Cruising the azure blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea may seem like a dream come true. Whilst cruising means enjoying all that your cruise ship has to offer, such as relaxing on the sun deck, enjoying pampering at the spa, delicious meals and entertaining shows, you must not miss out on disembarking at the ports and taking in the local culture and scenic beauty of the surrounding landscape.

Venice, Italy

Touted as the most beautiful city in the world, Venice has a reputation to live up to. The pure beauty of the art and architecture at every turn will leave you in wonder. The fact that this mesmerising city seems to float eternally is truly amazing. Take a gondola ride, walk across the Bridge of Sighs, sip coffee in St Mark’s Square and take your time strolling around the ancient streets with its many arched bridges.

Dubrovnik, Croatia

With a history steeped in war not too long ago, today Dubrovnik hosts cruise passengers who enjoy strolling through the beautiful UNESCO world heritage listed old town. With age-old streets surrounded by medieval parapets, this city is a reminder of historic architecture perched on the edge of a deep blue sea.

Athens, Greece

With its mix of ancient and modern, Athens is Greece’s largest city. This is a crowded, vibrant, cultured city where high-rises, traditional tavernas and neoclassical buildings stand shoulder to shoulder. Here you can taste test traditional Greek food and if time permits, visit the Temple of Zeus, the Acropolis or one of the many informative museums dotted throughout this amazing city.

Valletta, Malta

Located at the southernmost tip of Europe, Malta has a long history of rulers. Today, you can wander around the palazzos and view the magnificent cathedrals. Malta is home to some of the oldest prehistoric structures in the world. You can shop, dine and visit the fortified city of Mdina. You may like to take a tour of the temples or Roman ruins and catacombs or stop to watch the craftsmen at the crafts centre. Here you will see traditional lacemaking, silver filigree art and glassblowers at work.

Barcelona, Spain

Located on the Iberian Peninsula in the Catalonia region, you can easily walk to the city centre from the dock. Enjoy leisurely time sampling the tapas and cava, or sparkling wine, at one Barcelona’s many historic bars. You can take a walking tour or take a side trip to the Tossa de Mar, the Catalan costas or the Lloret de Mar. Montserrat, the great Benedictine monastery, is the religious centre of Catalonia and a popular day excursion.

A Mediterranean cruise, with its numerous ports of call, is a wonderful travel experience. All the ports have something different to offer. Sampling the local food and taking in the architectural history of these ports is a wonderful encounter for the fortunate visitor. Cruiseabout offers a number of different short or longer Mediterranean cruises specifically suited to your travel time frame.

Kim Blair