Cheapest Mediterranean Cruises

When you imagine cruising the Mediterraneandocking at the exotic and glamour European ports of call like St. Tropez, Cannes, Monaco and San Remocheap is probably not the first word that pops into your head. However, with a little searching and know-how, it is certainly not impossible to get a great deal on a cheap Mediterranean cruise. Especially if you are willing to cruise during an off peak-season time and go with a more no-frills cruising experience, you could be hopping from glamorous French and Italian Riviera port city to the next, all without emptying your bank account. The Mediterranean cruise season is from late April to October, although a few ships cruise this region year-round.

Cheapest Mediterranean Cruise

For those dying to cruise the Mediterranean, but are stuck on a shoestring backpacker budget (or just can't imagine spending more than $100/day to do so), there is a discount Mediterranean cruise line that allows passengers to not only cruise the azure waters of the Mediterranean at bargain basement prices, but also allows you to hop on and off as you please (as long as you spend at least 2 nights on board).

EasyCruise

EasyCruise, which was started by the same entrepreneur who started discount airline EasyJet, is a no-frills cruise line that tours the Mediterranean with cabins starting at just $55/night. While sleek sailboat or fancy yacht it is not, the ugly orange EasyCruise ship more than makes up for its lack of beauty by offering a fantastic French and Italian Riviera itinerary at prices that seem to good to be true.

EasyCruise calls at a different port on the Mediterranean coast every dayallowing passengers to disembark and explore the port cities and get back on headed towards the next destination or simply hop off and continue their travels by land. This way, instead of being locked into one or two week itineraries like on most cruises, passengers have the freedom to join the ship and leave it at any stop they like.

Also unlike most cruises, the EasyCruise ship ports around noon each day and stays until the next morningallowing passengers to party well into the night without having to worry about missing the ship.

Another major difference in cruising with EasyCruise versus a more traditional cruise line is that the fares aren't all inclusive. While some may see this as a drawback, it also means that you won't be helping to pay for food and drinks that you might not necessarily want either. The non-inclusive prices also allow the costs to stay way down, and includes the both accommodation and transportation for just about $50/night, which is way less than you would probably spend on a hotel and train ticket anyways.

Hopping on an EasyCruise may also help you save money in the Riviera. An area known for its high prices on everything from accommodations to food and drinkEasyCruise offers not only an affordable place to sleep, but also has a restaurant on board where you can eat for cheap.

While this is certainly bare-bones cruising versus a luxury ride (the cabins are reminiscent of small dorm rooms), you will also be spending a whole lot less than if you were cruising around on one of the fancier boats. The no-frills, cheap cruise line also tends to attract a much younger, more backpacker-y and independent travel crowd, who like the ship for not only it's rock bottom prices, but also for the flexibility it allows.

>>Visit the EasyCruise website to get more info

Other Cheap Mediterranean Cruises

If you don't want to shell out a huge amount of cash, but also don't see yourself enjoying the non-inclusive barebones style cruising on an EasyCruise ship, there are many other cruise companies sailing the Mediterranean. Most of the major worldwide cruise linesCarnival, Norwegian etcoffer itineraries in the Mediterranean. Plenty of competition means that it usually isn't too hard to find a good deal on a Mediterranean cruise with a little searching and a dash of luck.

If you are dying to do a Mediterranean cruise without spending an arm and a leg, you are best off doing a shorter itinerary (one week versus 2), shopping around for specials and deals, and trying to cruise at the tail ends of the season. Cruises in the Mediterranean will almost always be more expensive in the height of summer (June, July, August) and will cost less in the Spring and Fall when there are fewer people wanting to cruise around the Mediterranean. Plus, with still glorious and warm weather lasting well into the fall in this area, you'll still be able to soak up the sun and enjoy warm weather even if you aren't cruising during one of the peak summer months.

Costa Cruises

While now technically owned by Carnival, Costa is an Italian cruise company and Europe's largest cruise line. In the summer, they cruise the Mediterranean, with a huge presence and with a European majority. Here they compete with all the big mass-market players on the same repetitive itineraries at a good value price.

Nominally Italian (Costa employs Italian officers and crews, most of the guests are Italian, French (and other Europeans). You will find the occasional North American guest on board, Costa Cruise certainly offers a more international cruising experience for those Americans looking for a cultural experience as they cruise the Mediterranean.

>>Visit the Costa Cruises web site for more information

photo: voyager of seas