Santorini - Greek island on Mediterranean cruise

Dianne Herschelman finds that the Greek isle of Santorini is the best part of her Mediterranean cruise. Climb to the peak of the island heights for spectacular views. Aren't you ready for a cruise?

The blue of the water defies description. Whitewashed buildings, some with blue roofs, cling to cliffs that plunge from the blue sky to the turquoise Mediterranean.

Luxury Mediterranean Cruise

10-day "Knights and Minotaurs" Mediterranean cruise on the Silversea Silver Shadow. You'll cruise from Monte Carlo to Genoa (Italy), Livorno (Italy), Sicily (Italy), Valletta (Malta), Heraklion (Greece), Rhodes (Greece), Kusadasi (Turkey), and Athens.

Silversea Cruises has small very luxurious ships. The thoroughly modern ships have every technolgoical innovation. Spacious ocean-view suites, with sumptuous furnishings and appointments – most with a private veranda.

Mediterranean cruise departs October 20, 2005.

Luxury Mediterranean cruise from Rome to Monte Carlo

7-night cruise on the Radisson Seven Seas Voyager. Starts in Civitavecchia (Rome). Sail to Sorrento (Italy), Portofino (Italy), Livorno (Italy), St Tropez (France), Barcelona (Spain), Port Mahon (Baleric Islands), and Monte Carlo (Monaco).

Departs October 15, 2005. The Seven Seas Voyager is a 700-guest all-suite all-balcony luxury cruise ship that cruises the Mediterranean in the summer.

New Mediterranean cruise ship - first impression

Frommer's Matt Hannafin has written a first impression of the new Norwegian Jewel. This new mega-ship will deploy to the Mediterranean in the spring of 2006.

Matt was wowed by the large computerized "billboard" screens placed outside restaurants and in various public areas. Each displays a listing of every restaurant on board, its status (open/closed), the type of food it serves, how busy it is at that particular moment, how close it is to filling up, and how long a wait there will be if it is filled up.

The Courtyard Villas are big suites with access to a villa-guests-only courtyard, a private sundeck, and a staffed concierge lounge. The courtyard has a private swimming pool, hot tub, and several plush, shaded sunbeds. Suites have a separate bedroom and living/dining room; a huge bathroom with oceanview whirlpool tub and shower; large private balcony; and floor space that ranges from 440 to 572 square feet. The larger Courtyard Penthouses have a separate children's room with fold-out couch bed and second bath. Prices hover in the $4,400 to $5,400 range for weeklong European cruises in summer 2006.

He also likes the big selection of beers in the Maltings bar.

Grand Mediterranean cruise on Princess Cruises

12-day Grand Mediterranean cruise on the Princess Cruises Grand Princess. Starting in Venice with stops in Venice (overnight), Athens, Ephesus, Istanbul, Mykonos, Naples/Capri, Rome, Florence/Pisa and Marseille. Ending in Barcelona. The best of the Mediterranean.

Departs October 5, 2005. Escape completely on the Grand Princess.