The best cruise souvenirs to bring home

We all like to have a memory in the form of a souvenir from the ports we visit during our cruise vacation. Popular questions from cruise travelers include “What are the best souvenirs from Italy?” and “Where can I find the best traditional gifts to bring home from Athens?”

Here are a few tips for the most popular cruise souvenirs you can tuck into your suitcase and bring home on your next cruise.

Souvenirs from Barcelona, Spain

Visiting Barcelona, you can pick up some beautiful gemstones at Tous Jewelry. There are several shops throughout the city, and you can also find their jewelry at Spain’s famous department store El Corte Inglés at Placa de Catalunya.

Ceramics are also a great buy. The bright colors are often unmistakably Spanish, and popular designs include a portrayal of Gaudi’s work.

One of the most popular and affordable Spanish designers for clothing is Desigual. And they have boutiques both around the city and close to the beach. 

Souvenirs from Palma de Mallorca, Spain

Cultivated pearls are the most popular gift to bring home from the beautiful Spanish island of Mallorca. There are famous for it.

In addition, try their fantastic olive oil and a delicious liquor called Angel d’Or, made from the oranges grown in the golden valley of Sóller.

Souvenirs from Marseille, France

Marseille soap, or Savon de Marseille, is famous in this region of France and makes a great gift to bring home with you – both for yourself and for friends. It’s easy to pack and smells fantastic.

It was traditionally made of palm oil and sea salt, and the small bars were green. Now you can buy all kinds are fragrances. Lavender is the most popular scent, as the lavender fields are famous in the region of Provence, just north of Marseille. You will find local handmade soaps in almost every gift shop.

Try La Cure Gourmande in the center of Marseille for homemade sweet treats. Handmade by French bakers and artisans, no place else can you find such candies and sweets that are unique and delicious.

Souvenirs from Nice, France

Nice, and the surrounding area is famous for its olives. From the maritime Alps region comes “Olives de Nice.” These small, fruity olives are picked and processed by hand on many olive farms, and it’s this sort you should be looking for in the local shops to bring home with you. 

If you get the chance, visit the best local market in Nice, Cours Saleya in Vieux Nice (the old town). There you can buy all kinds of unique lace linens that make an easy gift to pack in your suitcase. It gets crowded but opens daily except Mondays. You’ll love shopping there.

Souvenirs from Rome, Italy

Finding the best souvenirs in Rome couldn’t be easier. A firm favorite seems to be Christmas tree ornaments and snow globes. The gift shops around the Vatican are ideal for picking up these; you’ll be spoilt for choice. 

For edible gifts, the most popular by far is Italian cheeses. Stick to only the hard variety, and look for parmesan and grana padano. Ask for a locally produced variety and ensure you get it vacuum sealed. It will last around six months back home, kept in your refrigerator.

Souvenirs from Florence, Italy

If your cruise docks at Livorno Port, you will have the opportunity to visit the historical town of Florence in the Tuscany region of Italy. And there are endless small gifts in the quaint gift ships to add to your best souvenirs from Italy collection.

Leather goods are often of excellent quality in Florence. We’ve spotted great prices on Italian leather briefcases, purses, wallets, and gloves.

Souvenirs from Pisa, Italy 

From fridge magnets to paperweights, you’ll find all kinds of replicas of the ornate 14th-century Leaning Tower to take home. But for great shopping, head to Borgo Stretto, the main shopping street. Here you can find Italian designer brands and better prices than the exports you have in your own country.

For an authentic experience, visit the “Made in Tuscany” leather goods shop, just a 5-minute walk from the tower.

Souvenirs from Naples, Italy

A cruise with a port of call in Naples, in southern Italy, means you can access many glorious sites and day trips. Sorrento, Capri, Positano, and Almalfi, to name a few. And this coastline is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in the world.

Pack your suitcase with locally made Limoncello for a taste of La Dolce Vita. This sweet liquor is made from local lemon groves, and distilleries are scattered along the coast. You’ll find bottles easily in local shops and markets.

Local art, pottery, and lemon soap are famous here and make easy gifts to take home.

Souvenirs from Capri, Italy

From a paradise playground of Roman Emperors to a holiday destination of the rich and famous, Capri is an island of outstanding natural beauty – and great shopping.

There is a fantastic array of homeware, jewelry, and fashion shops, particularly for handmade leather sandals and Italian linen fashions for women.

The prices you pay in Capri for some of the best souvenirs from Italy will be higher here, so allow this in your budget if you want to do some serious shopping on the island.

Souvenirs from Dubrovnik, Croatia

Dubrovnik is known for men’s neckties, and some quaint shops are on the main shopping streets of Stradun. 

Known as cravats, you can also find unique silk scarves and shawls. Try the Croatia Museum Concept Store in the old town. 

Souvenirs from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Perhaps too heavy to carry much of it in your suitcase, but a piece or two is irresistible if you are looking for some unique pottery. Look for the geometric designs of traditional Talavera, handcrafted by local artisans. 

There is an excellent shopping guide on the official tourist site of Puerto Vallarta.

Souvenirs from Maine, New England, USA 

Look for small bottles of delicious Maine maple syrup; and anything nautical for home decoration. Local woven lobster baskets for entrance hall storage, driftwood kitchen signs, and coffee mugs with the port’s exact latitude/longitude coordinates are fun gifts to bring home from New England.

Souvenirs from Athens, Greece

In Athens, you will find the best selection of natural sea sponges. These come in all sizes and shapes and are all unique. Find a size that suits your packing space in the Monastiraki Flea Market or the gift shops in the neighborhood of Plaka. 

Souvenirs from Corfu, Greece

The bee-keeping industry in Corfu has grown so much that the island is becoming well known for its locally produced honey. It’s a great gift to bring home as a souvenir from your cruise trip.

Souvenirs from Mykonos, Greece

Olive Oil tasting experiences are amongst the most popular excursions offered on the Greek island of Mykonos. You can discover how to taste the olive oil culture and use it like an authentic Greek and the best-branded olive oils available. Bring a bottle home from this beautiful place.

Souvenirs from Santorini, Greece

You perhaps are not allowed to do this, but many tourists have brought black lava rock or red sand from the island of Santorini. A safer bet is a bottle of Santorini local wine or some blue and white pottery from Oia.

Souvenirs from Amsterdam, Holland

Amsterdam, the capital city of The Netherlands, is famous for its Dutch clogs. And you can buy a pair of these charming wooden clogs to fit or a small pair as an ornament. Traditionally Dutch clogs are made of wood, entirely by hand, carved out from a block of wood. Today you can buy them in wood or miniature versions in painted porcelain.

Souvenirs from Copenhagen, Denmark

We love anything Scandinavian. Denmark’s capital Copenhagen is known for its modern designs. We recommend visiting the best department store in the city, Magasin du Nord. Another favorite is some genuine porcelain from Royal Copenhagen.

Then, of course, there’s the Lego. Lego began in Denmark, and you will often find limited edition pieces created solely for the local market in the Lego stores. Snap up those collector items while you’re visiting the city.

Souvenirs from Stockholm, Sweden

The Dala Horse has long been a symbol of Sweden handicraft, named after the region Dalarna in central Sweden. Traditionally you should purchase a tiny carved Dala Horse in wood, which is easy to carry in your suitcase too. 

Miniature Lucia ornaments are great to take home if you visit Stockholm on a Christmas cruise. The Lucia festival is “The Festival of Lights,” celebrated on the 13th of December each year.

And don’t forget a cheese slice decorated with the three crowns, the symbol of Sweden, and an oak handle. Shot glasses decorated with different animals or regions of Sweden also make popular gifts and souvenirs.

Souvenirs from Malta

Republic Street in Malta is known for locally made filigree jewelry and pottery. Choose a unique piece to bring home; you will remember this sun-drenched for friendly locals, delicious cuisine, and fantastic architecture.