Plan a Mediterranean Cruise

The Mediterranean is the cradle of civilization. Around the circumference of this ancient sea are some of the most important cultural sites in the world. If you are looking for a vacation idea that is perfect for singles, couples and for families then you need to consider cruising the Mediterranean. Follow these steps to ensure you have the time of your life.

Learn What Cruise Lines Offer Mediterranean Cruises

The Mediterranean is a popular cruise destination. Because of this there are a lot of cruise lines that tour this sea. Some of your choices include: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruise Line, Amadeus Waterways, MSC Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line, Seabourn Cruise Line, Silverstar Cruises, Thomas Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line and Windstar Cruise.

Learn About the Mediterranean Destinations You Want to Visit

Each Mediterranean cruise is going to focus on a specific group of destinations. Some cruises will focus on the western Mediterranean destinations like France and Spain, while others will center on Italy and Greece, while others offer a tour of Ancient Civilizations by visiting Greece, Italy and Egypt.

Discover What Popular Mediterranean Cruise Ports of Call Have to Offer

Five common ports of calls for Mediterranean cruises are Barcelona, Spain, Athens, Greece, Alexandria, Egypt, Florence, Italy and Marseille, France. In Barcelona you will want to visit: the Barcelona Zoo, Casa Mil and Museu Picasso. If you visit Athens, Greece then you will want to visit: the Acropolis, the Parthenon, the National Archaeolgical Museum and the Temple of Poseidon. In Alexandria, Egypt you will be able to visit Pompey's Pillar, the Biblioteca Alexandria, the Alexandria National Museum and Fort Qaitbey. If you plan an Italian cruise and stop in Florence, Italy then you will want to plan to visit the Piazzle Michelangelo, Giardino di Boboli, Battisteco and San Lorenzo. For a little French culture select a cruise that stops in Marseille. Here you can visit the Abbaye Saint-Victor, Calanques Marseille-Cassis and Vieux-Port.

Don't Forget Your Passport

In order to take a Mediterranean cruise you will need a valid passport if you are a U.S. citizen. If this is your first time requesting a passport then you will need to apply for yours in person. To do this you will need to (1) find a local passport office, (2) download and fill out Form DS-11 or fill one out at the office, (3) bring with you two 2" X 2" color passport photos that are no older than 6 months, (4) have proof of your U.S. citizenship, (5) have a valid photo identification and (6) have funds available to pay your passport fee of $82 for people under 16 and $97 for people over 16.

Gather Information

After you have selected the cruise that you want to go on, your next step is to plan your port of call activities. Your cruise line will provide you with an itinerary of all your stops. Use this itinerary to focus your information gathering activities. What you will want to look for are information on local customs, language guides for tourists, top tourist attractions, recommendations for places to eat and maps. You may also want to look for day tours and guided activities that you can take. This will help you to visit the most sites and attractions during your stop over.