ISLANDS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN

The classic European cruise, a trip round the many islands of the Mediterranean sea is a voyage that offers fabulous climate, rich history, diverse culture and relaxing tranquillity all in one. For many years, people have been traversing the beautiful blue waters of Europe’s largest sea, but now it has become one of the world’s premier tourist destinations.

The Mediterranean has literally thousands of islands, some of which are large key cruise destinations and some of which are tiny and uninhabited. There is a huge range and choice when it comes to choosing which island you travel with and with cruise lines constantly looking for new and exciting itineraries, the Mediterranean still has enough ports to offer something different everytime. While there are still the classic island ports of Santorini, Valetta, Mykonos, Palermo and Cagliari, new ports and perspectives are always available, especially as many lines now specialise in the area.

Most of the islands are key tourist destinations and are therefore completely prepared for a wave of cruise ship passengers, however it is always worth noting that with the size of some of these destinations, many of the ports will be requisite of tendering and therefore this should always be checked before confirmation. Cruises round the isles tend not to start from the UK, but there is a huge range of turnaround ports which can give you access to different parts of this sea, such as Istanbul, Venice, Piraeus and Genoa. Some cruise lines even operate dual stops at islands in one day due to the short distance in between them, so this is worth looking out for if you want to see as much as possible.

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DESTINATION GUIDES

HistoryA route for trade, a boundary to colonisation, a battleground for war and a provider of food, the Mediterranean Sea has influenced all of those civilisations who have attempted to settle in Europe. It is through the Mediterranean that ideas, philosophies and cultures have been shared between the world’s early dominant Empires and without it, the huge influence of the East in both produce and culture may never have made it to Europe. With the advent of successful ocean shipping and the ability to traverse waters formerly too dangerous to sail, this dominant role has been somewhat reduced, however it has developed a thriving tourist market and now sits with the Caribbean at the forefront of the world’s best known destinations.

However, it is not just the ports in those countries that surround the Mediterranean that have a rich history, but also the islands that acted as key strongholds for nations attempting to take strategic control of the sea. However many of these islands are small (only Sicily, Sardinia and Cyprus are among the top 10 largest islands in Europe alone), which has also led to a number of different cultures across the islands depending on ownership. From the split loyalties of Cyprus, still a bone of contention now, to the unusual situation on Malta, which was settled at one point by the Catholic Military order, the Knights of St. John, many of the Mediterranean’s islands have been under the leadership of numerous different rulers, leading a diverse mix of cultures across the islands.

Greece particularly has an estimated amount of islands number into the thousands, many of which are none more than 50-100km². These islands also have a varied history across the ages from Samos’ famous history as the birthplace of the mathematician Pythagoras, Corfu and Crete’s position as the southern strongholds of the Venetian Empire, which introduced Renaissance culture to the area, to many of the islands’ key strategic roles during World War 2. This situation as key players in the history of the region, as well as the fantastic climate and hospitality of their people, has led to these islands becoming some of the Mediterranean’s most popular.

CuisineAs you would expect from a collection of islands, seafood plays a huge role in the cuisine, however the numerous influences that have shaped these communities means that there is no definitive Mediterranean island cuisine. As you go from the west on the islands of Sardinia you will find the classic provincial cuisine of Italy, while in Malta you will find cuisine that reflects the island’s many rulers and food now plays a key part in the national identity of the nation. In Crete you will find more traditional Greek food, while further east in Cyprus you will see the influence that the Byzantine and Ottoman empires have had on the Mediterranean. Two things you are likely to find on all Mediterranean islands however are Olives and Wine, which has been the case for thousands of years – many of the famous Roman wines in particular in fact came from Greek Islands.

Key PortsRhodes, GreeceSantorini, GreeceValetta, MaltaCorfu, GreeceLimassol, CyprusPalermo, Sicily, Italy

Key AttractionsSt. John’s Co-CathedralValletta

PortoferraioIsola d’Elba

Limassol CastleLimassol

Town of ThiraSantorini

Mykonos TownMykonos

Palaio FrouriaCorfu

Teatro Massimo & ChurchesPalermo

Best Times to Go Cruises operate in this region year round and some guests may prefer out of season holidays when places are less busy.Peak Season: May to SeptemberShoulder Season: April & October

Key InformationLanguages: Dependent on the Island – Italian (Italian Islands), Greek (Greek Islands & Cyprus), Maltese & English (Malta), Turkish (Cyprus)

Currencies: Euro on all Mediterranean Islands listed

Visa Required: No for EU Nationals

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