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cruising

SEA OF THREE CONTINENTS

Choose your own way to cruise the Mediterranean. BY J.D. BROWN AND MARGARET BACKENHEIMER

THE MEDITERRANEAN IS THE second-most popular cruise the Balearic Islands of Spain (including Majorca and Ibiza) also BY THE SEA:
destination in the world, and for good reason. Nowhere else on topped the million-passenger mark, as did Athens (Piraeus) and Cruise ship along the
Earth combines such an array of stunning marine settings with so two more Italian ports, Naples and Genoa. shores of Santoríni
island, Greece
many iconic, cultural and historic treasures. Cruise passengers can Picking a Mediterranean cruise depends in part on selecting
comb the ancient ruins of Greece and Italy, party on the Riviera, an itinerary with the ports, major and minor, that interest you PHOTO: © SMALLREDGIRL |
DREAMSTIME
sip the wines of southern France, island-hop along the Iberian most, whether they be Rome or Athens, Gibraltar or Santoríni,
Peninsula or explore the walled cities of the Dalmatian Coast. Florence or Monte Carlo. Another determining factor is which
Sea-going travelers seeking to make their own odysseys in the cruise line to book. Nearly 50 cruise lines deploy at least one of
Mediterranean have a full berth of choices among international their ships to the Mediterranean this summer. Holland America,
cruise lines, with ships ranging from large resort vessels to small Princess, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Celebrity, Disney, Cunard From Athens
luxury ships. High season for Mediterranean cruises commences and Carnival are among the largest operators with the largest to Zadar, one
in June and tapers off by November. Experienced cruisers often ships, while Silversea, Seabourn, Viking, Crystal, Windstar, in every five
prefer autumn or spring sailings when temperatures are milder Oceania, Regent Seven Seas and Azamara Club Cruises lead cruises on the
and ports less crowded. Winter sailings are sparse, although the the ranks of smaller luxury options. For Mediterranean trips
Mediterranean is inching toward becoming a major year-round year-round or shorter than a week’s duration, there are several planet drops
cruise destination. international, European-based lines to choose from, including anchor some-
Cruises in the Western Mediterranean are four times as Costa Cruises (an Italian cruise line headquartered in Geneva), where in the
popular as cruises in the Eastern Mediterranean, where smaller MSC Cruises (the world’s fourth-largest cruise company) and Mediterranean.
luxury lines predominate, offering educational voyages to the Variety Cruises (an Athens-based operator of boutique ships and
Greek Isles; the Adriatic coastline of Slovenia, Croatia and mega-yachts).
Montenegro; and, until recent political problems flared up, the Enclosed by Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the wide
treasure houses of Turkey and Egypt. Italy hosts the most cruises, Mediterranean has plenty of space to accommodate the world’s
followed in order by Spain, France and Greece. Eight Mediter- major cruise lines while packing enough attractions to reward a
ranean ports served more than 1 million passengers each last year, lifetime of sailings, whether you yearn to see Vesuvius or Venice,
led by Barcelona, Rome (Civitavecchia) and Venice. Marseille and Capri or Crete.

40 globaltravelerusa.com FEBRUARY 2018