Archive for the Category »Mediterranean Cruise Reviews «

Italy and the Mediterranean – A Cruise That Feeds the Heart and Soul

Whether you have never taken a cruise before, have made cruises an unofficial hobby, or your vacation of choice, the sheer wonder and beauty of a Mediterranean cruise or a trip to Italy makes it the experience of a lifetime. Once you’ve seen the historical Mediterranean or stunning countryside of Italy via a cruise ship, you’ll have a difficult time convincing yourself to go home.

Explore The Unique Island Of Sicily, Italy

Even though Sicily is part of Italy, Sicilian culture is completely unique, making it even more fascinating than its beautiful scenery first lets on. Here, architecture, delicious native foods, and intricate arts are complicated by an eloquent language that will easily capture your imagination and take you back to the days of the Valley of the Temples.

Having been home to Roman, Arab, Greek, and Norman cultures, the countryside is rich in cultural diversity and gives you an unending range of options to see, taste, smell, and enjoy almost anything your heart desires. The medieval towns have something for everyone to have fun with, while the majestic mountains have a special air about them that will easily leave you speechless. A trip to Sicily and Italy should definitely be on everyone’s travel list.

Cruising — The Easy Way To Enjoy The Entire Region

Mediterranean cruises have the added advantage of providing some of the most beautiful and historical ports at your fingertips with convenience. Instead of navigating unfamiliar roads or airports, on a cruise you simply dock, disembark, and discover.

Cruises make it easy to cover a lot of distance in a short period of time, meaning you can visit the beauty of Spain, France, and Greece without three separate trips or three different airports. You can visit historical points of interest with a "home base," eliminating the need for packing and re-packing or moving from hotel room to hotel room. There really isn’t a better way to visit the countries you’ve always dreamed of seeing than via a Mediterranean cruise.

Pick And Choose Your Activities

Most cruises offer a whole host of activities, ranging from swimming to club hopping along the beautiful shoreline. Onboard activities can include spa treatments, swimming, casinos, and tours of the ship. Often, a cruise ship will also sponsor onboard group activities for both adults and children, but you choose in what you wish to participate and when. This allows the freedom to structure your days as you wish.

Relax on the beaches of Sicily or explore the expansive mountains. Taste the foods of the area, or get a firsthand look at what life was like throughout the Mediterranean region. The important thing to remember is that you can choose to do whatever it is you like while taking advantage of everything the ship has to offer. With that in mind, your trip to Italy and the surrounding region will be nothing short of perfect.

When you go on vacation, you want it to be as simple and stress-free as possible. By booking cruises to Italy and the Mediterranean, you simplify the process and all that’s left is pure enjoyment of the vacation of a lifetime. The choices are all in your hands, from pace, choice of activities, and sightseeing the easy way. If you’re budgeting for a vacation, definitely consider taking a cruise to the most gorgeous and historical place in the world. Not only will you see sights and have unforgettable experiences, but it will also be the most convenient vacation you’ll ever take.

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Mediterranean Cruise Deals

A Mediterranean Sea cruise is a journey to the heart of civilization. This is possibly the only cruise with the most destinations of historical and cultural significance. Many people will find a Mediterranean Cruise to be romantic, very educational and highly adventurous.

Jerusalem, Pompeii, glorious Rome and the beauty of Sicily and Sardinia are just one of the many possible places to visit. Enchanting places like the French Riviera, or Monaco, Spain or Said in Egypt can be one of your ports of call.

The islands of Greece – Crete, Lesbos and Rhode – all parts of ancient history are possible stopovers.

While the ship is sailing, participate in one of the many activities on board. There are classes in cooking, wine-tasting, arts, and other interesting skills. If you feel like watching rather than doing, the crew has prepared a lineup of fantastic entertainment.

For the romantically inclined, you and your loved one can take a slow walk on the moonlit deck, or watch the stars while breathing in the cool sea breeze.

A Mediterranean Cruise can be affordable if you devote a little planning before you get aboard.

There are many possible destinations. Find out the places you would like to visit;
Most cruise companies have their websites. Research if they cater to families and what kind of activities and accommodations are available;
There are places that will interest you more. If you want to spend more time ashore, find out room or hotel rates and what excursions are there that can take you to the places and sights you want to see; and
Budget first and then stick to it.

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Mediterranean Cruise – Things to do Onboard

Taking a Mediterranean cruise can be exciting. You will visit many fun exotic places and eat lots of delectable cuisine. You will also meet many different people and buy lots of souvenirs. Much of this will be on shore after leaving the ship. The time spent on board the ship, however, should not be ignored. Some of the best times of the trip may occur on the ship.

Your Mediterranean cruise will most likely debark in the morning or early afternoon. The ship will be open for several hours to allow the thousands of passengers time to arrive and settle. Luggage can be given to a baggage handler in the parking lot who will put a tag on it similar to the tags at the airport. He will make sure your luggage arrives at your room.

After checking in for your Mediterranean cruise, you may want to have lunch. There will be multiple dining locations for lunch. There will be a large variety of food to satisfy any appetite. Food choices may be soup or salad, sandwiches or pizza, a variety of hot entrees, hamburgers, hot dogs and dessert. Many Mediterranean cruise ships may offer Mediterranean choices on their menus as well. At night, these same places should be open for dinner; however there will also be one or more dining rooms open for a more formal dinner. Dinner guests are usually seated with other guests at large tables because space is limited on your Mediterranean cruise ship. Dinner will feature more exotic choices than lunch and will have 4 or 5 courses.

There are many options for entertainment on the ship at night. Most ships will have a casino available with all of the standard slot machines and table games. There will also be one or more bars and lounges open at night to keep guests entertained. You Mediterranean cruise ship will be staffed with dancers and actors who will put on fun shows each night in the auditorium. Depending on the cruise line, there will also be one or two formal nights during your Mediterranean cruise. Guests can dress up in formal attire and take pictures. Dinner will be fancier on those nights with lobster or filet mignon as menu items.

During the day, there are fun things to do on board as well. The ship will have one to three pools available for swimming. There may even be a waterslide at one of the pools. Miniature golf is sometimes offered on Mediterranean cruise ships. A spa is usually present as well. Guests can chooses from treatments such as hot stone massages or manicures and pedicures. A library may be onboard for those who enjoy reading. Each room is equipped with a television which will offer a variety of channels and several movie choices as well. The ship may also have computers with internet access available for those who want to stay connected with the outside world.

When planning a Mediterranean cruise, planning excursions and other activities off the ship is expected, but the onboard options should not be ignored.

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Western Mediterranean Cruises Have Everything You Could Possibly Want

If a luxury Mediterranean cruise vacation is one of your dreams, then stop procrastinating. One of these cruises will be much more affordable than you are probably thinking. To begin with, there are so many different cruise lines and so many kinds of cruise ships all vying for the same lucrative tourist market that all of the competition is helping to bring down prices. Just by shopping around online, you can make your first (or second or third) cruise one you will always remember.

A western Mediterranean cruise in Europe is what a lot of people would love to experience. You will be able to dive into the romantic and interesting countries of France, Spain, Italy, as well as Portugal on one of these ships. A lot of these cruise lines will also modify their ports of call in order to accommodate the most popular places of interest for you to see.

If you have ever thought about traveling along the vast rivers and oceans of this beautiful planet, then a Mediterranean cruise vacation is perfect. There are several cruise operators who are catering specifically to the many different countries located throughout Europe.

You can find yourself traveling to many famous landmarks and cities located among the coastal areas of the continent of Europe. Your ship’s itinerary might mean that it will dock at various locations such as Venice, Barcelona, Naples, Athens and Gibraltar.

All of these locations are also perfectly situated in an area that makes the most out of the Mediterranean’s comfortable weather and possess some of the finest beaches in the world. No matter where you decide to go, a western Mediterranean cruise will have everything you could possibly want out of a vacation.

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Anyone Can Take a Mediterranean Cruise

Taking a cruise on the Mediterranean Sea is truly a journey to the very heart of civilization itself. It is quite possibly the only type of cruise that offer the most destinations of both historical as well as cultural significance. A lot of people will discover that a Mediterranean cruise is romantic, very educational and above all, highly adventurous.

Pompeii, Jerusalem, and glorious Rome, along with the beauty of Sardinia and Sicily are just a few of the many amazing places you can visit. Enchanting regions such as the French Riviera, or Spain, Monaco, and Port Said in Egypt can all be destinations for your ports of call. The Greek islands — including Rhodes, Crete and Lesbos — are all famous places of ancient history that are also potential stopovers.

While your ship is actually sailing, you can participate in any of the numerous activities that are available on board. There are things like cooking classes, wine tasting, arts and crafts, and many other interesting activities in which you can participate. If you would rather watch instead of doing, your crew will have a prepared lineup of all kinds of additional entertainment.

For those that are romantically inclined, you and your significant other can even take a slow walk along a moonlit deck and watch the stars, while you breathe in the relaxing sea breeze. A Mediterranean cruise can easily be affordable for anyone if they devote just a little bit of time to planning it out before boarding the ship.

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Mediterranean Cruise – Learn the Facts

Taking a Cruise can be a great vacation for you and your family. If you are looking for a Cruise destination that is a real treat then you should consider taking a Mediterranean Cruise because you can see another part of the world that is enlightening and rich with history. Many people dream of going to exotic locations and with a Mediterranean Cruise you can explore ancient ruines in Rome as well as visit the great city of Istanbul.

There are many ports that you can visit when on a Mediterranean Cruise and if you have wanted to see Europe this can be a great way to do it. There is so much history that you can explore so it is important that when you book your cruise that you check out the shore excursions so that you do not miss out on all there is to offer.

Also you may want to take advantage of all the great shopping that is available on your Mediterranean Cruise. There will be great opportunities to purchase some great items from the different cities that you will be visiting. With a cruise such as this you will want to make sure that you get off the boat and see what the port of call has to offer. It is a good idea to get some reading material about the city so you will have an idea of what to visit and see.

Remember that is you are looking for a special cruise then you should consider taking a Mediterranean Cruise because it has so much to offer.

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Romantic European Cruises in the Mediterranean and Baltic Seas

Europe is certainly one of the most interesting continents on Earth. Each country has its own color, culture and heritage and all of them more interesting than the next. European Cruises can allow you a glimpse into these countries, open your eyes to the world and of course cruises are very romantic. There are a number of different seas for cruising, but perhaps the most all encompassing is the Mediterranean.

As a magical continent, Europe has what it takes to impress event he most well traveled. It will leave you in awe, and you will come back from your cruise feeling both enlightened and rested. The slower pace of life is enjoyed by all European countries and this forces you to slow down and relax.

As far as cruise destinations go, the Mediterranean has it all and then some! Cruising the western side of the Med allows access to countries such as Greece, Croatia, Italy, France, Malta, Spain and Monaco. Visiting the Greek Isles is something that everyone must do at least once in their lifetime. The tourist season is quite long and the best weather is experienced from May to September and sometimes longer in the case of an Indian summer.

A veritable kaleidoscope of countries awaits you on your cruise but if you would like to tackle the elements and see something very unique, what about the Baltic Sea? Many cruises to destinations in this area are available.

Alaskan and Baltic cruise seasons are virtually the same. It is a very short season from July to August, but more intrepid adventurers do take advantage of cut-price cruising during May to June.

Seeing the sights of the Baltic, means you will avail yourself of the best of Viking culture and countries. While a visit to Copenhagen in Denmark is memorable, a cruise to see St. Petersburg in Russia, will give you something to talk about for many years. This is where you will find the Hermitage museum and some of the finest works of art on the earth.

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Romantic Far Away Mediterranean Cruises

A European Western Mediterranean cruise are what bits and pieces of dreams are made of. Throw yourself into the interesting and the romantic countries of Italy, Spain, France as well as Portugal. Many cruise lines schedules modify ports of call and the latest places of interest to see.

A European cruise is the most ideal way to catch a glimpse the French Riviera. The scenic ports by the side of the Cote d’Azur are to be found very close together, as well as the subject matter of a lot of paintings by Matisse, Picasso as well as Renoir. Be sure to stop at Villefranche sure Mer an old fashioned town in the Cote d’Azur district in the south of France, as well as a famous port of call in a lot of European cruise itineraries.

In Marseille, travel around the Notre Dame de la Guarde, am out of this world sample of neo Byzantine structural design. Upon your visit to Nice visit the Old Town as well as look for the Opera House, which is well known for its International Film Festival. Cannes is just the right thing for someone who is watching on its Boulevard de la Croisette as well as the long stretches of sandy beaches.

If the self-gratifying beaches of St. Tropez are not your kind of style, then a visit to the Old Town in addition to going to the museums is a perfect place to spend a day. If your ship happens to bring you to Monte Carlo in the principality of Monaco, do not fail to spot the affluent Grand Casino as well as the Palace Carabinier. All in All a romantic cruise to the western Mediterranean is well worth the cost.

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The Best Eastern Mediterranean Cruise Destinations

An Eastern Mediterranean cruise holiday takes you to a paradise that anybody will enjoy. The cruise will combine beaches, history and some of the best scenery in the world. Along the coast of Italy, Greece, Turkey and Egypt an Eastern Mediterranean cruise will entertain travelers from any walk of life. Cruising to this end of the Mediterranean also leads to where Europe meets Asia: right in the middle of the mosques and minarets of Istanbul.

Venice is well known for its canals and their gondola. Venice has to be seen to be believed, it is a photographers dream with sights and spectacular scenes around every corner. Venice boasts over 1400 years of historic architecture and culture. A top tip is to buy the 12 hour vaporetto ticket that will enable you to take in 50 palaces, six churches, four bridges and two open-air markets of the Grand Canal. Venice by night is a particularly romantic experience.

Corfu is one of the beautiful Greek islands and one of the most popular due to its stunning scenery and great beaches. Located just off the West coast of Greece, Corfu enjoys a mild Mediterranean climate along with its excellent beaches and surprisingly lush greenery. Corfu is littered with luxurious resorts but arriving by cruise ship gives you the advantage that you will land right in the heart of the action. Corfu has many sandy beaches but two of the best are the Agios Georgios…There are two of them, one north and one south.

Athens is a great location for a shore excursion. The area has some of the oldest architecture in the world and in fact the whole area is steeped with history and culture. It is a fascinating place to wander round with art and monuments around every corner. The Agora-Athens central market is a must visit and many a bargain can be had.

Istanbul is a unique location on an Eastern Mediterranean cruise. Istanbul is on the Turkish coast and is a popular stop for cruises. Istanbul and its bustling markets are famous throughout the world for bargain shopping. Get your haggling hat on because the locals expect you to haggle for everything. For many it’s one of the major highlights of an Eastern Mediterranean cruise.

An Eastern European cruise is something you won’t forget in a hurry. The cruise offers such a variety of destinations that each port will seem like a different world.

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9 of the Best Mediterranean Cruise Destinations

The Mediterranean is a fantastic destination for your cruise vacation. The weather is fantastic and it has some of the most stunningly beautiful places on the earth. The Mediterranean Sea is a major body of water south of Europe, west of Asia, and north of Africa and cruise lines have been visiting this area since cruise liners have existed! With mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers the Mediterranean is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe.

Action-packed Mediterranean cruises are a great way to explore this stunning part of the world and Below we have listed and 9 of the top ports that your Mediterranean cruise should call at.

1. Barcelona is the largest city in Spain and capital of Catalonia. Being on the Spanish mainland the weather is slightly warmer than the Spanish islands. Barcelona is a busy city but with a very relaxed atmosphere. Coffee shops, small bars, busy town center squares and shopping are the name of the game as well as glorious palm lined beaches. The city is clean and the locals are friendly and welcoming. One of the most popular tourist destinations is the city football stadium that is famous throughout the world.

2. Palma is a port on the popular Spanish island of Majorca. Majorca is one of the Balearic islands and is a popular starting destination for many European cruises. The island is an extremely popular tourist destination for European travelers. The port itself is located on the south of the island, the rest of the island is easily explored via bus or public transport but because of the size of the island, a car rental will make exploration much easier. Half of the total population of Majorca live in Palma so it is definitely worth traveling the island to see the quieter side.

3. Tunis is a city in Tunisia and will be a completely different experience to the other Mediterranean cruise destinations. Tunisia is an Arabic country and it is worth checking the beliefs before you land at port. Shore excursions will reveal an old world type city with a typical African appearance. The climate in Tunis is hot and dry and you should dress appropriately. Get your haggling hat on, everything can be bartered here. In fact the locals expect you to barter so don’t be shy and grab a bargain at the many street markets that litter the area.

4. All roads lead to Rome…Or in this case, waters. Rome is a must see. You have to see it to believe it. Some of the most famous monuments and architecture in the world is in Rome. The Colosseum is just one of the famous landmarks. Rome is the capital of Italy and the largest city in Italy. Romes history as a city spans over 2,500 years and it shows. The unbelievably beautiful architecture is everywhere. Be sure to get yourself into the city when the ship stops at this port.

5. Genoa is another city in Italy but with a more traditional appearance. Parts of the old town area are inscribed on the world heritage list and as such are untouched by modern architecture. A refreshing change from the big city of Rome Genoa has a more relaxed and countryside atmosphere.

6. St Raphael is on the French Riviera and has a more tolerable climate that some of the other Mediterranean ports. Immediately West of Monte Carlo St Raphael is a lovely, quaint town on the South East of France and has some of the most stunning beach front boulevards in the world. Palm trees and little shopping boutiques are the sights you will see.

7. Another port in Italy is Naples. Being further south than Rome the weather will be slightly warmer and towards the winter months this difference will be noticeable. Naples is a known for its rich history, art and culture. Naples is over 2,800 years old and the area is steeped in lovely old architecture and historic landmarks. Eating in Naples is an experience like no other, they really put the extra effort in when it comes to their food. Five start fresh seafood is on offer everywhere, your food will be as fresh as possible, sometimes being caught a couple of hours before.

8. Monte Carlo is one of Monaco’s administrative areas. Monte Carlo lies in the French Riviera on the Mediterranean Sea in Monaco surrounded by France and close to Italy. Monte Carlo is known across the world as a playground for the rich and famous and the casinos are the main attraction. Monte Carlo is tiny. The permanent population is 3,000. If you are lucky enough to stop at the right time of the year you may be able to watch the Formula 1 Grand prix.

9. Corsica is a recently added destination to most Mediterranean cruises and is the fourth largest island in the Mediterranean sea. Located west of Italy it has a similar climate to Rome. Although located closer to Italy than France, Corsica is actually French owned. Corsica is famous as the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte and there are references to him everywhere. Corsica is not as tourist populated as some of the other cruise destinations and as such is extremely peaceful.

This is by no means a complete list of Mediterranean destinations. The Med is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.

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