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Cruising around the Mediterranean sea sounds like a very extravagant choice for a holiday destination but actually that is not necessarily the case. In actual fact, Mediterranean cruises probably offer travellers the best value for money these days. This is because of the number of stunning locations that you can visit across a quite condensed time period.

Available destinations include Italy, Spain, Greece and France, and of course the beautiful weather that is likely to accompany your trip is a bonus. You will have the opportunity to get off the boat in all of these fabulous places and experience the differences in the local food, culture, and sightseeing and enjoy shopping from one location to the next. You can also book Mediterranean cruises that focus on specific countries. It is really down to individual tastes.

These are the most standard Mediterranean cruise deals available but there are many others. Some Med cruises will actually journey to inland Europe where you can sail along the Danube or the Main (the river that connects the Rhine with the Danube), and experience such countries as Austria and Germany. Some also run along the North coast of Africa.

You can spend your time onboard sunbathing on the deck while enjoying the stunning scenery that is passing you by, or you can take advantage of any number of organised activities on the ship.

If this sounds like the ideal holiday for you, then why not take advantage of the abundance of last minute Mediterranean cruises which are available daily. You won’t regret it.

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Looking for a truly special cruise holiday? Take a magical Mediterranean cruise and indulge yourself with its natural beauty. Let life move at a much slower pace and pamper yourself with splendid sights and culture-rich cities.

The Mediterranean offers an assortment of fascinating art museums, exquisite beaches, chic boutiques, colourful local markets, and cities rich in history and cultural traditions. On your cruise you will also get to taste both rustic and contemporary cuisine at each destination.

For a romantic or a family cruise, a fascinating and enlightening Western Mediterranean cruise is just perfect. The ship calls at numerous ports, including: Barcelona, where guests get to visit the Gothic Quarter and Gaudi’s Temple of the Sagrada Familia; Monte Carlo, where there are numerous casinos; and ports in Malta, Croatia, and Morocco, where passengers can visit the Marrakech market and the Koutoubia Mosque.

An Eastern Mediterranean cruise is an equally enticing option, offering great sites of antiquity and lost civilisations. Stopovers include Italy; Dubrovnik, which has captivating ancient architecture and ambience; Greece, where passengers can visit Piraeus, Athens, and the Greek Isles; Turkey; and Egypt.

Epic sights may likewise be visited via an Adriatic cruise, whose stops include Korcula, Marco Polo’s birthplace; Dubrovnik; and Venice. It is an inspirational and educational voyage to some of Europe’s most historic destinations.

Cruise lines that travel the Mediterranean include Azamara Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Costa, Cunard Line, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Island Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Ocean Village, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, and Royal Caribbean International.

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Many British people find time to relax and enjoy their holiday season. One great way is through the luxury of cruising. Through cruising, tourists are able to see and visit various beautiful locations. One popular cruising destination is the Mediterranean region, which has several cruises available in various types of sea vessels, such as sailing ships, classic ships, luxury cruises, and large cruise liners. There are also other options, including the gullet, a two-masted sailing vessel that is now very popular among tourists.

The cruises sail across the three areas of the region: Western, Central, and Eastern Mediterranean. Western Mediterranean cruises cover France, Spain, and some parts of Italy. The busiest cruise ports in this area are Genoa, Rome, and Barcelona. West Med has other main ports as well that are often visited by tourists. These are Naples and Livorno in Italy; Nice and Marseilles in France; and Malaga, Ibiza, and Palma in Spain. Selected cruises in West Med are: Jewels of the Mediterranean, Grand Mediterranean Cruise, and Spanish Odyssey Cruise.

Central Mediterranean cruises cover Croatia, Greece, and the Adriatic Sea, and start from the city of Venice. They stop off in Greece at the port of Corfu and in Croatia at Dubrovnik and Split. Smaller ships also visit other ports like Kotor in Montenegro. Cruises available in this area are Croatian Coast Cruises, Tall Ship Cruise from Venice to Rome, and Gullet Cruises.

Eastern Mediterranean cruises cover Turkey, Greece, and the Greek Islands, starting from Istanbul (Turkey) or Athens (Greece). The cruise stops off at Kusadasi in Turkey and Katakolon in Greece. It may even sail up to Egypt, Israel, or Cyprus. Selected cruises include Splendours of Greece and Turkey, Eastern Mediterranean Experience, and Eastern Med Cruise from Rome.

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Launched in 2003, the Ocean Village is a cruise ship owned and operated by P&O Cruises, a subsidiary of Carnival U.K. The Ocean Village has created a name for itself for its inexpensive and exciting cruises for people of all ages. Due to its remarkable success, Ocean Village Two, its sister ship, was launched in the summer of 2007. Although each ship displaces 63,524 tonnes, Ocean Village One can accommodate 1,624 passengers, while the sister ship can accommodate 1,708.

An Ocean Village cruise particularly appeals to first-timers, due to its informality. There are no dress codes and Friday night is party night. Both vessels feature a variety of sport activities, good food, and casual entertainment, including stand-up comics.

The Ocean Village One cruise ship has two gyms, a 24-hour buffet restaurant, a bar, a bistro, swimming pools, and a restaurant owned by James Martin, the celebrity chef. Ocean Village Two has two self-service restaurants, a children’s play area, and the famous Marquee theatre.

The cruises are aimed not only for the younger British market, but also for Americans looking for carefree travel during the holidays. Aside from the amenities aboard, travellers can also enjoy off-ship adventures like hiking, rafting, and zip-lining at various stopovers.

The two Ocean Village ships spend April to October on a variety of seven- or 14-night cruises in the Western and Eastern Mediterranean, and from December to April on a variety of seven- or 14-night cruises in the Caribbean.

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Explore and savour the different flavours, cultures, and tropical atmosphere of the Mediterranean by setting sail on a Mediterranean holiday cruise. You can choose from an assortment of itineraries that lead to famous ports around the world, such as Rome, Nice, Cannes, Barcelona, Athens, and many more.

A Mediterranean cruise will never run out of exciting surprises and offerings. These include plenty of beautiful beaches, an assortment of delectable cuisines, a showcase of diverse cultures, and unique places to visit or to shop in. Interested cruise passengers may select from the following major cruise liners (European cruises): Windstar Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America, Crystal Cruises, Celebrity Cruise Line, and Carnival Cruises.

The stopover ports of the Mediterranean cruises include: France, which has an elegant atmosphere and some of the most fascinating ports (like the luxurious and sophisticated ports of Cannes, Monte Carlo, and Nice); Italy, which has some of the most stunning historical architecture and popular ports (like the enchanting and striking ports of Portofino and Venice); Corsica, which is a picturesque island that boasts some of the most exquisite beaches, and the beautiful Ajaccio port; Spain, which has some of the most captivating sandy beaches, the best food, the vibrant city of Barcelona, and the historic Alicante port; the Balearic Islands, which comprise three breathtaking islands named Mallorca, Ibiza, and Menorca; as well as Greece, which offers the rich history of Athens, the cultural traditions of Cephalonia, and the splendid port of Corfu.

Whether you are on holiday with your family and relatives, a first-time cruiser, or even on your honeymoon, sailing for a holiday cruise across the Mediterranean Sea will always be a memorable and enriching experience.

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