At Cruise Routes, we exclusively offer cruises designed for exploration. We specialise in smaller ships, bigger adventures, and far more time in the places you came to see.
With just one week available in June this year, I wanted to find out whether Mediterranean exploration cruises could offer the kind of experience we value at Cruise Routes: smaller ships, bigger adventures and more time in the places you came to see. So, my wife, Sarah Johnson, Cruise Routes’ CR:EW Manager, and I boarded a seven-night cruise with Scenic Cruises from Malta to Athens.
Our ship was Scenic Eclipse II, a luxury Discovery Yacht carrying just 228 passengers in 114 spacious and elegant suites. Scenic is a great fit for Cruise Routes, sharing our ethos of exploration, with ships sailing everywhere from the Mediterranean to the polar regions.
But what interested me most was how we would experience the places along the way. Would we have the freedom to explore beyond an organised excursion, linger over a meal and discover something of everyday Mediterranean life?
The freedom to explore ashore
The first thing to note is that this is a different experience from an expedition cruise to Antarctica or the Galápagos. Here, exploration centres on the Mediterranean’s history, food, culture and everyday life, with shore excursions, port talks and occasional cultural performances. During our cruise, for example, we enjoyed a superb performance from two local opera singers in Sicily.
There were countless opportunities to explore, beginning with the itinerary itself. We called at idyllic towns and small Greek islands, where we could step ashore and discover something of local Mediterranean life.
When we went ashore by tender, having so few guests onboard made the process effortless. In fact, the scenic ride ashore often became part of the experience.
On our sailing, Scenic Cruises included a shore excursion in every port, and I was impressed by the choice available. Options included guided tours of important local landmarks, wine tastings, food-focused experiences and walking tours. There were typically four or five choices in each port, ranging from three to six hours in length.
What stood out most, however, was the amount of time we had in each destination.
In most ports, after arriving early in the morning, we would not depart until 11pm or even later. This meant you could enjoy your organised excursion and still have ample time to continue exploring independently. There was never any sense of rushing back to the ship or structuring your entire day around an early departure.
You had the freedom to decide how to spend the rest of your day, whether that meant exploring a little further, returning to somewhere that had caught your eye or settling down for a leisurely meal.
These late departures also unlocked one of the Mediterranean’s greatest assets: its evening atmosphere.
Places such as Syracuse in Sicily and the Greek towns of Nafplio and Hydra were beautiful during the day, but they truly came alive at night. The streets filled with people, restaurants buzzed with activity and local life unfolded around us. We enjoyed sundowner cocktails in Hydra, a fantastic homemade Sicilian pizza in Syracuse and what can only be described as a Greek feast in a family-run restaurant in Nafplio.
For me, those evenings were among the highlights of the cruise. Having the time to stay for dinner made a real difference to how we experienced each place.
An evening beneath the olive trees
Another highlight was Scenic’s signature Enrich event. Ours took place in Monemvasia, Greece, where the entire ship was taken to a beautiful olive orchard. As the sun set over the hills, we enjoyed local food and traditional Greek dancing beneath the olive trees.
It was wonderfully organised and felt less like an excursion and more like being invited to a secret local celebration.
An effortless base for exploring
Back onboard, life on Scenic Eclipse II was personal, relaxed and easy.
That ease began the moment we stepped aboard. We were greeted with a glass of champagne and seated in the lounge while someone took our passports and completed all the necessary formalities. A short while later, they returned with our room key and introduced us to our butler, who escorted us directly to our suite. There are many five-star hotels around the world that could learn a thing or two from this experience!
Within an hour, the effortless rhythm of life onboard had become second nature. Dining rarely required reservations, there were no queues for services, and the spa’s thermal area was available whenever we fancied a visit.
Scenic’s all-inclusive approach also made it remarkably easy to forget that, in the real world, things usually cost money!
There were plenty of friendly and often fascinating fellow passengers happy to chat. Equally, a quiet corner on deck or a romantic table for two was always available whenever we wanted some privacy.
It was a lovely ship to return to after exploring, with the freedom to make our time onboard as sociable or as quiet as we wished.
So, can you find exploration cruises in the Mediterranean?
Absolutely.
We embraced the benefits of a smaller ship, enjoyed countless adventures and spent far more time in the destinations we came to see.
The included excursions gave us opportunities to discover each place, while the late departures gave us the freedom to keep exploring on our own terms. We could follow a guided visit with an afternoon wandering, stay ashore for sundowners and sit down to dinner without watching the clock.
Combined with the fantastic onboard service, it created exactly the kind of experience we value at Cruise Routes.
I can’t wait to return and explore even more!
Martin Johnson, Director, Cruise Routes sailed onboard Scenic Eclipse II with his wife Sarah Johnson, CR:EW Manager in June 2026.
Why book with Cruise Routes?
At Cruise Routes, we believe cruising is designed for exploration.
The opportunity for real discovery is the golden thread connecting every journey we recommend. From extraordinary wildlife and spectacular landscapes to meaningful encounters with the places you visit, our carefully selected exploration cruises are chosen to help you experience destinations more deeply – not simply pass through them.
If you’re considering exploring the Mediterranean on an exploration cruise our Cruise Consultants are here to help you find the right voyage for you.
Speak to a Cruise Consultant about your Mediterranean cruise on 0203 924 8888 or enquire here.
