Mediterranean Cruises

The Best Time to Cruise

Many would say that the Northern Hemisphere summer months – June to August, are the best for visiting the Mediterranean. However, here are a couple of reasons why not:

• High season
• Big tourist crowds in all museums, galleries, etc.
• Prices are high
• Temperatures are at their highest

Try booking your cruise for the months of March to May or September to October, and here is why:

• The flowers are blooming
• The landscapes are colourful
• It is warm but not hot
• The visitor crowds are much smaller
• The prices are lower

Top Cruise Lines

Finding your perfect Mediterranean cruise is as easy as deciding which cruise line you would like to sail with – most of them will have an itinerary around this beautiful region. Setting sail from a home port near you is always the perfect option:

• Cunard cruises to the Mediterranean – there are 40+ night sailings starting from Perth (Fremantle) or Sydney on offer. These will take you halfway across the world, letting you explore some of its best corners:
  • Sri Lanka
  • Jordan
  • Egypt
  • Italy
  • The UK
• Princess cruises to the Mediterranean set sail in Sydney or Brisbane to take you on grand voyages ending in Dover or back in Australia.

There are cruise lines that specialize in Mediterranean cruises and know the region in and out. If you would like to sail with one of the below, ask your cruise expert about our DreamAway Packages that have flights, hotel stays and transfers included for your convenience.

• Seabourn cruises to the Mediterranean
• MSC cruises to the Mediterranean

Top Ports

There is a range of beautiful countries that you could visit on a Mediterranean cruise, including:

• Spain
• France
• Italy
• Israel

Cruise ports along the African coast are also starting to open up every year. There are so many cultures and traditions to be found around the Mediterranean.

Portimao, Portugal

Boasting 300 days of sunshine a year, Portimao in Portugal’s Algarve district promises to delight with:

• Charming streets
• White-washed houses
• Enticing cuisine
• Friendly locals
• Spectacular landscapes

Discover the coastline’s many fishing towns, or unwind at one of the many coastal beaches. Take a dip in the Algarve’s refreshingly cool waters and soak up the area’s warm ambience.

Cádiz, Spain

Take a stroll along Cádiz’s narrow cobble-stoned streets and discover one of Andalusia’s best kept secrets. Immerse yourself in all it has to offer:

• Sample the warm culture
• Delight in some tempting tapas
• Discover the coastal city’s ancient architecture

Mallorca, Spain

For a cultured mix of sunny beach resorts, traditional fishing villages, sprawling cobbled streets and rolling vineyards look no further than Mallorca. This enchanting Balearic Island has always been favoured by tourists for its island ambience, sun-fuelled atmosphere and golden sand beaches.

Sicily, Italy

The biggest island in the Mediterranean – Sicily, allows you to experience the deep cultural and arts heritage of the area. There are hundreds of ancient ruins and castles on the island.

Spend the time exploring the cities and towns and you won’t be disappointed. You will also want to see the beautiful countryside in all its Sicilian glory.

You can take a walk in the foothills of Mount Etna or visit some of the picturesque villages and enjoy the famous local dessert – Cannoli. This sweet treat is something not to miss on your trip to Sicily.

Santorini, Greece

Mediterranean cruises around the Greek Isles have a different flavour. These will take you back over 2000 years so you can experience all the ancient history.

Santorini is full of colour and culture. The friendly natives will bring a smile to your face with their warm nature.

Highlights

The name ‘Mediterranean’ derives from the Latin “in the midst of lands”, and stays very true to its name! With access to Europe, Africa and Asia, a cruise along the Mediterranean coastline offers an experience like no other.

Cuisine

Although, the concept of a unified Mediterranean cuisine does exist and there are similarities, there is also a vast amount of cultural variance that makes the cuisines to what they are – spectacular.

There are some staples that you should not miss while in the area:

• The freshest fish in Greece
• Extraordinary cheeses in France
• Delicious home-made pasta in Italy
• Ham and calamari in Spain

History & Culture

The Mediterranean, along with the rest of Europe, has been in existence for millions of years and has seen great civilizations, empires and religions rise and fall, so no wonder, the region is brimming with art, culture and history.

Every city and building you will see has so much history behind it:

• The Colosseum in Rome
• The Pantheon in Athens
• Dubrovnik in Croatia
• Pompeii

The Mediterranean is home to some of the world’s greatest masterpieces, like:

• The Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, Rome
• The Basilica de la Sagrada Familia, Barcelona

Natural Beauty

Mediterranean landscapes are stunning and incredibly diverse:

• Mountains
• Rocky shores
• Lush forests
• Coastal wetlands

Biodiversity is also something the Mediterranean region is known for. It was never affected by the Ice Age and, thus, has a very specific wildlife, some of which cannot be found anywhere else:

• Ground-nesting birds like the pin-tailed sandgrouse
• Endemic fish, amphibians and insects