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What Is The Best Cruise Line For Mediterranean

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Crowne Plaza Hotel Quarto D’altino Italy

Top 10 tips for a Mediterranean cruise

IMPORTANT NOTICE – The Crowne Plaza Hotel is located on the Italian mainland in the town of Quarto d’Altino – approximately 30 minutes by train from the island of Venice. The hotel is not located on the island of Venice. Train station is a one minute walk from hotel. The Crowne Plaza is an ideal hotel for the price conscious guest.

IMPORTANT NOTICE – The Crowne Plaza Hotel is located on the Italian mainland in the town of Quarto d’Altino – approximately 30 minutes by train from the island of Venice. The hotel is not located on the island of Venice. Train station is a one minute walk from hotel. The Crowne Plaza is an ideal hotel for the price conscious guest.

The Crowne Plaza Quarto d’Altino hotel, with its comfortable and fashionable rooms, is ideally located at just 30 minutes by train from the magic of Venice and provides easy access to Venice Marco Polo airport. All rooms offer high speed internet access and interactive TVs. For those leisure moments, clients can unwind in the Minigym & Sauna and enjoy the “Il Campiello” restaurant and bar where authentic cuisine blends perfectly with innovative and creative dishes.

The hotel offers complimentary shuttle service to the airport. You’re also walking distance to the rail station, where it’s only 20 minutes to Venice by train.

Distance/ Airport: 7 minutes

Transfers between Airport and Hotel Transfers between Hotel and Pier

Best Tall Ship Cruise: Windstar Cruises

Courtesy of Windstar Cruises

  • Ship Name: Wind Surf
  • Itinerary: Opatija, Croatia Zadar, Croatia Split, Croatia Dubrovnik, Croatia Kotor, Montenegro Piran, Slovenia Venice, Italy

Feel the power of the wind on a voyage through the Adriatic Sea with Windstar Cruises, a luxury tall-sailing ship cruise line. On the Quintessential Croatia cruise, travelers will explore parts of the Eastern Mediterranean region including sleepy seaside resort towns like Opatija as well as bustling cities like Split, home to Diocletians Palace a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As a partner to the James Beard Foundation, passengers experience exceptional cuisine onboard from award-winning chefs, plus themed voyages include live cooking demos, market tours and beverage pairings. The recently-renovated, 310-passenger ship also has an open-bridge policy, a water sports platform and several elegant viewing lounges.

Second Guest Flies Free Offer

Pay airfare for one guest, and you’ll automatically lock-in roundtrip flights for two. Secure these savings online by choosing your nearest airport in step one of your cruise booking, and enjoy air-to-sea made easy. We’ll coordinate your roundtrip flights, and transportation between the airport and cruise port.

Find this offer on 4+ Day Cruises to this destination and beyond.

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Medium Ship Line #: Princess Cruises

Of Princess Cruises 17-ship fleet, its five smallest include the Coral Princess, Island Princess, Sun Princess, Sea Princess, and the infamous Pacific Princess, which was the star of the TV show The Love Boat. The Pacific Princess is by far the smallest, holding just 680 passengers. The four other ships carry around 2,000 passengers and are the perfect size to sail through the Panama Canal.

Large Ship Line #: P& o Cruises

Mediterranean Cruises

The United Kingdoms premier cruise lineand the worlds oldest, having commenced passenger operations in 1837P& O sails Europe, North America, and the Caribbean with a crowd made up primarily of British nationals. As such, prepare for the ships amenities to have a British bent . Three of the fleets five current ships fall into the large category, while its two upcoming ships, MS Iona and her as-of-yet unnamed sister, will be mega-ships.

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Best Cruises In The Med For Romance

Two overnight stops, in Istanbul and Venice, make Holland America Lines 12-day itinerary stand out from the crowd. Moderately sized Nieuw Amsterdam, which takes just 2,106 passengers, leaves Venice for an eastern Mediterranean cruise that includes a day at the seaside town of Katakolon for excursions to the ancient Greek ruins of Olympia, then on to Piraeus for a day in Athens. Scenic cruising through the Dardanelles, the 37-mile wide waterway that divides Europe from Asia, ends in Istanbul for two days of sightseeing that might include the sublime beauty of the Blue Mosque, the grandeur of Topkapi Palace where the Ottoman sultans kept their harem, or perhaps the Grand Bazaar full of spices, rugs and leather goods. There are calls at the ridiculously picturesque Greek island of Mykonos, historic Rhodes and Crete, before heading north to Croatias UNESCO-listed island, Korcula, where 400 years of Venetian rule is reflected in its charming streets, then an overnight stop in Venice itself possibly the most romantic city in the world.

*The Mediterranean Empires cruise on Nieuw Amsterdam departs on 9 and 21 July, with prices from £1,849pp, based on two people sharing, on a cruise only basis .

Medium Ship Line #: Msc Cruises

Showing up for the third time on our list, MSC Cruises is clearly beloved by many! The Swiss cruise line has just four medium-size shipsthe Lirica classwhich accommodate between 2,000 and 2,600 passengers. Theyre also the oldest ships in the fleet, though they each underwent refurbishment as part of MSCs Renaissance program to modernize interiors and expand their size. The line is known for its Mediterranean inspirationthough its fleet sails far beyond the region, calling at ports all over the worldso youll find delicious Italian food on board no matter where your ship is taking you. MSC sailings are quite lively, especially at night, with many guests partying at nightclubs into the late hours.

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Best Caribbean Cruise: Carnival Cruise

Carnival

  • Duration: 8 nights
  • Ship Name: Carnival Horizon
  • Itinerary: Grand Turks, Turks and Caicos Islands La Romana, Dominican Republic Curacao, Netherlands Antilles Aruba, Netherlands Antilles

Carnival Horizons teen-friendly activities include SkyRide, a suspended bicycle track with jaw-dropping views that overlook the Sports Square. Here, teens will find a clubhouse for indoor games like bowling and pool. Outdoors, they’ll find soccer, volleyball, ping pong, a mini golf course, and a ropes course. There are two teen clubs: Circle C for kids ages 12 to 14 with dance parties, games, movies, and more, while Club 02 is for teens ages 15 to 17 where they can listen to music, play sports and video games, sing karaoke, and party into the night. The ship also has an IMAX theater and Hasbro, The Game Show for live game show performances with audience participation.

Take a look at other options with our selection of the best Caribbean cruises.

Small Ship Line #: Ecoventura

Top 11 Mediterranean Cruise Tips

As Ecoventura operates a fleet of three expedition yachts with a capacity of only 20 passengers, you know youre getting a personalized experience on board. The ships sail two week-long itineraries in the Galápagosyou can combine them both if you want more time with the islands incredible wildlife. The luxurious ships each have 10 well-appointed cabins, a lounge where naturalists provide lectures and briefings before excursions, a dining room and bar, a library filled with scholarly tomes on the Galápagos, and a sundeck for relaxation.

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River Ship Line #: Crystal River Cruises

Crystal River Cruises launched in 2016 with custom-built river ships. The company is dead-set on matching the top-of-the-line service of its ocean ships in this offeringand it’s certainly got readers convinced. The fleet has five river shipsfour of which, Crystal Bach, Mahler, Debussy, and Ravel, are Europes only all-suite, all-balcony river shipssailing the Moselle, Rhine, Danube, and Main rivers. Guests enjoy an all-inclusive experience, with free butler service, unlimited drinks , WiFi, and fitness classes.

Small Ship Line #1: Hapag

German company Hapag-Lloyd is not just in the shipping business: its building a luxury expedition cruise empire, too. Though it currently only has two ships in its fleet, the MS Europa and MS Europa 2, the line has impressed its customers with suite-style cabins, impressive itineraries across all seven continents, and extremely polished service thats anything but stuffy. Hapag-Lloyds budding empire will expand with three new expedition ships scheduled to launch in 2021.

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Best Overall: P& o Cruise

Courtesy of P& O Cruise

  • Ship Name: Aurora
  • Itinerary: Andalsnes, Norway Romsdalsfjord, Norway Tromso, Norway Alta, Norway Stavanger, Norway Southampton, UK

After undergoing a refurbishment in early 2019, the 1,874-passenger Aurora is now one of three adults-only vessels that sail under P& O cruises . Aurora is ideal for cruisers who enjoy ocean cruising on a mid-sized ship, with an array of dining options and several cabin choices ranging from interior to spacious suites. Dance classes, a full-service spa, a theater, movie cinema, casino, and a number of bars and lounges including the bustling, four-story central atrium are all available onboard the vessel. For a chance to see the northern lights, Aurora sails round-trip on a breathtaking voyage through Norwegian fjords and dramatic scenery.

Most Stylish Mediterranean Cruises

Best Mediterranean Cruise Ships

Theres something for everyone on MSC Cruises idyllic seven-night Mediterranean cruise, which starts in the charming port of Palma, in Mallorca. The ship then heads out to colourful Barcelona, and metropolitan Cannes, on the French Cote dAzur, which is great for people watching or if that doesnt float your boat, theres a wonderful nature walk round the back streets. On arriving at the Italian Riviera, youll have a day at Genoa and anotherat La Spezia, one of the best-known ports of the Cinque Terre. The former fishing village is now a hotspot of tall, colourful, buildings clinging to the cliffs along this dramatic coastline. Once seen, never forgotten.

*The Mediterranean cruise on MSC Grandiosa departs on 2 April 2021, with prices from £849pp, based on two sharing, on a cruise-only basis .

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Mega Ship Line #: Norwegian Cruise Line

Known for its colorful ships, Norwegian Cruise Line first broke into the mega-ship category in 2010 with the launch of Norwegian Epic, which can carry just over 5,000 passengers at full occupancy, and have since introduced five others in the Breakaway and Breakaway-Plus classes. The crowd aboard these vessels, which primarily sail in North America, the Caribbean, and the Mediterranean, often consists of families who take advantage of amenities like waterparks, virtual-reality gaming, and go-kart racing, though the cruise lines newest ship, Norwegian Bliss, has a decidedly more mature atmosphere. In November 2019, Norwegian launched the newest member of its fleet, Norwegian Encore, which is the most luxurious of its mega-ships.

Medium Ship Line #: Holland America Line

Of Holland Americas 10 ships, eight of them fall into the medium-size category, carrying between 1,400 and 2,500 passengers. The refined ships sail to destinations across the world, but one of the most popular destinations for the cruise line is Alaska. When cruising resumes, we think you should check out the Noordam, which was refurbished in 2019, as it sails itineraries around the Japanese archipelago, China, and Southeast Asia.

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Final Thoughts: Starboard Or Port Side On A Cruise Ship

When booking and planning a cruise, its clear that there are many things to consider. Depending on your cruise itinerary, you may have a preference for a port side or starboard side balcony cabin.

In this post we went over some information about the nautical terms PORT and STARBOARD, how to remember them, as well as some useful information on choosing a cabin based on your itinerary.

Please let me know if you prefer a starboard or port side cabin, and share any tips for the the best cabins for Alaska, the Caribbean and other itineraries. Your comments will surely help others!

Happy cruising!

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Small Ship Line #1: Ponant

East Mediterranean And Greece Cruise Tips And Watch Outs. 9 Must-Knows Before Cruising.

Fine French cuisine, Hermès bath products, and personalized service come standard on Ponant’s fleet of globe-circling ships. The line has recently expanded its original fleet of four expedition ships and one sailing yacht with six new Explorer-class ships designed for a form of luxury expedition-style cruising, each featuring an infinity pool, an underwater viewing lounge, and itineraries that include destinations as far-flung as Papua New Guinea and West Africas Bissagos Islands. It also acquired Paul Gauguin Cruises in 2019, adding another ship to the fleet. Ponant will launch Le Commandant Charcot, an ice-breaking expedition ship, in 2021.

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Best Mediterranean Cruises For Ancient Wonders

Luxury all-inclusive line Seabourn is returning to Turkeys most fascinating city, Istanbul, this year and this seven-night Ephesus & Greek Isles voyage offers a lovely way to meander through the Aegean isles and along the Turquoise Coast. Departing from Piraeus, the ancient port on the edge of Athens, it calls at beautiful Greek islands including Patmos a UNESCO world heritage site Mykonos, with its maze-like whitewashed streets, and Skiathos, where you can get boats to isolated beaches. Theres also a day on the Turkish island of Tenedos, which has a crenelated fortress and cobblestone streets, before arriving at Istanbul, where a post-cruise hotel stay is available.

*The Ephesus & Greek Isles cruise on Seabourn Ovation departs 10 October, with prices from £3,499pp, based on two people sharing, including flights and onboard credit .

How To Choose A Western Mediterranean Vs Eastern Mediterranean Cruises

Both areas have Unesco World Heritage sites, unbeatable local cuisine and excellent shopping. Western cruises in the budget realm tend to focus on Spain, France, Tunisia, and western parts of Italy, such as Genoa and Rome.

Eastern Mediterranean cruises hit Italian destinations like Venice, as well as Greece, Montenegro and Croatia. If youre most thrilled by warm sandy beaches, the Eastern Mediterranean will be the best choice.

Some Eastern Mediterranean itineraries may also include Albania or as far as Turkey and Middle Eastern countries, though we couldnt find them on any budget itineraries.

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River Ship Line #: Avalon Waterways

With a fleet of 20 river ships, Avalon has quite a few itineraries throughout Europe, India, Southeast Asia, Egypt, and Peru, though it charters ships in those last two destinations. Avalons own purpose-built ships are incredibly spacioussuites are 30 percent larger than the industry standard and feature fully retractable floor-to-ceiling windows.

Best Mediterranean Cruises For Families

Mediterranean Cruises

The contemporary cruise lines offer a variety of daily activities, excursions and entertainment options that are a perfect fit for younger adults and family cruises. Disney Cruise and Royal Carribean Cruises offer multiple entertainment facilities and shows as well as fantastic dining options for children.

The facilities and options can be enjoyable for any generations. If you choose family or children oriented cruise vacation, you will find large and extra large mega-ships are the great choice on board. Find out more information on the best cruise lines for families.

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Large Ship Line #: Disney Cruise Line

If theres one thing Disney Cruise Line does well, its hospitality. The company has taken every lesson its learned from its parks and resort operations and implemented that into its four cruise ships, the 2,400-passenger Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, and the 4,000-passenger Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy. The ships are designed for families through and throughthere are numerous themed activities every day, from meet-and-greets to full-blown parties with Disney charactersbut there are plenty of adults-only areas that provide a respite from little ones. That said, the ships are not over-the-top when it comes to Disney decor. In fact, theyre quite elegant, taking design inspiration from early-20th-century ocean liners and sporting Art Deco and Art Nouveau aesthetics. The four ships currently sail the Caribbean Alaska Europe the Pacific Coast and the Panama Canal. Three more ships are scheduled to be added to the fleet between 2022 and 2023.

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Small Ship Line #: Silversea Cruises

Silverseaâs five expedition ships stop in the Caribbean, the South Pacific, Europe, Africa, the Galápagos, and Antarctica on shorter duration sailings, but they also offer around-the-world itineraries for an international clientele. Off-the-beaten-path excursions make for once-in-a-lifetime experiences, like penguin spotting in Antarctica or private catamaran tours in tropical locales. In September 2019, Silversea completed its first journey through the Northwest Passagea monumental featwith the Silver Explorer, a 144-passenger expedition vessel. The fleet was joined by the new Silver Origin, a Galapagos-specific ship, in 2020.

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Medium Ship Line #: Cunard

While Cunards Queen Mary 2 fits more than 2,600 passengersand a number of cats and dogson board, her sister ships, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria only have a capacity of about 2,000 passengers. Though theyre quite similar in layout, the QE and the QV differ in design. Both nod to the historic ocean liners of the early 20th century, but the QE takes on a bolder Art Deco vibe, while the QV features more subdued yet equally elegant decor. Guests on board both ships are likely to partake in afternoon tea before donning a glamorous gown for dinner.

Small Ship Line #1: American Cruise Lines

Best Mediterranean Cruises – Tips to pick the best Mediterranean cruises. (January 2020)

American Cruise Lines has the unique distinction of operating not only old-school paddlewheelers in the United States, but also contemporary river ships. And they dont just sail on the Mississippiyou can also explore the Columbia and Snake Rivers in the Pacific Northwest, too. Beyond that, the 13-strong fleet also has oceangoing vessels that explore the coasts surrounding the entire country, from New England to Alaska to the Gulf of Mexico.

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Best For Culture Vultures

Cunards Queen Victoria sails from Southampton to the walled city of Kotor, in Montenegro, for its 19-night cruise in September. Backed by mountains and approached by a long bay resembling a fjord, Kotor is one of the most beautiful destinations in the Adriatic. Croatias Dubrovnik and Split come next, and while Croatias town walls and marble streets are famous, Splits third-century Palace of Diocletian is still an unknown treasure, which is full of temples, statues and sphinxes. But its Venice that is the main highlight, lined with Renaissance and Gothic palaces, alleys and piazzas. The ship then calls at the French island of Corsica before heading home via Portugals capital, Lisbon.

*The Venice and the Adriatic cruise on Queen Victoria departs 20 September, with prices from £3,549pp, based on two people sharing .

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