Western Mediterranean Cruises
A western Mediterranean cruise means romance and passion with the beautiful coastline of France, Italy, Portugal and Spain.
Celebrity, Costa, Crystal, Cunard, Holland America, MSC, Norwegian, Oceania, Princess, Royal Caribbean International, Seabourn, SeaDream Yacht Club, Silversea, Star Clippers, and Windstar Cruises all offer European cruise itineraries in the western Mediterranean.
French Riviera must be on top of your must-see list. The picturesque ports along the Cote d’Azur are situated very close together, and are the subject of many paintings by Matisse, Picasso and Renoir. In Marseille, tour the Notre-Dame-de-la-Guarde, a fantastic example of Neo-Byzantine architecture.
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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.
