Western Mediterranean Cruises
Of all Europe's cruise regions, the Western Mediterranean offers the biggest choice and variety of places to see and things to do. There are outlets for arts and culture, lots of surf and sand, tons of “retail therapy” and café hopping, as well as the widest variety of sights, attractions and activities to please the entire family.
Primarily the Western Mediterranean cruises cover ports of call in France, Spain and Italy, along with Malta, Portugal, Monte Carlo, Morocco and Croatia.
Many cruise lines will visit the Western Mediterranean, including those that contain a most definite European flavour onboard, such as Costa and MSC, as well as P&O. Of course, all the mass market US lines include Western Med itineraries in their offerings, including Celebrity, Holland America, Princess and Royal Caribbean, and a host of others. Even some of the upscale luxury lines sail the Western Med, including Silversea, Crystal, Regent Seven Seas and Seabourn. So there is certainly no shortage of cruise lines and ships available, something to suit every sort of taste and budget.
As for things to do while on such a sailing; there is truly something for everyone in the Western Mediterranean. Just about every cruise line will offer a full menu of shore tours, though it is also very possible, not to mention easy, to organize things on your own.
For example, if your cruise stops for a day in Barcelona, Spain, consider a Barcelona highlights tour that features a stop at the Gothic Quarter, Gaudi’s elaborately-adorned Sagrada Familia Church and various other urban areas in the city proper. The Montserrat Monastery is another possibility since it is located a mere 45 minutes or so outside of the city. Perched on the side of a mountain, this regal structure will often be shrouded in mist, and the views you get while driving up the mountain will be absolutely breathtaking.
If Rome is on your agenda, you are in for a real treat. Take a highlights tour if you’ve never been there before, and make sure it includes a visit to the Vatican and St. Peter’s Square and Basilica. You’ll probably also want to see the Colosseum and Trevi Fountain, as well as the Spanish Steps if time permits. The beautiful thing about Rome is that it is not only beautiful, and steeped in religious tradition, but it is also a very walkable city. While you will probably want to enlist the help of a guide to see the religious sites such as the Basilica and the Vatican complex, there is no reason you can’t do your own self-guided tour through other areas of the city. Be sure to check out the many winding streets and maybe even hang out for a bit at a sidewalk café, enjoying a snack and just people watching.
If your ship will call in Florence, you may wish to take a guided tour, perhaps one organised through your cruise ship. This is especially convenient since your ship will actually dock at Livorno, which is a good 1-1/2 hours outside of Florence, so you’ll have to at least purchase a transfer to Florence, whether you want to or not. So a guided tour might be a better deal in this case. Be aware, however, that while these guided tours will be by luxury motor coach, there will still be a lot of walking involved since the motor coaches cannot get down Florence’s many narrow and winding streets. Another touring option would include Lucca, which is a medieval walled city that was once the capital of Tuscany back in the middle ages.
Finally, if your ship will call at Naples/Sorrento, you won’t want to miss a tour of Pompeii, or better still a trip to the beautiful island of Capri.
With so much to see and do on a Western Mediterranean cruise, it is the perfect trip for family groups where everyone’s interests may be different. It is also the perfect sailing for those who like seeing the sights and experiencing the unique cultures of each area visited.
See all the great destinations you can visit in the Western Mediterranean
|