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Mediterranean Cruises

All you Need to Know

by Travel Journalist Phil Davies

Sunning yourself on deck as your ship gently glides into Venice down the Grand Canal is one of the most memorable travel experiences anyone is likely to have on holiday, let alone on a cruise.

Passing St Mark’s Square as your ship towers over centuries old architecture which makes up Europe’s most beautiful city is just one of many breath-taking moments to expect when cruising the Mediterranean.

The question is, where to start, as the Med offers so much variety, whether it be historic cities such as Venice, beach life on the holiday islands of Majorca, Menorca, Crete, Corsica and Malta or mixing with the rich and famous in Monte Carlo, Nice, St Tropez, Villefranche and Portofino.

The great thing about sailing in the Mediterranean is the enormous variety of cruise lines, ships and itineraries available every summer, from the small and intimate right through to bold mega ships offering every facility imaginable.

First-timers are particularly well catered for with a range of fly-cruises available from ports including Palma in Majorca, Barcelona, Civitavecchia (the port for Rome) and Crete.

Casual cruising is the name of the game with Ocean Village, Island Cruises and Thomson Cruises which appeal equally to couples and families. For a more continental feel, try the modern ships of Italian lines Costa Cruises and Mediterranean Shipping Cruises (MSC) with passengers drawn from across Europe.

If it’s grand, American-style glamour you’re after, then the mega ships of Royal Caribbean International, Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line and Carnival Cruise Line will all fit the bill nicely.

For a more British feel without the need to fly to reach your ship, then P&O Cruises, with both family-friendly and adults-only ships sailing from Southampton, is an ideal option together with Fred Olsen Cruise Lines.

The ships of Silversea, Crystal and Regent Seven Seas Cruises offer impeccable levels of service for those looking for pure pampering and a touch of luxury.

Those with taste for adventure on the high seas should consider the sail cruisers of Star Clippers or the sail assisted Windstar vessels.

Beyond dispute is the immense range on offer in the Mediterranean, from 14-night voyages from Southampton to the Spanish, French and Italian Rivieras to cruise-and-stay options which combine a week’s hotel accommodation in Majorca or Crete with a seven-night cruise.

Some Mediterranean itineraries even offer the opportunity to stay overnight in such great cities as Venice and Istanbul, enabling you to really soak up the local atmosphere.

Western Mediterranean fly-cruises from Italy or Spain will take you to explore the mysteries of North Africa, while those in the Eastern Mediterranean will find you visiting Greece and the Greek islands, Turkey, Croatia and possibly Egypt.

DOS and DON'TS of Mediterranean Cruising

DO choose your cruise carefully if you are taking children. It’s best to select a ship which offers lots of organised activities on board to keep them fully occupied.

DO think carefully about the number of shore excursions you book. Some cruises call at a different port each day with organised day trips to places of interest such as Pisa, Florence and Ephesus. Try and build in at least one day where you can go ashore and stroll around at your own pace.

DON’T assume that every Mediterranean cruise lasts a week or more. There are more four and five-day cruises available from places such as Barcelona, which make a cruise/city break an attractive option.

DON’T imagine that Mediterranean cruises only run in the summer. More cruise lines are offering spring and autumn departures, a trend which is set to continue. Royal Caribbean International, for example, starts four and five-night sailings from Barcelona in April, 2008.

Mediterranean Offers

Mediterranean Cruise

27 Nov 2008
3 nights
£179

Mediterranean Cruise

21 Nov 2008
3 nights
£179

Mediterranean Cruise

19 Nov 2008
3 nights
£179