9 of the best cruise destinations in the Mediterranean

The Mediterranean is a fantastic destination for your cruise vacation. The weather is fantastic and it has some of the most stunningly beautiful places on the earth. The Mediterranean Sea is a major body of water south of Europe, west of Asia, and north of Africa and cruise lines have been visiting this area since cruise liners have existed! With mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers the Mediterranean is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe.

Action-packed Mediterranean cruises are a great way to explore this stunning part of the world and Below we have listed and 9 of the top ports that your Mediterranean cruise should call at.

1. Barcelona is the largest city in Spain and capital of Catalonia. Being on the Spanish mainland the weather is slightly warmer than the Spanish islands. Barcelona is a busy city but with a very relaxed atmosphere. Coffee shops, small bars, busy town center squares and shopping are the name of the game as well as glorious palm lined beaches. The city is clean and the locals are friendly and welcoming. One of the most popular tourist destinations is the city football stadium that is famous throughout the world.

2. Palma is a port on the popular Spanish island of Majorca. Majorca is one of the Balearic islands and is a popular starting destination for many European cruises. The island is an extremely popular tourist destination for European travelers. The port itself is located on the south of the island, the rest of the island is easily explored via bus or public transport but because of the size of the island, a car rental will make exploration much easier. Half of the total population of Majorca live in Palma so it is definitely worth traveling the island to see the quieter side.

3. Tunis is a city in Tunisia and will be a completely different experience to the other Mediterranean cruise destinations. Tunisia is an Arabic country and it is worth checking the beliefs before you land at port. Shore excursions will reveal an old world type city with a typical African appearance. The climate in Tunis is hot and dry and you should dress appropriately. Get your haggling hat on, everything can be bartered here. In fact the locals expect you to barter so don't be shy and grab a bargain at the many street markets that litter the area.

4. All roads lead to Rome...Or in this case, waters. Rome is a must see. You have to see it to believe it. Some of the most famous monuments and architecture in the world is in Rome. The Colosseum is just one of the famous landmarks. Rome is the capital of Italy and the largest city in Italy. Romes history as a city spans over 2,500 years and it shows. The unbelievably beautiful architecture is everywhere. Be sure to get yourself into the city when the ship stops at this port.

5. Genoa is another city in Italy but with a more traditional appearance. Parts of the old town area are inscribed on the world heritage list and as such are untouched by modern architecture. A refreshing change from the big city of Rome Genoa has a more relaxed and countryside atmosphere.

6. St Raphael is on the French Riviera and has a more tolerable climate that some of the other Mediterranean ports. Immediately West of Monte Carlo St Raphael is a lovely, quaint town on the South East of France and has some of the most stunning beach front boulevards in the world. Palm trees and little shopping boutiques are the sights you will see.

7. Another port in Italy is Naples. Being further south than Rome the weather will be slightly warmer and towards the winter months this difference will be noticeable. Naples is a known for its rich history, art and culture. Naples is over 2,800 years old and the area is steeped in lovely old architecture and historic landmarks. Eating in Naples is an experience like no other, they really put the extra effort in when it comes to their food. Five start fresh seafood is on offer everywhere, your food will be as fresh as possible, sometimes being caught a couple of hours before.

8. Monte Carlo is one of Monaco's administrative areas. Monte Carlo lies in the French Riviera on the Mediterranean Sea in Monaco surrounded by France and close to Italy. Monte Carlo is known across the world as a playground for the rich and famous and the casinos are the main attraction. Monte Carlo is tiny. The permanent population is 3,000. If you are lucky enough to stop at the right time of the year you may be able to watch the Formula 1 Grand prix.

9. Corsica is a recently added destination to most Mediterranean cruises and is the fourth largest island in the Mediterranean sea. Located west of Italy it has a similar climate to Rome. Although located closer to Italy than France, Corsica is actually French owned. Corsica is famous as the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte and there are references to him everywhere. Corsica is not as tourist populated as some of the other cruise destinations and as such is extremely peaceful.

This is by no means a complete list of Mediterranean destinations. The Med is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.