Mediterranean Cruise Ports Guidebook

Taking a cruise can be a fun, affordable way to experience Mediterranean Europe — if you choose the right cruise, keep your extra expenses to a minimum…and use this book to make the absolute most of your time in port. Unlike most cruising guidebooks, which focus on this ship's restaurants or that ship's staterooms, Rick Steves Mediterranean Cruise Ports concentrates on the main attraction: the grandest cities in Europe. As always, Rick has a plan to help you have a meaningful cultural experience while you're there — even with just a few hours in port.

Do Your Own Thing: Rick's book explains how to get into town from the cruise terminal, shares sightseeing tips, and includes self-guided walks and tours of top attractions.

Cruise Smartly: You'll learn which destinations are best for an excursion — and which you can confidently visit on your own. You'll also get tips on choosing and booking a cruise, and plenty of hints for saving time and money on the ship and in port.

Hop Aboard: Inside you'll find one-day itineraries for sightseeing at or near these Mediterranean ports of call, including:

Spain

• Barcelona

France

• Marseille, Cassis, and Aix-en-Provence
• Nice
• Villefranche-sur-Mer and Cap Ferrat
• Monaco
• Cannes

Italy

• Florence, Pisa, Lucca, Porto Venere and the Cinque Terre (ports of Livorno and La Spezia)
• Rome (port of Civitavecchia)
• Naples and Pompeii
• Sorrento and Capri
• Taormina (port of Messina)
• Venice (ports of Marghera, Marittima, Ravenna, and Trieste)

Croatia

• Dubrovnik

Montenegro

• Kotor

Greece

• Athens (port of Piraeus)
• Mykonos
• Santorini
• Corfu
• Olympia (port of Katakolo)
• Crete (port of Heraklion)
• Rhodes

Turkey

• Istanbul
• Ephesus (port of Kuşadası)

Essential tips for each port

• In-depth advice for making the most of your time and money while ashore
• Detailed tips for a smooth and budget-savvy route from your ship to each city center, and back
• Self-guided walks and tours
• Easy-to-follow maps (including color maps of Barcelona, Florence, Rome, Naples, Venice, the Adriatic & Dalmatian Coast, Athens, Istanbul's Old Town, and Provence and the French Riviera)
• Recommended cafés and restaurants for lunch
• Handy survival phrases for each local language

And more

• In-depth advice on choosing and booking a cruise
• More on trip planning: When to go, pre-trip checklist, detailed packing advice
• Transportation while ashore: trains, buses, city transit, and car rental
• What to expect on board your ship and how to make the most of your time ashore
• Extra tips for those beginning or ending a cruise in Barcelona, Rome, Venice, Athens, or Istanbul (including hotel listings and airport connections)