I went on an expedition cruise in the Mediterranean; here’s why I’d choose a ship like that again

Its small size is an advantage

The itinerary balances a mix of destinations

One of the advantages of small ships is their ability to access smaller ports and destinations other cruise ships don’t typically visit. If you’ve already visited many of the classic Mediterranean hot spots, or are looking to avoid the crowds during Europe’s summer travel high season, a small ship is an excellent choice.

During its 2024 season, World Traveller called upon a long list of under-the-radar ports in the Mediterranean. Many of these, such as Portoferraio on the island of Elba in Italy (famous for being where Napoleon Bonaparte was incarcerated), Saranda in Albania and Port-Vendres in southwest France, are frequented by only a few other small-ship lines, most notably Seabourn, whose network in this part of the world is particularly extensive.

The crew told me how, earlier in the season, the vessel even swapped the open sea for inland waterways, as it made its way up the Guadalquivir River to dock for two nights in the heart of Seville, Spain. Berths in the city are generally restricted to vessels under 525 feet, and I can only imagine how magical the experience of cruising on a river was for those fortunate enough to be on board.

Our itinerary was a mix of big cities (Rome and Barcelona), popular resort towns (Nice and Palma de Mallorca) and lesser-known destinations (Saint-Raphael and Toulon on France’s Cote d’Azur and Mahon in Spain’s Balearic Islands). Thanks to its small size, the ship was able to dock in the heart of each destination.

In Toulon, it was less than a 10-minute walk from the gangway to the city’s charming old town with its lively morning produce markets and street vendors selling piping hot cade, a chickpea pancake that is a local specialty. In Marseille, both Mucem, the city’s grand museum dedicated to European and Mediterranean civilizations, and the striking Cathedrale La Major were just steps away from our berth. Saint-Raphael, the quieter neighbor of Cannes, was the only place we stayed at anchor, but it was a short five-minute tender ride into the marina in the pretty town center.

A culinary-themed cruise is a treat for the tastebuds

Expedition cruises set themselves apart from other types of cruises by immersing guests in the destination with educational activities and hands-on exploration. Atlas Ocean Voyages translates this approach to Mediterranean voyages by focusing on food and the region’s rich culinary heritage. All of its sailings in Europe are themed as “epicurean expeditions” and include one culinary experience ashore and a selection of daily activities like wine and food tastings and cooking demonstrations. Although every day’s program is different, the schedule typically includes one demonstration or tasting in the afternoon.

We were joined by two guest chefs for the duration of our journey: television chef Christy Rost and Salt Lake City-based chef Viet Pham, who won 2014’s “Iron Chef America.” The pair rotated activities every day: When one was hosting the cooking demonstration in the afternoon, the other was prepping ingredients to cook live for guests in the evening, ensuring a fragrant flow of fresh-from-the-pan dishes such as panko-crusted pork tenderloin and buffalo chicken wings. The chefs came together for the cook-off event when four teams of passengers battled it out to create the prettiest Provencal sharing platter.

It was easy for the guest chefs to be approachable on a small ship with fewer guests. With Pham, I talked food and family over coffee one morning in the all-day cafe, Paula’s Pantry, and I noticed he joined a team of Canadians for trivia one afternoon in The Dome Observation Lounge.

World Traveller only has one restaurant, Lisboa, rather than the multiple specialty dining venues you’d find on most small luxury vessels. For a casual meal, the top-deck eatery, 7Aft, offers a limited selection from the main buffet in Lisboa at lunch.

In the evening, it transforms into an intimate spot serving meats grilled in a fancy Josper charcoal oven at no extra charge to passengers. Capped at 20 guests per evening, the venue is extremely popular: I called to book on the second day only to be told that all dinner tables were already full for our whole sailing. I persisted and was rewarded with a reservation on the last night. The tender filet mignon made the effort to get a table worth it.

While the dining options might be limited compared to other small-ship lines, the pairing of Executive Chef Valeriu Surugiu’s excellent cuisine with the specialties of the two guest chefs meant my taste buds were never bored.

I looked forward to Surugiu leading a market tour in Barcelona, followed by the chance for guests to cook the ingredients in the ship’s galley, one of the complimentary epicurean expedition inclusions. Our day in the Catalan capital coincided with the festival of Merce, a celebration of the patron saint of the city, and unfortunately, because of the crowds expected in the streets, the market tour was canceled at the last minute. Fortunately, the paella dinner that evening — the included ashore culinary experience — went ahead without a hitch.

Public spaces are limited but not limiting

World Traveller is one of the youngest cruise ships plying the Mediterranean. Built in 2022, it feels fresh and new. However, its intimate size compromises the number of amenities on offer on board. World Traveller doesn’t have the space for the array of public areas you’d find if you cruise on larger luxury vessels belonging to lines like Regent, Silversea or Seabourn.

In addition to the lack of specialty restaurants, World Traveller does not have a casino or a large auditorium for big productions, although it has a good-size theater for port talks and the crew show. World Traveller’s sizable mudroom, essential in the polar regions, is redundant space in the Med.

Still, plenty has been packed into the ship’s 423 feet, including three bar and lounge areas, an all-day cafe, a spa, a heated swimming pool and hot tub, a fitness room, and spacious deck areas. I never felt limited by the onboard options. The interiors aren’t as formal as on Regent Seven Seas cruise ships, for example, which are known for their opulent design, glittering chandeliers and rare art. Instead, World Traveller’s decor felt warm and elegant. The overall atmosphere was more relaxed and laid-back than on many other luxury small-ship lines (and the dress code was too).

All 98 cabins have ocean views. My Veranda Stateroom was as plush and comfortable as cabins on other small ships I have sailed on. In fact, since the art deco-inspired geometric fabrics and cozy rich wood paneling were more to my taste, it became an easy favorite. The balcony, which I can’t imagine is used that much in Antarctica, was a lovely place to relax and enjoy the Mediterranean sun.

Equally as inviting were the Horizon Staterooms with a drop-down electric window for floor-to-ceiling views and extra inches of cabin space.

Expedition ships offer novel amenities regular cruise ships lack

My cabin also had amenities you don’t often find in the Mediterranean, like a pair of binoculars. Though they’re usually meant for spotting penguins in the poles, I found a local use for them: checking out the luxe villas along the Cote d’Azur.

On polar expeditions, passengers are provided with parkas which they are welcome to keep once their cruise ends. We were gifted a backpack and water bottle to use on shore excursions and take home. Other welcome touches were the bookmarks left in my room in the evenings that tell the story of great Portuguese explorers.

Shore excursions are currently a weak spot

Expedition ship fares are in line with classic cruise ships

Overall, Atlas Ocean Voyages’ fares are fairly in line with what you can expect to pay on a nonexpedition small ship in the Mediterranean in summer.

At the time of writing, a seven-night sailing on sister ship World Navigator from Barcelona to Rome in June, stopping at Port-Vendres, Toulon, Saint-Tropez, Nice, Portofino and Livorno, was available for $5,199, based on double occupancy, for a balcony cabin. The 2025 Mediterranean season is already heavily booked; however, bookings are open for 2026, when World Traveller returns to the Mediterranean. A 10-night sailing from Rome to Barcelona in July 2026, for example, starts at $5,299 per person, based on double occupancy, for an ocean-view cabin. Beverages and prepaid gratuities, but not Wi-Fi, are included in every fare.

When I checked, a 10-night sailing from Barcelona to Rome on Seabourn Ovation (capacity 600) in June 2025 was priced at $5,899, based on double occupancy, for a verandah suite. A seven-night Rome-to-Barcelona sailing in July 2025 aboard Windstar’s Wind Surf sailing yacht (capacity 342) started at $4,382 with Windstar’s all-inclusive package, based on double occupancy, for an ocean-view category A cabin. The fare is lower in part because the ship’s cabins are smaller.

Bottom line

The main characteristics that define World Traveller as an expedition vessel — the mudroom, the zippy Zodiacs and the ice-rated hull — essentially hibernate in the Mediterranean. Yet the combination of the ship’s small size, itinerary of uncrowded destinations and foodie flavor offers travelers a different way to experience this popular cruising area — on one of the newest ships on the water.

If you prefer intimate, relaxed ships that carry only a couple hundred people, and if good food is an essential part of any travel experience for you, this new version of small-ship cruising in the Mediterranean should definitely be on your radar.

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