To get the most from your Eastern Mediterranean cruise we would recommend the smaller, more intimate ships, as they can access islands and ports inaccessible to larger vessels. Indeed places that are accessible to the large mainstream ships often become overrun with cruise tourists, meaning the local charm can be completely lost.

Athens, Istanbul and Venice tend to be the start and finish points for this area, although longer voyages will cruise across from Rome and Barcelona in the West. With such interesting embarkation ports it's well worth extending your cruise by a few days to take in the sights. The romance of Venice rightly makes this city world renowned, Athens boasts the Acropolis whilst Istanbul has a wealth of bazaars, churches and mosques, the highlights of which include the Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar.

A focus of many sailings, the Greek islands will charm you with their whitewashed buildings, cobbled streets and rustic fishing villages. And this area has a rich history, which is superbly shown in the ancient Greek city of Ephesus (accessed from the Turkish port of Kusadasi), formerly home to the Temple of Artemis - one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World - and a highlight of any cruise.

Itineraries start from March and can continue all the way through to November, but we prefer the cooler months in late spring and autumn when you can sightsee in more pleasant temperatures, and, importantly, without the crowds.