While the Caribbean remains the most cruised region of the world, the Mediterranean is close behind, offering a unique cruise experience to travelers each year. Whether you’re planning your first Mediterranean cruise or looking for an excuse to go back, this list will provide you with enough reasons to hit that “Book Now” button.
The Ports
This one is a given. Where else in the world can you walk among the ruins of the Roman Empire, grab a bite to eat from a hole in the wall pizza parlor, and visit the pope in one afternoon? How about walk through the passageways of a 133 year old minor basilica that is still under construction? The beauty of cruising the Mediterranean is the variety and rich history and culture of each port. Typically, a Mediterranean sailing could call in ports throughout three or four countries, each unique from another. In one week alone you could experience the beauty of Antoni Gaudí’s Gothic Barcelona, bask in the warm sun on beaches in Cannes, explore the history and art of Florence, and stand toe to toe with a violent mountain that buried an ancient Roman city. Mediterranean cruising offers cultural and historical variety that is truly unique.
The Itinerary
Yes, the ports again. However, this time, it’s about the number of ports. Mediterranean itineraries are usually packed with ports of call, scheduling a new port for almost every day of the itinerary. Sea days are few and rare. For someone like me that loves fast paced travel, I love a good busy Mediterranean itinerary. Mediterranean cruises aren’t designed for relaxation and escaping the busy world (although you can do that), they’re built to help you discover an amazing continent in a quick, but enriching manner. So if you’re looking to cover a lot of Europe in just a week, a cruise is the only way to go.
The Food
Oh yes, the food. It’s Europe, so expect to indulge in some truly authentic cooking. Each city, country, and region can have their own flare or taste, offering the perfect opportunity to expand your culinary horizons. Whether that means taking a cooking class in Sicily, eating on a mountaintop restaurant on the Amalfi Coast, or sharing tapas with new friends in Spain, a Mediterranean cruise is the perfect choice for the lovers of authentic cuisine and the culinary arts.
The Ease
We all know that cruising is the most affordable and most convenient way to travel the world, but this becomes even more true in Europe and the Mediterranean. For a base price, you will have the opportunity to sail around the continent, visiting numerous countries, indulging in incredible culinary experiences, and discovering a continent in its own league. For the entire week of this experience, you will pay one price and sleep between each port in a comfortably appointed stateroom aboard a beautiful cruise ship. How else can you see so much of Europe, so comfortably, and so affordably?
