Is your Owner's excitement piqued by exotic ports, shopping bazaars, ancient ruins, colorful culture, sun drenched beaches, exquisite cuisine and turquoise blue ocean? Then now is the perfect time to introduce them to cruising the Mediterranean, one of our fastest growing cruise vacation experiences.
With fewer days at sea and more stops than most typical cruises, the Mediterranean offers a world of exciting culture, culinary adventure, and of course, sultry sunshine. It's a holiday dream of fun in the sun.
Mediterranean cruises used to only be week-long affairs, with sailings limited to Spring and Fall. Now with the recent growth of the industry and the excellent year round weather conditions, cruising has become available for any range of days, throughout the year and to ports all across the sea. Cruising the Mediterranean has never been more accessible, but your Owner may not know it yet. This is the perfect time to introduce them to the experiences available through their Destination points.
The best times to cruise in the Mediterranean will still be Spring and Fall, when the weather remains more temperate, and ports will be less crowded. Families may want to plan to cruse in the Summer months, when the children's facilities are running at full speed, but this is considered peak season, as both Americans and Europeans tend to holiday during this time. Ports may be more crowded, and the temperature will be at its peak in the summer, so advise your Owner to plan accordingly.
Cruise destinations in the Mediterranean will vary depending on the itinerary, but can be broken down into Western and Eastern Mediterranean. The best way to help your Owner select what kind of cruise is right for them is by discussing what kinds of experiences they are looking for, and which countries they are most interested in visiting.
Western Mediterranean cruises will depart and visit locations in Italy, France, and Spain, with most days spent at ports, and few days at sea. Locations and times at sea will vary, of course, based on the length of the cruise. Three night cruises may only visit one or two locations, where longer cruises could visit five or six different ports.
Owners looking for a more familiar setting will enjoy Western Mediterranean cruises for the celebrated beaches, ancient history and culture, and of course the stunning array of sumptuous cuisine.
Eastern Mediterranean cruises have as much variety, and will visit ports along the Adriatic coast of Italy and Croatia, the islands of Greece, Turkey's Istanbul and Kusadasi. The Black Sea is also an option which features ports of Turkey, the Ukraine, and Russia. This region is increasingly one of the most popular in Europe. Its unique blend of beaches and antiquities offers a fantastic array of options. Cruise lengths can vary, but will typically be longer than Western Mediterranean, and will visit a wide array of ports with very few days at sea.
Owners should be aware that some locations in the Eastern Mediterranean have stricter dress codes than most Americans and Europeans may be used to. When visiting orthodox churches, synagogues, and mosques, both men and women should plan to cover their shoulders, midriff, and knees.
Thanks to its increasing popularity, cruising in the Mediterranean has become increasingly affordable. Owners can begin booking shorter three day cruises for as little as 2,100 Vacation Club points, and seven night cruises for as little as 3,450 vacation club points. Prices will vary depending on time of year and sailing itinerary, so be sure to discuss with your Owner what kind of experience they are looking for, and when they are available to travel.
There has never been a better time for our Owners to begin to explore cruising in the Mediterranean, and you are their best chance to discover this exciting opportunity. Our cruise specialists will be able to guide our Owner through the details of booking when you help them make a new vacation dream come true.
