Everyone has probably at least once dreamed of taking a cruise in the Mediterranean on a liner. After all, it is so romantic: turquoise water, a snow-white ship, a restaurant, excursions … But almost all people immediately, when such a dream arose, said to themselves: this is not for me, this is expensive, difficult, dangerous. We will tell you everything about cruises on the Mediterranean Sea on the liner, answer all your questions, dispel myths and prejudices and warn you about real dangers.
What is a cruise
Literally, the word "cruise" means sea travel, although today there are river and even rail cruises. But still, when pronouncing this word, everyone first of all imagines the sea surface and a huge white steamer. The difference between a cruise and a simple trip on the water is that its purpose is not to deliver to the destination, but to relax, have fun andexcursions while traveling. And the route is often circular, that is, the port of departure and arrival is the same. Today, many travel companies offer holidays on a cruise ship in the Mediterranean. This means that tourists are loaded onto the ship and go on a tour to visit different places, and during the trip on the ship, an assortment of entertainment and activities are offered.
History of a cruise holiday
The first true cruises began in the second half of the 20th century. And the Americans began to master them. We althy citizens were offered comfortable steamships that took them to Europe and Palestine. In 1881, the first special ship, designed exclusively for pleasure trips, was created, the ship was called the Ceylon. However, most trips were made on ordinary passenger ships. Therefore, for example, a trip on the Titanic was not a cruise, but a sea trip. The fashion for cruise ship travel in the Mediterranean appeared in Europe in the 80s, when people became we althier and more interested in traveling. Until that time, cruises were mainly the lot of the American continent. The history of the cruise industry is associated with the creation of more and more sophisticated ships and the provision of more and more diverse services on board. For the last 40 years, there has been a constant struggle between shipping companies for the possession of the largest liner. A giant such as Symphony of the Seas walks around the Mediterranean Sea, capable of transportingabout 10 thousand people, including the crew.
Misconceptions and prejudices
Many travelers have persistent negative stereotypes about cruise vacations. Let's see which of these is true.
The very first myth: cruises are very expensive. Indeed, there is a luxury segment in which the price starts from 10 thousand dollars for two. But there are also offers for 1, 5-2 thousand. According to experienced travelers, the normal cost is $100 per night per cabin. This price includes service, a variety of entertainment and food. In addition, cruise lines often announce discounts, so if you want, you can find a very budget offer.
Another stereotype is connected with pitching. Many people think that moving on the waves causes "seasickness". However, liners plying the Mediterranean Sea, photos of which can be viewed in any catalog of agencies specializing in such services, are huge stable ships. Their movement is so smooth and stable that even the water in the glasses on the tables of the restaurant only occasionally trembles a little. And the stories about motion sickness remained in the days of Agatha Christie.
Third sea cruise myth: it's dangerous. In fact, liners are the safest mode of transport. In the 150 years of the existence of large marine vessels, there have been only 3 major wrecks, and security systems are constantly being improved. Even traveling by plane is a little more risky, not to mention cars and buses.
And the last misconception is connected with the opinion that cruises area pensioner's kind of rest, it is very boring. But traveling around the Mediterranean on a liner involves a considerable number of interesting activities during long hauls. In addition to the traditional pastime by the pool, you can sit in a restaurant, wander through duty-free shops, and also take part in competitions, parties, discos, concerts that are held for travelers. For children during cruises, special events are held, they have playrooms with animators at their service. You also need to remember that the cruise program is built in such a way that during the day tourists go ashore with an excursion program, and the liner makes the main transitions at night.
Advantages and disadvantages
The first indisputable advantage of a cruise holiday is the opportunity to see several cities and countries without worrying about transfers, excursions, tickets, hotels. Cruises are built in such a way that you can visit several interesting places in one trip. From the gangway of the liner, travelers are picked up by buses and taken on an excursion. Tourists can only enjoy the beauty and take photos for memory. If you don’t want to go on excursions with a group, then you can explore the city in your own mode, you can indulge in shopping or just walk along the streets and parks. Another advantage of the cruise is that a trip on a liner along the Mediterranean Sea allows you to combine an excursion program with a beach and recreational holiday. The ships have pools and decks withsun loungers, so you can swim and sunbathe during the trip.
The main disadvantage of a cruise is that it ends. Travelers who have experienced this pleasure at least once dream of repeating it again. Also, the disadvantages include the need to periodically encounter queues: in the dining room, when going ashore, when landing. And another small minus can be called a rather strict daily routine. Breakfast and dinner times are strictly scheduled, going ashore and returning to the ship are also regulated, but this applies to all organized tours.
Things to do on the road
Today, liners cruising the Mediterranean Sea are almost entire cities, so you don’t get bored here. Passengers are in a classy hotel with a great leisure program. The cost of the tour usually includes meals, a complex of entertainment programs and the use of all public areas: the beach, swimming pool, entertainment complexes, gyms, a library, a theater where some kind of show is shown every evening. But besides this, numerous additional services are available to travelers, ranging from shops and bars to spas, beauty and massage parlors. Bowling alleys, cinemas, casinos are also at the service of travelers.
An entertainment program is provided for every evening during the cruise. It can be a captain's evening, a disco, a carnival, cooking shows, karaoke. For shopaholics on liners, a real paradise: prices inDuty-free stores are significantly lower than, for example, at airports. In addition, cruisers are often offered to take advantage of special promotions and discounts.
Issue price
The average Mediterranean cruise on a liner costs about $2,000 (about 134,000 rubles). However, this is a very approximate amount. The fact is that prices for cruises vary greatly. The cost is affected by the type of cabin chosen, the type of food, packages of drinks and excursions. All this allows you to either reduce the price or increase it. A nice bonus for families will be free travel for children. Almost all carrier companies offer children accommodation free of charge, paying only the fuel surcharge. At the same time, children will receive service in special children's areas for free.
Routes
All tours on the liner in the Mediterranean are built in such a way as to cover the most interesting places. The duration of the tours can vary from one to four weeks. Routes are usually divided into western and eastern trips. There are also mixed tours with visits to the Black Sea, coverage of northern European countries, visits to the Canary Islands. Western routes include countries such as Spain, France, Portugal, Italy, Montenegro, Croatia, Slovenia, Albania, as well as the islands of Sicily, Majorca, Sardinia. Each specific tour may include its own set of visited countries. Eastern routes include Italy, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Russia, Israel, Egypt, as well as the islands of Rhodes,Santorini, Lesbos, Mykonos and more.
Top destinations
Choosing the best route for walking and relaxing on a liner in the Mediterranean is not an easy task. After all, this is the most interesting and full of attractions part of the globe. In addition, the goals of the traveler, his experience of visiting Europe are of great importance here. The most popular Mediterranean cruise ship tour includes Venice, Athens, Dubrovnik, Izmir. The coast of Europe, called the Mediterranean, is very long, so you can gradually develop the entire coastline, starting, for example, in Portugal and ending in Istanbul.
Main carriers
Due to the high popularity of sea travel, the number of companies offering such tours is also large. In total, there are several dozen companies in the world that own cruise ships. The following major firms specialize in the Mediterranean Sea:
1. Italian Costa Cruises. It offers five-star hotel service. The fleet consists of 13 ships. Costa Cruises has been cruising since 1948 and is one of the world's most famous carriers. For Russians, the company has special programs and ships with Russian-speaking service.
2. Another Italian company, MSC Cruises, owns 15 liners and has been operating in the industry since 1970. Also offers packages with Russian language service.
3. SilverSea offers only elite service, positioned as a six-star. There are 9 boutique liners in the company's fleetmedium capacity.
4. A relatively young player in the Mediterranean market is Princess Cruises. For this direction, the company offers one five-star service vessel.
There are still small companies involved in the transportation of sailing ships and ships of small capacity, but they cannot offer a decent level of service and are not able to travel long distances.
Liners
The cruise fleet of sea carriers is classified in the same way as hotels - in stars. All Mediterranean carriers use 5 class vessels. These indicators are related to the maintenance and infrastructure of the ship. But besides this, tours can be evaluated according to the so-called lifestyle, that is, according to the living conditions. And in this case, the types stand out standard, premium, luxury and exclusive. All mass tours in the Mediterranean are carried out within the standard category. All cruise ships are built on the same principle. The ship has a hold - these are purely technical spaces. There are also promenade and living decks - these are, in fact, the floors of the ship. There can be from 3 to 20. But for Mediterranean cruises, only multi-deck ships are used, from 10 floors.
Accommodation Features
An important issue when making a sea voyage is the choice of a cabin, because the whole impression of the trip depends on it. And although passengers usually only spend the night in the cabin, you need to weigh the pros and cons. When choosing a Mediterranean cruise on a liner, you need to understand that there are threemain types of cabins, each of which belongs to its own price category. At the same time, all of them assume double occupancy, for children an extra bed can be brought. Each cabin has its own sanitary facilities, wardrobe, TV, safe.
The most economical options are without windows. Their size is approximately 18 square meters. m. Instead of a porthole, a large mirror hangs on the wall. Since these rooms are located in the middle of the ship, it shakes the least here.
The cabin with a window is located on the outer side of the ship and allows you to observe the scenery. The size of these cabins ranges from 18 to 20 square meters. m.
Cabins with a balcony are located on the upper decks. The size of such premises is usually about 22-25 square meters. m. There is a table and chairs on the balcony, here you can admire the scenery and have breakfast or a snack. Since these cabins are upstairs, there may be some slight rocking at times.
How to choose a tour
Traveling always requires thought and wise choice, especially if it's not the cheapest type of holiday, like a Mediterranean cruise. Reviews of tourists allow us to highlight the following options for choosing a cruise:
- Budget. It must be remembered that, in addition to paying for accommodation, you will also have to spend money on port fees, tips, and excursions. Therefore, you need to sensibly assess your capabilities.
- Travel time. Traditionally, the high season for sea travel is from April to October. During this time prices will be higher. Therefore, with the goal of saving, you cantake a closer look at off-season trips.
- Duration. The most popular tours are from 7 to 14 days. During this time, you can have a good rest and not get bored of the same people.
- Carrier company. Usually they differ in price, so making a choice is easy, keeping your budget in mind.
- Route. Here everything already depends on personal preferences.
Reviews of tourists
Travel never leaves a person indifferent, especially if it's a Mediterranean cruise. Reviews of tourists who have made a sea voyage are replete with the most enthusiastic epithets. Such tours leave almost no one dissatisfied or indifferent. This can be explained by the fact that carrier companies diligently prepare travel options, improve service during transfers and satisfy almost any request. Cruisers say that sea tourism is a special pleasure, because it combines many types of recreation.
