Cruises in the Mediterranean are as varied as they are romantic, taking in everything from remote, white-sand beaches in secluded coves to bustling towns that are walking museums. Gibraltar, Spain, France, Italy, and Morocco can be seen on western Mediterranean cruises, while the Greek islands, Turkey, Cyprus, and Israel can be seen on eastern Mediterranean cruises. Together, these countries make up about a million square miles. From quiet, beautiful vessels equivalent to private yachts to massive, action-packed ships where families are promised a welcome as warm as the Mediterranean sun, the options for cruise lines are equally vast. These cruise lines represent the cream of the crop in the Mediterranean.

The Princess Line

This company distinguishes out because of the wide variety of accessible trips it offers, from active family outings to tours for those with special needs. Explore the city of pizza’s birth on a guided treasure hunt for a unique perspective on Italy’s third-largest metropolis. Wheelchair users can take a special coach trip, while visitors to Pompeii, the Roman city preserved under layers of ash from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD79, can enjoy an accessible excursion along specially designed walkways.

Variety Cruises

If you want to get a true taste of the Greek islands, this is the line to go for. The Greek fleet of small ships, which can only be reached by local fishing boats, can carry between 34 and 72 passengers to the more remote, uninhabited islands. Join a cooking class in a village home on Ikaria, where people live longer than anywhere else in the world, or dine with the single family that calls Levitha home and runs the island’s modest restaurant for passing ships.

CroisiEurope

Stream pattern With the launch of La Belle des Oceans, CroisiEurope’s ocean fleet now consists of two vessels. From Nice, you may hop aboard this 130-passenger luxury yacht that will take you to the pristine shores of Corsica, the fourth-largest island in the Mediterranean. In the winter, it sails the Atlantic and takes passengers to the warm Canary Islands for a comprehensive six-island tour. Take a day trip to La Gomera to explore Garajonay National Park, a biosphere reserve classified by UNESCO, and to learn about the unique whistling language spoken by the locals. By night, glance up and discover celestial mysteries in the pristine skies above La Palma on a star-gazing expedition.

MSC

This line sails to an alphabetical assortment of destinations, from Ajaccio, Corsica, to Zadar, Croatia. MSC’s big, flashy ships are available across the Mediterranean, and they are suitable for families. Travelers can visit the Holy Land, where they can float in the Dead Sea and explore the biblical sites of Israel from the port city of Haifa.