If you do a survey of which Mediterranean country is the most popular with travelers, there is a good chance that Italy will be the easy winner.

Italy's location in the center of the Mediterranean means that it gets included in many Mediterranean cruises. Cruise ships often embark or disembark in Civitavecchia, the port nearest Rome; Venice, Genoa, or Savona. The most popular ports of call in Italy are Genoa, Portofino, Livorno (Florence, Tuscany, and Pisa), Civatevecchia (Rome), Naples (Capri, Pompeii, Mt. Vesuvius, Amalfi Coast), Messina (Sicily, Taorimina), and Venice.

Some of the smaller cruise ships will port at Portovenere or one of the Italian cities on the east coast such as Bari.

More Information on Cruising Italy

Venice - Italy's Floating City

Murano, Italy Cruise Photos

Exploring the Heart of Rome - The Eternal City

Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel

Florence - The Renaissance City

Porto Venere - Italian Port of Call

Pompeii - Ancient City at the Foot of Mt. Vesuvius

Sicilian Sights - Mount Etna and Messina

Capri - Spectacular Island Near Naples