Princess Cruises to the Mediterranean

Several characteristics attract travelers to the Mediterranean. One, three of the world’s major empires began around its perimeter, and as their ruins still stand, travelers want a glimpse of ancient Rome, Greece, and the Ottoman Empire. Two, azure waters and sun-drenched sandy beaches stretch from Spain to Turkey, with Greece’s Isles and the French Riviera being two places sunbathers and revelers want to experience at least once. And three, world-renown cuisines can be tasted first hand.

So what stops many from planning a trip to the Mediterranean? Traveling between multiple countries and the expenses of hotel rooms deter those coming from overseas. As such, a cruise to the Mediterranean essentially eliminates this expense, and all a North American traveler has to do is arrive by plane into the departure port.

Princess has taken the contemporary European cruising experience up to a new level, with 50 possible itineraries. The greatest concentration tends to be around this major body of water, with larger and smaller vessels stopping at several combinations of ports between Spain and Turkey and even venturing into the Black Sea. The ships currently serving the Mediterranean include:

Regardless of size, all provide Princess’ well-known combination of features, from unique, elegant on-board dining to Movies Under The Stars and relaxing in the adults-only The Sanctuary.

Trips, however, don’t cover all of this varied and vast region. Instead, they fall into the following basic types:

The Mediterranean Sea

From Spain to Turkey, you’ll experience some of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities, taste the delicious cuisines, and see ruins from some of history’s most vast empires. While itineraries vary, seven to 12 days take cruisers to a combination of ports: Rome, Venice, Florence, Venice, Barcelona, Istanbul, Portofino, and Dubrovnik, Croatia.

For this group, Princess further allows travelers to explore these major cities in depth with land tours and two-day experiences in ports. Extend a 12-day cruise with a longer stay in any major French, Spanish, or Italian city.

Greek Isles

With history and beautiful beaches, this region is essentially a cruise unto itself. That’s why Princess and other cruise lines essentially focus on this group of islands between mainland Europe and Turkey. Although other ports may be included, this itinerary lets you take in the historic sites and the bright sun of Santorini, Mykonos, Corfu, Olympia, and Athens – each location with its own unique character and background. Conde Nast Traveler named this particular Mediterranean itinerary a “Top Cruise Destination.”

Holy Land

Mediterranean cruises have been known to swing down to North Africa and the Middle East, but this itinerary explores these two regions with a purpose. In Jerusalem, see and explore some of the most prominent sights for three of the world’s major religions. Then, sail over to Giza in Egypt to see the sites from this major North African kingdom, including the Great Pyramids, treasures of the pharaohs, and the Sphinx.

Black Sea

This adjacent body of water possesses a similar climate to the Mediterranean, but its ports, concentrated in the Ukraine, Bulgaria, and Turkey, offer a different experience – one of Eastern European and Middle Eastern summer resort towns coexisting alongside history. Get a taste of both with an itinerary including Nessebar, Odessa, Constanta, Yalta, and Crimea.

Start taking the trip you’ve always wanted by first scheduling through Direct Line Cruises. Select one of the itineraries above, and then find multiple deals and discounts through our site.