Mediterranean Cruises Are Enchanting

Imagine hopping aboard the Princess Mediterranean cruise line, where you'll be treated to a 12-day journey that includes departure from Venice, Italy and intimate ports like Malta, Corsica and Corfu starting from $4,589. Museums, culinary tours, historical sites, cathedrals and shopping centers are all part of Mediterranean cruises that you won't soon forget. At MSC cruises, cheap Mediterranean cruises can sometimes be found for as low as $1 if you purchase 8-day companion fare!

If you decide that boarding a Mediterranean cruise ship is for you, then you should know that most cruise lines separate the adventures into Western Mediterranean cruises and Eastern Mediterranean cruises. The Western Mediterranean cruise consists of Italy's Western coast, the south of France, coastal Spain and Lisbon. You'll love the star-studded lineup of Rome, Naples, Florence, Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Seville, Nice and Lisbon. The smaller towns also carry a charm all of their own, with spots like Cannes, Villefranche and Avignon. Islands like Ibiza, Corsica, Capri, Elba and Mallorca also provide unforgettable experiences. You'll be treated to arts, culture, history, beaches and world class shopping every step of the way. When you're planning your trip, make sure you set aside some time for relaxation so you don't burn out. Also, make sure you set aside some travel time, since some of the cities, like Florence, Avignon and Rome, are a considerable distance from their ports (Livorno, Marseilles and Civitavecchia). Summers are extremely hot, so be sure to pack clothes accordingly and drink lots of water.

The Eastern Mediterranean cruises encompass Italy's east coast, the Adriatic, the Greek isles and Turkey. This has become, not only one of the most popular Mediterranean cruises, but also one of the most popular European cruises as well. Athens, Venice and Istanbul are some of the most popular stops along this route, which offer much by way of history, beaches, villages and treasures. Day trips to Dubrovnik or Hvar (Croatia), Bari (Italy), Katakalon, Mykonos, Santorini, Rhodes, Crete, Corfu (Greece) and Malta's Valetta (Italy) are other excellent stops offered. When planning your trip, you'll need to decide what you value most. Do you want a "biggest hits" cruise or would you prefer to take a smaller ship off-the-beaten path? Do you want a trip focusing on history and culture, like you would experience in Olympia, Istanbul and Venice, or would you prefer beaches and water sports like the Greek Isles cruises offer?

Winter Mediterranean cruises have become more popular over the years, considering temperatures range from 50 to 70 degrees, the crowds are fewer and the prices are more reasonable. Summer cruises fluctuate between the 80s and 90s, which can be way to hot for some passengers. Experts say Thanksgiving is an ideal time to snag great Mediterranean cruise deals. Before choosing an itinerary, consider that the larger ports, like Barcelona or Rome can handle high volumes of people, whereas smaller towns like St. Tropez and Portofino may be beleaguered with more stressful traffic jams.

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Ocean Village Cruises

Activities are plentiful aboard Ocean Village Cruises. Open air circuses and laser light shows are popular on deck at night, while the two pools and ocean-view gym are popular hangouts during the day.