As summer approaches, countless Royal Holiday cruisers are preparing for fun-filled vacations in popular destinations like the sun-soaked Caribbean or the rugged Alaska coastline. A good number of American cruisers are aiming a bit farther abroad, and setting their sights on the Mediterranean—the home of ancient Rome, Greece, Egypt, Carthage, and many other civilizations.
Early summer is the beginning of high season for cruises around the sparkling Mediterranean Sea. Bounded by Europe, the Balkans, and North Africa, the Mediterranean has long been a hotbed of exquisite culture, delicious cuisine, and fascinating history. Cruisers in this region can expect to see famous sights in top-tier destinations like Rome, Barcelona, Athens, and Istanbul. With an almost limitless number of postcard-perfect vistas and fine-dining options, there is certainly something on each Mediterranean cruise that that will appeal to every taste in entertainment, food, and culture.
New cruisers in the Mediterranean can expect all the amenities of many of the largest cruise lines in the world, including Princess, Royal Caribbean, and Celebrity. Of course, smaller companies like Italy-based MSC Cruises also serve the region—with a splash of local culture and exceptional cuisine.
The Mediterranean Sea itself is a truly inviting place to experience a relaxed cruise. With calm waters for most of the year, cruisers have little worry of stormy weather or motion sickness. In addition, with travelers from many countries on board, these cruises tend to have a very cosmopolitan feel.
Itineraries in the Mediterranean tend to be categorized into two broad groups: the Western and Eastern Mediterranean, though there is frequently a lot of overlap between the two.
Western Mediterranean cruises typically visit famous European ports like Barcelona, Marseilles, and Civitavecchia, the port that serves Rome. These destinations offer guests fantastic ruins, museums, and high-end shopping. Many of these itineraries also take in more exotic locales like the Canary Islands, Tunisia, and Morocco.
The Eastern Mediterranean is where East meets West. Generally including Adriatic ports like Venice and Dubrovnik, these cruises often make stops in bustling Istanbul, Alexandria, or Athens, as well as sunny Greek islands like Santorini. Some ships even sail past Istanbul’s storied Golden Horn and into the Black Sea to visit ports in Turkey, Russia, Bulgaria, and Ukraine.
