Editors' Travel Deal Review

The best of Mediterranean summer sails from $899

Hit high seas with Norwegian, MSC Cruises or HL

By ShermansTravel Staff

April 28, 2008 04:29 pm EDT

Book By:  ASAP

Travel By: Various through

The Mediterranean cruise season will soon kick off and the prices are starting to rise. If you want a summer sail around the scenic shores of the Old World, we suggest you make your booking now, before all the deals get snatched up. To help you choose the right cruise, we selected the best of summer voyages around the Med. Just pick between Norwegian, MSC Cruises or Holland America. Discounts run as high as 50% and prices as low as $899! 

Western Mediterranean on Norwegian Gem
On July 6 this summer, the new addition to the Norwegian fleet of ships, Norwegian Gem, hits high seas from Spain’s Barcelona on a seven-night roundtrip journey. This Western Mediterranean voyage is on offer by CruisesOnly for $899 in an inside cabin ($999 in oceanview). If you take into account that the regular price for inside units is listed at $1599, this is a fantastic deal that saves you 44% off rack rates. In addition to a day at sea, the itinerary covers ports of call in Malta, Italy, and France; those include Valletta, Naples, Civitavecchia (getaway for Rome), Livorno, and Villefranche-Sur-Mer.  

Sail the Med on MSC Cruises’ Melody
We spotted another fantastic summer cruise on Orbitz. The special in question saves you 50% off a seven-night Western Mediterranean cruise roundtrip from Barcelona. A hefty $2300 is the listed price for this sea journey aboard MSC Cruises’ chic Melody but the special cuts it down to $1149 for inside accommodation ($1349 for oceanview lodging). Ports of call that the ship visits include Ibiza on the Balearic Islands; Tunis, Tunisia; Messina, Sicily; Naples and Livorno in Italy; and Monte Carlo in Monaco. Note that this sailing has four August departures at this price.  

Med voyage with Holland America
A more upscale cruise experience can be had this summer at a discount, too. Holland America’s elegant Noordam does a 10-night Mediterranean circuit from Civitavecchia/Rome in early August. Vacation Outlet offers this sailing at a discount of 47% – inside cabins are selling at $1149 on this August 5 departure. The itinerary covers visits to Monaco; mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands; Tunisia; and Sicily. Two days at sea are also thrown in. Note that oceanview units on this sea journey sell for just $1349.

The rates above are listed per person, based on double occupancy. The cost covers onboard accommodations, meals and entertainment, as well as port charges. You’ll just have to dish out extra for government taxes and fees.

Expect hordes of summer visitors.

For the Western Med voyage, check out www.cruisesonly.com or call 1-800-CRUISES.

 

For the MSC Cruises’ sailing, go to www.orbitz.com or call 1-888-656-8184.

 

For the Holland America cruise, visit www.vacationoutlet.com or call 1-800-TAKEOFF.