Information On Cruise Holidays : Why The Mediterranean Is Popular

In this installment of our cruise holidays guide we look at the Mediterranean…

A Mediterranean cruise is without doubt the most varied type of cruise available. There are more than 120 seaports, and 17 different countries, around the Mediterranean coastline, offering numerous combinations of cruise vacations over one-week, two-week or longer trips.

More than 50 companies offer cruises along varied routes in the Mediterranean. There are some companies with Western Mediterranean cruises available, focusing more on the ports around Italy, Spain, France, Portugal and Morocco. Other companies offer Eastern Mediterranean cruises which take in Croatia, Greece, Turkey and countries in the Middle East.

Popular specialty Mediterranean cruises include those that tour the North African countries, or the islands of Malta and Cyprus, or the area of the Greek Islands. It’s also possible to arrange a cruise that will let you take in most if not all of the Mediterranean countries, if you’d like a longer vacation.

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 shape of Barcelona, before travelling onwards to the French Riviera.

Cruising along the coats of the Italian peninsula is a popular way to view such cultural and historical sights as Mt. Vesuvius, Pompeii, and the fantastic city of Rome. On a Western Mediterranean cruise you’ll also be able to visit the islands of Sicily and Sardinia, which have their share of delights. In Eastern Mediterranean, passengers on a cruise can explore the beautiful coastline of Croatia and the city of Dubrovnik, before heading south east to discover classic Greece and surrounding islands. It’s always worthwhile to visit the island of Crete, if only to view the historically significant Palace of Knossos.

The Israeli ports of Haifa and Ashdod make for an easy visit to the city of Jerusalem and can be reached on an Eastern Mediterranean cruise to the Middle East. Port Said in Egypt is also worth visiting. From Port Said one can see the famous Suez Canal which will allow a vessel to drift into the Red Sea and beyond into the Arabian Sea.