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The Eastern Mediterranean, without doubt, provides a wider variety of interests for cruise visitors than any other region in the world.
From the sandy beaches of the Greek Islands to the dazzling mosques and palaces of Istanbul, there is something for everyone.
Many itineraries visit the region on a voyage from Southampton whilst the majority operate as fly-cruises, whereby passengers join the ship in Istanbul, Venice, Corfu or another Eastern Mediterranean port.
There are cruise styles and itineraries to meet and exceed every expectation. Costa Cruises and MSC Cruises offer a truly Italian flavour on some of the world’s most modern vessels whilst P&O Cruises and Voyages of Discovery cater for those seeking a style more suited to British tastes. Fred Olsen Line is also in the area with a number of educational features that impress its loyal following.
The region attracts cruise visitors all year round, although the main season operates between April and October. Winters can be very chilly, with snow in Turkey, Cyprus and the Black Sea, but those who wish to explore the host of museums and palaces will be happy to travel outside the busier summer season.
Most itineraries are port intensive, and in the Greek Islands it is sometimes possible to make more than one port call in a day. This is also the case in the scenic Adriatic Sea, off the coast of Croatia.
Beach lovers are rarely disappointed but water sports and diving activities are not as plentiful in these waters as they are in the Caribbean or the Indian Ocean.
The area attracts young and more mature passengers alike as there are places of interest for all tastes, especially in the larger ports of call, such as Venice, Dubrovnik, Athens and Istanbul. This is definitely the case when an itinerary ventures to Alexandria or Port Said on the Egyptian coast, where passengers may join a shore excursion to the famous pyramids at Giza near Cairo.
To find the right Mediterranean cruise for you visit Right Holidays
This year’s selection for the top ten Mediterranean ports has been released with Barcelona stealing the top spot. The CRUISE Show’s panel of 14 judges, comprised of leading experts from the cruising industry, recognised the increasing popularity of the region and compiled the list in time for the CRUISE Show, to be held at Olympia, London on 27-28 March. Top contenders included Venice, Ibiza and Istanbul, all ports which have benefitted from … [Read more...]
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More than 25 cruise lines sail the Med in the summer, offering everything from mini-cruises to grand voyages, and visiting every destination imaginable – including some you’ve probably never heard of. Jane Archer explains how to get the best out of a cruise to the Med. … [Read more...]
Welcome to Cyprus’s vibrant but divided culture, complete with Cypriot meze, Turkish mosques and Greek antiquities. … [Read more...]
Fred.Olsen has launched two Archers themed cruises for 2011. Cast members from the Radio 4 drama series will join two Mediterranean cruises from April next year. Names are yet to be confirmed, but previous characters on Archers themed cruises have been Eddie Grundy, Kathy Perks, Lynda Snell and Mike Tucker. The actors will perform an unrecorded Archers episode, as well as meet guests on board and at the Captain’s Welcome Cocktail party. The … [Read more...]
Corfu is becoming increasingly popular, where ships dock at Corfu Town. A long, skinny island in the Ionian Sea, Corfu is quite different from the Cyclades group further south, with stately Venetian architecture, high mountains and a coastline indented with small, rocky coves. If you have a whole day, take a taxi to the wealthy north-east corner around Kassiopi, for some fine Greek restaurants, and glimpses of mega-yachts and their elusive owners. … [Read more...]
Visit the beautiful - yet wild - Mykonos Mykonos is a popular call but if you can, choose a cruise with an evening departure from this hedonistic island, famous for its anything-goes attitude. There are great beaches here (including bare-all beaches and gay beaches) but the best part is the immaculate port town, a classic example of Cyclades architecture, with cute little white houses, pots of scarlet geraniums perched on their steps, and shutters … [Read more...]
Santorini is high on everybody's cruising checklist, a sheer, towering semicircle of extinct volcano, the black cliffs topped with white sugar-cube houses, the light more dazzling than anywhere in the Mediterranean. Ships moor up to giant concrete pontoons at the foot of the cliff (the sea is too deep to anchor here) and passengers pour ashore to ascend the zigzag cliff path to Thira, the chichi capital, or to take a bus to Oia, a gorgeous arty … [Read more...]
Increasingly popular as a cruise destination, the approach to the Montenegrin port of Kotor is one of the most stunning in the Eastern Mediterranean. Kotor, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located at the end of southern Europe's longest and deepest fjord, the sheer, forested sides falling steeply into glassy clear water, tiny churches perched high on the hillsides and fishing villages dotted along the edge. Top sights The medieval … [Read more...]
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