A popular cruise destination with many, the Mediterranean boasts year round sunshine, mouth-watering cuisine and a refreshing laidback lifestyle.

Many cruise lines – like Royal Caribbean – offer fabulous itineraries to the Mediterranean. Choose from Western Mediterranean or the Eastern Mediterranean. When it comes to deciding, you’ve got to ask yourself what you want from your cruise…

A glimpse into the Western Mediterranean…

In the Western Mediterranean you’ll discover beaches, bustling cities and island resorts. When setting sail on a Western Mediterranean adventure, cruise ships usually leave from awe inspiring places like Barcelona, Palma, Genoa or Rome.

Mainly bordering Italy, France, and Spain, on a Western Mediterranean cruise you’ll sail to ports of call like the Balearic Islands (including Majorca, Ibiza, and Menorca & Formentera). Italy is another destination – it is here you can explore fascinating historical destinations including Pompeii, Rome & Pisa. Western Mediterranean cruises also can include stops in Portugal, Morocco, Monte Carlo, Malta and Croatia and Dubrovnik.

Something for everyone, a Western Mediterranean is a firm holiday favourite with families and couples alike.

Example of Eastern Mediterranean itinerary

Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas has a 12 night cruise from Barcelona to Florence, Venice, Rome and Naples.

One of the top things to do:
Admire Gaudi’s architectural works of art in Barcelona, such as Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia Church.

Now, let’s take a look into the Eastern Mediterranean…

An Eastern Mediterranean cruise calls at the ports that stretch from the Aegean Seas to the Adriatic. Main ports of embarkation and debarkation in the Eastern Mediterranean include Athens, Greece; Istanbul, Turkey and Venice. On your Eastern Mediterranean journey, you can explore the ancient cities like Olympia in Greece or Ephesus in Turkey. Other popular cruise destinations in the Eastern Mediterranean include Dubrovnik and Corfu – found on the Croatian coast. TheGreek Islands such as Mykonos, Rhodes and Santorini are sought after cruise destinations too.

Example of Western Mediterranean itinerary

Norwegian Cruise line’s Jade has a 7 night cruise from Venice, Corfu, Santorini, Mykonos and Katakolon.

One of the top things to do:

Visit the Parthenon in Athens

Which Ship?

Now you need to decide which ship you want to go on your Mediterranean voyage with. If it’s your first time visiting the Mediterranean, your best bet will be a larger ship as these cover more ‘major’ ports of call. There’s a good selection to choose from too, including Royal Caribbean, Costa, Carnival, Celebrity and Holland America. And, of course, going on a larger ship you have more to pick from when it comes to on-board facilities, entertainment, places to dine and so forth.

If you’ve travelled to the Mediterranean before, you may want to venture where the large ships aren’t able to go… The smaller ships – like Windstar, Silversea, SeaDream, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania – offer wonderful itineraries that will not only take you to the popular ports of call, but to off-the-beaten track ports of call too.

With Mini cruises departing from the UK to a number of destinations, including Amsterdam, Bruges, Paris, La Rochelle, Cork, Nice, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Ibiza and Sicily – sailing from the UK is the convenient option for many. There are over 20 UK ports that cruisers can choose from, including Southampton, Dover, Hull, Newcastle and Liverpool.

Mal Barritt, director of Cruises.com says “There’s such a vast choice of short break cruises available from the UK, so we aren’t at all surprised at the number of bookings we are seeing. If people are wanting to get away this winter, but don’t want to fly, then sailing direct from the UK really is the perfect solution for them. And, with a number of UK ports available, it makes getting away so easy. The holiday can start the second you board.”

“The number of cruise ships that provide these short cruise holidays from the UK continues to grow – along with the demand. This will no doubt lead to even more passengers sailing from British ports in the future. There’s no longer such a need to fly in order to go on holiday, Barritt added.

A large number of cruise lines – like Cunard, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, P&O, Fred Olsen, Silversea and Princess Cruises – all offer short break cruises.

With more and more cruise lines offering mini cruises, it’s expected that the number of bookings will increase even more in 2012.

What these new itineraries offer… 

It will be four of Princess Cruises’ ships that will embark on the new ‘Aussie’ adventures: The Diamond Princess, Sun Princess, Dawn Princess and Sea Princess. Comfortable and mid-sized – apart from the Diamond Princess which is a lot larger – the four wonderful ships are all set to sail Australia and New Zealand in 2012-2013. This now makes Princess Cruises the largest North American operator in the region.

Each of Princess Cruises’ itineraries will offer exciting new routes, a new cruise tour of the Outback – and there’s even a special solar eclipse cruise available too. Princess cruises will also offer more sailings to New Zealand than any other cruise line.

The ships will go on 40 voyages of eight different itineraries in the region, including a 14-day Australia and New Zealand itinerary with two added ports, Wellington and Picton; and a grand 33-day Round Australia and New Zealand route.

Get a taste of true Aussie Life

Three of Princess Cruises’ ships – Sun Princess, Dawn Princess and Sea Princess – are locally based. So, you can look forward to cruising in true Australian style. From Australian cuisine, entertainment to a real Aussie atmosphere, the on-board experience is set to be fantastic. The currency used on board  will even be the Australian Dollar. These cruises will no doubt appeal to both locals and foreigners alike. These three ships will depart from Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne.

Land and Sea Cruise Tours

Not only can these Princess Cruises’ sailings be booked as just the cruise itself, it can also be part of a longer, land-based cruise tour – so you can really get the most put of your time in this delightful region.

You can choose from one of four land and sea cruise tours. Cleverly combining a land itinerary with an Australia/New Zealand cruise, Princess Cruises are really pulling out all the stops to ensure every guest has an unforgettable voyage down under.

Also new for Princess Cruises’ 2012-2012 season is the chance to participate in an historic train ride. Journeying overland from Adelaide, the train’s destination is Australia’s far-flung outback… an enchanting adventure is in store. This is just another exciting feature guests can look forward to on one of the Princess Cruises.

Another unforgettable opportunity is available on the Dawn Princess – November 6, 2012. A very special cruise itinerary, on this voyage guests will be able to view the total solar eclipse – which is set to take place on November 14, 2012. Sailing from Sydney, the Dawn Princess will call at a number of ports along the way, including Brisbane, Port Douglas and Airlie Beach.

Isn’t it time you ventured ‘Down Under?’

From exploring the Great Barrier Reef to visiting the stunningly scenic spots in New Zealand, sailing around this region is for you if you want an unforgettable journey – one that you will enjoy every single minute of.  And, when it comes to sailing and exploring Down Under, there’s simply no better way of doing so than on-board one of the four Princess Cruises’ ships.

Cruise and Stay is an option that enables cruisers to enhance their holiday by spending part of their holiday cruising and the other part staying in a hotel. And, according to the number of bookings, it would seem more and more customers want to extend their holiday this way.

Mal Barritt, director of Cruises.com, says “The number of cruise and stay bookings really has significantly grown over the past year. It doesn’t come as a surprise either. It’s a great way of getting to go on a cruise – as well as getting to stay in a hotel, in the destination of their choice.  

It’s also popular with those who want to extend their holiday with a week or just a few days at a land-based hotel either before or after the cruise. And who doesn’t want the chance to have a longer holiday?”

He added, “The option of Cruise and Stay really is ideal for those wanting the best of both worlds – and for any new cruisers too – as it’ll give them the chance to see whether cruising is for them, while still getting to enjoy the traditional beach holiday. It really does offer the perfect solution for many.”

Cruises.com has predicted the number of cruise and stay bookings to grow even more in 2012.

A large number of cruise lines, including Thomson Cruises, Seabourn and Celebrity offer pre-packaged cruise and stay holidays to many popular destinations including the Caribbean, Red Sea, Mediterranean and Canary Islands.

The world’s leading travel company, Cruises.com has seen a rapid increase in the number of Cruise and Stay bookings over the past year. It would certainly seem that more and more people are cottoning on to the fact that they get two enjoy two holidays – in one – by choosing Cruise and Stay.

Is Cruise and Stay for me?

Well if you’re new to cruising, Cruise and Stay is an option well worth considering. It’s the perfect opportunity to see whether cruising is for you – while still getting to enjoy the traditional beach holiday.

If you’re an experienced cruiser, you should definitely bear Cruise and Stay in mind. It’ll give you the freedom of being able to extend your holiday by spending several days ashore – so you can really get the most out of your cruise experience. And, we’re sure you’ll agree, there’s nothing more frustrating than arriving at fascinating and exciting cities like New York, Venice or Barcelona and then having a quick look around – before having to board your ship again. By going Cruise and Stay, you’ll get time to get a real taste of the destination you visit.

And, if you’re after adding extra variety to your holiday, then Cruise and Stay is also for you. Perhaps you are torn between staying in a hotel or going on a cruise? Well that’s simple! Just spend part of your holiday on a cruise ship and the other part staying in a hotel, in the destination of your choice – problem solved!

Cruise and Stay really is a wonderful option. You get to enjoy the comfort and luxury of a cruise liner at sea, while being able to fully explore on land at the destination of your choice. Just imagine… spending a week relaxing on the beach in say Majorca or the Caribbean, after enjoying a week long holiday on a cruise.

Another bonus of Cruise and Stay is that it can extend your holiday. You could perhaps stay in a hotel for a week or just a few days at a land-based hotel either before or after your cruise. After all, who doesn’t want a longer holiday?

How long do Cruise and Stay Holidays last?

On average, Cruise and Stay holidays last for 14 days. So, to give you an idea, you could stay 6-7 nights at a hotel and then set sail on a cruise for the other 7 days. Cruise and Stay really does offer a wonderful experience as you get to spend time experiencing your desired destination, like Miami, before setting sail on a full board Caribbean cruise on a lavish liner– where you can visit exotic places like San Juan, Puerto Rico and Haiti.

Who offers Cruise and Stay holidays?

A large number of cruise lines offer Cruise and Stay holidays. Thomson Cruises, Seabourn and Celebrity – to name a few – all offer pre-packaged cruise and stay holidays to many sought after destinations including the Caribbean, Red Sea, Mediterranean and Canary Islands. When it comes to Cruise and Stay, the possibilities really are endless.

The cruise was sold by British-based company, Cruise118 on one of it’s world cruise web pages.

The customer who didn’t want to be named booked a round-the-world cruise yesterday, defying claims of the credit crunch crisis.

A spokesman for the couple commented “They are certainly not millionaires, but I have always wanted to travel the world so I saved up for many years to finally be able to book my trip of a lifetime.”

“This is something I have been waiting to do all my life and I think cruising is a much easier way of seeing the world, particularly since I am now retired. I will begin my adventure in Asia and wind up in Europe and the money really is an insignificant detail to me when compared to the sights that I will see on my journey.”

Cruise118 Director, James Cole said: “This is absolutely fantastic news for us and of course the customer. Here at Cruise118 we offer an experience of a lifetime and that is certainly what this customer has booked in this instance.”

“The best thing about a world cruise is you can hop and off when you wish, so you don’t have to spend 100 days on a ship if you don’t want to. Our customers relish the fact that they can visit different sectors of the world in a short space of time.”

According to a Cruise118 spokesperson: “We have sold a substantial amount of world cruises in the past year, which has significantly helped in the continual growth of our company. Lots of people are booking longer cruises in order to get away from the doom and gloom of Britain today and put a much needed smile back on their faces.”

According to the Passenger Shipping Association (PSA), a staggering 835,000 people will set sail from a UK port in 2012. This makes an increase of an impressive 28 per cent – and that’s just over the last two years! And, if this increase wasn’t enough, it’s thought that UK cruises’ popularity is set to grow even more.

With 20 departure ports in the United Kingdom, cruise popularity certainly comes as no surprise.  Rather than catching a ship abroad, you simply sail directly from the UK – no airport involved. There’s none of that hassle of having to lug heavy luggage around, no worry that your flight might be cancelled or delayed nor is there the threat of the airline deciding to go on strike. Sailing to destinations like Russia, Scandinavia, the Norwegian Fjords, Iceland, the Mediterranean, America, Ireland and the coast of Britain, cruising from the UK offers a smooth sailing experience from start to finish.

The major cruise lines are well aware of the demand for UK cruises – and with many having launched large ships in the UK in the last few years; they all want a slice of this flourishing market. In April 2010, P&O launched the Azura – which has a guest capacity of 3,000 – in Southampton, the UK’s largest cruise port. Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth and Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Eclipse are also based in Southampton. Dover, the UK’s second largest cruise port, has its fair share of cruise liners too, including Fred Olsen’s Black Watch, Holland America’s Eurodam and Saga’s Saga pearl II.

The Cruise lines are more than confident that this popularity in UK departures will continue for the foreseeable future, with even more cruise ships set to be launched over the next couple of years. P&O Cruises will be launching the 3,611-passenger vessel – the largest in their fleet – from the UK in early 2012. The future’s looking very bright indeed for UK cruises.

As well as sailings from the UK being sought after, cruises in general are a popular holiday choice with many. With all-inclusive fees, accommodation, entertainment and food all thrown in, a cruise holiday really does offer value for money. And, not forgetting the main selling point, the fact that you get to see a number of different places and attractions – all in one single trip. That’s another great thing about UK cruises; you get to visit incredible destinations around the world – without the need to fly. It’s an adventure of a lifetime – made easy.

With a great choice of ships and a selection of delightful destinations, is there any longer such a need to sail from anywhere else?

The four Princess Cruises’ ships sailing the region are Diamond Princess, Sun Princess, Dawn Princess and Sea Princess. The ships will embark on 40 voyages of eight different itineraries in the region, including a 14-day Australia and New Zealand itinerary with two added ports, Wellington and Picton; and a grand 33-day Round Australia and New Zealand route.

Three of the Princess Cruises’ ships – Sun Princess, Dawn Princess and Sea Princess – are locally based. Each will offer Australian food, entertainment and a true Aussie atmosphere on-board. Cruises on these ships will depart from Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne.

Princess Cruises’ 2012 – 2013 itineraries will offer cruisers exciting new routes, a new cruise tour of the Outback – and there’s even a special solar eclipse cruise available too. Princess cruises will also offer more sailings to New Zealand than any other cruise line.

In addition, Princess Cruises’ will give passengers the opportunity to see more of Australia as they will be able to choose from one of four land and sea cruise tours – which combine a land itinerary with an Australia/New Zealand cruise.

Mal Barritt, director of the world’s largest cruise travel company, says: “Australia and New Zealand have some of the world’s greatest cruise destinations – so it’s not hard to see why Princess cruises’ want to explore this market even further. The new itineraries will no doubt be extremely popular with many.”

Escaping the UK this winter is a popular choice and with the weather turning bleaker every day, it really does come as no surprise that travel firms have seen a significant increase in their winter bookings.

The thought of Christmas can leave anyone stressed, particularly if you are the one who has to entertain guests, but if you leave all the hard work to the cruise lines, then you can sit back and enjoy a Christmas that you will never forget.

When it comes to Christmas cruises the cruise lines like to pull out all the stops to ensure that all of their guests enjoy a truly special Christmas. You and your family will be treated to delicious meals every night, world class entertainment and huge celebration to see in Christmas and New Year.

What can I expect on board?

You can also look forward to everything that a cruise ship has to offer on a Christmas cruise. Whilst on board you can do as much or as little as you’d like and if you choose a larger cruise line like Royal Caribbean then you can enjoy a whole host of activities. The youngsters will be extremely entertained with surfing lessons and kids adventure programmes, whilst you can treat yourself to a therapeutic massage and an array of spa treatments this Christmas time. Entertainment during the evenings is always varied but you can expect extravagant celebrations, with Broadway shows, nightclubs and piano lounges all around the ship.

Christmas cruises on a smaller, more ultra-luxury ship is for you if you prefer the idea of a more intimate and personalised service. You can enjoy an all-inclusive Christmas cruise, on a sleek and elegant cruise ship. Slipping into ports that the larger vessels cannot reach, you can celebrate Christmas in a truly exotic and remote destination.  Expect a service like no other as you are greeted by your very own butler who will treat you to a glass of champagne and start your holiday celebrations with a bang.

The ideal destination

The Caribbean offers sun, sea and sand, making it a firm favourite when it comes to Christmas cruises. Whether you are looking for a relaxing day at the beach, a trek through the rainforest or a taste of Caribbean culture this Christmas, there is an itinerary perfect for any kind of cruiser.

What’s more, cruising the Caribbean during the winter months is definitely the best time to go as you will miss out on hurricane season which generally runs from June through to November and the weather is still warm allowing for some much needed winter sunshine.

Christmas cruises really are a growing trend and with outstanding on board facilities, world-class cuisine, sumptuous suites and exceptional service and cruising around some of the most sought after destinations in the world, it’s really not hard to see why.

North-West based travel firm, Cruise118 has seen a significant increase in sales during September 2011 with customers booking Christmas cruises.

The significant increase is due to Brits not wanting to spend another Christmas in the snow.

Christmas cruiser, Mary Croft, 54 from Staffordshire said: “The weather last year was so unexpected and so bitterly cold that I couldn’t face another Christmas in the UK.”

Cruise 118 Director James Cole said: “Christmas cruises are definitely becoming the new trend and with places like the Caribbean offering all year round sunshine, it’s no wonder our bookers want to get away from the cold British weather and celebrate Christmas somewhere warmer.”

“The cruise lines really do pull out all the stops during the festive season as well, with Christmas celebrations like you wouldn’t believe. I think our customers like the fact that they don’t have to organise all the food and drink and can celebrate with family and friends, whilst in an exotic destination.”

Cruise 118 Director Mal Barritt said: “The figures really speak for themselves. Christmas abroad is extremely popular and this has helped in the growth of cruise 118 and the cruise industry as a whole.”

It would seem that the cruise industry has not been affected by the credit crunch as the cruise industry on a whole has doubled over the last 10 years with Brits estimated to take a record 2 million cruises by 2014 and 25 per cent of these choosing to take their cruise during winter.