The Mediterranean Sea offers expansive opportunities for cruising, from the Strait of Gibraltar in the west to the Turkish coast in the east. All along the coastline, passengers can see a wide array of landscapes and cultures, both ancient and modern, which make a first-time or return cruise of the Mediterranean so exciting. Cruise lines that offer Mediterranean cruises include Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Windstar Cruises, Holland America Line, Silversea Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Princess Cruises, Oceania Cruises, Carnival Cruises, Celebrity Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line.
Cruises of the Mediterranean Sea offer a wide variety of choices, but are generally divided into Western (roughly, Portugal to the west cost of Italy) and Eastern (roughly, the east coast of Italy to Turkey) itineraries.
The following is an overview of some of the ports of call for Western Mediterranean cruises, which include cities and towns in Portugal, Spain and France.
·Lisbon, Portugal.
While Lisbon is an extremely ancient port – there is evidence that the
Phoenicians used it as a trading post as early as 1,200 BC – an earthquake
destroyed much of the medieval town in 1755. The city was rebuilt in a
way that was modern at the time, with a charming network of city squares that
still exists today. Some of the most eye-catching sights of this city
are the Castle of Sao Jorge and the Lisbon Cathedral, located on one of the
seven hills of Lisbon.
·Gibraltar. This tiny British colony is known around the world simply as The Rock. This outcropping of the Iberian Peninsula, which guards the strait that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea, is one of the most photographed locations in the world.
·Barcelona, Spain. Having been part of various Mediterranean empires through the ages, Barcelona's history, architecture and culture reflects the influence of conquerors from other parts of Europe. Extraordinary landmarks, including those in the beautiful Gothic Quarter, are everywhere. The 1992 Summer Olympics made the sights of Barcelona, including the famous Sagrada Familia church designed by Antoni Gaudi, familiar to audiences around the world.
·Marseille, France. Marseille is the second-largest city in France and one of the busiest ports in the world. Notable sights include the ornate cathedral of Notre Dame de la Garde, which sits atop the city's signal hill; The Chateau d'If, an island fortress famous as the setting of the Alexandre Dumas novel The Count of Monte Christo; and the calanques, steep-walled valleys along the coastline formed by the mouths of ancient rivers.
· Monte Carlo, Monaco.
This fascinating city/state on the French Riviera – just 481 acres big – is a
monarchy ruled by the Grimaldi family since 1297. The fact that Monaco
has no income tax has made it the chosen home of many of the world's
wealthiest people. The glamour of Monte Carlo, with its glittering
casino complex and frequent celebrity sightings, make a simple walk through
town a true adventure.
The following are some common ports of call on cruises of the Eastern Mediterranean, which include locations steeped in ancient history.
· Venice, Italy. Venice, built in a shallow lagoon, is the world-famous city of canals. In the old city, where canals serve as roads, boats or your own feet are the only forms of transport available. While most Venetians travel by motorized boats called vaporetti, visitors can still enjoy rides on classic gondola boats. Must-see sights include the gothic Doge's Palace and the Basilica de San Marco, a superb example of Byzantine architecture.
·Dubrovnik, Croatia.
Nicknamed “the pearl of the Adriatic,” Dubrovnik is full of ornate and
beautiful churches, including the Franciscan Monastery; the Cathedral of the
Assumption of the Virgin Mary; and the Church of St. Blaise, dedicated to the
patron saint of Dubrovnik. The Sponza Palace is built in the Gothic
Renaissance style and was one of few buildings spared by a catastrophic
earthquake in 1667.
·Athens, Greece. This bustling city on the southern tip of the Balkan Peninsula, long thought of as the cradle of Western civilization, is still the center of the area's financial, political and cultural life. Its most famous ancient monument is the Parthenon, situated high on the Acropolis and considered the finest achievement of Greek architecture. Athens offers many more monuments, museums, architectural treasures, gardens and other attractions.
·Greek Isles.
Greece lays claim to more than 1,400 islands, many of which rise dramatically
from the blue waters of the Aegean and Ionian Seas. Only about 225 of
the islands are inhabited, but several – including Rhodes, Mykonos, Corfu,
Santorini and Crete – welcome cruise ships.
·Istanbul, Turkey. Located on the narrow Bosphorus Strait that connects the Aegean Sea and the Black Sea, half of Istanbul is in Europe and half is in Asia. The many spectacular sights include Dolmabahce Palace, the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire; and Hagia Sophia, a former Eastern Orthodox church that was converted to a mosque in 1435 and is now a museum.
To find out more about Mediterranean ports and all the sights to see on a cruise of the region, talk with your cruise consultants at Cruise Vacation World.
Mediterranean Cruises
