Taking a cruise can be a very relaxing and enjoyable holiday. In the article today I would like to look at one in more detail the Mediterranean cruise. Mediterranean cruises can be rewarding in so many ways – culturally, educationally, visually, architecturally, and historically, as well as from a culinary viewpoint. The Mediterranean is the second most popular cruise region in the world, after the Caribbean. It is loosely divided into two cruising areas: the Western Mediterranean (typically including France, Spain, Portugal and Italy) and Eastern Mediterranean (countries east of Italy, such as Croatia, Greece and Turkey). [1]
When to go
The best time to go is between May and October. This is the “standard” Mediterranean cruise season, but people do go as early as March or as late as November. After November some ships might head south to the Canary Islands. A few ships operate year-round, but if you cruise aboard one of the large resort ships, and you want to swim, make sure your ship has a pool that can be covered by a glass dome if you are sailing during the early or late part of the year. Most ports are used to, and welcome, cruise ships, and have the tourism and shore excursion infrastructure (including English-speaking guides) to support them. [2]
How long to go for
On a typical seven-day Mediterranean cruise you might visit four, five, or even six different countries, with very little time actually at sea. On a typical 14-day itinerary, you might visit seven or eight countries, but there will also be time at sea to enjoy more of life onboard. The most enjoyable itineraries are planned so that the first day and the last day of your cruise will be at sea. So to get the most from your voyage you should go for at least two weeks. [3]
On-shore activities
Most cruises offer excursions to suit all types, from a city tour of Barcelona to see Gaudi’s architecture (about £40), to a boat ride from Sorrento to Capri (about £70), to a tour of the Acropolis and other treasures in Athens (about £50), to a tour of Rome – from the port of Civitavecchia – including the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel (about £150). You should plan your activities to suit your interests and fitness levels. Don’t try to do too much and tire yourselves out. Note that English-speaking guides in many European countries must be fully government licensed. Most excursions require some walking. It is also simple (and cheaper) to go ashore and explore yourself, especially if you have been to a destination before. [4]
Note that when you choose an excursion purchased from the cruise line (you can pre-purchase online, or aboard), you are insured under the cruise line’s policy. If you purchase a shore excursion on our own (from an external company), no insurance is included, so if things go wrong, you are on your own. [5]
Which cruise line to choose
Most people like to choose a service or company recommended by a good friend. This would be true for cruise lines, too. Some ships are based in Europe year-round, while many are repositioned seasonally from winter cruising in the Caribbean to summer in the Mediterranean, where higher pricing (and higher operating costs) prevail. While some are large resort ships, the majority of ships cruising in the Mediterranean tend to be mid-sized (between 600 and 1,600 passengers) or small (between 200 and 600 passengers), due to the size of the ports available. Choose a large resort ship (1,600 to over 5,000 passengers) and you’ll only get to large, busy ports. [6]
You should be careful in your choice of ship size, too. For families with children, the large resort ships have more facilities (and distractions), but for a better, less frenetic experience I would suggest a mid-sized ship. It’s easier to get off and back on at each port of call (waiting to go through security checks each time you board takes time), and the food will be better. [7]
If you choose a ship with a port-a-day itinerary, you might end your holiday exhausted. Try to find itineraries with a better pace (of course, you don’t have to get off in each port). Note that Costa Cruises and MSC Cruises have pan-European passengers, and have more of an international flavour and cultural differences (useful for children to be exposed to). For an adults-only experience, it’s best to choose small- to mid-size ships, which also tend to seek out the smaller, more intimate ports. To sum up, before you book, give plenty of thought to your route, cruise ship and itinerary. [8]