Bag a sail bargain without the stress

Sep 14 2008 By Mark Aitken

Touring By Sea Gives More For Your Money Mediterranean Cruise

Pulling back the cabin curtains, I drew my breath as I took in the stunning view of Sardinia.

The following morning, I was in a port only an hour away from the city of Rome. The day after, the magnificent Leaning Tower of Pisa was my next stop.

This, I realised, was why going on a cruise is the only way to go on holiday for many people.

Waking up in a different port every day, with a beautiful Mediterranean town or city awaiting you.

No queuing at airports or worries about missing flights.

No having to go through customs yet again.

It takes all the stress out of travelling.

I was initially worried that going on a cruise would be about suffering stuffy, formal dinners at a table with strangers each night. And that the entertainers would be past their sell-by date.

Instead, I saw some magical sights on daily excursions, ate when I wanted, and found myself highly entertained by top-notch comedians and performers.

I sailed with Island Cruises on one of their seven-day Mediterranean Discovery journeys.

After setting sail from Palma in the evening, the first day was spent at sea, growing sea legs and familiarising myself with the ship.

This took some time with the Island Star having eight decks, a choice of restaurants, seven bars, two outdoor pools, a theatre, a gym, beauty salon, shops and even a library.

Visiting the restaurants quickly exploded the cruises' myth that you have to eat at set times.

On the Island Star there were five restaurants to choose from, including the Beachcomber 24- hour buffet, with the food regularly replenished and menu changed as the day progressed.

How you spent the day was entirely up to you.

For those not content to simply soak up the Mediterranean rays, there was an exhaustive onboard itinerary to dip in and out of.

This included ballroom dancing, weight loss seminars, yoga, Pilates and even towel-folding.

Before considering these, I decided to discover what excursions were available each day.

They do sell out, so it is advisable to book as quickly as possible when on board.

Exploring each stop can be done under your own steam but, although it does cost extra, an organised excursion enables you to see much more of the place you are visiting.

The following morning, the first stop of the cruise was Olbia, a port on the north-east coast of the island of Sardinia.

The coach trip began with a panoramic drive along the Emerald Coast, miles and miles of beautiful, unspoilt coastline, white sand beaches and rugged mountains.

We stopped off at the hilly market town of San Pantaleo, before heading for the millionaires' playground of Porto Cervo. The next day's excursion was to Rome, just an hour's journey away from the port of Civitavecchia.

Having been to Rome before, I decided to go on one of the organised cycle tours.

This proved a wise decision as the roads were heavily congested. Cycling in Rome could have been a hair-raising experience, but following our fearless leader Markus, we were soon weaving in and out of traffic without fear. The first attraction was the vast, imposing Colosseum, home of the gladiators 2000 years ago.

It was then swiftly on to the Roman Fort, Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain, Castel St Angelo and the Spanish Steps. No trip to Rome can be made without a visit to Vatican City and a wander round the awe-inspiring St Peter's Basilica. After a day's cycling, some form of self-indulgent relaxation was needed. I opted for a hot stones massage to ease my aching muscles.

From the moment I stepped on the Island Star, it was evident that a growing number of younger people have taken to cruise holidays.

Island Cruises have teamed up with the comedy club chain Jongleurs and the ship featured comedy shows on several evenings.

There are even comedy workshops, where you are taught to write and perform your own routines.

Arriving in La Spezia the following morning, I was offered a choice of trips to Florence or Pisa.

The ship also visits Monaco, Monte Carlo, Nice and Menorca. I fully intend to see them one day - by cruise of course.

MAILFILE

Island Cruises. Phone 0161 772 8601. Website: www.island cruises.com

Mediterranean cruises cost from £549 for seven nights per person or £699 for 14 nights, including flights from Glasgow and Edinburgh, based on two adults sharing a cabin.