The best thing about sailing in the Mediterranean is the enormous variety of cruise lines, ships and itineraries available, from the small and intimate right through to bold mega ships offering every facility imaginable.

The region is by far the most popular for British passengers as they seek out the sun either on fly-cruises via ports such as Palma, Crete, Barcelona and Civitavecchia (the port of Rome) or conveniently sailing directly from the UK.

Cruises to the Mediterranean

Western Mediterranean fly-cruises from Italy or Spain will take you to explore the mysteries of North Africa, while those in the Eastern Mediterranean will find you visiting Greece and the Greek islands, Turkey, Croatia and possibly Egypt.

Some cruises provide the opportunity to stay overnight in such great cities as Venice and Istanbul, enabling you to really soak up the local atmosphere

Last year alone, the Med attracted nearly four out of ten UK cruise passengers, with more expected as cruise lines deploy greater numbers of ships in the region due to its diverse cultural appeal.

Historic cities such as Venice, Rome and Florence, beach life on the holiday islands of Majorca, Menorca, Crete, Corsica, Malta and Sardinia or rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous in Monte Carlo, Nice, St Tropez, Villefranche and Portofino – all are available and more through the diverse range of Mediterranean cruise itineraries.

Seven and 14-night cruises are most popular in the Med, although shorter taster cruises are being introduced from ports such as Barcelona.

It is also possible to cruise year-round as more lines deploy ships in the mild Med during the winter as well as in summer.

A lot of cruises call at a different port each day with organised day trips to places of interest such as Pisa, Florence and Ephesus. Therefore, it is wise to carefully plan the number of shore excursions you wish to take. Try and build in at least one day where you can go ashore and wander around at your own pace or enjoy your ship’s on board facilities at your leisure.

Wide Choice of Cruise Lines

Informal cruising is the appeal of Ocean Village, Island Cruises and Thomson Cruises which appeal equally to couples and families. They also offer the increasingly attractive option of linking a week’s cruise with a hotel-based holiday.

Try the modern ships of Italian lines Costa Cruises and Mediterranean Shipping Cruises (MSC) for a more continental feel as passengers are drawn from across Europe.

The mega ships of Royal Caribbean International, Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line and Carnival Cruise Line offer American-style glamour with an abundance of on board activities.

P&O Cruises, with both family-friendly and adults-only ships sailing from Southampton, is an ideal option for a contemporary British cruise environment, together with Fred Olsen Cruise Lines.

The ultra-luxury ships of Silversea, for example, offer outstanding levels of service for those looking for pure pampering while others with taste for adventure on the high seas should consider the sail cruisers of Star Clippers or the sail assisted Windstar vessels.

Whichever cruise in the Med you choose, you can be guaranteed some of the world’s most memorable experiences.