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Palermo: when your ship stops here

A royal chapel of mosaics, an opera house opened in 1897, and the Capuchin catacombs.

Facts checked Nov 5, 2026, each with its source. No prices on this page.

Palermo is the main city of Sicily, with a population of 626,273 as of 2026. A cruise port guide says the cruise terminal serves ferry passengers too, and is about a 5 minute walk from downtown.

Sources: Wikipedia: Palermo; CruiseMapper (a cruise port guide site): Palermo

Top 3 things to do

  1. 1. The Norman Palace and the Palatine Chapel

    The Palazzo dei Normanni is a notable example of Norman architecture. Inside is the Palatine Chapel, commissioned by Roger II in 1132 and built over an older chapel that is now the crypt. It mixes Byzantine, Norman and Fatimid styles, with mosaics and a wooden ceiling of the muqarnas type, and it is part of a UNESCO site recognized in 2015.

    Tip: The palace is also the seat of the Sicilian Regional Assembly, so check visiting days on its own page; our sources do not give them.

    Sources: Wikipedia: Palermo; Wikipedia: Palatine Chapel, Palermo

  2. 2. The Teatro Massimo

    The opera house was designed by Giovan Battista Filippo Basile and built by the firm Rutelli & Machi. It opened in 1897.

    Tip: Check on the theatre's own page whether you can go in; our sources do not give visiting days.

    Source: Wikipedia: Palermo

  3. 3. The Capuchin catacombs

    Beneath the Capuchin monastery lie about 8,000 bodies and 1,252 mummies, by a 2011 count. The first burial was in 1599, when the monks mummified Brother Silvestro of Gubbio. The last was in 1939.

    Tip: The catacombs hold real mummified bodies, so think about it before you bring children.

    Source: Wikipedia: Catacombe dei Cappuccini

What to skip

Before you go ashore

You do not have to book a tour: you are free to go ashore on your own. Royal Caribbean sets the all aboard time about 30 minutes before the ship sails, posts it near the gangway, and says the ship does not wait for guests touring on their own.

Source: Royal Caribbean FAQ: Do I need to book a shore excursion?

Back-to-backs that stop in Palermo

Back-to-back cruises from these home ports have a stop in Palermo, from the Royal Caribbean sailings we track:

Sources

Read on Nov 5, 2026. Opening days, hours and rules change: check with the place itself before you go. legtolegcruises.com is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by Royal Caribbean International or any place named here.

Find back-to-backs that stop in Palermo

Two or more Royal Caribbean cruises in a row, with a day in Palermo on the way.

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