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Home›Luxury Cruise Lines
Ultra-luxury cruise lines, the yachts, tall ships and small ships that reach the harbours the great liners cannot, and the premium lines at their best.
Last checked October 2026.
All-suite, all-inclusive ships of about 500 to 850 guests, including the new Seven Seas Prestige from December 2026, with Mediterranean voyages between ports such as Barcelona, Monte-Carlo, Rome, Venice and Athens. Visit website (opens the official site) ↗
Small all-suite ships with butler service in every suite, from expedition ships of about 100 guests to its largest of about 730, sailing the Mediterranean from spring to autumn. Visit website (opens the official site) ↗
Intimate all-suite ships of about 450 to 600 guests, known for calls at smaller harbours alongside the great Mediterranean ports. Visit website (opens the official site) ↗
Two refitted ships, Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity, carrying about 600 and 740 guests, with Mediterranean and Adriatic voyages in summer. Visit website (opens the official site) ↗
The MSC Group's luxury brand, with ocean-front suites throughout on ships of about 900 guests, sailing the Mediterranean from spring to autumn; its newest ship, Explora III, joined the fleet in July 2026. Visit website (opens the official site) ↗
Europa and Europa 2, the German line's two luxury ships, run in German and English. On Europa 2 the finest is the Owner Suite, over 114 m² with its own steam-sauna shower and whirlpool; on Europa, the Penthouse Grand Suite above the bridge has a private sauna and a butler. Europa sails the Mediterranean in autumn and spring, and Europa 2 in the summer of 2027, from Civitavecchia and Palma de Mallorca. Visit website (opens the official site) ↗
Four Seasons I, a yacht of 95 suites run to Four Seasons hotel standards, sailing Mediterranean voyages from spring to autumn. Visit website (opens the official site) ↗
Three yachts, Evrima with 149 suites and Ilma and Luminara with about 225 each, cruising the Mediterranean in summer with overnight stays in the Riviera's and the islands' best harbours. Visit website (opens the official site) ↗
Two twin yachts of 112 guests each, small enough to moor in harbours such as Portofino, Saint-Tropez and the Greek and Croatian islands. Visit website (opens the official site) ↗
Scenic Eclipse and Scenic Eclipse II, discovery yachts of about 200 guests carrying their own helicopters and submarine, with summer Mediterranean voyages. Visit website (opens the official site) ↗
A French line of small ships and a sailing yacht, most carrying fewer than 270 guests, with a large Mediterranean summer programme. Visit website (opens the official site) ↗
Orient Express Corinthian, a 54-suite sailing yacht, sailing Mediterranean voyages from Marseille. Visit website (opens the official site) ↗
Amangati, Aman's first ship, built in Genoa: just 47 suites for 94 guests, each with a private terrace and a Suite Host, up to the Aman Suite with its own lift, massage room and terrace Jacuzzi. Its maiden voyage leaves Palma de Mallorca for Nice in May 2027, and it sails the Mediterranean until autumn from ports including Palma, Nice, Marseille, Venice and Dubrovnik. Visit website (opens the official site) ↗
Three true sailing ships, their sails set by hand, among them the 1931 Sea Cloud, where Marjorie Merriweather Post's own cabin is kept as she had it; on Sea Cloud Spirit the junior suites have private balconies. Summer voyages cover the Balearics, Corsica and Sardinia, the Amalfi Coast and the Greek islands, and Sea Cloud II sails into Venice under sail. Visit website (opens the official site) ↗
Three square-rigged and barquentine sailing ships; on Royal Clipper the Owner's Suites have a sitting area and whirlpool bath, and the Deluxe Suites their own verandas. The ships sail the Mediterranean from April to October, from Civitavecchia, Venice, Piraeus and Istanbul. Visit website (opens the official site) ↗
Two ocean yachts of 100 guests, Emerald Azzurra and Emerald Sakara, sailing Greece, Italy and the Adriatic from late spring to autumn; the finest is the Owner's Suite, with a separate bedroom and a large private terrace. Visit website (opens the official site) ↗
Small ships and sailing yachts; on Star Legend the Owner's Suites have separate living and dining rooms and can be joined into a three-bedroom Grand Owner's Suite. Three ships sail the Mediterranean from March to November 2027, from Piraeus, Civitavecchia and Venice. Visit website (opens the official site) ↗
Small all-inclusive yachts of about 100 suites; the Reserve Collection, up to the Navigator Suite, adds butler service. World Traveller sails the Mediterranean from April to October 2027, from Málaga, Nice, Civitavecchia, Piraeus, Monte-Carlo and Lisbon. Visit website (opens the official site) ↗
A Greek family company with small yachts of up to 72 guests, every cabin facing the sea, sailing the Cyclades and Classical Greece from Athens, Croatia and Montenegro, and Italy and Malta, from spring to autumn; the finest room is the Owner's Suite on Variety Voyager. Visit website (opens the official site) ↗
On Oceania Allura the Owner's, Vista and Oceania Suites all have a 24-hour butler, a bar of six full-size bottles in the suite and a private Executive Lounge. Allura sails the Mediterranean in autumn and stays for the line's first Mediterranean winter, from November 2027, from Trieste, Civitavecchia, Piraeus, Istanbul and Barcelona. Visit website (opens the official site) ↗
Identical ships of under 1,000 guests; the Owner's Suite has its own sauna and a boardroom that seats twelve for private dinners, and the Explorer Suites a separate bedroom and living room. Viking sails the Mediterranean from spring to autumn, from Barcelona, Civitavecchia, Venice and Piraeus, and keeps ships in Europe through the winter. Visit website (opens the official site) ↗
Mid-sized ships known for long stays and nights in port; the Top Suites, up to the World Owner's Suite, come with a butler, the premium drinks package and speciality dining. Azamara sails the Mediterranean in autumn and winter from Barcelona, Civitavecchia, Piraeus and Lisbon. Visit website (opens the official site) ↗
A Greek line sailing round trip from Piraeus from spring to November; the Stargazer and Grand Dream Suites have a reserved restaurant, a suite-only sun deck, a concierge lounge and the spa's thermal suite. Visit website (opens the official site) ↗
That makes 23 cruise lines in all.
The Mediterranean Season Letter
Four letters a year, one for each season: the Mediterranean from spring to autumn, and Beyond the Mediterranean, into the Alps, in winter. The one best hotel to book, and the events worth crossing a sea for.
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