Think of the Mediterranean and your mind leaps straight into the Sea itself. Clear and warm, the waters gently greet soft, sandy beaches while hiding secrets of ancient cities in the depths below. Then your mind reaches the shores, home to 30 centuries of culture and history, where you feel the epic sweep of the Greek and Roman Empires, walk in the footprints of crusaders and gladiators, and visit the great temples praising the glory of pharaohs and the vanity of kings.

Cruise the Mediterranean and you get it all-easy access to ancient civilizations and easy hours relaxing on blazingly beautiful beaches. Nowhere else can such an array of culture and history be found in such a relatively small and stunning vicinity, where the weather ranges from ideal to mild and the cruises range from amazing to spectacular.

Travel agents send thousands of time travelers on a Mediterranean cruise every year, where they can still hear whispers from the stages of Greek amphitheaters and echoes of gladiators clanging swords in front of throngs of roaring spectators. These are the lands where Europe's earliest civilizations flourished, and where travelers continuously embark on an odyssey of wonder.

A Mediterranean cruise allows you to enjoy these fabled lands at a deliciously slow pace. While cruising the Mediterranean, conquer ports during the day and return to the vast comfort of your ship at night, savoring new cultures without the hassle of transferring between airports and hotels. Unpack once, and let the world revolve around you.

Mediterranean cruise itineraries generally split the Mediterranean Sea in two, taking passengers on a western mediterranean cruise near Spain, France and Italy, or an eastern Mediterranean cruise near Greece, Cyprus and Turkey. But cruise itineraries become more creative when travel agents connect the dots, finding the perfect Mediterranean cruise so you don't miss out. It's all up to you, and which ports-of-call call your name the loudest.

Circumnavigating from Gibraltar to Istanbul and back along the northern coast of Africa, your ship will pass many ports to call upon. Describing the riches of each would take a thousand poets a thousand years. Don't panic, though, for below you will find a few brief descriptions of the lesser-known locales from which people send postcards to their travel agents, thanking them for the memories of a lifetime.

Greeks first discovered the port of Ajaccio on the French island of Corsica, drawn by its sunny bay lined with citrus groves, olive trees and vineyards. They called this island Kalliste-the beautiful-and you'll soon know why. Passengers disembark here to see the Maison Bonaparte, Napoleon's home, before venturing to Les Calanche, a mountain landscape of multi-colored granite forms resembling people, animals and buildings.

Leaving Corsica, your boat next sails to Valletta on the island of Malta. The Maltese Islands have often been referred to as the islands of sunshine and history, and with good reason. With a history boasting 6,000 years of civilization, past empires blend and dominate every square inch of its lands, temples and monuments. Blessed with year-round sunshine and set in crystal clear waters, Malta is truly the heart of the Mediterranean.

Hidden behind Italy's boot you'll find the Pearl of the Adriatic-Dubrovnik. This Croatian capital of culture, a favorite of cruise passengers, is said to be the most perfectly preserved medieval town in the world. Once a powerful maritime force, strong enough to rival Venice, the town's inhabitants have restored it to its former glory. For the best views, climb to the top of the city's historic wall and walk around the town.

Continuing on your Mediterranean cruise, go south along the coast and you'll find Corfu, considered by many to be the most scenic of the Greek islands, thanks to an abundance of rainfall and lush vegetation. Simply put, Corfu is a beautiful island with a great personality. The people here, as they are throughout all of Greece, consider hospitality a sacred duty and will do everything possible to enhance your stay. Make friends and have the time of your life.

As you approach Istanbul from the sea, be ready to hear the rhythmic hum of the Islamic call to prayer as it dances across the water. Changing names and empires often, Istanbul now proudly stands with one foot in Asia and the other in Europe. Visit the Hagia Sophia, one of the world's greatest churches since being built in 537, and the legendary Blue Mosque, erected in 1609 to surpass the beauty of the Hagia Sophia. You be the judge.

If you can cruise through the Greek Isles without jumping off to live amongst their beauty, you'll gladly make it to Cyprus. Known as both the "Island of Love" and "Aphrodite's Island," Cyprus mixes a love of its natural beauty with a love of life that lies deep within the souls of each Cypriot, who embrace good company first and the fine local wines second.

With so many places in and around the Mediterranean Sea, choosing just a few to visit can seem a daunting task. From Moroccan marketplaces to Venetian gondoliers, to the towering cliffs of the French Riviera to the ample vineyards in Spain's Andalusian countryside, the ports of the Mediterranean offer it all and have for centuries.

Contact us today and make your Mediterranean cruise dreams come true with the vacation of a lifetime. We know these ports and the ships that visit them, offering advice and special travel deals that will shape your vacation into a masterpiece fit for a 12th-century temple in Sicily, or Alexandria, or Tunis, or Rhodes - you get the picture.

Travel around the Mediterranean and back in time. Contact us today to start planning your cruise!

The soothing waves of the Caribbean's turquoise waters and fine white, pink and black sand beaches call thousands of winter-weary travelers near and far.

There's a certain mystique about the Caribbean, where the sky is twice as sunny and clear and time stands still for your grand pleasure. The journey is all about indulging moment by moment and leaving the world and your cares behind.

A Caribbean cruise presents a unique vacation by land and sea, packing the excitement of two trips into one. Choose from a buffet of accommodations and amenities while you're on board - seaside or portside cabin views, black-tie or casual dinners, spa treatments or upper-deck sunbathing and glitzy casinos or Broadway shows. In addition, you'll visit multiple ports of call offering a variety of excursions and brand-new adventures such as going off-road through secluded channels, swimming with dolphins or discovering exotic marine life on a glass-bottom boat.

With a selection of cruises designed around the needs of singles, couples, honeymooners and families, you can pick the setting that's suited for you.

For a more intimate experience, charter a Caribbean yacht to sail from island to island at your leisure. In contrast with major cruise lines, sailing cruises are smaller and give you the freedom to set your own course. As you decide on the right itinerary, you have three main cruising destinations to weigh: Western, Eastern and Southern Caribbean cruises.

Western Caribbean Cruise

Be rewarded with the treasures of the Bahamas, the 100,000-square-mile chain of islands situated just off Florida's southern shores. In Nassau, the capital city of the Bahamas, you'll encounter a desirable blend of tropical allure and ease. Instantly, the balmy breezes, swaying palm trees and unhurried way of life will whisk you away. Get up close and personal with marching flamingoes, swim side by side with dolphins or snorkel with sting rays.

Cozumel is famous all over the world for its spectacular diving and all-embracing, lively nightlife. Enjoy a slice of this unforgettable city through a dive trip, tour of the ancient Mayan city of Tulúm or refreshments and live music at Playa del Sol. Save part of the afternoon for Playa del Carmen in the heart of the Mayan Riviera - think sun, sand, surf and salsa! Cancun thrives as a cosmopolitan city with savory regional foods, first-class hotel accommodations and boutique shopping for all tastes.

Remote, but not removed, the British-owned Cayman Islands make the perfect tropical oasis for all ages. Explore Grand Cayman's long crescent of magnificent coastline at Seven-Mile Beach. Travel by foot or bicycle to visit George Town's Conch Shell House, interactive sea-turtle nursery and quaint villages. Get a bird's eye perspective on a flightseeing tour or sail the beautiful waters of the North Sounds and pay a visit to Stingray City.

Escape to Ochos Rios, Jamaica , where fantasy becomes reality. The town is edged with beautiful white sands and unbelievable sceneries, including the spectacular Dunn's River Falls. Here, cool mountain waters plunge 600 feet to smooth limestone beds and then stream under the roadway before mingling with the Caribbean Sea. The Jamaican foliage and warm sun rays will happily greet you on a river rafting or tubing safari down the two-mile winding river.

Eastern Caribbean Cruise

For eager cruisers who can't seem to choose, many cruise lines alternate between the Eastern and Western Caribbean ports of call each week. This creates the opportunity for many tourists to enjoy back-to-back two week sailings that go to and from the exquisite islands of the East and West.

San Juan, Puerto Rico doubles as a popular port of call and embarkation port for cruise ships. Restored Spanish-colonial architecture, graceful plazas and promenades and narrow cobblestone streets capture the charms of its historic district. Witness the pinnacle of natural beauty at El Yunque Rain Forest, home to more than 240 species of trees, miniature orchids and what was once believed to be the Fountain of Youth. At the end of the day, satisfy your appetite with Spanish-style sangria and delicious tapas.

Just a skip away are the U.S. Virgin Islands , an idyllic travel spot that is widely known as the "duty-free shopping capital of the world." With more than 450 bargain shops to see, you'll feast your eyes on a superb selection of trinkets, fine jewelry, imported linens, china and crystal, electronics and liquor. Hike towards the highest point of the island and take in the breathtaking views of Magens Bay. Sit back and relax on a half-day sail to Buck Island and snorkel in the picturesque Turtle Cove.

Just a short ferry ride from St. Thomas, the neighboring island of St. John offers visitors a different world. Inside of the Virgin Islands National Park, you'll be surrounded with acres of green rolling hills and a tranquil underwater reserve. A hike along the Reef Bay Trail will produce a vision of forestlands, remnants of sugar mills, historic rock carvings and a spring-fed waterfall and reflection pool. For a chance to unwind, you'll reach the perfect retreat on the beaches of Hawksnest Bay and Trunk Bay.

Southern Caribbean Cruise

Or perhaps you're the type of traveler who craves the more exotic. The Southern Caribbean touts an unspoiled environment where the gentle sounds of the ocean won't be interrupted by crowds.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines stretches over 40 miles and includes more than 30 islands and cays. Bequia, the "Island of Turtles," draws you in with exquisite valleys, quiet lagoons and an irregular coastline richly indented with bays, coves and white sand beaches. Ride a water taxi or ferry to Canouan, often favored as the center of sailing in the Grenadines. Find great delight in the local cuisine, romantic beach walks, live music and dancing.

East of the Grenadines is Barbados, which boasts beachfront gardens and promising landscapes at Payne's Bay, Brighton Beach and Church Point. If history tickles your senses, you'll come across the most interesting aspects of Barbados' vast British heritage. Avid outdoor travelers will relish an off-road excursion through Joe's River Tropical Rain Forest, where, at 1,000 feet above sea level, the most spectacular views of the island can be found.

On Grenada , the "Isle of Spice," you'll share in the passion of their vibrant culture and cuisine and revel in a mix of beauty that includes magnificent beaches and lush rainforests. Everywhere you go, the alluring fragrance of nutmeg, cinnamon, clove and ginger is sure to fill the air. The island's great depths contain radiant coral gardens and the 600-foot-long sunken ship known as the "Titanic of the Caribbean."

Fall in love with the picture-perfect cruising vacation that takes you from island to island, allowing you to meet new faces and build lasting memories. We can become your matchmaker and create the ideal itinerary embracing the Caribbean's most enchanting ports of call.

By using Gemini Travel, you can expect premium cruising accommodations and activities to match your travel style - both on and off board. Most cruises are all inclusive, so that from the moment your vacation begins, you can just concentrate on having the time of your life.

The language of a Mexican Riviera cruise is a simple to learn. As you awaken everyday to another incredible, sun-drenched morning, you'll say, "Qué día más bueno!" — what a beautiful day! Whenever your friendly waiter or masseuse asks how you're doing, you'll sincerely respond, "Muy bien, gracias" — very well, thank you. And whenever a old Mexican woman—her dark skin lit up with bright turquoise jewelry—asks if you're enjoying the cruise, you'll exclaim, "Sí, sí, sí!"

Mexico's Pacific coastline, known as the Riviera for its stylish ports and luxurious coastal towns, is a sumptuous feast of sun, colors and warmth. Each port of call is a dream to explore and an ease to enjoy, making you wonder, as you slowly wind down cobblestone streets past bustling open-air markets, if it's the gentle sun above or the kind locals that bestow such a feeling of ease and tranquility.

You'll carry these feelings throughout your trip and long afterwards. For cruising the Mexican Riviera will make you rich with memories of cliff divers in Acapulco gracefully slicing through the air, of the powdery beaches of Puerto Vallarta that you'll swear are the softest ever, of the marlin you hooked in the waters off Cabo San Lucas that was at least "this big" and then some, and of the endless maze of shops in Zihuatanejo and Mazatlan.

Binding these ports together is a ribbon of white sand that some mistake for silk and other mistake for Heaven. They settle on just calling it paradise, for the beaches are pristine and pure gold, a valuable treasure protected by stunning cliffs and thick jungles that pop out of the background as if from a movie set and into your vacation reality.

When planning a visit to the Mexican Riviera, astute travel agents like the lucky number seven — as in seven-day cruise itineraries. Seven days provides an ideal relaxing pace to soak in the sights and the sun of the best five ports, the first of which, after a refreshing and rejuvenating sprint across the ocean waters, will be Cabo San Lucas .

Perched on the tip of the Baja Peninsula where the cool currents of the Pacific Ocean meet the warm waters of the Sea of Cortez, Cabo provides a stunning union of sea, desert and mountains, creating a picture perfect resort paradise. Photo hounds will naturally flock to El Arco—The Arch—a rock formation guarded by two seas and 200 sea lions. Ask the sea lions to smile for the picture and they just might.

Your first stop on the Mexican mainland will be Mazatlan , a place where boredom is simply not an option. Excursions to surf, sail and scuba dive should be taken, or you can stroll along the town's 10-mile seaside promenade, dine on shrimp tacos and shop for Mexican and Indian handicrafts. Afterward, take one of the open air taxis, called pulmonias, up the steep hillsides for a breathtaking view of Mazatlan's bays and surrounding islands.

Further south Puerto Vallarta, or PV as it's known today, was once a beautiful secret, a glorious hideaway for those in the know and a brilliant surprise for a lucky few. But the secret escaped, and now thousands flock here to do one thing and do it well: relax. Red-tile roofs and rows of balconies, spilling over with blooming bougainvillea, line the cobblestone streets, making PV one of the most picturesque port towns in the world.

While PV's prominence expanded relatively recently, the seaside port of Zihuatanejo was established centuries ago. Today this quaint fishing village has absorbed modernization without losing its rustic charm and easy-going ambiance. Alluring and unspoiled, Zihuatanejo's golden beaches and sparkling waters remind travel agents of the beauty of Polynesia, yet the locals are delightfully Mexican to the bone.

Zihuatanejo is often referred to as the Acapulco of 50 years ago, although the Acapulco of now is still a vibrant scene. Spectacularly embraced by both mountains and sea, Acapulco is the gathering place for pleasure-seekers from around the world. Acapulco Bay, one of the most beautiful bays in the world, is the heart and soul of the city, shimmering with the reflection of mountains during the day and twinkling with the city's lights at night. Watch as cliff divers leap from La Quebrada and into a small cove below. Thrilling is hardly the word.

Thrilling may not be the best word to describe the travel agent who arranged your Mexican Riviera cruise. Effortless, reliable, trouble-free—those words better describe the experience of dealing with a trusted travel agent, as they help plan your itinerary and excursions, finding the best rates and taking care of all the little details so you don't have to. All you have to do is learn a little Spanish in time for your perfect cruising holiday.

One Spanish phrase you will not like to use is adiós — goodbye. It will be difficult for you to say goodbye to the beauty, the ease and the warmth that envelopes the Mexican Riviera—and its visitors—radiantly. But it's easier to say knowing that you can and should return to these beaches again, every time you can.

Say "Hola!" to paradise. Contact us today and start planning your cruise to the Mexican Riviera.