Eastern Mediterranean Cruise Ships

The Eastern Mediterranean is pure waters of a blue-green sea over which the summer sun hovers as a crystalline image of a purity long forgotten. You wake up to whitewashed villages clinging to cliffs, and the smell of grilled octopus drifting from tavernas. Crete’s pink-sand beaches, Rhodes’ medieval alleys, Cyprus’ lazy cats—every stop feels like someone hit “shuffle” on a Greek-island playlist of musical visuals. Throw in Istanbul’s spice bazaars and Jerusalem’s stone walls, and you have that eastern spice, and everything looks exotic and nice. You’ve got history, souvlaki, and sunsets in one cruise package. Cruising here means just rolling off the gangway and letting the sights grab your attention.

Ships in this corner of the sea come with decks made for ouzo toasts and pools that mirror Santorini’s caldera. Cabins stay cool when the meltemi wind kicks up; restaurants serve everything from meze platters to midnight gyros, and the kids’ clubs keep the little ones busy while you sneak off for a sunset catamaran. Shore days are choose-your-own-adventure: snorkel a shipwreck off Mykonos, bargain for those evil-eye beads in Kusadasi, or just plant yourself under an umbrella with a freddo cappuccino. The crew is half the time Greek, so the “kalimera” feels legit and the baklava never runs out.

The best window for travel is late April to early October. It’s warm enough for swimming, cool enough that you’re not sweating on the Acropolis steps. Book four months ahead if you want a balcony facing the volcano; those cabins vanish faster than free lounge chairs at noon. Grabbing a deal early also means you can add that extra night in Athens. Do it once through us, and you’ll get to know—like which port has the cheapest taxi to the beach—so your only worry is remembering sunscreen.

Trending Cruise Ships in Eastern Mediterranean

The hottest ships right now are the ones that feel like floating tavernas with better Wi-Fi. Celebrity Infinity still turns heads after her big glow-up, while MSC Sinfonia keeps the party rolling at prices that don’t require a second mortgage. New kid Oceania Allura is sliding in next year dripping in marble and mezze, and tiny Celestyal Discovery is basically your yacht.

Large or small, every ship has: sunrise yoga overlooking the Aegean, pizza stations serving manouri pies, and shore excursions that actually leave time for a swim. Whether you’re a “pool-deck all day” type or a “ruins at 7 a.m.” adventurer, these floating hotels make the Mediterranean feel like it was built just for you.

Celebrity Infinity

Photo Courtesy: Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Infinity was refurbished in 2024 and now struts around the Eastern Mediterranean like she never aged. She fits 2,170 guests without ever feeling stuffed, so you can capture a lounger by the adults-only Solarium or hide in the Persian Garden spa when Santorini’s crowds come roaring and noisy. Balconies are prime real estate for watching Mykonos windmills spin at the golden hour. Kids disappear into Camp at Sea, teens take over the arcade, and the grown-ups argue over which specialty restaurant—Qsine’s wacky plates or Tuscan Grille’s steaks—wins the night. Docking in Piraeus, she is your ticket to island-hop stress-free with a cocktail in hand.

MSC Sinfonia

Photo Courtesy: MSC Cruises

MSC Sinfonia is the loud, proud Italian cruise ship that brings the whole family together. With room for 2,550, she’s got water slides that dump you straight into the Aegean (figuratively), a Doremi spray park for toddlers, and a teen club that blasts TikTok dances till midnight. Cabins are comfortable and smartly organized. There are pull-down bunks and sea-view balconies on a budget. Dine at the buffet for 20 kinds of pasta or the pizzeria that never closes. She’ll park you in Rhodes Old Town at sunrise so you can beat the tour buses, then will take you to Cyprus for afternoon halloumi. Pure chaos, pure fun.

Celestyal Discovery

Photo Courtesy: Celestyal Cruises

Celestyal Discovery is basically a love letter to Greece in ship form. Only 1,260 passengers means you actually remember the bartender’s name by day three, while the bartender knows many names. The ship sneaks into tiny ports like Monemvasia or Volos where large ships can’t fit, then parks overnight in Mykonos so you can dance till the clubs close. Cabins are simple but spotless, and every balcony faces the meltemi breeze. The Greek Night deck party—ouzo shots, plate-smashing, the works—is legendary. If you want to feel like you’re island-hopping with locals instead of 4,000 strangers, this is your ride.

MSC Armonia

Photo Courtesy: MSC Cruises

MSC Armonia keeps it compact and wallet-friendly for 2,680 guests who just want good vibes and better views. She’s got two pools, a mini-golf course that wobbles with the waves, and a theater that belts out ABBA tribute nights. Staterooms are bright, with inside cabins perfect for napping tight. The buffet runs 20 hours a day (yes, really) and the pizza station is a religion. She’ll drop you in Katakolon for Olympia or Limassol for beach kebabs, then sail into the sunset while you stuff your face with gelato. Easy, breezy, Mediterranean-squeezy.

Oceania Allura

Photo Courtesy: Oceania Cruises

Oceania Allura appears into the Mediterranean scene in 2025 like she owns the Aegean. She’s carrying just 1,200 guests in suites. “Quiet luxury” couldn’t be better—with marble bathrooms and balconies big enough for breakfast in bed. The food is next-level without doubt: Ember for steaks, Toscana for handmade pasta, and a pool grill that does lobster rolls at lunch. Spa days come with thalassotherapy pools, and the shore excursions include private yacht transfers to hidden coves. If you want to sip Assyrtiko while watching Paros drift by and never hear a kid scream (no kids in this ship!), then Allura is indeed your floating villa.

Book your Eastern Mediterranean Cruise with CruiseBooking.com

If you are dreaming of sun-bleached ruins and midnight souvlaki runs, don’t look further. CruiseBooking.com is your no-drama launchpad. Pick your ship, lock your balcony, and we’ll toss in the goodies—like which Athens hotel offers free shuttles to Piraeus. Compare every line side-by-side, grab early-bird perks, and let our crew sort out the boring bits. One click, zero stress, endless fun. Hit book now button, pack the swimsuit, and let the Eastern Mediterranean steal your heart—one turquoise bay at a time.

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