If you’re looking for fun European cruises, I’d recommend a Venice cruise as one of the best ways to spend a wonderful holiday with your family, friends or partner. There are several Mediterranean cruises that include Venice, Dubrovnik, Split and some other beautiful destinations that will take your breath away. Your job is to find the one that best suits your finances; the rest is up to the cruise ship crew and the wonderful historical, cultural and fun places you’ll visit during your trip.
Venice
I was left speechless by this magical Italian city. Most people know it even if they’d never been there, because Venetian canals, romantic-looking gondolas and stone walls frequently appear in movies. If you find a cruise that includes only a day in Venice, don’t be disappointed. It’s a small city that can be thoroughly explored in one day.
Dubrovnik
I love Dubrovnik; it’s a rare mix of powerful history, mesmerizing Adriatic scenery and beautiful buildings that invoke feelings of old-fashioned romance and chivalry. It’s a place where you can feed pigeons on cobblestone squares, enjoy great beaches and take wonderful photos of medieval walls that are under the UNESCO’s protection.
Split
Though not as famous as Dubrovnik and Venice, Split is definitely worth seeing. It’s a big Croatian sea-port where tourists stop to hop on or get off ferryboats to different islands, but a lot of tourists also stay in this city. I enjoyed a cup of ice-tea served by a friendly young man from Zagreb, curious about our part of the world. The atmosphere in Split is how I imagine a beehive: cheerful, full of friendly chatter and sunny.
Fun On Board
After an exciting day in a new city, my favourite part of the cruise is going back to the ship and enjoying its programme. Most ships have a rich night life with many clubs and restaurants offering different cuisines. There are musical and theatrical performances, quality bands on the ship’s deck, spa and massage centres, shopping venues, etc.
During the day you get to hang out with the ship’s entertainers who are there to amuse you and involve you in fun sports activities. If you prefer spending your holiday in a lying position, there’s usually a swimming pool on deck where you can drink cocktails, read, swim and enjoy the sun.
If you want to treat yourself to a nice cruise in 2013, this is the right time to start searching for good deals.
About the author:
Anna is a Croatian-born travel writer currently writing about her European tours for Titan Travel.
by gari.baldi and 1981Adam on flickr
I spent about 10 days near Split back in the 1960s. I was very taken by Diocletian’s palace. One evening we were going for a drink near the mausoleum and could hear beautiful singing drifting through the passageways.
When we got to the area in front of the mausoleum we saw a group of about a dozen Austrians sitting at a long table, beers in hand. They were singing an Austrian drinking song. When they finished we all applauded and then a small group of 4 at an adjoining table started to sing. They were a group of four local shepherds, I think, with outstanding voices; singing in harmony – base, baritone, tenor and male soprano. It was a magical moment in a magical setting.