Mediterranean small ship cruising?

[tanlee]

I'm planning a trip to the Mediterranean next May/June and want to incorporate a cruise into the trip. Can anyone suggest a cruise line that visits places like the Greek Islands, Athens, Venice, Rome etc.

 

We prefer smaller ships (but will consider bigger ones if the itinerary is right) and like a bit luxury. I'm thinking a cruise of about 7 to 10 days and then a few weeks of land tours.

 

I dont really know where to start but I'd like to have it all booked by Sunday to take advantage of Etihads cheap business class flights.

 

Any suggestions?

[Opua Kiwi]

Haven't tried them, but Azamara have two small ships in the Med over those months.

[Fitzall]

We're on Viking Ocean Cruises mid Aug 10 days Athens-Venice. Max of 930 pax - all rooms have balconies. Includes port excursion every day, all meals incl specialty restaurants, wine, beer, soft drinks during lunch & dinner, free laundry on each level, enrichment talks, spa sauna & snow room. No casino, no photographers, no slides, no kids, pretty much no add-ons. Aimed at 45 yrs+ who enjoy cruising as it used to be. Cost is not cheap but you pay for what you get ..... When you add all of the above, we think it's pretty good value.

 

Viking is port destination based i.e more times spent in port. viking River cruises have been going for a # of years;(we've been on one & and loved it); Viking ventured in to ocean cruising in 2015. 2nd ship launched Apr 16 (Viking Sea) which is the one we're on.

 

Viking won Travel + Leisures 2016 Cruise Line of the Year a month or so ago. They beat Crystal Cruises as the top line .... Crystal has won it for the last 20 times.

Edited July 29, 2016 by Fitzall

[MicCanberra]

Haven't tried them, but Azamara have two small ships in the Med over those months.

 

Agreed, their prices may look higher than some other lines but they tend to include a lot of the on biard expenses as well.

[Aussieflyer]

Its been a while since we were on Azamara but at 600+ passengers they were able to get into the old ports where the larger cruise ships could not.

You could also check out Windstar as they are very small.

[The_Big_M]

Windstar's nice. Ponant as well, and then Seabourn, Silversea, Regent and Crystal also have small ship products there then if you really want to increase the luxury!

[MicCanberra]

Windstar's nice. Ponant as well, and then Seabourn, Silversea, Regent and Crystal also have small ship products there then if you really want to increase the luxury!

And the cost, these cruise lines can really deliver a quality product and cruise experience but you pay for it.

[Embl]

Just watched an interesting program on Azamara Journey. The experience seems to be totally different to those on a larger ship right down to supplying gelato to passengers having a longer than expected tender wait. The ship was able to access ports the larger ones couldn't, they offered many quality on board activities and the food seemed to be a cut above what I usually experience. I've decided to give them a try.

[cruisermsoon]

I have sailed on two smaller ships in the Med, and it is an entirely different experience than on the large ships. Consider Holland America's smallest [and oldest] ship PRINSENDAM, which is a charmer, the same design as Pacific Princess and Ocean Princess. It is able to get into the smaller ports, and usually provides bus transfers in most ports. I've also been on AZAMARA JOURNEY, a lovely ship, same size as Prinsendam but more luxuriously fitted out. Note that the cabins are not large, however a bonus is that drinks and wine are included in the fare.