If you decided to explore the Mediterranean as a cruiser it would take a lifetime. It is a wonderful holiday plus a study of the origins of man, trade, politics and religion. Greek Mythology through the Roman era to the Christian Crusades and more. You will no doubt learn more than you want to and discover more than you can remember. Here is where we help, as memories sit in our very many films that you can use as research or show friends where you went. The latter films are shot 4k and play easily on large televisions via the YouTube app. On some TV’s you can save the DORIS VISITS cruise port-channel on YouTube as a favourite.

Typically seas are smaller than oceans and enclosed by land, or almost, or between land and ocean. The vast expanse of the Mediterannean sea stars at the Atlantic where you squeeze in between Gibraltar and Morocco and then it expands to the middle east, with the Suez Canal taking you down to the Red Sea, of the Straits of taking you into the Black Sea. The Mediterranean itself has within it at least 11 seas.

Here is where the difficulty for us as a cruise resource begins, do we break the world up by country, by sea or by cruise route? We have to do them all, and it changes.

Trying to split the Mediterranean up by country alone is tough. If we slice it into the West Mediterranean and East Mediterranean, where does Albania or Croatia sit? Does the slice happen through Venice, of before cutting Ital in half, or between Albania and Greece?

Western Mediterranean is Gibraltar, Spain, Monaco, France, Italy and Malta opposite Morroco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya. In the Ionian Sea, we can include Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro and Albania. 

Most of the islands, too many to list, are territories of the major countries. They are often in places that make little logic other than with military history. Malta sits in the middle of the Med, and Cyprus at the far eastern extreme.

Eastern Mediterranean is Cyprus, Greece, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Turkey, Egypt.

When we list our World Ports it is a complex list by Country, Sea, or other association to try and make sense even to those not sure which lies where. But, you can always use the search. In the port or place, we often show a map and a whole bunch of tours, so you can research it. Then it is a personal choice:-

• Is the shopping better in Sydney or Dubai?
• Is the best nightlife in Ibiza or Skiathos? See, you’ve never heard of Skiathos, which is when we use our best Mediterannean accent and say Mamma Mia! – in 2008 the Abba movie was shot on its neighbouring small island.
• What is the earliest Madonna and Child representation? Some may suggest the wall painting in the Catacomb of Priscilla, Rome. Others will remind you that Greek mythology precedes it with the story of Isis and Horus showing more than just similarities. You may be able to buy a tourist version of sculptures held in museums like The Met and British Museum that date centuries BC.

Looking at the locally offered attractions and tours is the first thing a movie location scout will do. The second is the estate agent. We offer a collection of locally offered tours in order for you to research.

If we have made a film, or a cruiser made a film for us, it will be on our Doris Visits cruise port YOUTUBE channel which is approaching two million views. In some cases, especially in Norway, we have added drone films of the area as they work well. Any film should be listed here under the port name. Please take a few minutes to watch that to as we often find gems and explain the local buses as well as hit the highlights. 

Whilst cruising I sit in the lounge and write cruise and port accurate mystery thrillers in paperback and eBook They are all on Amazon and many will have seen me on board talking about them and some stories from movies I have helped to make. Some of the cruise mysteries are in large print hardback, they are all in paperback, and they are coming out as audiobooks. All the cruise mysteries like my other books and movie screenplays are written like movies or TV shows. Well, that is where I spent the last 50 years! Mr author page – Stuart St Paul

Always remember a ship tour offers the protection of waiting for the trip to return if it is running late. 

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CHAT GROUPS – a fantastic way to help others and a place to find answers. We run a Facebook Group for each of the ships. For example, P&O IONA group  P&O Ventura MARELLA EXPLORER Disney & Family cruise chatSAGA Ocean & River cruise chat group Viking Ocean & River Cruising chatCunard Chat – Premium cruise liners Find the complete list of chat groups here