Cruising in the Mediterranean

The Mediterranean is one of the nicest regions on earth and enjoys a steady stream of visitors every year. Be it sunny blue skies, azure waters that draw you to their depths and a sprinkle of some of the finest cities in the world, the Med is where you want to be if you want a memorable holiday.

The best way to take in the splendor of the entire region would be to go on a cruise. Mediterranean cruises are very popular among tourists and the trips range from simple 3 night trips to 2 week long journeys that take you through the entire coastal ring of Spain, Italy’s Western coast and the southern rim of France.

It is best to plan out the cruise in detail as the itinerary offered by the cruise vessel may not suit your choice of travel. There are many itineraries that service the Eastern and Western regions of the Mediterranean and some cover both. Make a list of all the places you would want to see along with the facilities you would require abroad the ship and choose the specific cruise that caters to your requirements.

Here are a few cruises that may help you make up your mind.

Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas cruise: If you want to take your family with you, this is where you need to be. Lovingly called Indy, the ship is a resort in itself and is the largest in the world. The standard itinerary is a 14 night trip that takes you around Cannes, Nice, Barcelona, Rome, Livorno, Cagliari, Lisbon and Gibraltar.

If this is not enough, there are a whole lot of activities on board for the entire family. The ship boasts of having a shopping mall, a fitness center, a spa, a miniature golf course, an adventure ocean for kids, an artificial rock climbing and ice skating center, and a kids club for teens and toddlers. Enjoy traditional dinners with the family and co some cha cha cha to the salsa beats in a huge dancing hall.

Sea Dream Yatch Club’s Cruise:- Come aboard the SeaDream I or the Sea Dream II and you will be guaranteed one of the most romantic holidays ever. The structure and interiors of the ship itself defy words and the surroundings provide a feeling of intimacy. Don’t miss the “all inclusive” policy of the boat, which also includes the use of a water sports complex. Take a nap in one of the many Balinese beds at the smokestack and enjoy some stunning views.

Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas:- If you have a short week end or a mid week break and don’t know how to use it, then hop aboard this cruise line. Departing from Barcelona, the ship provides 4 night and 5 night cruises with a day at sea. The 4 night trip will take you to Nice and you can enjoy an overnight stay in the party island of Ibiza. The 5 night cruise takes you through Marseilles, Cagliari and Palermo on one and alternatively the towns of Cannes, Livorno and Civitavecchia.

Teens would love the shopping arcade within the ship which comes coupled with an ice skating rink and a miniature golf course. Get entertained by professionals and get rejuvenating massages in a world class spa.

Star Clipper’s Royal Clipper Cruise:- Best for exotic cruises, the Royal Clipper is a modern day sail boat with smaller rooms and less entertainment facilities. Yet, the intimacy and peace provided onboard coupled with some fantastic dining options make this cruise a favorite with many tourists.

The small size of the boat enables it to dock at harbors where big cruise liners cannot enter. The 7 night itinerary takes you to the cities of Ponza, Sorrento, Capri, Taormina, Lipari and Civitavecchia in Rome. The Stromboli Volcano is also a part of the itinerary and is an evening sail attraction. However, cruises are also planned freely according to the visitors on board. So you can actually get to travel to some of the places you have been dying to visit.

The Hebridean’s Hebridean Spirit Cruise:- One of the most luxurious cruises of the Mediterranean, the boat resembles a yacht. Small in size, the boat can easily dock in smaller harbors and plans its itineraries around themes. Mostly, 6 night and 8 night trips, tourists can either choose the theme of “A Visual Feast” which takes them through museum and art tours in the cities of Malta, Naples and Catania; or the theme of “Footloose on the Spanish shores”, which has walking tours around Motril, Alicante, Malaga and stops in Mallorca and Menorca. If you are traveling in June, then opt for the “Grand Prix Extravaganza” theme which enables you to watch the entire event from the balcony of a private apartment.

Spacious cabins, attentive staff and private escorts add to the popularity of the boat which also houses a spa and a top deck sun deck for wonderful views of the sunset.

Fred. Olsen’s Balmoral Cruise:- If you are traveling alone, then the Balmoral is where you need to be. Renowned for its youthful atmosphere and the first onboard pub, the ship caters to the above 50 crowd and provides itineraries that stretch from 9 nights to 21 nights. Cruise options are aplenty, wherein both the Eastern and the Western Mediterranean regions are covered. Offbeat stops like Tunis and Malta are also visited along with the more standard stops of Naples and Barcelona. Some itineraries offer a view of the Greek islands as well.

The All inclusive option of the ship is a hit with travelers and the newest addition of balconied rooms is another feather added to the cap. The ship has a swimming pool and a spa as well which are perfect locations to enjoy your solitude or strike up a conversation with a like minded traveler.

Princess Cruise’s Sea Princess Cruise:- If you are cruising for the first time and want it to be an unforgettable experience, then this is where you need to start. Providing 14 night itineraries, the ship takes you to some of the more important countries in the western region of the Mediterranean Sea. You can choose between the trip that cruises through Cadiz, Monte Carlo, Livorno, Sardinia, Rome, Barcelona and Mallorca; and the trip that takes you to Vigo, Lisbon, Cannes, Naples, Corsica, Rome and Barcelona.

Have a romantic dinner on the balcony of the ship, and enjoy the various entertainment options that follow dinner. You can enjoy the facilities provided by the ship which include three swimming pools, a huge spa, a large open air movie theater called “Movies under the Stars” and the buffet options at the Sterling Steakhouse.

Island Cruise’s Island Star Cruise:- For the more budget conscious traveler, the Island Star provides a friendly atmosphere and some brilliant cruise options. More suited for families, the itineraries are 7 night trips and offer a number of stops for a reasonable fare. Starting at Palma De Mallorca, the ship offers the option of either cruising through Messina, Livorno, Naples, Toulon in France and Barcelona; or through Mahon, Ajaccio in Corsica, Alghero in Sardinia and Santa Margherita in Italy.

The ships small size enables it to dock in less accessible locations. Choose to dine in one of the 5 restaurants in the ship along with the facility of dining in the open air. A spa within the ship is just the right place to relax at the end of a full day of sight seeing.