Mediterranean Cruise Expert Guide

A Mediterranean cruise is without doubt the most varied type of cruise available. There are more than 120 seaports around the Mediterranean coastline, offering numerous combinations of cruise vacations over one-week, two-week or longer trips.

A huge clash of cultures await all who opt for a Mediterranean cruise. You can visit no less than 17 different countries, including such nations as Spain, Italy, Greece and Egypt. Each nation has its own unique attractions, all of which you can sample as your cruise ship gracefully sails around the calm blue Mediterranean Sea.

More than 50 companies offer cruises along varied routes in the Mediterranean. Some companies specialize in providing Western Mediterranean cruises, concentrating on ports of call around Portugal, Spain, France, Italy and Morocco. Other companies offer Eastern Mediterranean cruises which take in Croatia, Greece, Turkey and countries in the Middle East. Popular specialist Mediterranean cruises include a tour of the North African nations, a Mediterranean islands cruise that visits the island nations of Cyprus and Malta, as well as cruises around the Greek Islands. If you're after a longer vacation, it is possible to arrange a cruise itinerary that takes you around most if not all of the Mediterranean nations.

History, culture, grand cities, ancient monuments, romantic islands and breathtaking views are all within easy reach on a Mediterranean cruise. In the Western Mediterranean you can discover the traditional white Andalucian villages of Southern Spain, sample the world-famous Manzanilla sherry in Cadiz and visit the cultural hub of Europe in the shape of Barcelona, before travelling onwards to the French Riviera.

A cruise that takes in the wonderful coastline of Italy yields such treasures as the dormant volcano of Mt Vesuvius, ancient Pompeii and the stunning city of Rome. The islands of Sicily and Sardinia hold many delights too on a Western Mediterranean cruise.

In the Eastern Mediterranean, cruise passengers can discover the spectacular Croatian coastline and its beautiful city - Dubrovnik, before diving southeastwards to sample classical Greece and its sultry islands. The island of Crete is always worth a visit, if only for the historic Palace of Knossos.

A visit to the holy city of Jerusalem is a worthwhile excursion from both Israeli ports - Haifa and Ashdod - on a Mediterranean cruise of the Middle East. Egypt's Port Said is well worth a visit too. Port Said provides access to the world famous Suez Canal, which takes vessels into the Red Sea and onwards in to the Arabian Sea.

The Mediterranean region has seen many a civilization rise and fall. It is a crucible of human evolution and is rich in relics left over by more than 6,000 years of occupation. If you've ever wanted to discover what it felt like to be an Egyptian pharaoh, Roman warrior or a Greek philosopher, a Mediterranean cruise can give you just that opportunity...

John Metcalfe is the author and web publisher of A to Z Cruises your #1 source
for cruise information, discounts and great deals! Visit http://www.azcruises.com
now to book your very own dream Mediterranean Cruise vacation.

In The News:
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/chi-cruise-classes-1012_rq_t_poct12,0,5683553.storycid=0ei=ExL0SKXfKoLg6AO7h5SaDQusg=AFQjCNFO2dtic7Ev_L6ZBS0pdJYCoHZd-gClassism making a comeback on bcruise/b ships/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fChicago Tribune,nbsp;United Statesnbsp;-/font nobr14 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Maritime historian and writer Ted Scull holds that the growth of a la carte bcruising/b has a bright side. By parsing the price of bsailing/b into a menu of b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/programguide/stories/200810/s2390499.htmcid=0ei=ExL0SKXfKoLg6AO7h5SaDQusg=AFQjCNF6p0z7EXWaF-kCswMK61yUL1jqtwbCruise/b boaters concerned by attacks on vessels in South Pacific/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fRadio Australia,nbsp;Australianbsp;-/font nobr57 minutes ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1In the meantime, he says bcruising/b sailors should take certain precautions. BATEMAN: I think if I was bsailing/b in the South Pacific I would be extra careful b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/39th-US-Sailboat-Show---Worlds-Largest/49721cid=1257089343ei=ExL0SKXfKoLg6AO7h5SaDQusg=AFQjCNHYg1r9qsIx7fcTnvV65icWGGEs3wimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=bidW3o7u750Jimgurl=www.sail-world.com/photos/std_Annapolis%2520Sailboat%2520Show.jpg width=80 height=67 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Sail World/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.sail-world.com/news.cfm%3FNid%3D49716%26SRCID%3D4cid=1257089343ei=ExL0SKXfKoLg6AO7h5SaDQusg=AFQjCNE5QA4KoW7FUbaaB-FXUN9NYmQByQbCruising/b World/bSailing/b World Nominees for #39;09 BOTY/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fSail World,nbsp;Australianbsp;-/font nobrOct 12, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1For the past quarter-century, the sailboat industry has recognized the best in sailboat building through bSailing/b World and bCruising/b World#39;s annual Boat of b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/39th-US-Sailboat-Show---Worlds-Largest/49721cid=1257089343ei=ExL0SKXfKoLg6AO7h5SaDQusg=AFQjCNHYg1r9qsIx7fcTnvV65icWGGEs3w#39;Annapolis Sailboat Show - World’s Largest#39; ./a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrSail World/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1257089343hl=ennobrall 2 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.boarding.no/art.asp%3Fid%3D33469cid=1255690822ei=ExL0SKXfKoLg6AO7h5SaDQusg=AFQjCNHI3GOTGV_rBRJ6OTa04AKQxYFWFAimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=mXrvWElLQvMJimgurl=www.boarding.no/images/archive/p200810122235-26939.jpg width=80 height=54 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Boarding.no/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.boarding.no/art.asp%3Fid%3D33469cid=1255690822ei=ExL0SKXfKoLg6AO7h5SaDQusg=AFQjCNHI3GOTGV_rBRJ6OTa04AKQxYFWFAquot;Veendamquot; to bsail/b South America in 2009-2010/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fBoarding.no,nbsp;Norwaynbsp;-/font nobrOct 12, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1The January 10 bcruise sails/b the reverse itinerary. These bcruises/b offer the ultimate blend of exotic ports and scenic bcruising/b with calls in Puerto Montt and b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/travel/activities--interests/cruising/sailing-russias-frontiers/2008/10/08/1223145445627.htmlcid=1256307706ei=ExL0SKXfKoLg6AO7h5SaDQusg=AFQjCNEm8YzRcsMCuj3_QtBUeiqfEkIADgimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=5eGQr9q4wxsJimgurl=www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2008/10/10/Aurora_Ship_wideweb__470x313,0.jpg width=80 height=53 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Sydney Morning Herald/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/travel/activities--interests/cruising/sailing-russias-frontiers/2008/10/08/1223145445627.htmlcid=1256307706ei=ExL0SKXfKoLg6AO7h5SaDQusg=AFQjCNEm8YzRcsMCuj3_QtBUeiqfEkIADgbSailing/b Russia#39;s frontiers/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fSydney Morning Herald,nbsp;Australianbsp;-/font nobrOct 10, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Creative bCruising/b has a two-night bsailing/b from Sydney to Brisbane on Oriana in mid-February from $299 a person, twin-share. From Fremantle, a six-night b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/disney-cruise-line-sets-sail/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B6CB3796E-D56E-4625-B403-FC9A35EF5507%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1254875402ei=ExL0SKXfKoLg6AO7h5SaDQusg=AFQjCNHZsCwTpY5bWY5qBENgKma-4u8UpADisney bCruise/b Line Sets bSail/b for Russia, Northern Europe and b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobrOct 6, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1For the summer of 2010, the Disney Wonder will shift to four- and five-night bcruises sailing/b to Nassau, Key West and Disney#39;s private island, Castaway Cay. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.starbulletin.com/travel/20081012_smooth_sailing.htmlcid=0ei=ExL0SKXfKoLg6AO7h5SaDQusg=AFQjCNFi08YT_arqaVqLYt4aYJszE4WfIgSmooth bsailing/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fHonolulu Star-Bulletin,nbsp;HInbsp;-/font nobrOct 12, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1While bsailing/b on this unadvertised itinerary, I learned a few things about today#39;s bcruises/b. For example, industry insiders say that now is the optimum time b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.sailing.org.za/index.php%3Fname%3DNews%26file%3Darticle%26sid%3D1523cid=0ei=ExL0SKXfKoLg6AO7h5SaDQusg=AFQjCNG66x4urXRnNaVmyLeT_lj6Z7TU3Aimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=x8-pM5uBN2EJimgurl=www.sailing.org.za/downloads/news/sailing1.jpg width=80 height=38 alt= border=1brfont size=-2South African Sailing/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.sailing.org.za/index.php%3Fname%3DNews%26file%3Darticle%26sid%3D1523cid=0ei=ExL0SKXfKoLg6AO7h5SaDQusg=AFQjCNG66x4urXRnNaVmyLeT_lj6Z7TU3ANorth Vaal bSailing/b Authority Organizes ‘Come bSailing/b’ Weekend to b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fSouth African Sailing,nbsp;South Africanbsp;-/font nobr5 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1There will be plenty yachts on hand from Dinghies, Catamarans Keelboats and Multi Hulls to bcruising/b yachts for the more laid back and less adventurous. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.easier.com/view/Travel/Holidays/article-208807.htmlcid=1255918283ei=ExL0SKXfKoLg6AO7h5SaDQusg=AFQjCNHmrinGI1pEPlizJ1VE5YAKwBTG_Aimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=6bl3lXhAxQ8Jimgurl=www.easier.com/myads/images/208807-41.jpg width=80 height=53 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Easier (press release)/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/kids-sail-free-costa-during/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B1A466616-1174-4F19-9D86-DEF48CC4210F%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1255918283ei=ExL0SKXfKoLg6AO7h5SaDQusg=AFQjCNGzgKAUepant8qtD5UcrBW0mGduWwKids bSail/b for Free with Costa During 2008-2009 Winter Caribbean b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobrOct 9, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Costa bCruises/b is Italy and Europe#39;s number one bcruise/b line. For the past 60 years its ships have sailed the world, offering the best in Italian style, b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.ibtimes.com/prnews/20081009/fl-costa-cruise-kids.htmcid=1255918283ei=ExL0SKXfKoLg6AO7h5SaDQusg=AFQjCNGEVUbuWga80x80j02dnL1h33JRhAKids bSail/b for Free with Costa During 2008-2009 Winter Caribbean b.../b/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrInternational Business Times/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1255918283hl=ennobrall 9 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://sportal.com.au/default.aspx/cricket-news-display/vics-cruising-at-lunch-58557cid=1256470031ei=ExL0SKXfKoLg6AO7h5SaDQusg=AFQjCNH1bX3Sx6tL88K8TKNakMLmp4dwQQVics bcruising/b at lunch/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fsportal.com.au,nbsp;Australianbsp;-/font nobr54 minutes ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1It wasn#39;t all smooth bsailing/b however with both Jewell and Rogers experiencing some anxious moments in the early stages of the session. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
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