Cruising 101: Cruise Know-how

From choosing the right ship to saving money, exploring ports and knowing how much to tip, these articles give you the 411 on cruising Italy, Greece, Spain and Portugal

There’s no question that a cruise is among the best ways to see the highlights of the Southern Europe, but before you choose a ship or an itinerary, read these articles to learn the basics of Mediterranean cruising.

• Best Buys on Mediterranean Cruises -- Tips for Cutting Costs on Italy, Greece, Spain and Portugal Cruises. Discusses how to find deals and compare the real costs of different cruise vacation options.
• Italy’s Best Ports of Call -- Planning A Mediterranean Cruise. From Venice to Genoa, Italy’s coast offers everything from too-cute Portofino to the rugged hiking trails of the Cinque Terre, an almost endless variety of experiences with and without shore excursions.
• Cruising Basics: Tipping on a Ship -- Whom to Tip and How Much to Tip on a Mediterranean Cruise. Unraveling the tangled world of tipping, with dollars and sense amounts for each crew member that makes your Mediterranean cruise a vacation to remember.
• Choosing a Mediterranean Cruise -- Tips for finding the right ship to Southern Europe’s most exciting ports. No two cruise lines – or even ships in the same line – are exactly alike, and somewhere in the blue Mediterranean is the right one for you.
• Mediterranean Cruise Bargains -- Free airfare and shore excursions mean big savings. Cruise lines often sweeten the deal on sailing dates that are not as popular as others, and you don’t always need to wait until the last minute to score bonuses like free shore excursions or airfare.