UK Edition
The best cruises in the Mediterranean – for when we can travel again
Open sea, cities to explore and (hopefully) plenty of sunshine – what more could you want from a cruise?
The Mediterranean has long been the most popular destination for first-time cruisers from Britain, with a voyage for every taste. While UK domestic sailings might dominate as cruise holidays return, it won't be long until the Med beckons again. Here are some of the best Mediterranean cruises you can book.
High tech and high wires
MSC Cruises’ flagship, MSC Grandiosa – the cruise line’s largest ship to date – can accommodate up to 6,300 guests and features 13 restaurants, star bars and entertainment galore, including the only Cirque du Soleil shows at sea. Grandiosa also offers cabins equipped with voice-enabled artificial intelligence devices to answer questions. From spring, it will sail a western Mediterranean circuit calling at Barcelona and Cannes among other ports.
Departing September 17, 2021, the seven-night Mediterranean cruise from Rome costs from £579 per person (020 3426 3010; msccruises.co.uk).
Mickey in the Med
Avoid expensive flights to Florida and treat the family to a fun-filled Disney cruise closer to home this summer on a Mediterranean voyage on the Disney Magic. Expect Disney characters to meet, themed dining, high-quality shows and excursions tailored to families.
Departing May 21, 2022, a seven-night Mediterranean cruise round-trip from Barcelona costs from £2,632 per person (0800 169 0742; disneycruise.com).
A harmonious holiday
Luxury small-ship cruise line Silversea is offering a couple of new opera-enriched sailings in the Mediterranean this year, with singers from Milan’s Accademia Teatro alla Scala performing on-board in the evenings. The Barcelona to Rome sailing stops at several enticing, less-visited ports, among them Mahon (Menorca), Alghero (Sardinia) and Trapani (Sicily).
Departing October 15, 2021, the seven-night Barcelona to Rome cruise on Silver Shadow costs from £4,230 per person, excluding flights (0844 251 0837; silversea.com).
Where west meets east Med
Viking Ocean Cruises offers a winning combination of culturally-enriching voyages on tasteful ships inspired by Scandinavian decor. A tour starting in Rome and ending in Athens calls at ports near major historic sights, such as Heraklion in Crete (for Knossos); Ashdod and Haifa in Israel (for Jerusalem and Nazareth); and Naples (for Pompeii). There’s a free excursion in each port.
Departing January 19, 2022, the 15-day Cities of Antiquities & the Holy Land cruise on Viking Sky costs from £4,590 per person (0800 298 9700; vikingcruises.co.uk).
To the Holy Land and beyond
Oceania has a cruise aboard the 684-passenger Nautica that includes three sailings to the Holy Land and beyond. The 20 day Barcelona to Abu Dhabi cruise sails takes in Aqaba (for Petra), Safaga (for Luxor) and Haifa (for Jerusalem) where you can experience Galilee, the Jordan River, the Mount of the Beautitudes, Tabgha and Nazareth, home of the young Jesus. The cruise also calls at Salalah, Oman.
Departing Barcelona on November 7, 2022, the 20-day Barcelona to Abu Dhabi cruise costs from £4,069 per person, cruise-only, with Oceania Cruises (0345 505 1920; oceaniacruises.com).
Istanbul revisited
Istanbul fell off the cruise map after terrorist attacks there in 2016 but is now appears on a number of itineraries. Celestyal Cruises has an overnight stay in the Turkish city on its Eclectic Aegean itinerary, which also visits Canakkale (for Troy and Gallipoli), Mykonos (leaving port at 2am so passengers can enjoy the nightlife), Heraklion and Santorini. Greek dishes and Hellenic entertainment feature on the few-frills Celestyal Crystal ship.
Departing October 30, 2021, the seven-Day Eclectic Aegean cruise from Athens costs from £740 per person, excluding flights (0800 411 8038; celestyalcruises.uk).
Atlantic island hopping
On a no-fly voyage on P&O Cruises’ Aurora, in just over a fortnight you’ll visit six dramatic Atlantic outposts: Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and La Palma in the Canary Islands; Madeira; then Sao Miguel and Terceira in the Azores, where you can view volcanic crater lakes or go on a whale-watching adventure.
Departing March 27, 2022 from Southampton, the 16-night Portugal, Canary Islands and Azores cruise also stops at Lisbon, and costs from £1,349 per person (0344 338 8003; pocruises.com).
The alternative
An old cruise hand looking for something different? Princess Cruises is offering a 14-day Moroccan Passage on Island Princess that swaps tried and tested ports and cities such as Barcelona and Nice and heads instead to underrated Malaga (Spain) and Madeira (Portugal)., As its name suggests, the cruise also visits the Moroccan city of Casablanca with its handsome Moorish building, before sailing onto Fort Lauderdale in Florida.
Departing November 28, 2021 from Rome, the 14-day Moroccan Passage costs from £1,049 per person (0344 338 8672; princess.com).
Croatia uncovered
Azamara Club Cruises is more destination-focused than many rival lines, particularly on its “country-intensive voyages”. A trip along Croatia’s Adriatic Coast on Azamara’s newest ship, Azamara Pursuit, docks late into the evening at Rijeka, Dubrovnik and Hvar, and overnights at Split, whose splendid old town is largely set within the Roman walls of Diocletian’s Palace.
Departing August 13, 2021, the seven-night Croatia Intensive Voyage from Venice costs from £1,663 per person, excluding flights (0844 493 4016; azamaraclubcruises.co.uk).