Cruise Guides > Mediterranean Cruises

Mediterranean Cruises

Mediterranean cruises are among the most spectacular cruises available to those who are seeking a unique travel experience. Offering stops at some of the world's most magnificent ports of call, a Mediterranean cruise provides history, adventure, luxury, and the ultimate in romance.

Over the past few decades, these cruises have become more and more popular, as travelers recognize the convenience of touring the beautiful Mediterranean aboard a cruise liner. That means you only have to unpack once yet you have the opportunity to visit many incredible cities, making travel easier and less stressful.

Among the cruise lines that offer Mediterranean cruises are Carnival, Celebrity, Holland America, Princess, MSC, and Norwegian. Most of the more upscale cruise lines also feature cruises to the Mediterranean, offering the ultimate in luxury including gourmet meals, oversized cabins, and unique activities and shore excursions. For the best in cruising on the Mediterranean, check out the luxury lines of Cunard, Crystal, or Seabourne.

Many Mediterranean cruises begin their journey from ports such as Civitavecchia, 50 miles from Rome. From there, passengers may stop for a visit to other Italian ports such as magnificent Venice, cosmopolitan Naples, or even Palermo, on the island of Sicily. At your Italian ports of call, you can float down the Grand Canal, visit the ancient city of Pompeii, or tour the country's wonderful vineyards and enjoy a romantic dinner overlooking the magnificent countryside.

If France is the destination you desire, you won't be disappointed. Many Mediterranean cruises include stops at some of France's finest port cities. If Paris is on your itinerary, you might take an art tour that includes a tour of the Louvre as well as a number of Paris' other fine art museums. You may wind up at the port city of Marseille, where you can hop a motorcoach to the town of Provence and climb the hills that were the inspiration for many of Van Gogh's most famous works.

In Valencia, Spain, cruise ship passengers can visit the Bullfight Museum to learn about this national pastime or they may tour the caves of Sagunto on a cruise down a subterranean river. Other Spanish ports include Barcelona, Seville, and beautiful Mallorca in the Balearic Islands.

A number of Mediterranean cruises also head to destinations that are a little off- the-beaten-track. If you're lucky enough to visit Athens, Greece, you'll no doubt want to join an historical tour that includes visits to such revered sites as the Acropolis, the Parthenon, and other temples of ancient Greece. In Istanbul, Turkey, you can shop at the incredible Grand Bazaar or even take a Turkish bath!

Mediterranean cruises make perfect honeymoon trips or retirement celebrations and most allow passengers an extended vacation as many Mediterranean cruises last up to three weeks.