Best Mediterranean Cruise Lines Companies

Before answering what are the best cruise lines for Mediterranean cruise, we should point out, that the Mediterranean ship cruises offer the best European cruise vacation packages as to price-per-value - love, romance, and history blend perfectly with cruising the Mediterranean Sea between the picturesque Europe, the exotic Asia, and the mysterious Africa.

The cheap cruise ships to Mediterranean generally belong to mainstream lines (Carnival, RCL). Luxury Mediterranean cruises all-inclusive are operated by luxury cruise lines with all-inclusive packages (Silversea, Regent, Azamara). Last minute Mediterranean cruise deals are readily available, due to the great number of vessels in the region during the summer months. Most of the Mediterranean lines belong to the families of Carnival Corp and Royal Caribbean International.

Small Mediterranean cruises are usually operated year-round by the "dedicated" European lines (like Costa, MSC, Louis). Repositioning cruises Europe are the best option for a long and cheap exotic sailing on-board some of the best passenger ships in the world.

And what are the best cruise ships to the Mediterranean? In comparison to the best ships to Alaska, or the best Caribbean passenger ships, the Mediterranean Sea cruising offers the same Sun, on-board amenities and activities, but adds also the luxurious beaches of the French Riviera, the charm of Italy and Greece, the traditional local gourmet cuisines (with the top selections of French and Italian wines), the European sophisticated experiences with feature architecture, museums, markets, and all the glamour of the Mother continent.

CHEAP short Mediterranean cruise itineraries by cheap ships: MSC, Costa, Royal Caribbean. The CHEAPEST Mediterranean cruises, average food and services (fixed dining), heavily crowded public spaces, "noisy".

LUXURY Mediterranean experiences on-board luxury smaller ships: Azamara, Oceania, Regent, SeaDream, Silversea, Seabourn, Crystal. Discount Mediterranean luxury cruises with the lines' customer loyalty programs cards.

Best Mediterranean family cruise packages by the best ships fro families with kids: Disney Magic, Carnival Magic, Norwegian Epic, all RCCL vessels. Family cruise vacation deals with low fares, fixed dining (good food), decent service, scheduled activities, excelent mass-market entertainment.

The BEST Mediterranean Lines: Royal Caribbean (cheap, 10 ships), the "Magics" of Carnival and Disney (unique features), and Princess (5 ships) in the category of premier voyages. Follows the list of the major Mediterranean lines, in brackets - the year of the maiden voyage, and the ship's capacity in passengers.

Celebrity Mediterranean ships - iconic for food and service. Celebrity Med cruise by Constellation (2002, 1,950), Eclipse (2010, 2,850), Equinox (2009, 2,850), Silhouette (2011, 2,850), and Solstice (2008, 2,850)

Cunard features 2-class system on-board Queen Elizabeth (2010, 2,100), and Queen Victoria (2007, 2,000).

Holland America Mediterranean ships - for traditional sailings with Ryndam (1994, SOE 2004, 1,260), Rotterdam (1997, SOE 2009, 1,400), Prinsendam (1988, SOE 2005, 740), Nieuw Amsterdam (2010, 2,100), Noordam (2006, 1,920), Eurodam (2008, 2,100) - SOE stands for "Signature of Excellence" upgrades program of the line.

Carnival Mediterranean by Carnival Breeze (2012, 4,450) best family and party experiences.

Costa - operated by all ships. Costa Mediterranean cruise by Allegra (1969, 1,070), Atlantica (2000, 2,100), Concordia (2006, 3,700), Deliziosa (2010, 2,830), Favolosa (2011, 3,780), Fortuna (2003, 2,720), Luminosa (2009, 2,260), Magica (2004, 2,720), Marina (1969, 760), Mediterranea (2003, 2,100), Pacifica (2009, 3,780), Romantica (1993, 1,360), and Serena (2007, 3,700).

Mediterranean on Disney Magic ship (1999, 2,400). The Disney Mediterranean cruise offers mainly family experiences.

MSC - year-round sailings by all ships. MSC Med cruise deals for Armonia (2001, 2,090), Fantasia (2008, 1,300), Lirica (2002, 1,560), Magnifica (2010, 3,600), Melody (1982, 1,600), Musica (2006, 2,550), Opera (2004, 1,710), Orchestra (2007, 2,550), Poesia (2008, 3,600), Sinfonia (2002, 2,220), and Splendida (2009, 1,300).

NCL Norwegian Lines - freestyle dining on-board Epic (2010, 4,100), and Jade (2006, 2,220).

Princess Mediterranean ships - best value for price. The Princess ships in the Mediterranean: Grand (1998, 3,100), Ocean (1999, 830), Pacific (1999, 830), Ruby (2008, 3,080), and Star (2002, 2,590).

Royal Caribbean Mediterranean ships - cheap, for families and young couples. The Royal Mediterranean ships: Adventure (2001, 3,800), Brilliance (2002, 2,500), Grandeur (1996, 2,440), Independence (2008, 3,370), Liberty (2007, 4,370), Mariner (2003, 3,800), Navigator (2002, 3,800), Splendour (1996, 2,070), Vision ()1998, 2,420), Voyager (1999, 3,840).