It is hard to go wrong with a Mediterranean cruise, you will enjoy either itinerary as the crystal clear waters of the Mediterranean Sea shimmer all year round, but how do you pick which itinerary is right for you?
Both itineraries offer brilliant ports of call with incredible cuisine and local wines, beaches, lots of activities to do, and historical culture to learn about, as well as opportunities for shopping, perfect for all types of travellers.
Which ports can I embark in?
Both Eastern & Western Mediterranean cruise itineraries depart from remarkable places, making this type of cruise itinerary ideal for pre-cruise hotel stays. You typically embark on a Western Mediterranean cruise from Genoa, Barcelona, Rome, or Southampton. If you want to avoid getting on a flight or don’t want the airport hassle before your holiday then a Western Mediterranean cruise would be perfect for you as there is a variety of no-fly cruises that do roundtrip sailings from Southampton to the Western Mediterranean and back.
The main ports for the majority of Eastern Mediterranean sailings are the beautiful cities of Athens (port of Piraeus), Venice (and surrounding ports) as well as Istanbul. Occasionally, some cruise lines tend to mix a bit of the Western Mediterranean with the Eastern and may start or end voyages in Rome (served by Civitavecchia), Barcelona, or Genoa.
Where do the cruises go?
Eastern Mediterranean cruises usually include the Greek islands such as Mykonos, Santorini, and Rhodes, Turkey such as Kusadasi and Izmir, Dalmatian coast such as Dubrovnik, Kotor, and Split, Italy and Croatia of the Adriatic Sea as their main ports of call. Croatia and Montenegro may also be covered, and some cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean offer some Eastern Mediterranean itineraries to Israel and Egypt.
Western Mediterranean cruises will typically include Spain, France, and the western coast of Italy. If you fancy visiting North Africa, Spanish coasts, or Portugal, some cruise lines will include ports such as Morocco, Lisbon, and Tunisia in their Western Mediterranean cruise itineraries. Some of the famous Canary Islands are more than likely to be included in Western Mediterranean cruises such as Valencia which is great for people wanting to experience both the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands in one cruise.
Benefits of going to the Eastern Mediterranean and the Western Mediterranean
There are different benefits of going to either the Western or Eastern Mediterranean depending on what you are looking for in your holiday. However, if you can’t decide which itinerary to choose from then why not do a back-to-back Eastern Mediterranean cruise with a Western Mediterranean cruise.
Some cruise lines offer open-jaw itineraries where the cruise starts and finishes in different ports for example MSC Cruises to the Western Mediterranean sometimes tend to start in Barcelona and finish in Funchal, Portugal, Azamara, and Celebrity Cruises also do these types of open-jaw Mediterranean cruise itineraries also. These open-jaw itineraries are perfect for cruise and stay package holidays as you are able to do a pre-cruise stay in one destination before embarking and then also do a post-cruise stay in a different destination.
Best Bits about the Eastern Mediterranean
- When it comes to an Eastern Mediterranean cruise you are able to combine visiting historic sites and relaxing on golden beaches which is a perfect bit of both worlds and is great for families or couples as there is something for everyone.
- You do not have to go out at every port and you don’t need to walk far until you will get to a lovely glistening beach to chill out on.
- You will visit places with lots of historical culture and archaeological sites such as Naples, Athens, and the Greek Islands, where you can learn about Greek mythology.
- An Eastern Med cruise can include famously religious sites and sacred places, for example, the Holy Land in Jerusalem can be visited directly or from Haifa, Israel.
Best Bits about the Western Mediterranean
- A highlight of experiencing a Western Mediterranean cruise is getting to see Europe’s most wonderful historical and cultural sites. You will get the chance to visit all the well-known museums, art galleries, and archaeological sites.
- There are great wine-tasting options on a Western Mediterranean cruise as you will visit places that have amazing local wines.
- Rome, Barcelona, and Portugal offer a wide range of expansive shopping opportunities, Hi-end restaurants, quirky and unique cafes, bars and lounges are also popular in these places. If you are a foodie then the Western Mediterranean is the place for you as there is so much choice here.
- You will get the chance to discover spectacular natural landscapes and the beauty of the places included in a Western Mediterranean cruise.
Overall the choice of which cruise itinerary to go for is up to you, there is something for every type of holiday goer on a Western or Eastern Mediterranean cruise. They are both different in their own ways and will satisfy you for different reasons, so depending on what your preferences are, what you are looking to do whilst on your holiday, and where you want to see/ visit this can help make up your mind. If you can’t decide, there is always the option to do a back-to-back cruise and tick destinations from both the Eastern and Western Mediterranean off your bucket list.
