does anyone have advice on mediterranean cruises?

There are several cruise lines and itineraries to choose from for a Mediterranean cruise and also you can chose 4 days, 6 or 7 days, or a longer 12 day, plus some cruises are round trip and others are one-way (i.e., start in Venice and end in Rome). The cruise lines you can choose from that are pretty much based in the US are Holland America, Royal Caribbean, Princess, Norwegian, and Carnival. Then there are some European based lines like Costa and some high end (i.e., very expensive but exclusive) lines like Regent Seven Seas and Crystal.

A 12 day cruise of the Mediterranian can be had, if you book early (like now for next fall) for about $ 1500 per person or less on most cruise lines. The high end lines will cost about double that per person. Then you have to factor in air fare which for us was about $ 800 each from the east coast US, and a few hundred for travel insurance. If you book online you can reserve your cruise on most lines with a deposit of $ 400 per person and then pay on line in increments of $ 100. This is what I do on RC’s site and also on Norwegian’s.

So you need to know your budget and how much time you will have for the cruise. Also, it a good idea (and recommended by all good travel agents) to plan to fly to the departure port at least a day early so that you are less likely to miss your cruise due to an airline problem; and also to give yourself time to adjust somewhat to the new time zone.

Its easy to shop the Mediterranean cruises by simply going to the cruise line web sites and clicking on the link that say “destinations” or some such similar, and then select “Europe” or the “Med”. You can also read about the port stops online. So if you are not sure whether you want to go on a cruise that stops in Mykonos you can read what the cruise line says about that port stop. But look at what’s available before you look for the right combination for you.

Now, here’s my experience:

We did a 12 day Mediterranean cruise in October two years ago. It was a fabulous cruise. We cruised on the Royal Caribbean ship, Brilliance of the Seas. The ship is outstanding, my favorite of all of the Royal Caribbean ships.

The crowd of people on the ship was mixed, mostly folks 30′s to 60′s and not many kids. The time of year (October) pretty much keeps families with kids from going. That is also a great time for good weather and fewer tourists and that can be a big plus at the major stops like The Vatican where lines typically wrap around the block to get in.

In the first port stop of Villefranche we did the tour that went to the Medieval city of Eze and then to Monaco and the Monte Carlo casino. The Eze part was OK and so was the Monaco part, but don’t pay the $ 10 per person to go inside the casino. Its not worth it, plus you cannot take pictures inside.

In Florence we did the walking tour of the city and also a stop at Pisa. That was a good tour. In Rome we toured the Vatican City and Sistene Chapel and the went to the Coliseum. All of that was good but the tours take all day because the port is an hour from Rome. I do not recommend trying to do Rome on your own, you may get caught in traffic and miss the ship’s departure.

In Naples we toured Pompeii and that as good. In Athens we took a tour to the Acropolis and then through the city of Athens. The Acropolis part I liked best. In Kusudasi we went to the Biblical city of Ephesus and that was awing and outstanding. In Santorini we went on a tour of the island and then to a winery. Skip the tours there and just go on your own; its a beautiful place to visit. On Mykonos we did not do a tour, just walked around the town. I loved Mykonos and will go back there when I get a chance

Since there are a lot of historical sites to see on a Med cruise, it can be very tiring. Many tours last all day and depending on the arrangement of ports stops you can be off the ship all day on consecutive days. But, if you go that far you do not want to miss the historical sights. If you decide to skips ships tours and go on your own its best to do that in Mykonos and Santorini. The other places involve a bus ride to the attractions, or a tour or taxi.

In Barcelona and the cities in Italy you have to watch out for pickpockets and Gypsies. Keep your money and valuables inside your clothes, not just in your pocket. If you give money to one Gypsie, others will show up with their hands out. So even though they look so sad, its an act and just ignore them.
Sometimes the pickpockets will disguise themselves (with a camera hanging around their neck) as tourists. So don’t let people who are not in your tour group get close to you.

All of the port stops that this cruise makes, except Turkey right now, use the Euro. So it would be a good idea to buy some Euros before you leave for the trip. You will need some as soon as you get to Europe to pay a taxi to your hotel and/or the ship. Unless you plan to make some big purchases in Turkey, no need to buy that currency. If you decide you want some you can get it on the ship at the purser’s desk. The owners of the markets in Kusudasi will come out of their shops to invite you in; very pushy. If you do not plan on spending but a few dollars there you can probably use US dollars or Euros.

I have done almost 20 cruises and Royal Caribbean is my favorite line and I highly recommend it. The Mediterranean cruise is tops on my list of all of the cruises we have been on. You will enjoy it and the ship.

WE will be heading out next week on another Med cruise, called Eastern Mediterranean, which begins and ends in Barcelona, but has stops in Spain, Portugal, Morocco, and the Canary Islands. That’s another option and that cruise is on the new Norwegian ship, the Gem.

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