Mediterranean, Anyone?

[MaggieS]

Last April I took the Millie from Ft. Laud to Barcelona. It was rough the first night on the way to the Bahamas. Thereafter it was like glass the remainder of the cruise. You just never know.

[dsl laber]

Hi. Lookimg into Med. cruise...have ALWAYS wanted to go. Not sure yet between the Eastern or Western cruises...still need to do TONS of research. Been trying to sort through all this. Thought someone might be able to sum it all up for us. :) We want to take our 16 yr old daughter...we usually prefer sunny, warmer weather and we also want to see as much as possible. Any thoughts about the best time to cruise, between end of May and middle of August (out of school!), both for weather and the cost? Thanks mucho!!! :)

[Bruin Steve]

Hi. Lookimg into Med. cruise...have ALWAYS wanted to go. Not sure yet between the Eastern or Western cruises...still need to do TONS of research. Been trying to sort through all this. Thought someone might be able to sum it all up for us. :) We want to take our 16 yr old daughter...we usually prefer sunny, warmer weather and we also want to see as much as possible. Any thoughts about the best time to cruise, between end of May and middle of August (out of school!), both for weather and the cost? Thanks mucho!!! :)

 

dsl laber,

I'll try to sum it up for you as best I can...but, there's no real summation that works for everyone...

 

A lot depends on if you've ever been to Europe before and where else you've been...

 

First of all, don't think in terms of "Eastern" or "Western"...Unlike some other parts of the world where there seem to be "standard" cruises (those familiar itineraries and familiar ports from which the cruise lines don't seem to vary much), there are many different combinations of itineraries...some DO stay in ports to the west or to the east, but many traverse the entire Mediteranean...or cross through Gibraltar to the Atlantic...or venture into the Black Sea...So, you want to pick an itinerary that goes to ports you'd like to visit...

 

And that's where it gets tough...because there are so many ports worth visiting...You will not get anywhere near seeing them all on one cruise...

 

So, my advice, especially if this will be your first time, is to take a LONG cruise...one of at least 12 to 14 nights...that visits a wide variety of ports...and look for a one-way itinerary--one that starts and ends in two different ports--that way you can spend a couple of extra nights on each end in two different fascinating cities (For example, I've done cruises that started in Venice and ended in Barcelona and that started in Istanbul and ended in Venice...and have really enjoyed my extended visits to those ports)...

 

My personal favorite cruise was on the Celebrity Millennium, Venice to Barcelona...You might look into that and also into some of the similar Princess itineraries...

 

Some of the ports are the "big" cities, loaded with history, churches, palaces, museums and famous tourist sites--like Rome, Athens, Barcelona, Venice, Florence, Istanbul...Other ports are smaller towns or islands--like Dubrovnik, Corfu, Kotor, Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes, Taormina...

 

You'll find that the bigger cities have far too much to see on a short port stop, but if done right...I'd suggest a full day shore excursion or a private guide--shared with others, if possible, to split the costs, you can see quite a lot...but beware, where the ship actually stops for those ports is often far from the sites...which is why I suggest a tour or guide...

 

The smaller ports are easier to navigate on ones own...and the one day stop is usually ample...but some of these ports are simply fascinating...For us, Dubrovnik is always a highlight...and it doesn't get more picturesque than Santorini...

 

The quick rundown on most of the major ports (west to east):

 

Barcelona: A wonderful "modern" city with great art and architecture from Gaudi, Dali, Picasso, Miro, et al...the highlight is the Gaudi buildings and artworks--La Sagrada Familia, Parc Guell, Casa Mila, Casa Batllo--you will never forget them...

 

Sete: French Riviera...the highlight here is a trip up to Carcassonne, a mideival walled city in the foothills of the Pyrrenes...

 

Marseille: A big, industrial port, but a chance to visit the small towns of Provence...longtime home to Van Gogh and site of many old Roman Colonial towns...

 

Nice/Villefranche/Monte Carlo: The heart of the French Riviera...can also visit medeival cities of St. Paul de Vence and Eze...or the casino and palace at Monte Carlo/Monaco or beach cities of Nice and Cannes...

 

Livorno: The gateway to Florence--one of the most fascinating of European cities...Beautiful Renaissance architecture, Michaelangelo's David and other works, the Ufizzi Gallery and the Pontevecchio...but it is also the gateway to Pisa (Leaning Tower) and to the small villages of Tuscany, many of which are beautiful and historical...but, for first-timers, I recommend Florence...

 

Rome: What can I say? The Vatican, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, Pantheon, Colisseum, Forum...and on and on...

 

Naples/Amalfi: My recommendation is not to miss Pompei...there are no other set of ancient ruins quite like it...miles and miles of well preserved ancient city, buried by ash from Vesuvius, but not destroyed by it...also worth visiting is the "Amalfi Coast", Isle of Capri, more ruins at Herculaneum...and more...but Pompei is the unique stop...

 

Taormina (or other stop in Sicily): Taormina is an ancient town...or there's the trek up to the Volcano of Mt. Etna...

 

Venice: Really try to find a cruise that begins or ends here...it is the only city quite like it and is worth an extra day or two...the canals, the piazzas, the food...the atmosphere...

 

Dubrovnik: A medieival walled city, jutting on out into the Adriatic Sea...Walk the walls...

 

Kotor: An undiscovered paradise...Kotor and it's nearby counterpart Budva are both medeival walled cities, quaint, charming and largely unspoiled as most westerners haven't yet discovered them...

 

Corfu: Two neat old Venetian fortresses flank the old city with its winding streets...popular secluded beaches and a couple of centuries old German/Greek palace...

 

Santorini: This is the Greece you see in all of those tourist brochure photos...the white, bleached buildings and blue roofs perched atop the cliffs hanging over a deep blue sea...the entire island is actually the remaining caldera of an ancient Volcano...many people believe this was the "Atlantis" of legend...

 

Mykonos: A pleasant little Greek Island known for its beaches...

 

Athens: Go see the Acropolis, shop in the Plaka...or take a trip out of town tothe Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion or to the Pelopenesse region and the ancient sites t Epidaurus, Mycenae and Corinth...

 

Rhodes: A really charming Medeival island...

 

Kusadasi: Gateway to ancient Ephesus and other archaeological sites...

 

Istanbul: Absolutely stunning...very different...You are really not in Europe anywhere, but at the gateway to another civilization--Mosques everywhere...and the Palaces of the Ottoman emperors...

 

You won't find one cruise to take you to all those places, but you can get a good sampling of many of them...you'll just have to come back to pick up the rest!

 

As to weather, the climate is very much similar to Southern California...You likely won't get any rain anytime from May to August...May is "pleasant", June a little warmer and July/August very hot...but the humidity is quite low (no matter what some posters on here think...the statistics bear this out)...It is not hot and muggy like most of the Eastern US...So, if you don't mind 90 degree weather, wearing shorts and T-shirts and bringing a water bottle and sunscreen with you, there is nothing wrong with touring this region in August...But, yes, for many, May/June would be more "bearable"...For us, we typically go in July/August due to the school year calendar (my wife works for a school district)...

 

Any specific questions, just ask...

[Liv4cruzin]

If I might interject a thought...... When you're looking at different cruise lines' itineraries, don't forget the smaller, less advertised lines. Orient Lines has a long standing history of very port intensive itineraries. Unfortunately they're down to just one ship in their fleet, "Marco Polo". Oceania Cruises (one of my new favorites) has several small/mid size ships that ply the Med. w/ varied itineraries. Their smaller size & country club casual (no formal nights) atmosphere make it quite appealing. I don't envy your decision. It took me months & months to make a decision for our 2 trips over. You're going to love it!

[Mahya]

You both seem to have covered most of the ports -

 

I have gone transatlantic before and have decided it's the only way to go - not only because of the many port stops but the sea days are wonderful, I think.

 

I have a question about the Cadiz-Seville excursions.

 

The ship docks at Cadiz, - you can tour there or take a ship coach to Seville and back, 3 hour drive and apparently 3 hours in Seville.

 

I'm wondering if either of you or anyone here has taken that Seville excursion? and if you considered it worth it?

 

This is not the one where you're on your own after the coach ride, but the one where they offer lunch, walking tour. Was it all bus ride around the city? did they allow

stopping and visiting sites?

 

Anything you can tell will be appreciated.

[dsl laber]

dsl laber,

I'll try to sum it up for you as best I can...but, there's no real summation that works for everyone...

 

Any specific questions, just ask...

 

Thanks soooo much!! That was a ton of help!! We're looking at next year (2008) so we can plan and save. :) I have a feeling we're gonna need LOTS of spending money!!! ;)

[awms]

Neither of us has ever been to Europe - we've both always wanted to go. We are wanting to see as much as possible, but are on a VERY tight budget (which is why we usually stick with the cheaper itineraries in the Caribbean). We like archaeology (DH is a history buff) and architecture; sightseeing, new experiences...oh, and don't forget the shopping! ;)

 

My wife and I like archaeology as well, which is why for our 40th Anniversary and first cruise we went on the 12 day Ancient Wonders-Black Sea Cruise last May on the HAL Rotterdam. It departed from Venice and ended in Athens. We spent three days pre-cruise and post cruise in Venice and in Athens. We liked the Eastern Mediterranean Cruise so much we are doing the Western Mediterranean this May.

 

FYI:)