1. MSC

MSC stands for Mediterranean Shipping Company, so it’s no surprise this line knows what it’s doing in the Med. If you want to dip your toe into the proverbial water and try a cruise for the first time, there are two-night taster breaks from Marseilles calling at Genoa and Naples for less than £150. Or you can sail away for a week from as little as £469, which includes all meals and entertainment. What sets MSC apart from other lines is that you can join a circular cruise from a port of your choice, such as Genoa, Palma or Barcelona, making it easy to plan and budget for convenient flights.

2. Star Clippers

Not all Mediterranean cruise ships are made the same, and Star Clippers’ romantic tall ships turn heads wherever they go. Replicating the swashbuckling vessels of yesteryear, they use warm Med winds as much as they can and it’s an impressive sight to watch sailors raising the sails by hand. Passengers can channel their inner Captain Jack Sparrow and climb the rigging to the crow’s nest on sailings that start from under £1,140 for four nights. Alternatively, the springy bowsprit nets at the front of the ship are great look-out points for dolphins. The onboard vibe is very friendly and the captain and officers mingle with passengers.

3. Cunard

Sailing on one of the world’s most recognisable cruise lines isn’t as expensive as you might think: you can experience the 2024 flagship Queen Anne — the line’s first new vessel in 12 years — for less than £850 for a ten-night sailing. Mediterranean voyages include days at sea to savour the Cunard lifestyle, such as the highlight afternoon tea served by white-gloved waiters and glittering black-tie balls. Other options include flying out to Barcelona to board Queen Victoria, with its art deco interiors, and sail back to Southampton via sunny Malaga, Cadiz and Lisbon.

4. Virgin Voyages

Richard Branson shook up the cruise world in 2021 when he launched his unconventional line Virgin Voyages. You’ll find Mediterranean sailings on the adult-only Scarlet Lady and Resilient Lady, which resemble hip hotels rather than cruise ships. There’s a DJ in the foyer along with a tattoo parlour for any guests (or sailors as they’re called by Virgin) looking for a lasting souvenir. You’ll find week-long sailings for less than £1,200, and can add shore excursions such as a pizza-making workshop in Naples or wine tasting on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius.

5. Celestyal

This two-ship line offers port-intensive sailings focusing on the eastern Mediterranean and Greece. There are value-for-money mini-cruises for less than £500, often with two port stops a day. Celestyal operates the comfortable refurbished vessels Celestyal Journey, which joined the fleet in 2023 and Celestyal Discovery for 2024. Families are given a warm Mediterranean welcome, with waiters making a big fuss of young sailors and remembering their favourite foods. Mediterranean flavours come to the fore in Celestyal Journey’s Smoked Olive restaurant with dishes such as risotto flavoured with fresh black truffle.

6. Ambassador Cruise Line

Ambassador provides affordable premium holidays at sea with 12-night Med cruises for less than £1,000. Cruises are aimed squarely at mature Brits looking for a traditional experience, such as a choice of two sittings in the main dining room and formal nights. That said, it’s certainly not old-fashioned and there’s a lively bar and entertainment scene including silent discos. Ambassador’s two ships, Ambience and Ambition, have been updated to a high standard, with spacious and contemporary cabins. No-hassle, no-fly cruises out of Tilbury include winter sailings in search of welcome Mediterranean sunshine.

7. Royal Caribbean

Despite the name, this line has an array of Mediterranean sailings on its fun-packed ships. Spend a week in Italy and Croatia with a fly-cruise on Voyager of the Seas and you’ll visit contrasting ports such as historic Vigo, with its Roman origins, and vibrant Gijon, where there’s a lively waterfront. If you prefer to sail from Southampton there are seven-night cruises on the popular Independence of the Seas — known as Indy to its loyal fan base — from £630. Fill the rest of the time trying out the ships’ many attractions; the Perfect Storm twin racing slides, FlowRider surf simulator and rock climbing walls to name just a few.

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8. Fred Olsen Cruise Lines

Live in Liverpool and don’t want to fly down south to join a cruise? Then take a look at Fred Olsen Cruise Lines’ Mediterranean round-trip itineraries from the maritime city. You’ll sail to the Spanish coast on the line’s 1,338-passenger flagship Bolette. Ports of call include Getxo, gateway to Bilbao’s landmark Guggenheim Museum of modern art, and La Coruña, where glazed facades have earned it the nickname City of Crystal. Back on Bolette, expect a full daily programme of entertainment and classes, including the chance to paint your very own masterpiece in the art studio. Week-long sailings start from just over £900.

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9. Holland America Line

Make your money — and cruise — go further with this distinguished cruise line that recently celebrated its 150th anniversary. There are 13-night sailings from £1,899 aboard the Oosterdam, which sails on a variety of itineraries in the Med. Longer sailings have overnights in history-rich ports such as the Maltese capital of Valletta. You’ll have plenty of time to stroll to the Upper Barrakka Gardens, perched on the island’s highest point overlooking the harbour, where a booming gun salute is fired at noon and 4pm daily. Back on Oosterdam, the sounds continue at the Music Walk, where there are nightly live tunes at various venues, spanning styles from classical to rock’n’roll.

10. P&O Cruises

Another cruise line that’s a firm favourite with Brits is P&O. It has a big choice of Mediterranean cruises from home shores, or setting off in the sun from places such as Tenerife. Sailings include a 12-night fly-cruise from just over £1,000 with stops at Gibraltar, Valencia, Palermo and Malta, on family-friendly Azura. Med-themed dining venues include the Beach House, serving stone-baked pizzas by the pool, and tapas and wine pairings in the Glass House, founded by the wine expert Olly Smith. If you’re after a romantic break, look at round-trip Southampton cruises to Spain and France on the adult-only Arcadia.

11. Princess Cruises

Sick of being charged a hefty penalty because you need to travel in the kids’ school holidays? Princess Cruises has reasonably priced Med itineraries available throughout the long summer break, from £699. Its regular seven-night itinerary around France and Italy is one of its best bargains and means the family can hit the beach in Barcelona, sample bouillabaisse in Marseilles and throw a coin into the Trevi Fountain in Rome. Just bear in mind that air fare is extra so it’s worth booking in advance to find the best deals.

12. Norwegian Cruise Line

If formal dining and reading by the pool aren’t your thing, Norwegian Cruise Line specialises in casual, action-packed days at sea. Activities on board include an aqua park with several multi-storey waterslides, a casino, a video arcade and a sports complex featuring a basketball court and ropes course. Entertainment is top-notch and includes shows such as the Broadway musical Million Dollar Quartet, a rock’n’roll duelling piano show and an interactive Deal or No Deal quiz. Seven-night itineraries include the well-priced Malta & Alicante cruise which sails from Athens (Piraeus) to Lisbon.

13. Azamara

Craving a quick escape to the sun? Azamara has four-night cruise-only fares available from Barcelona calling at Saint Tropez, Nice and Toulon with meals, entertainment and even selected drinks included, coming in at under £1,200. Better still, late evening departures maximise time in each port and, with fewer than 700 guests on board, you won’t waste hours queuing to disembark each day.

14. Marella Cruises

Costs can soon spiral when you factor in travel to a London airport, perhaps including an overnight stay. Itineraries with Tui’s Marella Cruises include flights from a huge choice of regional UK airports including Exeter, Southampton, Bristol, Bournemouth and Southampton. Fares (under £1,000) also include meals, snacks, transfers, tips and selected alcoholic drinks so you’ll know exactly what you’re getting on board and won’t need to splash out in spendy spots like Barcelona, Valencia, Naples and Palma.

15. Ambassador Cruise Line

Ambassador Cruise Line is the first new British cruise line to launch in more than a decade and sailed for the first time in April 2022, offering no-fly voyages from the UK to keep costs to a minimum. Ships now sail from eight regional ports including London Tilbury, Newcastle, Dundee, Edinburgh Leith, Bristol, Royal Portbury, Falmouth, Liverpool and Belfast. Its Med itineraries call at some lesser-visited ports alongside the usual big-hitters including the maritime city of Ferrol in Northern Spain and Casablanca in Morocco, with its medina, mosques and Moorish architecture.

16. Carnival Cruise Line

A strict budget doesn’t necessarily mean cutting time on board. Carnival Cruise Line has a range of itineraries longer than seven nights, all starting at under £1,200. These include ten and 12-day voyages around the Greek Islands and Turkey with a stop in the picturesque Greek port of Katakolon to visit nearby ancient Olympia. You’ll have no problem filling sea days on board either as Carnival offers a packed schedule of complimentary entertainment including comedy shows, poolside movies under the stars, karaoke, 80s-themed parties, pickleball and mini golf.

Additional reporting by Siobhan Grogan

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