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Take in the stunning, volcanic island of Santorini with its blue and whitewashed towns or sip a glass of wine on Italy's Amalfi Coast with its pastel-colored houses built into steep-sloping cliffs. You might want to skip the formal tours and merely wander around the port town, browsing local shops or grabbing a coffee or snack in a local cafe. You can find a variety of weeklong Mediterranean cruises, but if you've got the time, nine- to 14-night sailings are not uncommon. Seven-night cruises are best if you're short on time or want to tack on a few days in Barcelona, Rome or Athens before or after your cruise. Longer itineraries are ideal for experiencing a greater variety of destinations and traversing more of the Med.
Visiting the Salvador Dali Museum in Spain
If you've never been to Europe, you may feel overwhelmed by destination choices. If you know which ports are on your must-see list, you might be more stumped by which cruise line to choose or which specific itinerary will be the best for you. Our seven-day Mediterranean cruise began in Barcelona and, immediately after embarkation, it became clear that we wouldn’t struggle to find things to do on Symphony of the Seas. For any cruises listed, Cruise Critic does not guarantee any specific rates or prices. Cruise to Greece's idyllic islands and watch the sunrise over the Aegean.
Flamenco Dancers in Cadiz, Spain
It’s in the food and beverage departments that Symphony of the Seas really excels. Around 2,200 crew cater for 6,600 guests’ needs, and although I had assumed the service would be good, it was, hand on heart, the best I ever experienced, on sea or land. If there was ever a place that combined culture and romance to perfection, it's seen most with a trip to Italy.
Cyprus Cruise Travel Vacation
These could also include stops in Portugal (primarily Lisbon, though Porto is occasionally featured), Canary Islands, Morocco (Casablanca and Tangier), Tunis (La Goulette), Monte Carlo and Gibraltar. Within these choices, however, actual ports of call vary wildly and can include everything from France's oh-so-chic Villefranche to Italy's open-air museum of Florence (via the port of Livorno). With an overwhelming world of choices, we understand you may need some personal assistance to plan your perfect vacation. From finding the right destination to choosing the best departure date, we're here to help.
Here's everything you need to know about skiing in the Alps, including where to stay and when to visit. Find a new perspective from high in the sky with a hot air balloon ride in Turkey. Uncover the secrets to having the best olive oil in the world as well as the know-how on all the many types and their uses.
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Here are the 10 best places to visit in Turkey, with something for every traveler. A Norway vacation will help you take in all the wild north has to offer. You'll be able to see an incredible range of wildlife during your stay. The headstrong Spanish farmers continue to produce some of the world's finest oranges, olives, and hams.
Explore the Old Town of Corfu or Crete, or travel even further back in time to see the ancient Acropolis of Athens or the Temple of Aphaia on Aegina. After that, relax on the world-class beaches or go snorkeling to explore what lies beneath the warm, crystal-clear waters. Before you leave, drink a frappé iced coffee or ouzo, an anise-flavoured aperitif, and sample some regional culinary highlights. Another common concern for those planning a cruise to the Mediterranean is they will “miss out” on European culture and lifestyle by spending evenings on a cruise ship instead of on land. A Mediterranean cruise should be looked at more as a “sampler” rather than an immersive dive into each destination.
Venture To Nearby Spain
Discover imaginative architecture, impressive Spanish dishes and beautiful excursions into nature when you cruise to Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia. In addition, some phone plans may already come with international data in the Mediterranean, so be sure to check with your phone provider about whether or not you can access data abroad free of charge. International data offerings differ based on which phone provider you use. Some providers may have a daily fee for international service whereas others can charge by the amount of data used.
Tips for Preparing Your House for an Extended Vacation Royal Caribbean Cruises
The Mediterranean region has a temperate climate, but it still gets chilly in the spring and fall and can be brutally hot in the summer. Check the weather before your sail date and pack for the predicted temperatures — with layers, in case the forecasters are wrong and it's unseasonably hot or cold. There are few pleasures more sublime than experiencing dishes that you've come to know and love at their point of origin. Carbonara in Rome, pizza in Naples, bouillabaisse in Marseille, tapas in Barcelona, gelato anywhere in Italy, all washed down with relatively inexpensive local wines. This is the region to ditch the buffet and make some mealtime memories.
Once you let go of your need to see and do it all and accept that you're on a sampler tour, you'll be better able to make your cruise selections and enjoy the ports your ship does visit. Early spring and late fall sailings offer the advantage of more competitive fares, fewer crowds in port and more pleasant temperatures. Plus more things are open; Europeans notoriously take the entire month of August off, and many restaurants are closed in the middle of summer. For more of an "off-the-beaten-track" destination, pop on over to Montenegro.
You might find last-minute deals on spring cruises to Europe or still be considered early for fall itineraries. The majority of ships, however, arrive in the spring and depart in the fall, choosing warmer climes like the Caribbean for holiday sailings. Most of those are European-based lines, such as Costa Cruises, MSC Cruises and Celestyal Cruises, but Viking also braves chilly weather for its destination-focused itineraries in Europe. Know that you can't see everything in one Mediterranean cruise — even on sailings that run multiple weeks.
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If you would rather explore a city on your own as opposed to standing in line for historical monuments or churches, you will still have an amazing cruise experience. Many cruisers visiting Florence plan to visit the Duomo or Statue of David. Those visiting Nice may take a stroll along the waterfront Promenade des Anglais.
What you pack for the Western Mediterranean will be highly dependent on the time of year of your cruise, but comfortable walking shoes are always a must. Light layers are a good idea year-round and some warmer options are a good idea during the colder months. We also recommend bringing a reusable water bottle if you're visiting in the summer; crowded Mediterranean streets can become unbearably hot and dehydration can become an issue. The next day, we arrived in our only French stop during the week – Marseille. Although the deluxe drinks package entitling you to unlimited cocktails, wine and beers all cruise long can seem pricey ($56 to $105 per person per day), it actually represents great value.
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