as an ocean ship appears under both types.
Plan your Albania cruise
Albania cruise port guide
Cruise ports, what to see, history and practical advice.
Albania cruise port guide →Frequently asked questions about Albania cruises
How many places do cruises visit in Albania?
2 Albania places are visited by 23 ships from 12 cruise lines.
When is the best time to take a Albania cruise?
May-June and September-October are best; July-August is hot and crowded, but viable for beach-focused cruises.
Sources and further reading
Background on Albania draws on these references. Sailing, fare and port data come from cruise line itineraries and are refreshed regularly.
- CIA: Albania - The World Factbook
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Butrint
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Historic Centres of Berat and Gjirokastra
- UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage: Albanian folk iso-polyphony
- European Commission: Albania - European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations
- NATO: NATO Member Countries
Created by the Waterways Cruise content team and reviewed and fact-checked by J. Richard, Sr. Cruise Travel Agent and Founder of Waterways Cruise.
Published September 9, 2026 · Last updated October 30, 2026
Fares, availability and itineraries change often. Confirm current details with your cruise line or a Waterways Cruise agent before you book.
Cruise Disclosure
Good to know: Prices are quoted per person based on double occupancy and include all applicable taxes and fees. Availability and prices can change quickly, so please continue through the booking process to confirm the latest availability and pricing before you pay.
We work hard to make sure everything on this website is accurate and up to date. However, some information may be incomplete or inaccurate, including details supplied by third parties or otherwise outside our control, and we cannot be held responsible for such errors. We work with 41 cruise line operators, that are providing cruises on 585 ships visiting 1,731 ports across 7,194 unique cruises, creating 13,822 itineraries. This is a great deal of data to continually update daily from our suppliers. If a pricing error, misrepresentation, or omission occurs, we reserve the right to adjust the pricing, correct the information, or cancel or decline any booking made in error, with notice to you. Thank you for your understanding!