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This region offers some of Europe's most classic cultural landmarks — alongside some of its best weather to boot. Stroll along the ancient cobblestones of Florence in Italy or Dubrovnik in Croatia. Tour some of the architectural masterpieces, like the Palace of Knossos on Crete, the Roman amphitheater in Pula, and Rome's St. Peter's Basilica. Take in the stunning, volcanic island of Santorini with its blue and whitewashed towns or sip a glass of wine on Italy's Amalfi Coast with its pastel-colored houses built into steep-sloping cliffs. In addition to mainland Spain, the Balearic Islands of Mallorca, Minorca, and Ibiza are also excellent cruise destinations.
& THE AMALFI COAST
Judith has embraced the elegance of luxury liners, relished the intimacy of boutique ships, and marveled at the innovation found on the newest megaships. This varied experience makes her a well-rounded and knowledgeable commentator on everything cruise-related. She hails from the sun-kissed regions of South Florida, residing within a stone’s throw of the bustling Fort Lauderdale and Miami cruise ports.
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It offers dozens of shore excursions to take part in, including historical tours, vineyard tours and wine tastings, local market visits, and so much more. Room options range from interior staterooms to massive premium suites with 119-foot balconies so you can let the fresh ocean breeze in. Optional shore excursions include visits to archaeological sites, interactive farm-to-table cooking experiences, wine tastings and breakfast with locals. A highlight in Kusadasi, Turkey, is touring the ancient city of Ephesus (one of the best preserved in the world) and visiting the House of the Virgin Mary.
Best cruise ports in the Eastern Mediterranean
The unique villages of the caldera (volcano lip) such as Fira and Oia are the star attraction here, with their famous blue-domed churches and whitewashed cave houses. Shore excursions on Kefalonia will whisk you around the highlights of the island such as delightful Venetian villages Fiskardo and Assos, spectacular beaches like Myrtos, and the incredible blue caves of Melissani. It’s also possible to take a tour to neighbouring islands Ithaca, Zakynthos, or Lefkada. Earthquake damage means Argostoli is largely a modern and functional town today, though there are some pleasant walks as well as the beach resort area Lassi. Hvar Town is a small but enchanting place to spend a day, filled with boutiques and cafes. Shore excursions on Hvar explore the island by foot, bus, or sea kayak.
Eastern vs. Western Mediterranean Cruises
Most major cruise lines send at least one ship to the Mediterranean every year. Even Carnival Cruise Line, known for its affordable cruises out of U.S. home ports, offers some Mediterranean sailings, as does Disney Cruise Line, which typically bases its ships near its theme parks. There are many shore excursions available from Rijeka including visits to nearby spa town Opatija, the island of Krk, food tours to Istria, or you can head inland to Zagreb or the waterfalls at Plitvice.
Best cruise ports in the Western Mediterranean
Of course, you’ll want to get out and explore the city as soon as possible, but the terminal also has restaurants, cafes, a hotel, and entertainment facilities in case you feel like staying close to the ship. The city center will be about 1.5 miles away, and if the weather’s cool, walking there is a wonderful way to soak in the environment. But for those who are crunched on time, taking the bus or a taxi will be your best bet. When you pull into Marseille-Fos Port, your ship will most likely dock at the Provence Cruise Centre.
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The Mediterranean Sea touches 22 nations and borders more than 28,000 miles of coastline, according to the Europe Environment Agency. But, rather than traversing these destinations by car, train, or plane, visitors can see and do more by taking to the water for a Mediterranean cruise. Personally I have only ever visited the north of Sardinia and the famous Archipelago of la Maddalena, known for it’s pristine white sand beaches and crystal clear turquoise water. Seville is the capital of the Andalusia region and is particularly famous for flamenco dancing, the huge gothic cathedral (also the largest gothic cathedral in the world) and the beautiful Real Alcazar complex. Whatever port you visit on your Mediterranean cruise we hope you find it to be a wonderful experience.
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Along the walkway, keep your eyes peeled for the famous human statues and other exciting street performances. So, whether you have a few hours or days to spend around the port of Barcelona, you’ll have more than enough easily accessible activities to choose from. The majority of ships, however, arrive in the spring and depart in the fall, choosing warmer climes like the Caribbean for holiday sailings. Most of those are European-based lines, such as Costa Cruises, MSC Cruises and Celestyal Cruises, but Viking also braves chilly weather for its destination-focused itineraries in Europe. If you've never been to Europe, you may feel overwhelmed by destination choices.
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Italy Cruises
An excellent first stop for your day on the island is to visit Corfu’s Old Town. It was made into a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007 for its cultural significance that goes back to the 8th century BC. The Old Town is only two miles from the port, so walking there is possible.
Cruises to Greece visit the very best of the islands and cosmopolitan cities on the mainland, including Athens and historic Thessaloniki. Each port bursts with character, from Santorini to Zakynthos, and Mykonos. As you browse cruises, the first question you ask will be "Where are cruise ports near me?" Here's how to choose a port, and what to do once you're there. Although Albania's economy is growing, the country is still one of Europe's poorest. Spain has several popular ports of call, including Barcelona, the busiest cruise ship port in the Mediterranean. France has several popular ports of call on the Mediterranean, including Nice, Cannes, Marseille, and Villefranche.
These cruises also cater to every type of traveler — from multigenerational families to solo travelers with options for adults only and all ages. Here are 10 of the best Mediterranean cruises to check out for your next vacation. It’s a multipurpose port that deals with all sorts of cargo and container vessels in addition to passenger ships. To ensure larger cruise ships had space to dock, a section of the port was recently expanded. Stepping off the boat, you should find car rental services, taxis, private van tours, and bus transfers to Piazza Grande (Livorno’s main square). Athens is a cultural hotspot where tourists can catch of glimpse of Ancient Greek culture, and its proximity to the coast makes it a prime destination for Mediterranean cruises.
You’ll end the trip in Athens, where you’ll have an overnight stay, which means you can have a traditional Greek dinner off the ship at your leisure. During your two sea days, lounge by the pool and soak in that Mediterranean sunshine, grab a gelato at Café al Bacio or spoil yourself at the spa. You’ll be traveling in October, which is one of the best months to visit this region, thanks to mild weather and fewer crowds. You’ll visit the wonderfully underrated Greek island of Corfu along the way, and you’ll have enough time in Athens to see the Panathenaic Stadium, Temple of Zeus and Acropolis. But you’re also here to see the Mediterranean, so you’ll need to maximize your time off the ship too. Your cruise begins in Barcelona, with stops in Gibraltar, Marseille, Genoa and Florence before culminating in Civitavecchia, near Rome.
Carrara is a small coastal city in the west of Italy, sometimes used as an alternative to Livorno for trips to Florence and Pisa. Cagliari, Sardinia’s amiable capital, is the gateway to the south of the island. This bustling city has a medieval hilltop quarter and palm-lined promenade, and an archaeological museum. The main shore excursions outside Barcelona is to the monastery of Monserrat which is located in a unique rocky landscape. Excursions further afield will take in the best of the region including mountain villages of the Sierra de Aitana, palm groves, and the beaches of the Costa Blanca.
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