Other ports of call may include Civitavecchia which provides a gateway to Rome, The Eternal City and home to the ancient Coliseum and the Forum of the Caesars, the Vatican with mighty St Peter's basilica and magical Piazza Navona where you can sip an ice cold glass of prosecco; the medieval walled city of Dubrovnik (a UNESCO Heritage site); Corfu, a stunning pine tree covered Greek Isle in the Ionian Sea with rocky coves and secluded beaches and the rugged and mountainous island of Corsica, the birth place of Napoleon.

This popular cruise is generally 12 to 14 nights in duration and may sail eastbound from Barcelona to Rome or Venice, westbound from Venice or Rome to Barcelona or even roundtrip from Barcelona. This longer itinerary offers the best way to discover the Mediterranean, especially for First Timers. Ships generally spend an extra day in Venice to give their guests extra time to discover this most serene of cities.

This cruise offers the best way to explore so many varied towns and cities without the bother of taking trains, planes or renting a car to travel from one place to another. In fact, you can enjoy a five course gourmet meal, take in a Broadway show or just catch up on your sleep on a luxurious bed while your ship takes you to the next port!

Cruise lines offering this longer Med itinerary include Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Holland America Line and Princess Cruises. For more luxury on smaller, more intimate ships, try Oceania Cruises, Azamara Club Cruises, Seabourn, Silversea, Crystal and Regent.

If you are pressed for time, you can sail a seven night cruise roundtrip from Barcelona, Rome (Civitavecchia) or Venice. These shorter cruises visit the same ports and may also add the Crusader city of Valetta, Malta and sun drenched island of Mallorca where you can explore the rugged coastline and famed beaches. Sailing from Venice, you may call at the medieval Croatian port of Split, classical Athens (Piraeus) and one of the famous Greek isles such as Santorini or Mykonos for a day at the beach or for exploring an ancient archeological site. Combinations of two seven day cruises are also a great option to see more of the Med as many cruise lines offer to back-to-back 7 night sailings that do not repeat their ports of call.

Cruise lines offering this shorter Med itinerary include Royal Caribbean International, Norwegian Cruise Lines and Celebrity Cruises. For more luxury on smaller, more intimate ships, try Azamara Club Cruises, Seabourn, Silversea, Crystal and Regent.

Cruising from the popular cities of Barcelona, Rome or Venice also offers the opportunity to stay a few extra days before or after your cruise in order to taste the culture of these World famous cities. These gateway cities also are very well connected to the larger North American cites by all the major airlines.

Best time to cruise to these popular countries are the months of May and September when the weather is cooler (70-80 degrees) and the crowds are less. However the high summer months of June to August offer balmy sunshine and blue skies, outdoor cafes and chic beaches brimming with beautiful people and all the shops selling local handicrafts, antiques and local produce are open for business. Don't forget that cruising off season offers shorter line-up's to famous museums and other "must see' sights and good tables in popular restaurants are also more plentiful Savvy travelers cruise from October to April for these benefits plus the added attraction of much lower cruise fares.

Call one of our Cruise Experts who can plan the perfect Mediterranean cruise for you!