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Taking into account price, weather and crowds, plus choices of ships and ports, I believe the best time to cruise the Mediterranean is during the shoulder season. As your decision might be based on entirely different factors, let's dive into the variables to determine the best time for you to head to the region and hop on a cruise ship. Most mainstream cruise lines -- including Celebrity, Disney, Holland America, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian --offer Western Caribbean sailings. Luxury cruise lines are also well-represented in the region with lines including Azamara, Windstar, Regent Seven Seas, Seabourn and others frequenting Western Mediterranean ports. Western Mediterranean cruises -- to marquee ports like Rome, Florence and Barcelona -- are offered year-round.
Best for sailing on the newest ship
Optional shore excursions include visits to archaeological sites, interactive farm-to-table cooking experiences, wine tastings and breakfast with locals. A highlight in Kusadasi, Turkey, is touring the ancient city of Ephesus (one of the best preserved in the world) and visiting the House of the Virgin Mary. On your day at sea, be sure to stop by the Aurora Spa for relaxing and rejuvenating treatments that will help you sail through the rest of your busy itinerary. The 10-day trip takes sailors through ultra-luxe ports, including visits to Monte Carlo, Saint-Tropez, Florence, Rome, Valletta, Rhodes, and Athens. From the old villages to the glittering casinos, the shore excursions with this journey abound. Though there’s plenty to do onboard too, including wine tastings, guest lectures, and fun-filled trivia nights with fellow guests.
I've been on 50 cruises. Here are 5 things I wish I'd known before sailing in the Mediterranean.
SeaDream Yacht Club runs dozens of Mediterranean voyages annually aboard its twin luxury sailing yachts. Furthermore, Cruise Critic makes no guarantees for availability of prices advertised on our site. Of course, North Americans taking Mediterranean cruise vacations will need a passport to fly to and from their ship's departure and arrival ports. The Mediterranean Sea touches 22 nations and borders more than 28,000 miles of coastline, according to the Europe Environment Agency. From the Greek Islands to Egypt, Croatia to Morocco, and Slovenia to Spain, the rugged coastlines dip into the crystalline waters, providing a connection point to some of the most intriguing destinations on the planet.
Night Western Mediterranean CruiseDetails
You might want to skip the formal tours and merely wander around the port town, browsing local shops or grabbing a coffee or snack in a local cafe. Classic, elegant, and forever in style, Cunard Line is the cruise to choose if chicness is your top priority. Its boats are decked out in luxurious styling, including the Queen Elizabeth, which makes its way through the Med with art deco decor, plush sundeck furnishings, and high-end dining experiences included.
25 BEST Europe Cruises 2024 (Prices + Itineraries): Cruises to Europe on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic
25 BEST Europe Cruises 2024 (Prices + Itineraries): Cruises to Europe on Cruise Critic.
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You'll explore Genoa, Livorno (overnight for Florence/Pisa), Porto Santo Stefano (on the Tuscan coast), Cagliari (on Sardinia), Trapani (on Sicily), Amalfi and Sorrento. Best for tall shipsExperience the golden age of sailing — without having to discover new worlds — with Star Clippers. The tall-ship cruise line sails in the Mediterranean with its three recreated clipper ships; Royal Clipper, Star Clipper and Star Flyer. There are chances to explore the Balearic Islands, top up your tan in St Tropez and see the luxury and extravagance of Monaco.
Crystal’s Istanbul to Athens cruise
Or you might want to uncover more off-the-path coves and sleepy villages, or hit up UNESCO World Heritage archaeological sites where history books come to life. Whatever your interest or travel style, there’s a Mediterranean cruise for you, with myriad at-sea adventures awaiting along the coasts of such coveted locales as Spain, France, Italy, and Greece. Booking your dream vacation has never been easier, with numerous cruise companies offering unique Mediterranean voyages.
Celebrity’s Best of Greece cruise
On a Mediterranean cruise with Seabourn, travelers might stop in ports in Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Gibraltar, Greece, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Slovenia, Spain, Tunisia and Turkey. Oceania Cruises has several itinerary options, offering stops in Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Albania, Croatia, Egypt, Israel, Morocco, Turkey and others. The ships are smaller with an emphasis on guest service, and dining in the specialty restaurants — not just the buffet and main dining hall — is included in the cruise fare, one of the perks of sailing with Oceania. Holland America offers Mediterranean cruise itineraries with ports of call in Spain, Italy, France, Turkey, Greece, Croatia and Cyprus as well as ports in Montenegro, Egypt and Morocco.
From the sun-drenched Greek islands to the romantic coastal towns of Italy and the captivating beauty of Spain and France, the Mediterranean is a treasure trove waiting to be explored. After taking my first Mediterranean cruise last year, here's what I think everyone should know before booking the route. Best of all, Vista is an all-balcony ship, so every stateroom features access to fresh air (French Veranda Staterooms don't have an outdoor sitting area, however). Veranda Staterooms and Concierge Level Veranda Staterooms offer a spacious 290 square feet of indoor space — and some of the best standard bathrooms at sea with roomy walk-in showers and ample storage. Finally, hear it straight from the expert — one of Celestyal’s seasoned captains shared his eight essential tips for cruising the Greek Islands with us.
Adults can find plenty of alone time on a Mediterranean Disney Cruise, too, with adult-exclusive dining, an adults-only pool and hot tub, a fitness center and a spa for ultimate relaxation. Shore excursions on the 9-night Mediterranean with Greek Isles Cruise include 4x4 adventures, sailing, fiestas, tasting tours, archeological expeditions and more. Offered on multiple dates in fall 2023, 2024 and 2025, this itinerary is chock full of port experiences; there are no sea days, and a total of 13 cities are visited.
When not traveling, she participates in circus arts, goes to live shows and is a “Murder, She Wrote” aficionado. Because of the long flight, I always like to have at least two weeks when I travel to Europe, but you'll have to decide what your schedule and budget allow. At a minimum, I recommend taking a Mediterranean cruise that's at least seven days to make the most of your journey.
There is, however, ample deck space for relaxation, with a pool and two hot tubs, as well as inviting alfresco bars and dining areas. Azamara pioneered the concept of single-country itineraries, which allow for greater cultural immersion and even overnight stays in select ports. The cruise line's 11-night voyage in October 2024 is one of its most comprehensive. Best for serviceEnjoy some of the best service at sea on the Ritz-Carlton superyachts. They were created to replicate the lifestyle and atmosphere of the brand’s upmarket hotels at sea, so there is nearly one crew member to every passenger.
Depending on the specific Holy Land itinerary, you might see Cairo and the pyramids of Giza, Jordan's ancient rose-hewed rock city of Petra and biblical locations in and around Jerusalem. Eastern Mediterranean cruises of a week or more immerse you in multiple ancient civilizations and take you to the historical places you have traveled to see, including several UNESCO World Heritage sites. Ports of call vary by sailing date but can include Port-Vendres, Sanary-sur-Mer and Cannes, France; Monte Carlo, Monaco; and Portofino and Portoferraio, Italy. For the ultimate Riviera experience, book one of Windstar's Prix du Monde sailings with exclusive access to the Formula One racing events.
Most of those are European-based lines, such as Costa Cruises, MSC Cruises and Celestyal Cruises, but Viking also braves chilly weather for its destination-focused itineraries in Europe. Visit the Parthenon in Athens, Greece, or the Colosseum in Rome; see Michelangelo's David in Florence, Italy; or make a pilgrimage to the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. Take a tour to a medieval town or marvel at the construction of a soaring cathedral. If you've always wanted to see the pyramids in Giza, Egypt; the ruins in Ephesus, Turkey, and Pompeii, Italy; Gaudi's Sagrada Familia in Barcelona; and the famous casino in Monaco, you can do it easily on a Mediterranean sailing. This 22-day trip tracks its way through 20 ports via five countries, including Italy, Croatia, Montenegro, Greece, and Turkey.
11 of the best small-ship Mediterranean cruise lines to avoid the crowds - The Times
11 of the best small-ship Mediterranean cruise lines to avoid the crowds.
Posted: Fri, 08 Mar 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Offering itineraries from Athens, Izmir, and Piraeus, you can enjoy unique cultural experiences at each port while enjoying luxurious amenities onboard. Sample traditional dishes in the lively waterfront promenade, explore 2,300 years of history at sites like White Tower and Byzantine churches, or take a food tour through the city’s renowned street markets. It’s important to know that not every cruise line offers year-round itineraries in the Mediterranean. If you have a favorite line, you’ll need to plan your trip around their schedule. Research the specific destinations and ports of call you’d like to visit during your cruise. If so, check out Viking's 15-night Italy, the Adriatic and Greece itinerary, which sails from Athens to Rome and visits six Italian ports — Venice/Chioggia, Bari, Crotone, Messina, Naples and Rome — with three days spent in Venice.
While the goal in the Med is to get off the ship and explore the unique cultural options while in port, Royal Caribbean creates an environment where you don’t really need to leave the ship if you don’t want to. Over the course of 10 days in cool and uncrowded November, passengers aboard the Oceania Cruises’ Riviera will be treated to a trip that covers nearly the entire east-west expanse of the Mediterranean. Beginning in Barcelona and ending in Istanbul, this voyage stops in the Spanish port of Palma de Mallorca; both Marseille and Nice in France; Rome, Capri and Sicily in Italy; and Philippi in Greece. You may know Viking from its European river cruises, but it has specific ships for ocean cruises that’ll knock your socks off.
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