Guide to Mediterranean Cruise Holidays

Cruises have become overwhelmingly popular within the travel industry

When you are looking for cruise holidays, an idea that you may not have considered is a Mediterranean cruise holiday. These cruises are full of exotic and wonderful destinations including the Cote d'Azur.

Eastern Mediterranean cruises provide you with the opportunity to partake of numerous different countries and cultures while on only one vacation. The eastern half of the Med proves to be particularly interesting and mixed — here you will find the place in the world where Western and Eastern cultures start to merge. A variety of unique ports of call exist in Croatia, Greece, Turkey, Egypt and Malta.

Where you'll go

Your Eastern Mediterranean cruise will likely depart from an Italian port of call. Venice is an extremely popular departure point for such cruises. Others leave from Rome, Bari or Savona in Italy.

Common Greek ports of call include:

• Piraeus (Athens) — for the Acropolis and the ancient city.
• Santorini — tender boats from cruise ships dock at the old port below Fira.
• Mykonos — straight into Mykonos Town for a few hours wandering the alleys.
• Rhodes — the medieval Old Town is right at the cruise port.
• Corfu — Venetian-era town and beautiful coastline.
• Katakolon — the gateway to Ancient Olympia.

Tips

• Book private guides at each port rather than the cruise-line excursions for a more personal experience.
• Many ports allow you to walk straight into the historical centre — comfortable shoes are essential.
• Try ferry-and-island combinations as an alternative to cruising if you want more time in each place.