Best ports to visit on a Mediterranean Cruise
Cruise deals are increasingly popular and a great way to see a lot of different places in a single trip...probably one of the reasons why the cruise market grew in 2008 while much of the travel industry was in the doldrums. As port experts we thought it'd be worthwhile putting together a list of some of our favourite destinations on the Med to enjoy on your cruise holiday.
Civitavecchia, Italy
Civitavecchia means "ancient town" and you'll see why when you arrive: the heritage of the Roman Empire is close to the surface in Civitavecchia, with the Terme Taurine roman baths being a must-see during your stay. The rennaisance is also strongly in evidence: the city fort is named Forte Michelangelo, despite the man himself only designing a small part of it! The Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi is another ancient site to put on your agenda during your cruise stopover.
Barcelona, Spain
Capital of Catalonia and second largest city in Span, Barcelona is famous world over as a party city and centre of culture as well as a great destination for Mediterranean cruises. It's also one of the busiest ports in the Med so you can be assured of a fast and efficient passage from ship to shore, which is great as there's so much to see in Barca you'll need every minute available to see everything you want to.
If you have time a trip up to Park Guell is one of our must-sees, but if not don't worry about it...you can soak up much of Anton Gaudi's architectural genius just walking the streets of the city, where unexpected gems from his prolific career seem to be around every corner. Whatever you do make sure you visit the Sagrada Familia cathedral if you haven't seen it before, it's a truly wondrous building.
Closer to the port you can visit the famous La Ramblas which can be a little on the seedy side but is certainly vibrant. Off one side of this main shopping street you'll find the Barri Gothic, whose many winding streets reward careful exploration with tiny boutiques, marketplaces and restaurants which rival anywhere else in Europe.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Known to both residents and seasoned med cruise holiday makers as The Jewel of the Adriatic, Dubrovnik is a living example of how Croatia has recovered from it's troubled history in recent decades. Although a lot of it's ancient buildings and heritage sites were destroyed during the great earthquake of 1667 many beautiful buildings survive including the Sponza Palace, St. Saviour's Church and St. Blaise's. A worthwhile stop on any European cruise.
Villefranche-sur-mer, France
This enchanting resort is nestled on the French Riviera and hosts many of the cruise ships and passengers that sail the Mediterranean. The labyrinthine old town nestling in the hills above it's gorgeous beaches is a place you can easily get lost in (and not just in a figurative sense - make sure you don't miss your return time for the ship!), and ambling along the Promenade Des Marinieres before enjoying a lunch in one of it's many cafes is a great alternative if you don't fancy navigating it's back streets.
Although more restrained and less showy than some of the bigger riviera resorts such as Cannes the town is still a top destination, as well as a favourite of film makers including Alfred Hitchcock, who filmed part of "To Catch a Thief" here.
Many thanks to Virgin Holidays Cruises who supplied background research for this article.