Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Regent are the most inclusive of all the all-inclusive lines aswell as your meals, drinks, gratuities and taxes, your fare alsoincludes your flights, overseas transfers and a selection of shoreexcursions in every port. These included excursions are aparticular boon if you’re visiting archaeological sites, museums orgalleries where you need a guide to really understand what you’reseeing, and they’re great if you’re visiting a port where thepoints of interest are some distance away, such as Livorno . Regent also offer excursions themed around foodand drink, wellness and off-the-beaten track ‘Go Local’experiences. Ships range in size from 490 to 750 guests, and theaccommodation is particularly spacious.
Best Value: Norwegian Cruise Line
Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line
- Ship Name: Norwegian Epic
- Itinerary: Naples, Italy Rome, Italy Livorno, Italy Cannes, France Palma de Mallorca, Spain
For an affordable and fun-filled cruise ship from a convenient departure port, consider the Norwegians Epics round-trip voyage from Barcelona. Norwegian Epic is one of the cruise lines most popular ships, with more than 20 dining venues and unique activities and entertainment. Cruisers can experience Cirque Dreams and Dinner show, the Aqua Park with the largest bowl slide at sea, a boxercise ring at the fitness center, a bowling alley, an adults-only lounge and an array of teens and kids clubs. Theres also a variety of cabin choices from solo traveler studios, family staterooms and spa suites. In addition, the cruise visits France, Spain and three stops in Italy.
More About The Mediterranean
What is the best time to cruise to the Mediterranean?
The Mediterranean is part of Europe, and as such, summer is the most popular time to cruise, but sailings are offered through the shoulder seasons of spring and fall — and even into December. The late autumn months can be surprisingly mild, and are a much calmer time to cruise to the Med. For more information: Best Months to Cruise the Mediterranean.
Which cruise lines go to the Mediterranean?
A wide variety of large, small and luxury lines cruise the romantic ports of the Mediterranean. These include Viking Ocean Cruises, Norwegian, MSC, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Holland America, Crystal and Azamara.
What are some things to do in the Mediterranean?
Cruises to the Mediterranean are typically divided into Eastern and Western itineraries. The Western Med includes Italy, Monaco, France and Spain, with plenty of museums, culinary tours, wineries, cathedrals and architecture to ogle. The Eastern Mediterranean contains historic attractions including the ruins of Greece and Turkey, along with sacred sites in Israel or active pursuits hiking Montenegro or Croatia. For more: Best Western Mediterranean Shore Excursions.
Do you need a passport to take a cruise to the Mediterranean?
Yes.
What should I pack for a cruise to the Mediterranean?
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Small Ship Cruises Mediterranean
Greece Antiquity to Byzantium
- Day 1 | Friday: Marina Zeas – Nafplion
- Day 2 | Saturday: Nafplion – Ancient Epidaurus – Mycenae
- Day 3 | Sunday: Nafplion – Monemvasia
- Day 4 | Monday: Gythion
- Day 6 | Wednesday: Katakolon
- Day 7 | Thursday: Itea for Delphi – Corinth
- Day 8 | Friday: Athens
- Select cruises start from Corinth or end in Corinth – complimentary bus transfer from or to Athens.
New Small Cruise Ships
Nine expedition ships and two super-yachts will be sailing into the Quirky cruise fleet in 2022.
The new small cruise ships for 2022 range from comfortable to ultra-luxurious expedition ships to the long-awaited debut vessel for The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection and Emerald Cruises first oceangoing ship.
This list doesnt count the new vessels destined for the rivers of the United States, Europe and beyond. Those are another story.
Quirky size is typically 300 passengers max but were sneaking in one 378-passenger expedition vessel, Viking Polaris.
These 11 ships cover a wide array of styles and price points, and while the expedition vessels are built for the polar regions, those arent the only places theyll go. Expeditions today explore everywhere from the Great Lakes of North America to Australias Kimberley.
Heres a preview of the new small cruise ships for 2022:
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Sicily Rich With The Gifts Of Civilizations That Have Come Before
Blessed with a long, rich heritage that dates back to some of Europe’s earliest civilizations, Sicily retains many vestiges of the cultures that have come and gone here throughout the centuries Greek theatres, Roman villas, Byzantine art, Norman cathedrals, Moorish markets, Baroque churches. Among the treasures you’ll encounter are Siracusa’s Greek Theatre, Ear of Dionysius, and 3rd-century Roman amphitheatre Ortigia’s Theatre of Apollo and Baroque Duomo the Baroque gems of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Noto ancient Ragusa Ibla the capital, Palermo, and its Palazzo dei Normanni and traces of the Greeks, Romans and Byzantines in Taormina.
South West Western Australia
Staying close to home, True North Adventure Cruises launched its new South West Western Australia itinerary to past passengers only. Best known as one of the foremost local operators in the Kimberley, the award-winning small ship company completes a circumnavigation of Australia every year with exciting sectors in West Papua, Papua New Guinea, Sydney and South Australia.
The new seven-night Adventure South West itinerary features visits to Esperance, Albany and Margaret River, all the while enjoying expertly-prepared local seafood and regional wines.
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Explore The Treasures Of The Vatican Museums And The Sistine Chapel Without The Crowds
Founded by Pope Julius II in the early 1500s, the Vatican Museums display classical and religious works of art collected by the Popes throughout the centuries. Combined with the Sistine Chapel, they’re visited by around six million people a year, ranking among the most-visited art museums in the world. On your exclusive, after-hours, guided visit, you can explore the Candelabra Gallery, the Map Gallery, the Tapestries, and the Sistine Chapel all without the usual crowds. So you’ll be able to take your time to contemplate the inspirational treasures before you including the spectacular Biblical frescoes on the ceiling, which took Michelangelo four years to paint, standing on a scaffold… and changed the course of western art.
Antarctica And South Sandwich Islands
The homegrown Aurora Expeditions first started expedition cruises nearly 30 years ago and more recently started building its own Polar Class ships with an outlandish-looking bow design that makes for considerably smoother sailing in rough waters.
When the Aussie company launches Sylvia Earle, expected to be late 2021, it will venture to the South Sandwich Islands, near Antarctica. In December 2021, the ship is also headed on a 25-day South Georgia and Antarctica Odyssey to comprehensively explore these far-flung lands, typified by abundant wildlife and a lack of human influence.
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In the Northern Hemisphere, Aurora will resume voyages to the lesser-visited parts of Britain and Ireland when the Greg Mortimer embarks on the 13-day journey in May 2021. Passengers will see the wild peninsulas and fjords, soaring cliffs, crumbling castles and endemic flora and fauna on the hundreds of islands dotted along Ireland’s West Coast.
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How Much Do Small Ship Cruises Cost
You can book an affordable escorted tour starting from under $99 per day per person. Besides our award winning customer service, the best part about booking with AffordableTours.com is you will always receive a discount on your Italy tour. We are committed to providing you with the lowest prices on all top tour operators. No one beats our prices on all of our Escorted tours!
Seabourn Venture Is One Of New Small Cruise Ships For 2022
Seabourns first expedition ship sports interiors by hospitality design icon Adam Tihany. Theyre decked out in tactile materials like wood, stone and textured fabrics. The fabulous suites, led by the two-story Grand Wintergarden pair with double-height views, also feature Tihanys bespoke furniture.
A Seabourn Venture panorama suite. * Rendering: Seabourn
Seabourn Ventures Constellation Lounge. * Rendering: Seabourn
Seabourn Venture continues the brands ultra-luxurious offerings with an expedition twist.
Among the multiple lounges are a Bow Lounge close to the water for wildlife viewing, the high-up 270-degree Constellation Lounge, an Observation Bar, a Discovery Center for cultural programming, an Expedition Lounge and The Club for afternoon tea and dancing at night.
The gourmet dining choices include The Grill by Thomas Keller and a sushi restaurant.
Seabourn Venture is Seabourns first purpose-built expedition vessel. * Rendering: Seabourn
Passengers can explore in a pair of six-person submarines.
The 264-passenger ship, delayed a couple times, is now set to debut April 10 on a maiden voyage from London . Seabourn Venture will sail two itineraries around the UK with voyages to northern Norway, Svalbard, Greenland and Iceland to follow.
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Recognized For Our Service
This service has been recognized time and time again and SeaDream is proud to be honored with so many awards and top rankings in national and international publications alike. One instance of particular pride is in 2015 when ForbesLife named us Best Small Luxury Cruise Ship of 2015. In 2016, Kreuzfahrt Guide Awards honored us as Best Cruise Ship of the Year for Service. And, in 2017, Berlitz Cruising & Cruise Ships put both our yachts in as #1 and #2 in Best Boutique Ship and listed us in the Top 5 in the Best for Food Category.
When youre ready to embark on a vacation experience you will remember for a lifetime, make sure to book now or view voyages to find one that fits your schedule.
Small Ship Greek Island Cruises
Many small ship Greek Island cruises hit the popular ports of Mykonos and Santorini as well as the Corinth Canal, but look for routes that explore lesser known gems too. With over 200 islands, where are the best places to visit on a Mediterranean cruise in Greece? For first timers, we recommend Peloponnese Peninsula and Cyclades cruises, which operate round-trip from Athens, Greece.
The southeastern Cyclades islands feature iconic Greece with colorful fishing boats, azure waters and whitewashed villages cascading down scrabbled slopes. The Peloponnese Peninsula reveals gods, warriors, underground waterways, magnificent temples and impressive caves. Visit classic islands like Delos, Mykonos and Santorini, or add unique stops such as mystical Patmos or the fountain of youth town of Ikaria. Select Greek Island cruises take you west, as far north as Corfu and the other Ionian Islands.
The 157-foot, 49-guest Galileo is a steel-hull motor sailer cruising the Greek Isles in classic style. Enjoy the best of the Mediterranean aboard this stunning vessel.
The 58-guest Sea Cloud: Lindblad is the historic Marjorie Merriweather Post sailing yacht Sea Cloud, chartered by Lindblad Expeditions for select Caribbean and Mediterranean itineraries. Enjoy the grace and class of an extraordinarily elegant ship while relaxing in the casual atmosphere and informal style of expedition travel.
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Enjoy Your Onboard Amenities
Club Members continue to come back to cruise the Mediterranean with SeaDream because they know they can trust us to offer the best inclusive options on the open ocean. Besides our 5-star Dream Cuisine, which offers multi-course meals prepared a la minute and served al fresco for the best flavors, we also provide a robust selection of other onboard amenities for you to enjoy. For starters, those who have dietary restrictions or special cuisine requests can speak to our chefs, who are trained to provide some of the healthiest options available.
Those who wish to experience more than just food with their meals will want to speak to our onboard sommelier, who is there to offer wine pairing suggestions during both lunch and dinner on all of our voyages. Additionally, our bartenders are ready to offer your pick of select premium beverages, giving you plenty of chances to satiate your hunger or thirst. If you pay a visit to the Piano Bar, that drink can be accompanied by a tune of your own request.
Book Your Mediterranean Cruise
With an intimate setting, attentive crew, and inspiring itineraries, our casually elegant yachting experience is perfect for those who want a remarkably different vacation experience. Every guest has access to a host of inclusive features and luxury accommodations with an ocean view all while sailing through the most beautiful regions in the world. Dont ever settle for ordinary Mediterranean cruises again and remember that with SeaDream, your personal luxury is our pleasure. When youre ready to plan your next vacation, simply click now to view voyages or contact your travel professional to book now. We look forward to welcoming you aboard your SeaDream yacht.
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Access Ports Larger Ships Cant Reach
Our 16- to 210-passenger small ships are ideal for the spirited adventurer, often docking right in the heart of the cities we visitand even accessing off-the-beaten-path ports. As a result, you and your small group of 20-25 maximum spend less time transferring to and from your destination, and more time immersing yourself in local customs. For example, you’ll discover Swedish daily life in Visby, an island that can only be reached by plane or small ship. In the Galápagos, you’ll snorkel among sea turtles from your catamaran. And in the Arctic, youll cruise among beluga whales and tender to shore for immersive interactions with wildlife found nowhere else on earth. Whats more, you can often take advantage of this proximity by going to and from your ship at leisure.
Make Meaningful Local Connections
Unlike other cruise companies, which inundate ports with hundreds of travelers, our small ships are unobtrusive. When you step out into a new destination in your small group, locals perceive you as a curious visitor rather than a tourist, creating an environment that encourages friendly and authentic cultural interactions. So whether you’re sipping wine at a family-run vineyard in Italy or visiting a Highland cattle farm in Scotland, you’ll slip easily into this unfamiliar world.
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Sh Vega & Vega Class 3
The newly revived Swan Hellenic brand follows up its first expedition ship, 2021s SH Minerva, with a sister, SH Vega, and a third that measures 12,000 gross tons, larger than the first two 10,500-gross-ton vessels, and with capacity for 192 passengers, up from 152.
Like SH Minerva, SH Vega will be built to Polar Class 5 standard, while the third ship is a tad less robust at Polar Class 6.
Scandinavian-style interiors characterize these luxuriously outfitted vessels.
Swan Hellenics sleek stateroom finishing. * Photo: Swan Hellenic
SH Vega is planned to debut in April with varied inaugural-season itineraries that range from the British Isles paired with northern France to North Atlantic island hopping, an Iceland circumnavigation, Svalbard and the Russian High Arctic.
The third ships itineraries are to be announced.
SH Vega will be the twin of 2021s SH Minerva, pictured here. * Photo: Swan Hellenic
Whats The Best Small Ship Cruise
The best escorted tour is the one that fits your budget and schedule! The most popular tour operators are Globus, Trafalgar, Insight Vacations, Cosmos, Costsaver, CIE Tours, Intrepid, Tauck and others. You canât go wrong with any escorted tour. Please speak with one of our travel consultants to find the best tour for you!
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The Best Small Ship Cruises To The Mediterranean
The Mediterranean has a timeless appeal, with its winningcombination of historical treasures, charming port towns, balmysummer weather and fantastic food and drink.
It’s an incredibly diverse region, and here in the UK we’relucky enough to have the Med right on our doorstep, so it’s nosurprise that it remains the most popular destination for Britishcruisers year after year. Every major cruise line sends its shipsto the Mediterranean during our summer months, though theexperience on offer can vary dramatically. There are certain portsthat appear on every cruise line’s Mediterranean itineraries, andrightly so: the likes of Venice, Barcelona and Dubrovnik arepopular for a reason. But a small ship cruise opens up a wholedifferent side to the Mediterranean, allowing you to visit thesmaller ports and secluded bays that a bigger ship just can’treach.
At Mundy Cruising we specialise in ships that carry guests inthe hundreds, rather than the thousands, which makes for a verydifferent atmosphere on board: more intimate, more spacious, with alevel of personalised service that has more in common with aboutique hotel than a mainstream cruise ship carrying 5,000passengers. Even within the small ship category you have afantastic breadth of choice in the Mediterranean, from resort-styleships offering dining choices and entertainment venues aplenty, totiny 100-guest vessels that are more like travelling on your ownprivate yacht.
Papua New Guinea & Solomons
If you are more familiar with the comforts of larger ships, Pacific Princess may be the ship for you. With just 670 passengers, it is significantly smaller than most mainstream ships, yet retains the onboard intimacy you get with non-mainstream ships. You may also find that fares onboard the world-cruising Pacific Princess come at a considerable saving over the specialist expedition vessels.
An example of one such adventurous itinerary is the 21-night Papua New Guinea & Solomon Islands cruise, which visits such unusual ports as Wewak and Kitava in PNG as well as Gizo and Honiara in the Solomons. But be quick, these cruises are super popular!
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Small Ship Mediterranean Cruises: Where To Sail
Where to go in this widespread, popular destination? The following is an overview of Mediterranean cruise regions, with regional notes on the best places to cruise in the Mediterranean. Our guidance on where to sail in the Mediterranean can be separated into four broad categories based on the most common small ship Mediterranean cruise routes:
An Exclusive Special Dinner With Chamber Music At Ephesus’ Library Of Celsus
Although the ancient city of Ephesus, in what is now Turkey, was originally built by the Greeks in the 10th century AD, much of the ruins you’ll see at the site today date to the city’s Roman period like the famed Library of Celsus, constructed in the 2nd century AD to memorialize a Roman governor of Asia. Only the facade of this remarkable building has survived, but restored and re-erected, it is a stunning example of Roman urban architecture… and the amazing nighttime setting for a Tauck Exclusive, al fresco dinner featuring a chamber music orchestra performance.
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