Mediterranean cruises take passengers to a rich mosaic of sights, from the
sun-washed beaches of the Riviera to the magnificent antiquities of Rome,
Athens and Ephesus. On a Mediterranean cruise, you may stroll the broad
boulevards of Barcelona and Nice or view works of the masters in the museums
of Florence and Paris.
Cruises are a wonderful, worry-free way to explore the great cities of Europe.
About ¾ of all European cruises are Mediterranean cruises, and the
other ¼ are cruises of the British Isles and Northern Europe.
Western Mediterranean cruises will typically call at ports in Spain, France
and Italy, and may also visit ports in Portugal, Monaco, Tunisia or Morocco.
Eastern Mediterranean cruises may include Italy, Greece, Turkey, Croatia,
Bulgaria or the Ukraine. Holy Land cruises usually combine Eastern Mediterranean
cruise ports with Israel and Egypt, while some Mediterranean cruises concentrate
solely on the Greek Isles.
The Mediterranean cruise season is from late April to October, although a few ships cruise this region year-round.
Mediterranean cruises are 7 to 14 nights in length.
Because you'll need to fly a long distance to reach your port of departure,
we suggest that you arrive at the port city at least one or two days in
advance of your Mediterranean cruise. This will give you time to rest and
get oriented before boarding the ship. Most cruise lines offer pre-cruise
hotel packages.
For a list of ports you can visit on Eastern Mediterranean cruises, click
.
For a list of ports you can visit on Western Mediterranean cruises, click
.