Cruises Mediterranean Adventures

Some people take cruises Mediterranean adventures as a way of learning. Crystal Cruises offers wonderful enrichment experiences aboard "Crystal Serenity." You can partake in things like foreign language and computer skills classes to cooking lessons and dance exhibitions. You'll be able to listen to expert speakers discussing politics and current events, food and wine, art and antiques. You can cruise Mediterranean waters from Venice to Barcelona during the summer months, enjoying both East and Western Mediterranean cruise ports. The spring offers more offbeat stops in Bordeaux, Bilbao, Valencia and Lisbon. In 10-14 nights, you'll receive luxurious service, penthouse cabins with personal butlers, exquisite dining and some of the best sea days imaginable. You'll love the lunch buffets, the spa and the activities. This is just one of many cruise experiences for the adventurous!

Your first cruise can be quite an ordeal. If you've never experienced all that cruises Mediterranean destinations have to offer, then try Princess Mediterranean cruise line's "Sea Princess," a nice medium-sized ship carrying 1,950 passengers. You'll start and end in London and partake in Italy, France, Spain and Portugal during the exceptionally pleasant spring or summer months. You can choose all-inclusive meals or port dining options. You can get off the ship and enjoy yourself at the major port stops, but you'll also have great sailing views from balconies and enjoy the open-air cinema or onboard spa. On your 14-day Mediterranean cruise ship adventure, you'll stop in Vigo to see Lisbon, Cannes, Naples and Corsica; or you may choose to start in Cadiz to see Monte Carlo, Florence, Pisa, Sardinia and Mallorca. On both itineraries, you'll see Rome, Barcelona and Gibraltar. The ship's steak-house has gotten rave reviews, as has the "Ultimate Balcony Dinner" option. People of all ages will likely be onboard and you'll find many a Brit sailing Princess.

If you're looking at cruises Mediterranean for a solo travel adventure you'll never forget, then try Fred Olsen's "Balmoral" Mediterranean cruise ship. The ship is the newest and the biggest ship in the fleet, offering many balconied staterooms in addition to amenities like pubs, pools, spas and more. Most people aboard are under 50 and the ship has tons of single rooms. You can choose your own cruise from 9 nights to 21, which is another option other cruises lack. You can also enjoy both Western and Eastern Mediterranean cruises. Travelers will see standard ports like Barcelona and Naples, as well as lesser visited stops like Tunis, Malta and the Greek Isles.

Some of the best cruises Mediterranean waters have to offer are surprisingly perfect for the small budget. Island Cruises' "Island Star" gives you a casual and friendly atmosphere, while mixing popular ports and lesser visited gems, and all at a reasonable price. Starting in Palma de Mallorca, you can find 7-night Mediterranean cruise deals starting at just $582 per person. You'll visit Messina (Sicily), Livorno (Florence/Pisa), Naples, Toulon (France) and Barcelona. You may even get to see Mahon (Menorca), Ajaccio (Corsica), Alghero (Sardinia) and Santa Margherita (Italy). You'll enjoy the five restaurants, relaxing spa and easy access to ports.

More about cruises mediterranean

South America Cruises

A common complaint of people who've just finished their first South American, Alaskan, Caribbean or Mediterranean cruise ship experience is that the port stops were "generic" and full of other tourists. Nothing shatters the illusion that you're a Christopher Columbus or Vasco de Gama out in the wilderness more than people with Hawaiian shirts and cameras.