Mediterranean cruises offer a variety of cultural and historical experiences with over 50 ports of call and 50 cruise lines operating in the region. Western Mediterranean cruises include stops in Spain, France, and Italy, while Eastern Mediterranean cruises include Athens and Istanbul. Some cruises also stop in the Holy Land, with popular ports of call including Jerusalem and Nazareth.
For travelers looking to savor a rich variety of culture and history, embarking on a Mediterranean cruise will leave them wanting more. With around 50 cruise lines operating in the Mediterranean Sea and over 50 ports of call, travelers have a plethora of options for their Mediterranean cruise itinerary. Mediterranean cruises vary in length, but most of the larger cruise lines offer trips ranging from 10-14 days, and departure points are flexible along the cruise route.
A common theme among cruise lines is to divide their Mediterranean cruises into Western Mediterranean, Eastern Mediterranean, and Holy Land categories. A review of these rankings, including the most popular stopovers, will give a general idea of which places in Europe, Asia or Africa will be visited on a Mediterranean cruise.
Western Mediterranean cruises include calls in Spain, France and the west coast of Italy. Almost all western cruises will stop in Barcelona, Spain and Rome, Italy. For many major cruise lines these cities will also be an embarkation or disembarkation point. Located just 90 miles (145km) from the French border, the cosmopolitan city of Barcelona is the capital of Spain’s Catalonia region. Visiting the Picasso Gallery and enjoying a helping of paella, Spain’s national dish, at a local restaurant are two popular activities for visiting cruisers.
When Mediterranean cruise ships head to Italy, most stop in Civitavecchia, known as the gateway to Rome. Many travelers could spend weeks in Rome visiting the historic sites of this ancient city, however, the busy schedule of a cruise doesn’t allow for that. A day in Rome could include a trip to the Colosseum, visits to the Sistine Chapel or the Vatican, and a coin toss in the famous Trevi Fountain after sampling the local pasta.
Ports of call in France for a Western Mediterranean cruise vary greatly between cruise lines serving the Mediterranean. Stops can include Marseille, France’s second largest city, and starting point for visits to the Provence region, or somewhere along the French Riviera, such as Nice or Cannes. Regardless of port, guests on a Mediterranean cruise have a variety of options in these French ports of call. Marseille, the Mediterranean’s largest port, boasts ample opportunities for shopping after visiting the Notre Dame Basilica or Aix, the home of famed artist Paul Cézanne.
Nice, located just 15 miles (24km) from Cannes, is a great place to stroll along the beaches of the Mediterranean Sea on the Promenade des Anglais or “Promenade des Anglais,” after travelers have sampled the local favorite, Socca, which it’s a chickpea flour pancake. Cannes is home to the famous International Film Festival. Cruise passengers can shop at their high-end boutiques or try their luck at a casino in nearby Monte Carlo.
An Eastern Mediterranean cruise itinerary may also begin in Barcelona or Rome, however, they will head further east, including stops in Athens, Greece and Istanbul, Turkey. The port city of Piraeus is the gateway to Athens, where cruisers can visit the Acropolis, Parthenon and other historical monuments. Istanbul is the crossroads where Asia meets Europe. Visitors cannot leave Istanbul without exploring the architecture left over from past ruling empires. The most famous are the Blue Mosque, famous for its minarets and blue tiles inside, and the Topkapi Palace Museum, a palatial palace built during the rule of the Ottoman Empire.
Some Eastern and Western Mediterranean cruises stop somewhere in the Holy Land, and some cruise lines offer specific cruises that consist mostly of ports of call in the Holy Land. These areas, known as the “cradle of civilization”, are home to countless architectural, archaeological and historical religious sites. The most popular port of call is Jerusalem, considered the holiest city in Judaism, the third holiest city in Islam, and the place where Christians can walk in the footsteps of Jesus. Other major Holy Land ports include Nazareth, home childhood history of Jesus and the place where Mary and Mohammed had communications with the Angel Gabriel, and Port Said, Egypt, where cruisers can disembark to visit Cairo and the pyramids of Giza.
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