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Western Mediterranean Cruise
Western Mediterranean Cruise
Western Mediterranean cruises include visits to Italy, Spain, France, Portugal and North Africa. Cruising this region offers passengers a rich cultural depth of history,
culture and great beaches to explore. The vast range of cultures and history will have you wanting more.
Summer time is the most crowded time of year, however
some lines like Royal Caribbean and Carnival offer Western Mediterranean cruises all year. It is always recommended to research any and all cruises
prior to booking.
Western Mediterranean Cruise Ports
Barcelona - Rome - Naples - Lisbon - Malaga - Tunis - Alexandria
Amazing Western Mediterranean Cruise - Expert Guide
A Western Mediterranean cruise is without doubt the most
varied type of cruise available. There are more than
120 seaports around the Mediterranean coastline,
offering numerous combinations of cruise vacations
over one-week, two-week or longer trips.
A huge range of cultures await all who opt for a
Western Mediterranean cruise. You can visit no less than
17 different countries, including such nations as
Spain, Italy, Greece, France and Egypt. Each nation has its
own unique attractions, all of which you can sample
as your cruise ship magically sails around the calm
blue amazing Mediterranean Sea.
More than 50 differant companies offer cruises along varied
routes in the Mediterranean. Some companies specialize
in providing Western Mediterranean cruises,
concentrating on ports of call around Portugal,
Spain, France, Italy and Morocco. Other companies
offer Eastern Mediterranean cruises which take in
Croatia, Greece, Turkey and countries in the Middle
East. Popular specialist Mediterranean cruises include
a tour of the North African nations. There are also Mediterranean
island cruises that visits the island nations of
Cyprus and Malta, as well as cruises around the Greek
Islands. If you're after a longer vacation, it is
possible to arrange a cruise itinerary that takes
you around most if not all of the Mediterranean
nations.
History, culture, grand cities, ancient monuments,
romantic islands and breathtaking views are all
within easy reach on a Mediterranean cruise. In the
Western Mediterranean you can discover the traditional
white Andalucian villages of Southern Spain, sample
the world-famous Manzanilla sherry in Cadiz and visit
the cultural hub of Europe in the form of Barcelona,
before travelling onwards to the breathe taking French Riviera.
A cruise that takes in the wonderful coastline of
Italy yields such treasures as the dormant volcano of
Mt Vesuvius, the ancient city of Pompeii and the stunning city of
Rome. The islands of Sicily and Sardinia hold many
delights too on a Western Mediterranean cruise.
In the Eastern Mediterranean, cruise passengers can
discover the spectacular Croatian coastline and its
beautiful city - Dubrovnik, before diving
southeastwards to sample classical Greece and its
fabulous islands. The island of Crete is always worth
a visit, if only for the historic Palace of Knossos. The Greek
islands are an amazing place to visit.
A visit to the holy city of Jerusalem is a
worthwhile excursion from both Israeli ports -
Haifa and Ashdod - on a Mediterranean cruise of the
Middle East. Egypt's Port Said is well worth a visit
too. Port Said provides access to the world famous
Suez Canal, which takes vessels into the Red Sea and
onwards in to the Arabian Sea.
The Mediterranean region has seen many a civilizations
rise and fall. It is a fixture of human evolution
and is rich in relics left over by more than 6,000
years of occupation. If you've ever wanted to discover
what it felt like to be an Egyptian pharaoh, Roman
Emperor or a Greek philosopher, a Mediterranean cruise
can give you just that opportunity...
Western Mediterranean Cruise Facts:
Of all of Europe's cruise regions, the Western Mediterranean offers the most -- arts and culture, surf and sand, cafe hopping and boutique shopping -- the absolute best variety of sights, attractions and activities and all around culture.
Itineraries that sail the Western Mediterranean typically emphasize ports of call in Spain, France and Italy (with a few interesting detours along the way). These could also include stops in Portugal (primarily Lisbon though Oporto is occasionally featured), Morocco (Casablanca and Tangier), Monte Carlo, Malta and Croatia (Dubrovnik, most commonly). Within these choices, however, actual ports of call vary wildly -- and could include everything from France's oh-so-chic Villefranche to Italy's open-air museum of Florence.
Better yet? Because the euro's value is soaring against the U.S. dollar, it's much cheaper to cruise to Europe than plan a land-based trip. For value-conscious U.S. travelers, a cruise helps soften the blow of big-ticket items like hotels and restaurants. This also alows you to see the greatest amount of diversification for the cheapest cost.
A Western Mediterranean Cruise For All Seasons
It used to be that most Western Mediterranean cruises set sail during spring, summer and fall. These days, however, cruise lines are offering year-round programs in the region. Costa and MSC Cruises are two lines that offer year-round voyages -- and while Barcelona and Marseilles may remain on itineraries, the ships often move further south, to Morocco and the Canary Islands, during the cooler months.
Early spring and late fall sailings offer the advantage of more competitive fares and fewer crowds in port. Conversely, families may want to cruise from mid-June to mid-August, when ship's children's facilities are running at full speed (though fares may be pricier and ports most definitely will be more crowded).
Best Western Mediterranean Cruise Ships:
One of the Western Mediterranean's greatest strengths as a cruise region is that it offers not only fantastic variety in ports of call but also a wide range of cruise ship experiences. There are floating resort-style, all-American mega-ships
(Celebrity, Holland America, Princess and Royal Caribbean, among others) and sophisticated luxury vessels
(Silversea, Crystal, Regent Seven Seas and Seabourn). You can opt for a yacht-style experience
(SeaDream Yacht Club or Windstar) or sail on an all-masted ship (Star Clipper).
Best Western Mediterranean Cruise Tips:
When booking a Western Mediterranean Cruise you should first identify which countries and ports of call you wish to visit on your
voyage. This will help you to size down the vast number of choices that are available on Western Mediterranean cruises.
Once you have decided on the areas of the Western Mediterranean that you wish to visit, you will need to decide upon the
cruise line you wish to travel on. This is a decision not to be taken lightly. It is important that you find the right fit
for your lifestyle and desires. You should consider the average age of the passengers, the amenities onboard, the age of the boat
as well as the accommodations.
Choosing the right western mediterranean cruise can be a life altering experience. The memories that you will form will help to shape
your life........
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