Greece for grown-ups

The Times Online guide to Greece for adults. Greece's most beautiful resorts were made for couples, and in summer, many of Athens's best restaurants and hottest clubs remove to the holiday playgrounds of Mykonos, Paros and Santorini, where sophisticated bars are set up in just the right places to sell you a sunset with your pre-dinner cocktails.

Mediterranean cruise port: Genoa

Writer and yachtsman Michael Howorth has visited Genoa numerous times in the course of travelling and sailing around the Mediterranean. This busy port, the supposed birthplace of Christopher Columbus, is a terminus for cruise ships and a turn-around point for ferries on the Sardinia run. It's a working port dominated by a working city that has not lost sight of its roots yet still finds time to enjoy the pleasures of life. What to see, where to eat, what to buy.

Mediterranean Cruise-tours combine land and sea

Royal Caribbean International's "cruisetour" vacations give guests the opportunity to pair a multi-day land vacation package with either a Mediterranean cruise. In 2005, Royal Caribbean is offering four land packages to pair with its European cruises -- one to London and Paris, two to Spain, and one to the English cities of London and York. The cruise line has partnered with Akorn, a division of Abercrombie and Kent and one of the leading customized tour operators in Europe.

Land tour portions range from three to five nights and are escorted by knowledgeable, local tour directors who not only provide historical and expert commentary, but also serve as personal concierges to assist with anything from dinner reservations to show or museum tickets. Also included are four- and five-star hotel accommodations in the heart of the city centers, breakfast each morning, a farewell group dinner, and guided tours of top cultural attractions, as well as free time to pursue individual interests.

Guests on 7-night Splendour of the Seas Mediterranean itineraries or 12-night Brilliance of the Seas Mediterranean/Venice or Mediterranean/Greek Isles sailings can enhance their cruise with a three-night Madrid and Barcelona land tour. A five-night land tour, which includes visits to Madrid, Barcelona and Seville, also is available to Brilliance of the Seas' guests.

Po River cruise - northern Italy

San Antonio Living took some folks on a cruise on the Po River in northern Italy. The trip began in Venice, then cruised the Venetian Lagoon to the islands of Burano and Murano. They also toured the historic cities of Mantua, Verona and Ferrara . A tour of Parma, famous for its gourmet delights, completed this best of Italy cruise. You can see the video online.

New York to Rome cruise in 2006

Holland America has announced that the ms Noordam will sail from New York in 2006. Most of the cruises will be to the Caribbean, but the Noordam will also make a transatlantic cruise to the Mediterranean. The 16-day transatlantic cruise sails between New York and Rome. It departs New York on April 5. Ports of call feature Bermuda; the Azores; Cadiz, Valencia and Barcelona, Spain; Monte Carlo, Monaco; and Livorno, Italy.

Mediterranean cruise: insider's guide to Greece 2005

Greece is one of the most popular Mediterranean cruise destinations, and for good reason. The big five Greek resort islands - Corfu, Crete, Kefalonia, Kos and Rhodes - are stunningly beautiful. Alternatively, opt for island-hopping the less-discovered islands. This concise 2005 insider's guide to Greece suggests ways to make the most of your trip. It includes the islands, classic Greece, and Athens.

Mallorca photo galleries

Mallorca is another Mediterranean cruise port in the Balearic Islands. Excellent photos of the island by Stephen Gunn.

More Mallorca photos by Colin Bainbridge. I love the shot of Alcudia harbor.

3 Mediterranean cruise deals

Crystal Cruises is taking 10 to 20 percent off fares on five spring cruises booked by Jan. 31. 3 of the cruises are one-week Mediterranean sailings. Fares start at $2,317 a person, double occupancy, with a 15 percent discount, on the Crystal Serenity from Rome to Venice, May 9-16. A 12-day Western Europe cruise on the same ship, leaving London on April 27 and going to Rome, starts at $3,626 a person, double, with a 10 percent discount. crystalcruises.com.

Carnival Cruise Lines is offering pre- and post-cruise hotel packages in several first-class hotels in Rome in conjunction with the line's first-ever Mediterranean cruises on the Carnival Liberty beginning in summer of 2005. The one- to three-night hotel packages (priced from $180 to $510 per person, double) can be combined with the new 12-day Mediterranean voyages from July 20 to Oct. 12, as well as a 16-day transatlantic voyage departing Rome on Oct. 24 and arriving in Fort Lauderdale on Nov. 9.

Holland America has announced its 2006 Grand World Voyage, a 108-day Circle of the Sun cruise visiting 22 countries on six continents. The world cruise sets sail from Fort Lauderdale on Jan. 5, 2006, aboard the 793-guest Prinsendam and will be highlighted by a total solar eclipse while sailing from Antalya, Turkey to Crete, Greece. Fares start at $19,999. Segments are available.

Mediterranean cruise bargain: $60 per day on easyCruise

You can cruise the Mediterranean for as little as $60 per day per person. Your cabin will be tiny and simple, and meals are extra. Board any day and stay for the period of your choosing. The ship, called easyCruise, will sail the western Mediterranean for continuous cruising. Register at www.easyCruise.com to be notified when ticket sales begin. The bright-orange site is already available for viewing the ship's amenities. The ship will sail between ports during the morning hours and arrive in a new port by lunchtime, so the passengers can party all night in the fabled Mediterranean cities. An update of the linked news article: there will not be any Asian cruises ... the ship will immediately sail to the Mediterranean to begin cruises there in April.

Menorca photo galleries

A beautiful gallery of photos of Menorca (Balearic Islands) ... one of the popular cruise ports in the Mediterranean. Photos by Jesus Ramirez.

And more great photos of Menorca, this time by Scott Wright.

Mediterranean cruise port: Balearic Islands

In the middle of the Mediterranean between Spain and the North African coast, the Balearic Islands are filled every summer by a "massive multinational force of hedonistic party animals and sun seekers". The islands offer: fine beaches, relentless sunshine, good food, wild nightlife, Gothic cathedrals, Stone Age ruins, fishing villages and endless orchards of oranges and olives. The four main islands - Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera - have maintained their individuality. The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands manages the five main ports in the archipelago - Palma and Alcudia in Mallorca, Mahón in Menorca, Ibiza and La Savina in Formentera.

Palma de Mallorca is a leading baseport in the Mediterranean. Hotel owners have worked closely with the large European tour operators to promote Palma as a Fly-Cruise-Stay product. Mahon harbor is a natural 6 kilometre long bay with berths for 3 cruise ships right in the heart of the city. It is a unique port situated in an extraordinary landscape. The Port of Alcudia is situated in the north of the island of Majorca, in a lovely bay. It is a small commercial port suitable only for dropping anchor in order for passengers to go on excursions around the beautiful north coast. Ibiza Port is situated at the end of the historical centre with a great variety of shops, restaurants and discos.

Mediterranean weather watch

How's the weather in the Mediterranean region this time of year? Today's forecast for Naples, Italy calls for partly cloudy with a high of 59 degrees (F) and a low of 45. That's slightly warmer than the average in January. In Volos, Greece the forecast is also for cloudy weather with a high of 54 and a low of 35.

Lauren Howard's Mediterranean cruise

Lauren Howard's account of her cruise tour of Spain, France and Italy, from the Decatur Daily. The French Riviera and Tuscany ... and still she finds reason to complain. I'm afraid Lauren may be a bit of a whiner. Naples, Capri, the Amalfi Coast, Barcelona ... this cruise hit all the high spots.

2005 travel hot list

The Herald (Scotland) has a "travel hot list" for 2005. Mediterranean cruises are not included, but I assume it was an oversight. Let's demand a recount.

Western Mediterranean cruise travelogue

FortOgden presents a travelogue of a western Mediterranean cruise aboard the Holland America Noordam. Well illustrated with photos (click on the links to see more photo galleries). Nine ports in ten days, plus a couple of hotel days at each end of the trip. Lisbon to Rome with seven ports in between.

Break out of your travel rut in 2005

In a vacation rut? Do you travel to the same place every year? The Miami Herald has a long list of ideas for breaking out of your rut. I humbly suggest that a Mediterranean cruise is the perfect new adventure.

Da Vinci Code barge cruise

If you're among the millions of fans of The Da Vinci Code, look into the "Da Vinci Code Barge Cruise." Eight-day barge journeys, which begin this spring, visit several key sites from Dan Brown's novel and enable passengers to follow loosely in the footsteps of protagonist Robert Langdon. The barges will ply inland rivers, the Canal du Midi, and the Mediterranean coast.

Engine troubles stop cruise a few miles from port

Engine problems stopped this around-the-world cruise a few miles from port. Some angry passengers will demand their money back, but others are calmly waiting out repairs. Free drinks may be helping to keep them happy.

Captain your own Mediterranean cruise

NauticBlue allows boaters to take the helm of a new 32- to 46-foot custom yacht and cruise hidden coves, untouched beaches and tropical islands in the Caribbean or the Mediterranean. The company is a division of The Moorings, the premier charter sailing company, which pioneered the charter sailing fleet concept over 35 years ago. Boaters can reserve a power yacht at four Caribbean and Mediterranean destinations: Tortola in the British Virgin Islands, Abaco in The Bahamas, Athens or Corfu in Greece. NauticBlue will take care of everything, from airline reservations, to provisioning and outfitting the yacht with fishing, snorkeling, diving, kayaking and other water-sports equipment. Even boaters who are first-time charterers can enjoy this power yacht vacation, because no formal certification is necessary, and your past boating experience qualifies you to charter -- just complete a boating resume, which the company supplies.

New Mediterranean cruise ships

Costa Cruises continues to invest in new cruise ships for the Mediterranean. Costa has launched 3 ships in 16 months -- Costa Mediterranea, christened June 2003; Costa Fortuna, christened November 2003; and Costa Magica, christened in November 2004 -- with the 112,000-ton Costa Concordia on deck for summer 2006.

To meet the growing demand for Europe cruises, Celebrity Cruises is pulling the Century off her planned year-round Caribbean itineraries and redeploying her to Europe this summer, along with Constellation, Galaxy, and Millennium. Following a 14-night transatlantic cruise departing from Fort Lauderdale on May 7, Century will offer a series of mostly 10-, 11-, and 12-night cruises in the Baltic and Mediterranean.

All that and more cruise news from Frommers.

Medcruise - Mediterranean cruise ports

Medcruise, the website of the associaton of Mediterranean cruise ports, has fantastic introductions to the ports around the Med. An interactive map easily leads you to port summaries and photo galleries. It's the quick way to get a feel for the ports of call on any Mediterranean cruise itinerary.

Italy - summer vacation guide

The Times (the original ... from London) has a large new guide to summer holiday in Italy.

Like the most beautiful girl in school, Italy knows full well that everyone is in love with her. We can’t disguise how besotted and bewitched we are by her natural, national style: we can’t help staring when men in Armani suits pootle about on Vespas, perfectly elegant couples perform their evening passeggiata , and even the nuns drive like Michael Schumacher.

Includes pages of tips for vacations with or without kids. Good background info for your Mediterranean cruise.

Confirmation: cruises are great

Tom and Bonnie Bily enjoy seeing new places, and as they grow older, cruising is increasingly their preferred mode of travel. A cruise vacation can't be beat for convenience and a high level of service, the Bilys say. "You go to these neat ports of call, but you don't have to pack and unpack your luggage," Bonnie Bily, 65, says.

And the Bilys loved their Mediterranean cruise. "I would go on that one again in a minute," Tom says. The couple set sail in Nice, and soaked in the sights of a new port each day, from Monte Carlo's casinos to the picturesque village of Grimaud, France.

Travel trends - Mediterranean cruise

Travel agents report that interest in Mediterranean cruises remains strong, in spite of general shakiness of travel to Europe due to the declining dollar. Cruises are seen as a good value because they are all-inclusive. I could've told them that ... they're also easy to book, "safe" and fun.

Week's best travel deals

The Washington Post's best travel deals of the week include Mediterranean cruises. Mediterranean spring cruise fares are reduced by up to 50 percent by the luxury line Silversea. The sale applies to select April, May and June sailings on the Silver Whisper and the Silver Cloud. For example, a Barcelona-to-Lisbon cruise departing May 5 starts at $2,448 per person double, a 50 percent discount; port charges of $175 are extra. Info: Silversea.

Mediterranean cruise: return to Greece

Without hesitation, they chose to return to Greece for their honeymoon ... on a Mediterranean cruise. I'd say this is one couple that really enjoy Greece, and who wouldn't?

Wow

The Royal Clipper sailing ship cruises the Mediterranean in the summer months. Yes, it's a real sailing clipper ship ... as in wind powered. And really gorgeous too. It's the first five-masted, full-rigged sailing ship built since 1902, and the largest sailing clipper ship in operation.

The Falling Dollar

The New York Post's take on the falling value of the US Dollar and international travel. They say that the world still wants American spending, so international destinations are offering bargains to offset the declining spending value of the $. Sounds right to me. Go get a deal on a Mediterranean cruise.

Mediterranean Cruise: the philosopher

A philosopher takes a Mediterranean Cruise on the QE2.

Mediterranean Cruise: Lisbon to Athens

Here's a review of a Mediterranean cruise on the Holland America Prinsendam. It was a 13 night cruise from Lisbon, Spain to Athens, Greece ... with several stops inbetween. Sounds like a fine adventure.

Mediterranean cruisetours

In 2005, Royal Caribbean once again is offering exclusive European cruisetours, pairing land trips to some of the most historic and beautiful regions of England, France and Spain with European cruises on Brilliance of the Seas and Splendour of the Seas in the Mediterranean and Jewel of the Seas in Northern Europe. Land-tour portions, ranging from three to five days, are escorted by knowledgeable, local Tour Directors. They include four- and five-star hotel accommodations and guided tours of top cultural attractions, as well as plenty of free time to pursue individual interests.

Carnival orders a new cruise ship for the Mediterranean

Carnival Corporation announced an agreement with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri for the construction of a new 112,000-ton vessel for its Mediterranean Costa Cruises unit. Delivery is scheduled for Spring 2007. The as-yet-unnamed ship will be a sister ship to the Costa Concordia, which begins a new class for Costa when it debuts in late Spring 2006. The new "Concordia-class" vessels will offer innovative facilities and features, including a wide range of formal and casual dining venues, four swimming pools -- two of which will include retractable domes -- and state-of- the-art telecommunications capabilities. Of the ships' 1,500 staterooms, more than 60 percent will offer either an ocean view or balcony. Including the new Costa ship, Carnival Corporation has 13 new ships under contract and scheduled for delivery between 2005 and 2009.