Mediterranean Cruises lets you experience and see Europe by navigating through the Mediterranean Sea. These cruises are best between May and October but there are also cruise line that sails between April and November.  There are different kinds Of Mediterranean Cruises, most of them have the same ports of call. Mediterranean Cruises mostly go to Spain, France, Italy, Greece, and Turkey.

There are specific cruises that go to the Western Mediterranean, such as Spain, Portugal, Italy and France, to the Eastern Mediterranean, countries such as Greece and Turkey and other islands in the area and for longer itineraries; there are cruises that both Western and Eastern Mediterranean Cruises are combined. These cruises are ideal for family vacations and for couples who are on honeymoon. These cruises are less stressful in getting to one city to another city unlike taking the land trips; this is more convenient in seeing the different places in Europe in a week or so.

The major cities that these cruises dock have a lot in store for tourists, seeing the historical and cultural sights of Europe in a week or so. Mostly the cruise that goes to the Western Mediterranean docks on the major cities of Spain, France and Italy. The major cities that the cruises mostly stops at Barcelona, and Mallorca, Spain and some at Lisbon, Portugal, in France they dock in Nice, Paris and Villefranche and in Italy they dock mostly in the cities of Venice, Naples and Civitavecchia. And there are some cruise lines that stop at Monte Carlo, Monaco.

 In Barcelona, Spain, you will marvel at the famous Sagrada de Familia by Antoni Gaudi and the other gothic architectural structures in the city. The beaches are also a must see in Barcelona, on the southern part there is the nudist beach the Platja de Sant Sebastia and on the north there is the Montgat, Ocata, Vilasar de Mar, Arenys de Mar, Canet, and Sant Pol de Mar. You can also buy some authentic Spanish items at their old Spanish shops such as the Carrer Ferran, Passeig de Gracia, Porta de l'Àngel and many more. You can also visit the FC Barcelona museum. In Mallorca, there are bird sanctuaries, monasteries, museums, cafes and shopping districts for you to visit. You can also see its mountain range

The Sierra de Tramuntana at the northern part of the city. There are also gothic cathedrals and structures to visit in Mallorca especially the fourteenth century castle, Bellver Castle. In Lisbon, Portugal, there is the Belem Tower and the Christ the King statue which are the some of the architectural landmarks that you will see in Lisbon. Lisbon was also a Moorish city that was captured by the Moors; there are still remnants of the Moorish structures that you can see in the city.

In Villefranche, France, this is a small fishing village in the southern part of France, where you can see small colorful houses of the village. The best places to be here area around the Place de la Paix, Rue du Poilu, and Place du Conseil and its harbor. There are also museums for you to check out of this place. In Venice, Italy, try its gondola rides which will take you to the Grand Canal; this is the canal city which has one hundred fifty canals.

You can also watch the locals at Murano build glass wares the old fashion way, there are also lots of Venetian shops who sells antiques, jewelries and crafts and arts and many more. Visit also its famous landmarks such as the Basilica di San Marco and the Palazzo Ducale. In Naples, Italy, you will find the artifacts of Pompeii and Herculaneum in the National Archaeological Museum. Also this is the home of Mt. Vesuvius and the palace that was turned into a museum the Palazzo Reale di Capodimonte. The cruise ships only docks at the Civitavecchia two hours away from Rome. There is not much to see in the docking area, so you might want to go to Rome and visit the Sistine Chapel, Colosseum, Pantheon Temple and many more sights but be sure to leave enough time to travel back to the ship.

Some Western Mediterranean Cruise, they stop at Monte Carlo, Monaco as part of their itinerary. In Monte Carlo, this is famous for its casinos such as The Monte Carlo Casino and also the opera theater, The Grand Theater de Monte Carlo. The Formula One Monaco Grand Prix is held here every year.  

In the Eastern Mediterranean Cruise, they usually just go to Athens, Greece, Istanbul, Turkey and some Greek isles and in Dubrovnik, Croatia. In Athens, Greece, the ship docks at Pireaus, there are not much to see and head to Athens where you can see the landmarks from the Greek, Roman and the Byzantine Empire such as the Acropolis, Parthenon, its ancient cemetery the Kerameikos and the marketplace, Agora and many more. You can also visit its National Archaeological Museum which showcases a lot of artifacts and exhibits about the ancient Greece.

There are also shopping squares that you can find in Greece such as the Syntagma and the Kolonaki. Istanbul,Turkey is also one of the cities that is visited by cruise lines. Istanbul with many mosque and churches, they have this Grand Bazaar which is a shopping place where there are four thousand stores that sells carpets and rugs and also textiles, jewelries and copper and many more.

There are also parks in Istanbul that you can visit, the Belgrade Forest and Emirgan Park. Dubrovnik, Croatia, is included in the list UNESCO World Heritage Sites; this place has the famous sights such as The Sponza Palace and the Saint Blaise’s Church a baroque style cathedral that was built in the eighteenth century.  There are also remnants of the Renaissance period such as the Saint Saviour Church and the Rectors Palace.

There cruise lines that usually has one week to two weeks time when cruising the Mediterranean, there are no less than those days that are being offered. There are also cruise lines that have a twenty four –day cruise and some has a twenty eight-day cruise. The cruise that has a twenty-four day cruise departs from New York and South Hampton. Most of these cruises combine relaxation and learning from the trip itself.

Ports of Departure

• Alexandria
• Civitavecchia/Rome
• Barcelona
• Piraeus/Athens
• Venice
• Lisbon
• Istanbul
• Dover
•  Funchal
• London
• Monte Carlo
• Nice
• Genoa
• New York
• South Hampton

 

Ports of Call

 

• Barcelona
• Civitavecchia/Rome
• Piraeus/Athens
• Venice
• Lisbon
• Istanbul
• Monte Carlo
• Nice
• Dubrovnik