Western Mediterranean cruises offers the widest range of activities and sights on any cruise, ensuring that you spend every second getting the most out of your holiday in one the most exotic and scenic places in the world. Some of the cities that a western Mediterranean cruise can visit include Barcelona, Marseille, Ibiza, Rome and Alicante so there is plenty to see and do for holiday goers of any age, including single travellers, young couples, families, groups of passengers and the older generation.

Each cruise will offer passengers the opportunity to choose from a range of activities at each of the ports on the cruise. This can include shore tours, where passengers are shown around each port by a professional tour guide, pointing out famous landmarks within the area and offering an informative background of each city. Passengers also have the option of doing their own thing while docked at one of the many ports on the cruise. Many people enjoy a bit of retail therapy, visiting the numerous boutique stores to get their hands on the latest fashion clothing and accessories that they can’t get back home, whilst others take the opportunity to have fun on the beach (if there is one) and enjoy a spot of swimming or sometimes a bit of surfing. Others, perhaps the more mature travellers, prefer to just relax and take in the sights and sights around them whilst sitting outside a caf, enjoying a nice cool beverage. There is plenty to do for travellers of any age, and what you get to do depends on the cruise package that you take on the Western Mediterranean.

Visiting some of the most popular tourist destinations is what this type of cruise is all about, allowing travellers to experience first hand the sights, sounds, food and culture of each of these cities. For example, travellers visiting Barcelona have the opportunity to visit the numerous cafs and restaurants in the area that once hosted the Olympic Games in 1992. Those who are a fan of Spanish food should go to the heart of the city where the serve the best paella in the country. For those that want to quench their for thirst for art can check out some of the eccentric architecture by Antonio Gaudi.

For the younger traveller, or those who just love to party, Ibiza offers a host of bars, clubs and generally an entertaining nightlife to pass away the late hours of the night (or morning). However, there is plenty of other things to see and do on the island if going clubbing is not your thing, including parting with your hard earned cash in the fashion boutiques in the lower town, top up your tan on the beaches at La Salinas and Es Cavallet or go on a ferry tour to the island of Formentera.

These are just some of the activities and sights that travellers can expect to see and do on this type of cruise.

If you want to learn more about the various cities on the cruise, come visit our site at Western Mediterranean Cruises.

Author: Johnny Fong
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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7 nt Med Cruise on Board MSC Splendida ex Barcelona

Day 1 Boarded ship in Barcelona at around 11.30, bags are taken straight away from entrance before you even check in. Check in process is very quick and picture is taken of each passenger and your key card is handed to you. The ship is amazing and you are greeted by the staff on boarding.

Our cabin was beautiful and so spacious, we had a small balcony and bathroom was equipped with shower gel and shampoo, plenty of towels, 2 bathrobes, safe, mini bar, Interactive TV. Channels were a bit disappointing as only 3 English channels and they are all News But you can pick a movie and rent it for the week for 9 euros, of course there wasn’t much time for watching TV but it was handy for the kids while we were getting ready in the evenings.

As we didn’t have a credit card we paid a cash deposit of 450 and you could top it up if you wanted during the cruise or just pay your final bill between 8 and 8 am the morning of disembarkation.

You can also check your bill at any stage on your TV in the cabin. The prices on board were quite good. The bottles of wine were between 18 and 23 euros and a glass of nice wine in the bars was 3 euros. A bottle of Heineken was 3.90. Mixed drinks like Vodka and coke were 6.90 but they did have specials on certain evenings. There are also pre-payable drinks packages on board that save money for beer, wine and soft drinks and you get a little coupon book.

Day 2 La Goulette Tunisia, arrival 2pm Beautiful sunny day – we didn’t get off the ship as we had been in Tunisia before. There was a choice of 4 trips to book cheapest was 45 and dearest was 50 pp for 4 hours but we just stayed on board and enjoyed the facilities. There were camels down at the port where You could just go for a quick ride on one and take photos.

Day 3 Malta arrived 8 am. Beautiful port with old sandstone walls and you felt you were right in the middle of the town. I had pre-booked Niall to go Scuba Diving with Subway Diving centre and they picked him up from the ship early and he had 2 dives and they dropped him back in time for lunch.

This was only 70 euros and he said it was well worth it. Myself and my mother just decided to head off the ship ourselves to do a bit of shopping. There were Taxis at the dock and we just got one for 10 euros to bring us to the centre of shopping area. You could have walked it but prob be about 20 mins and we weren’t sure of the direction. Shopping is a must in Malta as we definitely found it to be the cheapest – there are loads of shops bars restuarants and little arcades with souvenir shops etc. There are also duty free shops and ATM at the port and you can buy your cigarettes or perfumes there as it was cheap!! Shoes are also cheap in Malta.

We didn’t really do much sightseeing but again you can pre-book tours on the ship or we heard of people hiring taxis for 40 – 50 euros to take them on a tour. Tours on ship ranged from 38 for half day to 90 for full day.

Day 4 Messina Sicily, Again a lovely port to pull into as we were right in the town. We just walked off the ship and within 10 minutes we were in this beautiful square with a church. At midday the gold statues of the church start to move starting with a lion that roars and a chorus of Ave Maria, its really

Is spectacular and there was a huge crowd gathered there to watch. There is also a tourist train that brings you around the town.Messina is an old historical town and a bit run down but interesting. You could also just head to the beach or sit in the square and have an icecream or coffee. There is an Irish Bar just opposite the port about 100 yards to the left. No shops at the port but plenty in the town itself.

Day 5 Civitavecchia. This is quite a large port so a bit more industrial. The tours into Rome were ranging from 45 to 90 per person so we decided to do it ourselves. We mistakingly got a taxi from ship to Civitavecchia train station which was robbery at 20 euros – it was less than a 5 min taxi ride so you can walk it. The trains from Civitavecchia to Rome take approx 1hr 20 mins and are quite regular. The great thing is they are only 9 euros return! When we got to Rome Termini station we found a tour guide that was selling the open bus tours and this was 16 each for hop on hop off tour at all the major sights.

Rome was fabulous but you definitely need a few days there to do the sights properly but it as nice to get a snippet of everything. Termini station itself is huge and loads of shops and cafes but not the cheapest – you even have to pay 70c to go to the loo! Just make sure you check the times of the trains back as you have to be on board ship at least half hour before sailing. There were courtesy buses at entrance to port to bring people to their ships.

The town of Civitavecchia itself is nice and if you don’t want to travel into Rome there is a nice pebbly beach there and a little fairground for kids.

Day 6 Genoa. Again a large port but the great thing is that 10 minutes walk off the ship (right) and you are down on a nice promenade with restaurants and a marine history museum. Another 5 minutes walk and you are at the Aquarium which is one of the largest in Europe and I have to say it was Superb. The kids loved it and it had everything, Dolphins, sharks, Turtles, Penguins and every fish you can think of.

The gift shop also had some lovely cuddly stuff and wasn’t overpriced. On the promenade there was also the guys from Africa selling the fake designer stuff for half nothing. ATM at entrance to port.

Day 7 Marseille, there were buses from the port that brought you right in to marina area ( 5euros) Here we hopped on one of the tourist trains that brings you around the resort up to the Basilique Notre Dame with a fantastic views over the city.There are also the hop-on hop – off buses that do the same thing. Marseille is stunning, a bit more pricey than the other stops but well worth a look.

Day 8 Back in Barcelona. You are asked to leave the ship pretty early usually at 8 am but we did take our time and had breakfast and strolled off at around 9 to find our bags the last ones there to be picked up. There were plenty of taxis so we got a taxi to Sans train station where we left our bags in the lockers for 4.50. You can get a train from there to Plaza Catalunya which is at the top of Las Ramblas.

Here you can get the open top tour bus to bring you around the city and out to Neucamp. Or you can just stroll around Las Ramblas and make your way down to Port Veill which is the newly developed port area with shopping arcade and Restaurants and an Aquarium. Again the African boys are around in different areas selling designer bags – I got a Prada bag for 15 euros. Just be very careful in Barcelona as it is notorious for pick pockets so never leave your bag at your feet or unattended.

My name is Cathal Doorley. I was a travel consultant for 3 years before I left and took 2 years out to travel around the world. I know work in the same agency looking after our websites. If you are looking for information on cruises around the med visit Mediterranean Cruises

Author: Cathal Doorley
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Come 2010 and Mediterranean cruise packages are set to become much more popular than in the last decade, even with the recession still in effect. With its arms spread wide open for tourists with a plethora of treats waiting, this tourism hot-spot has been continuously on the radar of travelers from all over the globe. From awe-inspiring architecture of the Byzantine era in Marseilles to the calm, scenic boat rides of Capri, Mediterranean cruise packages are worth every penny of the invested amount.

Such has been the impact of the growing popularity of such holiday deals, that recent news reports the introduction of a horde of new ships to the cruise industry. This is to help accommodate thousands of new passengers who are expected to line up at the travel agency offices in the peak season of the fresh decade.

So how do you choose an ideal Mediterranean cruise package?

The most important aspect of choosing such a vacation deal is to employ an able travel agent. Online agencies can help you profusely in this regard, producing the best available deals keeping your budget and time-constraints in mind. And finally, compare the quotes offered by agencies and settle on the deal that would ideally suit your requirements.

Which Locations to Visit?

There is a treasure chest of historic places to visit, as well as venues where you can lay back and relax from the daily grind. Visiting the Colosseum in Rome can help you revisit the golden era, while Monaco’s regal buildings can inspire animated wonder for the regal buildings in question. The Acropolis of Greece can prove to be an enriching walk into history, while the inimitable French delicacies can keep you asking for more.

However it is important to understand that you cannot visit all the places on one go. Hence, plan your trip accordingly; keeping a strict balance of distance and budget for the places you intend to visit. It is always advisable to keep the port visits to a minimum, as the higher number of places you frequent, the higher is the bill quoted by the liner.

What Activities Might Interest You?

Apart from the sightseeing and reveling in the sun, there are a great number of things you can do while on board. These may include a stint at the ship’s casino or a quick session at the spa. While most of these levy additional costs, many package deals may offer the same for free.

So with a little care in choosing the Mediterranean cruise packages, you can turn up with a real winner on your hands. Online portals like http://www.Ezeego1.co.in can provide you with comprehensive details on the same, allowing you to sieve through and locate the ideal cruise deals from the comforts of your home.

Author: Thomas C Thottathil
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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So what is it about a Mediterranean cruise deals package that people do not want to miss out on? Well, it is not just the deals that they are after; they are after the lifelong experiences that they will never be able to replicate in their lifetime. Going on a Mediterranean cruise really is quite the experience and you don’t want to miss out on the best deals that are on the market. Some of the best cruise liners offer so many activities for their passengers that it would be impossible to pass up on the opportunity of a lifetime.

It may seem like an exaggeration but Mediterranean cruise deals are the most perfect vacations that you will ever be on. This is because of the many places that you will be able to visit like Jerusalem, Istanbul, Athens, Rome, Sicily and Sardinia. These are just a few of the many destinations that are out there waiting for you to land. If you are a beach lover, you will be sure to be met with some of the whitest of beaches and bluest waters in places like Crete, Lesbos, and Rhode. Greece is just around the corner and part of the itinerary so make sure you are on the boat that gets you there. You will definitely have a romantic and educational trip that you will never forget.

There are many cruise liners that will offer you Mediterranean cruise deals. What you want to do is pick the best one. How? Just pick the liner that has the most destinations on their list and also make sure that they have some of the most fun activities that they have prepared in advance for their guests to enjoy. Of course, you don’t want to overspend so make sure that you book something that is within your budget.

David has been writing articles for nearly 2 years. Come visit his latest website that helps people find the best range of yamaha electric guitars and the best yamaha pacifica guitar available in today’s market.

Author: David Patullo
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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If you have never been to the Mediterranean then perhaps it is time that you looked into some of the Mediterranean cruise deals that a lot of travelers have been getting into. These cruise trips are filled with some of the most fun activities that are prepared by some of the top notch cruise liners in the industry. They really know what their passengers want and therefore you should give them a shot.

The Mediterranean cruise deals are some of the top-rated vacations in the world. Everyone wants to visit a bunch of exotic places that have access to some of the most beautiful beaches and world renowned historical landmarks. Think about really hamming it up in places like Jerusalem, Athens, and Rome. Or you may want a more exotic location like Greece, Crete, Lesbos and Rhode. Whatever you fancy, cruise liners in the area will make sure that you will get what you want. After all, why wouldn’t you want to be in some of the best locations in the world with your loved ones? You would have to be crazy to miss out on the best Mediterranean cruise deals out there.

Of course, the decision is always yours and you will need to pick out the best cruise liner for you and your family. Some have better services than others. Others still have even more activities than other liners. It is therefore important that you research on what will be best for you and your family. Just make sure that the Mediterranean cruise deals that you get will indeed be some of the best deals on the market and worth your money.

David has been writing articles for nearly 2 years. Come visit one of his latest websites over at http://www.embroiderysewingmachinesonline.com which helps people find the best embroidery sewing machines information and resources they are looking for before making a decision to purchase one.

Author: David Patullo
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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