western-mediterranean-cruises

While in Nice, visit Old Town and search for the Opera House. Famous for its International Film Festival, Cannes is perfect for people watching, especially on its Boulevard de la Croisette and long stretches of sandy beaches. If the hedonistic beaches of St. Tropez aren’t your style, visit Old Town and hit the museums.
In Italy, most European cruise itineraries include stops in Rome (Civitavecchia), Venice, Naples and nearby Pompeii; and Florence, Pisa and Siena from the port of Livorno. You could spend weeks alone in Rome, but be sure not to miss St. Peter’s Basilica. Choose from three shore excursions from Livorno: visit the Leaning Tower in Pisa, the Uffizi museum in Florence and the aerial bridges in Siena. While in Naples, take a side trip to view the excavation of Western Pompeii near Mount Vesuvius.

Lisbon is a usual stop for western  Mediterranean cruises.  For a great view of the city, take the wrought iron Elevator de Santa Justa. Other fun shore excursions include a visit to the 16th century monastery, Mosteiro dos Jeronimos. Some European cruise lines include a stop on Portugal’s island of Madeira at the town of Funchal. While in Funchal, make a point to see the Praca do Municipio with its black and white stones.
Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca are popular destinations in Spain.  Some cruise lines offer packages that actually begin in Seville or Madrid, and then travel by land to Barcelona for embarkation. Barcelona offers tremendous opportunities to view great works of Gothic and modern art and architecture; don’t miss the Museu Picasso and the Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia. Other western Mediterranean cruise itineraries in Spain include stops in Gibraltar, Malaga and Cadiz.

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Seabourn Cruise Line
Seabourn’s fleet have three 208 passenger ships. They all offer luxurious European cruise experience with superior service and the finest cuisine available at sea. Ships’ staff won several awards for their unique and complete service mentality. Seabourn’s ships; Legend, Pride, Spirit will offer you incredible shore excursions which you can’t find on other cruise lines. Passengers can enjoy sports  like water-skiing, snorkeling, sailing, kayaking and windsurfing. Seabourn ships also have retractable platforms. Seabourn’s European cruise itineraries tour Northern Europe and the Mediterranean in 7- to 18-days, and Grand European Voyages that span 18-66 days.

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SeaDream Yacht Club
Cruising on a Seadream ship is synonym with luxury. Ships’ cabin can be small but they are well packed with amenities. Both the SeaDream I and SeaDream II offer the exclusive Thai Spa, and guests can enjoy water sports from retractable platforms. Activities are not organized and schedule is flexible. Freedom is their motto. SeaDream’s Balinese DreamBeds line the sun deck, and their Caviar and Champagne Splash is legendary. SeaDream offers 7-day cruises in the Mediterranean, although longer itineraries are sometimes offered.

Silversea Cruises
Silversea’s four all-suite ships offers you the highest ratio of space-per-guest on any fleet. Plus they offer the best of the best – Pommery champagne, Lavazzo coffee, Acua di Parma soaps and lotions, Humidor by Davidoff cigars. There many activities like pool, spa and onboard library. Silversea’s 7- to 15-day European cruise itineraries include popular and smaller, less-frequented ports in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean.

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You need a “must see” list. You should pick the ports of call that interest you most. Is a trip to the Parthenon on your “must see” list, for example? Near Athens, Greece, this iconic ruin is part of an amazing collection of Greek history that is the Acropolis. Perhaps the Greek Islands of Mykonos, Santorini, Patmos, Rhodes, and the island of Cyprus hold more allure for you. A stop in Corinth gives you access to the Corinth canal, which connects the Ionian and Aegean seas. Cruise itineraries in Greece often stop in Katakolon, home of the first Olympic stadium and the Temple of Zeus, one of the Wonders of the Ancient World.
No southern European cruise would be complete without a trip to Turkey’s largest city, Istanbul.  The city separates Asia and Europe. There are many historical churches, mosques, villas, palaces. You can spend your entire day in the Grand Bazaar which is a 500-year old maze of shops. And you can visit Hagia Sophia which is an incredible architectural triumph. It was built by a Byzantium emperor as  church. After the fall of Constantinople, it became a mosque. Now it is a museum.
Kusadasi is an another popular stop where you can visit archaeological sites at the ancient city of Ephesus which is an amazing experience. As you travel through Turkey and the Black Sea, you may also wish to stop at Bodrum or Izmir.
After Greece and Turkey you can travel Yalta, Ukraine and Nessebur, Bulgaria. While when you are in Yalta visit the famous neo-Gothic castles. One of the oldest towns in Europe, Nessebur’s romantic cobblestone streets and medieval architecture make it one of the most popular destinations in Bulgaria.

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