The Top 10 Luxury Mediterranean Cruise Experiences

If you're craving crystalline waters, remarkable scenery, impressive architecture and mouthwatering dishes, then the Mediterranean is calling your name. From Mykonos to Malta, here are the top spots to have a refined experience on your luxury Mediterranean cruise.

Key Takeaways: The Best Luxury Mediterranean Cruise Experiences

● Ibiza, Spain: Legendary for electronic music, Ibiza offers VIP spa days and historical tours of Dalt Vila.

● Corsica, France: Mountainous Corsica, Napoleon's birthplace, features private walking tours and the Calanques de Piana orange cliffs.

● Sardinia, Italy: Sardinia is a healthy Blue Zone where you can enjoy private wine tours and beaches.

● Sicily, Italy: Sicily hosts Mount Etna, an active volcano you can explore via an exclusive helicopter tour.

● Malta: Sunny Malta features the capital Valletta and the luxurious Xara Palace inside a restored historic area.

● Hvar, Croatia: Sun-drenched Hvar is famous for its beach clubs, lavender fields and high-end restaurants for dining.

● Korčula, Croatia: Fortified Korčula resembles "Little Dubrovnik" and offers private yacht excursions to secluded, quiet pine forests.

● Mykonos, Greece: Mykonos features whitewashed churches and a unique gastronomic experience involving local spicy kopanisti cheese.

● Santorini, Greece: Santorini is a photographer's paradise where you can hire private photographers for sunset shots.

● Cyprus: Historic Cyprus provides sun-soaked beaches and high-end fashion shopping at various designer boutiques and malls.

● Check out these destinations and start planning your next European luxury cruise.

What Is a Luxury Mediterranean Cruise?

A Mediterranean luxury cruise is all about having options — and plenty of them. On board, spend your days as you please and move at your own pace. Start with a morning spa treatment, enjoy a long, languid lunch, then sip an exquisite cocktail on deck as you soak up the sunset. Premium accommodation, elegant spaces and more activities and entertainment than imaginable will leave you brimming with happiness and peace well before you arrive at your destination.

On shore, explore sites filled with culture, history and fresh flavors. From farm-to-table dining and fine wine tastings to historic tours, art experiences and high-end shopping, you’ll indulge in some of Europe’s most beautiful destinations among the relaxed and elevated atmosphere of a cruise.

Let’s dive into the top luxury cruises on the Mediterranean for your next vacation.

1. VIP Spa Day in Ibiza, Spain

In the west part of the Mediterranean between Spain and Algeria, you'll find the island of Ibiza, which is famous for its electronic music. Dance the night away and sip cocktails at one of the glamorous nightclubs, but don't forget to explore the island by day, too. Highlights include the old town of Dalt Vila and the medieval fortress, the Castell de Eivissa and the whitewashed villages of Santa Agnes and Santa Gertrudis.

After all that, you'll need some serious relaxation, so why not pamper yourself with a true VIP spa day? There are plenty of opulent spas to choose from on the island, many of which are located inside the five-star hotels. At the luxurious countryside Atzaró Spa, you can enjoy the sauna and hammam, book various massages and beauty treatments, use the gym and attend yoga classes.

2. Plan a Guided Tour of Corsica, France

If you're traveling a little more to the east during your Mediterranean cruise, you'll arrive at the intriguing, mountainous and sparsely populated French island of Corsica. Corsica has its own character, cuisine and language, and you'll soon notice there's a lot to discover here. Being the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte, the island is rich in history.

You can learn a lot about Corsica with a private walking tour. There's plenty of wild nature to explore, dazzling green valleys and dense forests. I highly recommend making a stop at the extraordinary orange Calanques de Piana cliffs on the west coast, where there are several well-marked walking trails.

Be sure to visit the charming inland town of Corte with its impressive fortress and cobbled alleys to experience views straight out of a painting. Take the steps to the top of the Belvedere for a bird's-eye view of the historical churches, colorful architecture and surrounding nature.

3. Book a Private Wine Tour in Sardinia, Italy

South of Corsica, you'll arrive at the Italian island of Sardinia, the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after Sicily. It's one of the five so-called global Blue Zones, places where people live longer and healthier than anywhere else. You'll want to stay as long as possible when you see the island's beautiful white sandy beaches, rocky coastlines, mountain scenery and charming historic towns and villages. Of course, you can't miss the rich food and first-class wine.

An exclusive wine tour to selected wine cellars — taking a day or even an entire week — is a great way to discover the different types of wines produced in Sardinia. These include the Cannonau (the local name for Grenache), Vermentino and Carignano (also known as Carignan). You can also taste other exciting grape varieties and wine styles and enjoy the unique Sardinian cuisine, while doing some sightseeing in between.

4. Take a Helicopter Tour to Mount Etna in Sicily, Italy

The beautiful island of Sicily is in the middle of the Mediterranean, located in the southernmost part of Italy. This island offers breathtaking beaches and rugged nature. You can also visit picturesque towns and villages featuring diverse cultural traces. Experience the intriguing history of Sicily in the delicious cuisine, which features fresh ingredients like couscous, shellfish, tuna, pistachios, ricotta and citrus fruits.

The 11,160-foot (3,403 meters) Mount Etna on the island's east coast is the largest active volcano in Europe and one of the highlights here. There's no better way to see its impressive beauty than from above. Several companies offer helicopter tours, offering spectacular views of the summit craters. Imagine smoke plumes and lava fountains surrounded by a black and yellow landscape with orange groves and pine forests.

5. Stay in a 17th-century Palace on Malta

A bit farther south, toward North Africa, the wonderful sunny island state of Malta has all the components for a memorable holiday. Explore the capital, Valletta, built by the Knights of St. John in the 16th century. Or, hike around the fortress-like hilltop towns of Mdina and Victoria and the village of Gozo with its many impressive churches. Malta, of course, has superb beaches to relax on and brilliant waters perfect for snorkeling. At night, you can immerse yourself in the bustling nightlife.

If you're looking for an exclusive experience, Xara Palace Relais & Châteaux, located in a restored 17th-century palace inside the medieval city walls of Mdina, offers that and more. The hotel has only 17 suites and guestrooms, and each private terrace boasts the most amazing views of the Maltese countryside.

6. Go Beach Clubbing in Hvar, Croatia

It's time to join the jet-set to Hvar, one of the most popular islands in the south of Croatia, known for its luxurious hotels, fancy restaurants, and legendary beach club scene. This is also the country's sunniest island (with over 2,700 sunny hours each year), so it makes for a perfect destination on your Mediterranean cruise.

Head to the exclusive Beach Club Hvar to spend a perfect day at the beach, relaxing on a waterfront bed. Then, indulge in a spa or massage treatment before you enjoy exquisite dining. Another great choice is the Laganini Restaurant & Lounge Bar, where you can sunbathe while sipping some heavenly cocktails after a refreshing swim in the crystal-clear Adriatic Sea. Or, pick some fresh-caught seafood or other gourmet dishes paired with aromatic wines, then head for the beach bars where you can dance until the sun comes up.

It’d be easy to spend your entire vacation at these lavish beach clubs, but don't forget to also explore Hvar town. There, you’ll see the interior with its lilac lavender fields, vineyards, old villages and pretty isolated coves. If you have the time, you won't regret a trip to the pristine Pakleni Islands either.

7. Charter a Private Yacht Excursion From Korčula, Croatia

South of Hvar, you'll arrive at another stunning island on the Dalmatian Coast, Korčula, Croatia. Said to be the birthplace of Marco Polo, this small fortified town is also known as "Little Dubrovnik."

Step on board a private yacht excursion to discover the island with its pine forests, secluded coves and pebbly beaches. Or sail a little farther across the azure blue sea to the gorgeous Lastovo Archipelago Nature Park, where you can also visit the ex-Yugoslav military submarine tunnel.

To the east is the quiet, densely forested Mljet National Park. During your trip, enjoy a swim, go snorkeling and perhaps try stand-up paddleboarding. Many excursions also offer a three-course Mediterranean lunch served on board.

8. Have a Gastronomic Experience on Mykonos, Greece

When you think of luxury, it’s common to conjure up dreams of Mykonos, Greece. This glamorous island in the middle of the Aegean Sea is known for its pretty whitewashed churches, monasteries, flour mills, fantastic golden sand beaches and, especially, its many wild parties.

Before you join the fashionable crowds at one of the epic all-night beach parties, discover the mouthwatering Mykonian gastronomy. Try some of the dishes unique to the island, like the spicy kopanisti cheese, made with fresh cow and goat milk. It goes well with ouzo, the Greek anise-flavored aperitif, or a bottle of local white wine. For a tremendous culinary Greek experience, you won't regret going to the legendary restaurants Sea Satin, Remezzo, Koursaros or La Maison de Katrin.

9. Walking Tour With a Private Photographer in Santorini, Greece

Santorini, known as Thera in Greek, is of captivating beauty. The whitewashed villages, surrounded by the dark volcanic rocks, multi-colored cliffs and turquoise sea, make it a photographer's paradise.

Why not take advantage of these idyllic surroundings on this mythical Greek island and get some good shots of yourself, your loved one or family, too? You can book an excursion with a professional photographer who knows all the best spots for incredible photo ops.

Stroll from the capital, Fira, to the villages of Firostefani and Imerovigli. Or, travel farther to charming Oia to watch the sunset. No less picturesque is the landscape on the Nea Kameni island with its caves and churches, and the island of Palia Kameni with its sulfurous hot springs.

10. Fashion Shopping in Cyprus, Greece

If your Mediterranean cruise brings you to the half-Turkish, half-Greek island of Cyprus, rejoice. Cyprus is known for its sun-soaked sandy beaches, fascinating history, old harbor towns and jaw-dropping nature. It's also a great destination if you'd like to shop for opulent items to add to your wardrobe.

Spend your days relaxing at the seaside, exploring the rural interior and trying the local cuisine, and then head to the country's main towns, like Nicosia, Limassol, Ayia Napa and Paphos. There, you'll find both high street and high-end fashion, so look out for the designer boutiques and the modern malls with plenty of favorite European and British clothing brands and famous fashion houses. Looking for something more unique? Head to the shops that offer clothing by local, independent and cutting-edge designers, including Anna Koumoushi, Fani Xenophontos and Joanna Louca.

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