When it comes to cruising, the Mediterranean has it all, from world-class cities and beach stops at Greek Isles to history and culture.

Factor in the good weather and huge choice of ships plyi ng these waters, from floating family-friendly resorts  to sailing boats  and luxury yachts, and it’s easy to see why thousands of Brits take  a Mediterranean  cruise  every summer.

The main departure ports are Venice, Civitavecchia (the port for Rome), Piraeus (the port for Athens), Monte Carlo and Barcelona as there are plenty of  flights in and out of these cities from the UK, both with  conventional  and low-cost airlines.

There  are  countless  itineraries  and ports i n the Mediterranean, but generally cruises are seven or 10 nights and sail in either the Western Mediterranean, visiting places such as Ibiza, Naples and Marseilles, or Eastern Mediterranean , for Athens, Istanbul  and Venice.

Some itineraries span both sides of the sea, east and west; sadly many have dropped the Black Sea due to the on-going unrest in the Ukraine. The few that still go visit alternative ports.

BARCELONA

In Catalonia, on the east coast of Spain, Barcelona has the busiest cruise port in Europe so don’t be surprised to see five or ships tied  up when  you  visit. Most dock a 10-minute shuttle bus ride from town (some cruise lines charge for the bus; if you’re with a group, a taxi might be cheaper), but small ones can moor by the World Trade Centre – an enviable position at the bottom of La Rambla, the city’s main street and an attraction in itself for the cafes, portrait painters, living statues and pet shops that line the route from the monument to Christopher Columbus outside the port to the Pla<_;a de Catalunya. Other attractions include the Gothic Quarter and Gaudi’s unfinished cathedral, La Sagrada Familia. It’s easy to explore alone, seeing the city by hop-on, hop-off bus, on a guided walking tour, even by bike. Cruise lines have Gaudi­ themed excursions and trips to the Nou Camp football stadium.

CIVITAVECCHIA

Civitavecchia is a small town on the cruise map only because  it happens  to be  the closest port to Rome. It takes about 90 minutes by coach or car to get into the city, depending on traffic, but you can also take the train into the  city -journey  time  is up to one hour  and  it costs about €10 return. All cruise lines have excursions into Rome, either guided  or an ‘on your  own’ tour, where they provide the transport  and you have a day to explore alone. A few hours  isn’t enough but put on your walking shoes and try to tick off the Vatican, Colosseum, Spanish  Steps, Pantheon,  Roman  Forum and  Trevi  Fountain.  Remember  to throw a coin into the water to guarantee your return visit.

CORFU

The second-largest of the Greek Ionian Islands, Corfu is a top stop on cruise itineraries around the Eastern Mediterranean. Ships dock about 20 minutes’ walk from Corfu Town, Kerkira in Greek, which is a delightful maze of  cobbled  streets,  alleys  and  souvenir shops selling handbags, olive oil, bangles, bracelets and tee-shirts  galore. Off  the beach or an island tour appeal, it’s best to take the ship’s excursions  as most  are  only in port for a few hours.

DUBROVNIK

One of the busiest ports in the Adriatic, Dubrovnik is at the southern end  of Croatia, close to the border with Montenegro.  Small ships anchor just outside the old port and tender passengers ashore. Larger vessels use the main port , about 1 0 min utes by taxi or shuttle bus from the city. The city is a maze of narrow alleys and steep steps, surrounded  by a  huge wall  that you  can walk  around (about £10 per person ) for fantastic views over the roof  tops and out to  sea.

GIBRALTAR

Essentially a very large rock at the southern end  of  the  Iberian  peninsula,  at  the entrance to the Mediterranean, Gibraltar became a British territory in I 713 and remains  so despite Spanish efforts to claim  it. Cruise ships call here  because folk like to see this little piece of Britain in the sun – there’s a Marks & Spencer and other high­ street favourites  in  the  main  street – and they are especially fond of the duty-free alcohol and cigarettes. If you are cruising  back to the UK, it’s a chance to stock up. Away from the shopping, visit inside the Rock, used as an arsenal during the Second World War, or take a trip to see the Barbary Apes.

ISTANBUL

Where East meets West, Istanbul is a city  of mi narets and domes that straddles the Bosphorus, guarding the entrance  to  the Black Sea. Cruise ships dock at Salipazar, from where it’s a tram or taxi ride into the heart  of  the  city. The opulent Topkapi Palace is a favourite attraction but be prepared for long queues. There’s plenty more to see including the Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar and Hagia Sophia, once a church,  then  a mosque,  now  a museum. You  can even visit the old cisterns (used as a location for the 1963James Bond movie From Russia with Love) or treat yourself to an  authentic  Turkish bath.

KUSADASI

Kusadasi has beaches and a large bazaar selling fake designer watches and handbags, but the main reason cruise ships visit this Turkish town is the ancient city of Ephesus. It’s about 20 minutes drive from the port and was a Greek city before the Romans moved in. You ‘ll see the ruins of temples, houses, baths, the theatre and the magnificent  library, built  in  117AD.  Try to go early to beat the crowds; a guide is recommended  to  explain  the history.

LIVORNO

This is another port you may not have heard of as the town has little to attract tourists, but it is popular with cruise companies as it the gateway for Florence and  Pisa, famous for its leani ng tower, and  the less well-known  Lucre, which has Italian charm without the  crowds.  Livorno port is huge so you ‘ll need transport to the town or station. Some lines have free sh uttl e buses, others charge (in which case a taxi might  often be cheaper, especially if  there are several of you). Trains to and from Florence  are infrequent  so plan  ahead  if you want to go there alon e. Ship excursions are less hassle but expensive. Highlights in Florence include the Duomo  (climb up  the bell tower for great views over the city), the Ponte Vecchio and Piazza della Signoria, where there’s a copy of  Michelangelo’s David. Art lovers should book  ahead and  buy skip-the-queue tickets for the Uffizi Gallery  or  Galleria dcll’Accademia.

MONACO

Cruise lines call it Monte Carlo, but this tiny principality in the South of France is properly  named  Monaco.  It’s famous for the Grand Prix every May, the high-roll ers who grace its casino and its royal family, into which American actress Grace Kelly married in 1956. She died in a car crash i n 1982. There is only one pier where cruise ships can dock, so many have to anchor outside  the  port  and  tender passengers ashore. From the port, a lift takes you through the car park to the old town and royal palace, or you can stroll around the harbour to the casino in Monte Carlo, on the eastern side of the principality. For a bird ‘s-eye view of the coast line, there are helicopter rides over the Riviera.

MYKONOS

A hippy hangout  in the ’60s, Mykonos  is now a top stop for cruise ships sailing through the Greek Islands. It’s a small island where the town – full of narrow streets, white-washed hou ses, boutiqu es and tavernas – and beach are the main attractions. Ships either stay at anchor and tender  folk directly into town  or dock outside the main town and shuttle passengers in by coach (in which case  the water  taxi direct  to the  old port is a better bet) . Boats go from th e old town to nearby Delos, the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, according to Greek mythology.

NAPLES

Naples is in southern Italy, on the beautiful Amalfi coast. It’s a lively city, and great for passengers as ships dock just five minutes from the city. Unfortunately, the main attractions  are  outside of  town.  Pompeii, the Roman city destroyed when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79AD, is best known   but most people agree Herculaneum, destroyed in the same eruption, is better. Whichever you choose, a guided tour helps make sense of the ruins. You can also take ferries to Capri, a favourite with  the rich  and famous, or Sorrento, a beautiful town famous for Limoncello. The ferry terminals are next  to  the port.

PIRAEUS                                                 

If your ship is visiting Athens, you ‘ll dock in Piraeus as the city itself is land-locked. Cruise ships use the east end of the port, about 25 minutes on foot from the station (there are also a bus and taxis), from where there  is a regular  and  cheap  train service – €1.40 (£1.26) each way – to Athens, some 12km away, with announcements in English. For the Acropolis, get off at Monastiriki, Thision or Akropoli Stations. All three are also good for visiting the Acropolis Museum and Plaka, which is packed with souvenir shops and restaurants.

SANTORINI

One of the most picturesque Greek  Islands on accou nt of  its whitewashed  houses with blue windows and doors. Ships anchor in the caldera that was created when a volcano  erupted  here  in  1650BC, and tender passengers  to  the dock, where  a cable  car goes to Fira,  the  main  town,  at the top of the cliff. You can also ride a  donkey or walk up, but the former is not pleasant and the latter is hard work. If you want exercise, cable car up and walk down. Top attractions include a hike up to the volcano  crater, the  even prettier  town  of Oia or an excursion to the ancient city of Akrotiri . Exploring Fira and l unch ashore also makes for a lovely day  out.

VENICE

Who has not dreamed of bei ng serenaded by a gondolier as the sun goes down over Venice? If that does appeal, start saving because it’s an expensive way to see this city built on water. A better – and cheaper – way to see the city is to get a good map and explore  alone,  seeing  St  Mark’s  Basilica, the  Rialto  Bridge, Doge’s  Palace, hopping on one of the water buses for a rest  and having lunch where the locals go. There are also tours to Murano and Burano Islands, respectively known for glass and lace. A ban on vessels of  over 96,000 tons transiting the Guidecca Canal was overtu rned at the start of 2015 so for the time being all ships cruise past St Mark’s Square and dockat the main cruise port  (a nearby  transit takes you to the start of  the canal system  and there are also water taxis to St Mark’s Square). Smaller ships also use San Basilio, between  St Mark ‘s  and  the  port.

WHY YOU SHOULD CONSIDER THE BLACK SEA

At the time or writing in October 2015. several companies had pulled their Black Sea cruises due to the on-going conflict between Russia and the Ukraine. However, a few were still visiting the region as Odessa was back on some itineraries; in place of Sevastopol and Yalta they had added calls at cities including Sochi in Russia. for excursions to Stalin’s dacha and the site of the 2014 Winter Olympics. and Batumi in Georgia. to see the city’s fortress, cathedrals and a folkloric show.

From Constanta in Romania. tours visit the capital of Bucharest. the wetlands of the Danube Delta. or stay and explore the town itself. It was founded by the Greeks and then taken over by the Romans. In Trabzon in Turkey, highlights include Hagia Sophia and Saint Eugene churches and the 6th-century Sumela  Monastery.

ODESSA

The city was founded by Catherine the Great and is an unexpected treasure with wide tree-lined boulevards and elegant buildings in Classic. Renaissance and Asian style – a result of its cosmopolitan history. Ships dock in the city, by the Potemkin Steps, made famous in the Eisenstein film Battleship Potemkin about the 1905 sailors’ mutiny. Outside the city, tours visit the catacombs where resistance fighters lived during the Second World War.