Cruise the Mediterranean

Cruise the Mediterranean and you have it all—easy access to ancient civilizations and easy hours relaxing on blazingly beautiful beaches. Nowhere else can such an array of culture and history be found in such a relatively small and stunning vicinity, where the weather ranges from ideal to mild and the cruises range from amazing to spectacular.

Storied cities, breathtaking views, rugged coastlines infused with unique architecture make a Mediterranean cruise intriguing and appealing. The overall culture implores you to relax and enjoy the cosmopolitan ambience of your surroundings. You can choose from a variety of cruise ships and itineraries, and whatever your destination, plan on visiting many countries along the way.

The Mediterranean cruise season is from late April to October, although a few ships cruise this region year-round. Most Mediterranean cruises are seven to 14 days in length.

Mediterranean cruises fall into three broad categories:

Eastern Mediterranean/Aegean Sea cruises visit ports in Turkey, Greece and islands such as Rhodes, Santorini, Mykonos and Crete. Ships traveling this itinerary on seven-day cruises often departing from Piraeus (Athens), Greece, or Istanbul, Turkey.

Western Mediterranean/Southern Europe cruises sail among the cities and villages of Southern Europe from the Adriatic to the Straits of Gibraltar, including Venice, Naples, Civitavecchia (Rome) and Genoa, Italy; Monte Carlo, Monaco; St.-Tropez, France; Barcelona, Spain; and many others, ranging from small villages to major cities.

Southern Mediterranean cruises visit the more exotic ports of call along the coast of North Africa from Morocco to the Holy Lands, including Tunis, Tunisia; Tripoli, Libya; Alexandria, Egypt; and Haifa, Israel, among others.

Almost every cruise line sails to the Mediterranean, from lower-priced mainstream to upper-class luxury lines. Short cruises are rare with one- to two-week sailings the norm.