Before the peak of the Corona crisis, hardly any other area of tourism was able to record such steady and massive growth as the cruise industry. The reputation of cruises has changed within a very short time and many travelers wanted to take the opportunity to explore the most beautiful destinations in the world on one of the luxurious ocean liners. With the end of the third wave, traffic is picking up speed again and cruises in the Mediterranean in particular are enjoying great popularity again. What has changed since Covid and what are the most beautiful destinations with a cruise in the Mediterranean now?

The classic: cruises in the Mediterranean

The idea of cruises in the Mediterranean is so old that even in the late Middle Ages, aristocrats and the well-heeled took the opportunity to visit the most interesting port cities in the world. This pleasure is no longer only available to those with a big budget. Cruises in the Mediterranean are affordable due to the sheer mass of providers and offer exactly the trips you want for your own wishes. There are trips that last several weeks and short trips, where the main aim is to see as many interesting cities as possible in the shortest possible time.

Especially the area between Spain, France and Italy attracts with a variety of interesting port cities and many opportunities for excursions in the countryside. Cities such as Marseille, Venice, Rome, Naples or the islands of Sicily and Sardinia offer a deep insight into the cultures of the countries and are among the most beautiful places in the world. The advantage of a cruise when exploring the Mediterranean is clear: During the day, you can be pampered by the program on board, enjoy exclusive food and great opportunities for leisure activities. In the evening you lie in a comfortable bed and when you wake up in the morning, you are already in the next port and before the next city, which you can explore on your own or with supervised tours.

Cruises after Covid – what has changed?

Cruises were certainly one of the areas where the Covid pandemic hit hardest. Due to the isolated environment, infections in this area were a problem, especially before the design of hygiene concepts and measures. After a long break during which the ocean liners were no longer sailing, the industry has now adapted to the situation and implemented a variety of interesting concepts to protect visitors.

In addition to the general obligation to vaccinate on ships, regular testing has also become a standard. Both during boarding and in the event of an existing case on the ship, tests are mandatory. If there is an outbreak, there is care on board without the trip having to be completely interrupted for the rest of the guests. In addition, larger crowds are avoided – the buffets, for example, are provided with clear time options so that there are not too many people in the dining room.

All in all, the industry has adapted to the new challenges and has done everything possible to ensure that visitors can return to the ship with a feeling of safety and devote themselves entirely to relaxation and adventure on the journey to different destinations.

The Mediterranean has always attracted German holidaymakers in droves. A wonderful climate, many different regions and foreign countries attract together with historic cities and great food. In addition to the opportunity to relax on the beach, cruises in the Mediterranean in particular have gained significantly in popularity in recent years.

With a cruise, you not only have a mobile luxury hotel with a variety of options for leisure, supply and accommodation, but you can also reach the most interesting and beautiful destinations of the Mediterranean simply overnight. So, floating cities have become one of the most popular tourism options in the Mediterranean, and for good reason.

The advantage of a cruise ship trip through the Mediterranean

A Mediterranean cruise is probably the most relaxed way to explore the various destinations and regions in the Mediterranean. After check-in on the ship, you have the personal cabin, which lacks nothing in terms of comfort and luxury compared to the classic hotel room. On the ship itself, there are usually numerous restaurants, bars and small cafes for catering. The modern ocean liners are also a center of entertainment. With comprehensive programs, its own theaters and cinemas, performances and, if necessary, animation for the children, there are many options for how to spend a day on the high seas.

In addition to the luxury on the ship, the focus is of course on the journey through the Mediterranean itself. Most cruise ship trips are based on the most beautiful cities you can find. In addition to a round trip from Naples to the south of France, tours along the Greek islands are also possible. Here it is already the cost factor that speaks for a trip by cruise ship. If you want to explore several places on the Mediterranean in a short time, you would spend money on a rental car, a flight or the train journey every time. With the cruises, there is the transfer on the luxury ship to the various locations, while you can use all the amenities on the ship and usually arrive at the new destination overnight.

The most beautiful trips for a cruise through the Mediterranean

There is a large selection of providers who specialize in cruises through the Mediterranean. They all offer different tours with very different lengths. A short tour along the Greek islands, on which you can explore Athens, Mykonos, Crete and islands such as Santorini in five days. Other options include a tour between the islands of the western Mediterranean, visits to the most famous port cities and, of course, trips to the most interesting metropolises that have a long history. Longer cruises sometimes have a day at sea, so that you can relax between the strenuous tours and enjoy the offers on board.

One of the most popular providers for booking cruises in the Mediterranean is Costa cruises. The provider specializes in various models for traveling in the Mediterranean with a large fleet of beautiful and luxurious ships. The most popular route, for example, led from Palma past Barcelona, Marseille, Messina and Rome and lets cruise passengers explore some of the most interesting cities in the Mediterranean within 8 days. But there are also cruises that focus more on the sprawling world of Greek port cities, for example. In four days, they will travel from Trieste via Mykonos, Katakolon and Corfu back to their home port. Perfect weather and the Greek islands in just seven days – a dream for anyone who wants to discover more of the Mediterranean.

One of the most beautiful tours is certainly the one between Italy, Greece, Turkey and Croatia. The journey begins in Venice – a city that many people claim to have seen at least once and that was the starting point for many upheavals in the Mediterranean. From here you will continue to Katakolon, Izmir and Istanbul. Each of these cities could be the subject of a novel of its own, and each has a variety of sights. Travelers on a cruise ship have the advantage that the experienced companions on board can organize everything you need for an exploration trip. Accompanied tours to the most interesting sights and excursions on land are therefore possible without any problems. However, it is also up to the travelers on the ship to explore the cities on their own, immerse themselves deeply in the life of cities like Istanbul and return to the safe harbor in the evening in the form of their own cabin on the ship.

Of course, the other side of the Mediterranean must not be forgotten either. Various cruises deal with Las Palmas, Barcelona, Marseille, the Balearic Islands and of course Sicily. From here it is only a short stone’s throw to Naples and Rome and many of the cruises offer corresponding tours to the oldest and some of the most beautiful cities in the Mediterranean. Here, too, culture and great food are pre-programmed – always according to your own wishes and requirements.

Find themed cruises and special tours on the cruise ships

A cruise in the Mediterranean is also always a great way to get in touch with people who have similar interests. Many providers therefore also have specialized cruises. These are tours that are particularly suitable for pensioners and also offer appropriate accompaniment or for party-goers who first want to party on the ship and then continue on shore leave, for example in Ibiza. So if you are looking for alternatives to the supporting program around culture and sights, you will find offers from many providers today in this area that are associated with a unique holiday and many great memories in the Mediterranean.

Although the euro has been around for many years now, and serves as the currency in most countries of the European Union, there are still a variety of currencies around the world. How does this come about and what reasons prevent agreement on a global world currency? After all, this would make a lot of things easier for travellers. For the foreseeable future, however, it will only remain a wish to be able to pay worldwide with one currency.

First of all, it must be noted that historically there are already far fewer currencies today than there were 300 years ago. In the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany alone, there were many small regional currencies at that time. Each prince minted his own coins and had the minting monopoly.

This meant that when trading between different principalities, at least one party had to exchange its currency for that of its trading partner. The profession of money changer was born. They earned their money by profiting from changes in the exchange rate. Today, anyone can do that. The prerequisite for this is an investment account with a provider like https://www.fxforex.com/de/, where you can also find detailed information about this form of speculation.

Its own currency is a sign of sovereignty

Minting your own money and later printing it was a sign that you were a sovereign state. After all, it was possible to control monetary policy on its own territory. By increasing or tightening the money supply. This was used in particular to control the price in the national currency for imports from abroad.

For many countries, their own currency is still a symbol of their own strength. The formation of a regional currency, as the euro area has done with the euro, usually fails due to differences between neighbouring countries. That’s why there will probably be no second regional currency in the foreseeable future.

For travelers, this means that they will still have to be prepared for payments in the local currency. The credit card can be used at least in holiday regions with urban infrastructure. This can help, for example, on a short trip if you don’t have that many expenses anyway.

The dollar is widely accepted

For many years, the US dollar was something like an unofficial world currency. It is only an official means of payment in a few countries. In practice, however, it is often accepted or at least exchanged for the local currency on site. Therefore, the tip for travelers to distant countries is to always carry a small amount of cash in US dollars with you. Since the euro came into existence, a similar development has been observed with this currency. The euro can also be used as a means of payment in many holiday countries without the euro.

In the future, the Chinese currency may also reach a similar status. At the latest when more and more Chinese travel abroad and bring their currency with them. Anyone planning a trip through several countries should find out beforehand how to pay locally. There are still states that prohibit the import or export of their national currency. Here you must have a way to get cash immediately after entry.

If you want the all-round service of an all-inclusive hotel on holiday, but want to visit several places or even countries at the same time, you should think about cruises. On the luxuriously equipped ships, no culinary wishes remain unfulfilled, while at the same time shows, cinema, sports and pools are available.

Travel to many places in the same hotel room

Cruises have become increasingly popular in recent years and the industry has experienced a real boom. The decades before that, there were also cruise ships for a long time, with trips on these floating luxury hotels quickly costing up to 10,000 euros.

In the meantime, cruises are also an affordable pleasure for package tourists. Especially for cruises through the Baltic Sea, in the Mediterranean or around the Canary Islands, costs are comparable to a “normal” trip.

The biggest special feature of a cruise is of course the stay on a gigantic ship, which in most cases is not only larger than a hotel on land, but also offers a wide range of activities. The unbeatable advantage of a cruise: You experience days at sea on the sea, but always head for other beaches, islands or countries. In order to travel to several places or even countries and regions on vacation, you have to take a round trip without a cruise ship.

Such a round trip can either be booked as a package tour with guides, flights and means of transport or you can organize it yourself. The disadvantage of this type of travel: You are constantly under time pressure, spend many hours in cars, buses, trains or planes. For adventurous people who don’t let anything stress them out and also like to enjoy a bit of action on vacation, such a round trip through Vietnam or other countries is a lasting experience.

If, on the other hand, you want to see different countries, beaches and islands on vacation, but want to make the transfer times much more pleasant , a cruise ship is the right place for you. The ships sail, for example, in the evening and at night, where on a classic round trip by land you tend to spend the night in a new hotel completely exhausted every day.

Cruises – thematically or regionally an experience

If you are interested in cruises, you can either determine the best trip based on the destination or make the right choice under a certain theme of the trip. Regionally, there are trips to the following regions:

• Asia
• Canary Islands
• Mediterranean Sea (East, West, whole Mediterranean)
• Caribbean
• North cape
• Baltic Sea
• World trip

For beginners, short cruises within usually 7 days through the Baltic Sea, the Mediterranean or the Canary Islands are a practical idea. For Asia, the North Cape or the Caribbean, travelers should better plan 14 days of vacation. Usually, the cruisers first fly to the country where the cruise ship is anchored. There, all passengers board the ship and check in as if they were in a hotel. This is followed by get-to-know-you events and members of the crew provide information about orientation and what is on offer on the ship. At the same time, passengers can decide on the ship or when booking whether they want to take part in guided excursions or prefer to explore the day’s destination on their own.

But cruises can also focus on very different topics . For example, you can find the following cruises on a cruise ship with these focuses:

• Family cruise
• Senior Cruise
• Singles tours
• All-Inclusive
• Last-Minute

In a multifaceted variety, there are also special trips, where, for example, a rock festival is moved to a cruise ship . Other cruises are dedicated specifically to golf fans and head for ports during the trip where impressive golf courses can be played for a day trip. At the end of the journey, the cruise ship will dock in a port as planned, from where it will take a shuttle bus to the airport and back home. All this can be conveniently booked like a package tour and as a holidaymaker you hardly have to worry about anything after the start of the trip.

The cruise ship itself is worth a vacation

Without exception, every cruise ship is designed so that guests can feel completely comfortable on it . Although the cabins are much smaller compared to a normal hotel room – but you only stay in them to sleep anyway.

Cruise ships always offer a variety of different culinary offerings. There are usually several restaurants where Italian, French or other national cuisine spoils the guest with menus. Here reservations and fine wardrobe are requested. At the same time, buffet restaurants are usually open 24 hours a day, leaving nothing to be desired. Open show kitchens fry and fry different dishes every day, while every palate is satisfied, from colourful salads and seafood to ice cream and desserts. In addition, there are ice cream and snack bars on deck, various small restaurants with snack bar character and bars with drinks everywhere.

On cruise ships, however, there is not only good food and there is always a colorful cocktail to be had: The sports offer ranges from table tennis to ball sports in the ship’s own gym to the gym with all known equipment. If you like jogging, you will find marked lanes all over the ship.

Culinary delights and sports are then joined by a varied entertainment programme. A reading or a film in the cinema hall, a revue or show in the atrium, all-day painting courses and other creative offers – you almost have to be careful not to take on too much on holiday on the ship. Boutiques, hairdressers and duty-free shops, sometimes even a casino – cruise ships are small towns on the high seas.