Cruises The Best Small Ship Experiences in the Mediterranean By Jacqui Gifford Jacqui Gifford Instagram Twitter As the editor-in-chief of Travel + Leisure, Jacqui Gifford is always on the next plane. She constantly scouts for new hotels, shops, and restaurants to give readers the latest news and trends, and frequently appears as an expert guest on television networks, including NBC, CBS, ABC, CNBC, and MSNBC. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Published on August 30, 2018 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: George Pachantouris/Getty Images Sailing on an intimate ship has many benefits, from being able to reach harder-to-access ports to smoother disembarkation. These destinations and brands are ideal for this style of cruising. 01 of 06 Corsica - Ponant Courtesy of Le Ponant The 64-passenger Le Ponant, the original ship of French cruise operator Ponant, regularly visits this French, Italian, and North African–influenced island. On the southeastern coast, you’ll see the limestone cliffs of the Gulf of Santa Manza before sailing north to Cargèse, famous for its historic churches. (Seven-night sailings from $4,970 per person, all-inclusive.) 02 of 06 Tuscan Islands - Sailing Collective Ashley Camper/Courtesy of Sailing Collective Brooklyn-based Sailing Collective, a charter company that also specializes in cruises of eight to 10 passengers, travels to this part of Italy, calling at pine-forested Isola del Giglio, home to three small villages, and volcanic Capraia, part of the Arcipelago Toscano national park. (Seven-night sailings from $3,200 for a single cabin, all-inclusive.) 03 of 06 Spain - SeaDream Yacht Club Courtesy of SeaDream Yacht Club SeaDream Yacht Club, which operates two 112-passenger vessels, now runs Wine Voyages, a showcase for the Med’s top producers. The seven-night Barcelona-to-Málaga itinerary, leaving Oct. 12, 2019, is slated to include a sherry-pairing dinner in Puerto Banús with Bodegas Rey Fernando de Castilla and an excursion to Anima Negra, a top Mallorcan winery. (From $4,726 per person, all-inclusive.) 04 of 06 French and Italian Riviera - Silversea George Pachantouris/Getty Images Many Med cruises are a week or longer. But if you’re short on time, or want to combine a sailing with time on land, Silversea’s 5-day voyage on the Silver Shadow, leaving May 22, 2019, is ideal. You’ll get time to explore the grand hotels in Cannes, France; the casinos and the Monaco Grand Prix, the world-class car race, in Monte Carlo; and the beautiful architecture of Italy’s Cinque Terre. (From $4,770 per person, all-inclusive.) 05 of 06 Spain and Morocco - Scenic Courtesy of Scenic With ten restaurants and bars for just 228 guests, as well as a heated indoor pool and pilates studio, the Scenic Eclipse is poised to revolutionize the luxury cruise market. In April, during its first Mediterranean season, it will offer a Tenerife to Barcelona cruise that also hits up the Moroccan cities of Essaouira and Casablanca. (From $7,795.) 06 of 06 French and Italian Riviera - Windstar Cruises Courtesy of Windstar Cruises T+L readers love the 310-passenger Wind Surf — a true sailing vessel, and the flagship of Windstar Cruises — so much that they voted the brand the No. 1 Midsize-Ship Cruise Line in the 2018 World’s Best Awards. The vessel will be making several seven-day “Yachtman’s Harbors of the Riviera” sailings next year, visiting Portofino, Monte Carlo, Cannes, and Sanary-Sur-Mer — some of the Med’s most glamorous ports of call. (From $3,199 per person.) Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit