The cruises that prove the best of the Med can be found after summer
The Mediterranean may be synonymous with summer holidays but, when it comes to cruises, the next few months make for a glorious holiday at sea. The fierce heat of summer has subsided and the heaving crowds of tourists have thinned out. Excursions on shore coincide with the grape harvest, and the first press of olives. The high temperatures of peak season give way to cool, languid days packed with flavour for tourists.
But the best part of an autumnal Med voyage is, really, that there’s no such thing as bad weather. Instead, it’s all about picking the best spot on the map and plotting a course. Here are the best cruises to squeeze the last drops of summer from southern Europe.
Spot the Dalmatian Isles
This is surely the ultimate treat for anyone who has ever felt the irresistible urge to jump from a ship into the sea. On a cruise into the hidden nooks of Croatia’s Dalmatian Islands aboard Princess Eleganza, passengers can swim off the back of the cruise ship whenever it is anchored. Explore the islands of Vis, Hvar and Brac, scattered like emeralds across the aquamarine waters of the Adriatic. Dubrovnik, meanwhile, combines scenic beauty with Venetian heritage amid a tide of terracotta-topped houses, while Split’s Unesco-protected Diocletian Palace harks back to Roman times.
Book it: A seven-night Gems of Croatia cruise round-trip from Dubrovnik departs September 30. From ￡1,295pp (aptouring.co.uk)
Eastern promise
The secret to staying within autumn’s balmy embrace as winter closes in is to sail to the Mediterranean’s eastern extremes. That’s exactly what this Regent Seven Seas Cruises voyage does by hugging the coast of Turkey and Aegean. Relish the quiet Roman streets of ancient Ephesus (normally packed to bursting during summer) on a stop at Kusadasi; follow in the footsteps of the Knights of St John through Rhodes Old Town’s medieval quarter; and climb the cobblestone streets of Oia on Santorini’s northern shore among whitewashed houses clinging to precipitous slopes.
Book it: A one-week Istanbul to Athens cruise, including Lesbos and Mykonos, departs October 28. From ￡5,299pp (rssc.com)
Roman holiday
The magnificence of La Sagrada Familia, part of Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi’s legacy that enlivens Barcelona’s streets, is a highlight of a Princess Cruises sailing to Europe’s most celebrated sites. Florence flows with Renaissance fervour and the artistic brilliance of Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci in the Uffizi Gallery, seen on tours from Livorno, while Civitavecchia opens the door to Rome. Italy’s vibrant capital rests on the glories of its Roman past, brought to life through an awe-inspiring line-up of ancient monuments, from the Colosseum to the Forum.
Book it: A 14-night round-trip cruise from Southampton, including Marseilles, Sardinia and Gibraltar, departs on October 22. From ￡979pp (princess.com)
Corsica uncovered
Corsica’s natural allure has mesmerised visitors since the Ancient Greeks dubbed the island Kalliste, meaning most beautiful, in tribute to its dramatic craggy coastline and dreamy beaches of dazzling white sand. French boutique line CroisiEurope’s circumnavigation visits cliff-top villages of the Balagne Region and fishing communities tucked into the rugged Cap Corse promontory. Explore the Ajaccio house where Corsica’s most famous son, Napoleon, was born, and trace the life of the Bonaparte family. The Corsican theme continues aboard the 130-passenger La Belle Des Oceans with regional dishes and local music.
Book it: One-week round-trip from Nice departs on October 10. From ￡3,365pp (croisieurope.co.uk)
Historic Holy Land
Jerusalem is quite unlike anywhere else, a bubble of diversity and religions where centuries of history hang heavily in the incense-heavy air of the Old City. Biblical references leap out of this Norwegian Cruise Line itinerary, which calls at Ashdod and Haifa, with excursions to revered sites in Bethlehem, Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee. Conversely, witness nature’s raw power further afield during a hike across the slopes of an active volcano on Santorini or the lava fields on the flanks of Sicily’s Mount Etna, a reminder of its 1992 eruption.
Book it: An 11-night sailing from Athens to Civitavecchia, including Rhodes, Limassol and Messina, departs November 24. From ￡733pp (ncl.com)
Mediterranean medley
Grab a surfboard and tackle the waves without leaving your ships with Harmony of the Seas’ onboard FlowRider surf machine. This leviathan is a floating resort in itself, with an onboard park area, full-size fairground carousel and a slew of brightly-coloured waterslides. Swap to smaller craft for a kayaking adventure around the Unesco protected western coast of Majorca during a tour from Palma, which uncovers lagoons of limpid waters and craggy cliffs that make the perfect jumping-off points.
Book it: A seven-night Western Mediterranean round-trip from Civitavecchia, including Naples, Barcelona and La Spezia (for Florence/Pisa) departs September 30. From ￡473pp (royalcaribbean.com)
Greece, the golden way
The romance of sailing’s Golden Age is recaptured on this around the Greek isles aboard head-turning square-rigger Sea Cloud, built in 1931 as a private yacht for one of Wall Street’s wealthiest brokers. Now owned by German boutique line Sea Cloud Cruises, this tall ship breezes through the Aegean Sea, stopping for passengers to explore Nauplio by bike, join an olive oil tasting session in Monemvasia and discover the labyrinthine alleys that weave through Plaka on the volcanic isle of Milos (its milky rock landscape is a favourite for magazine shoots).
Book it: An eight-night round-trip cruise from Athens departs September 24. From ￡3,692pp (seacloud.com)
Taste of Italy
Fill yourself with the flavours of la dolce vita on a cruise from Civitavecchia to Trieste. A foodie diversion in Sorrento means rare Italian wines and locally-produced cheeses. Dive into Sicilian wine country from Syracuse for a tasting at one of the island’s many vineyards or sample olive oils on a tour from Brindisi to Ostuni, whose gleaming jumble of ivory houses cloaks surrounding hills, earning the city the sobriquet Citta Bianca (the White City).
Book it: A 10-night Italy Intensive cruise, which also stops at Kotor (Montenegro) and Pula (Croatia), departs October 9. From ￡1,587pp (azamara.co.uk)
Reader Service: Did you know that some cruise operators require specific cruise travel insurance? Learn how to get the right travel cover for your trip.
