Expedition Ships Are Now Sailing to These Beautiful Cities Along the Mediterranean Sea

The 100-cabin World Traveller was built to navigate the ice of the Southern Ocean, but last September I boarded the Atlas Ocean Voyages ship in Nice, France. I wasn’t planning to go ashore on a Zodiac—and I certainly didn’t expect to see penguins. The seven-night sailing would stop at smaller ports that are less frequented by cruise ships, such as St.-Raphaël, on the Côte d’Azur, before ending in Palma, on the Spanish island of Mallorca.

Along the way, I would have a culinary adventure: the Atlas team would coordinate market tours, tastings, and meals ashore that would spotlight the cuisine of the French Riviera.

An increasing number of high-end expedition vessels are on their way to the Mediterranean, particularly in summertime, when it’s winter in Antarctica. Though wildlife and awe-inspiring icebergs aren’t a focus for these itineraries, the trips do capture the educational and immersive feel of polar adventures, thanks in large part to the small size of most expedition ships.

“It is a fascinating new way to explore this region,” says Julie Jones, a member of T+L’s A-List and the founder of TopFlight Travels.

The Expedition Ships Making Waves in the Mediterranean

For Food

Atlas Ocean Voyages offers Epicurean Expeditions, which are hosted by a rotating roster of guest chefs, vintners, and other culinary experts. Gourmet experiences fill the agenda and range from paella-making workshops in Barcelona and wine tastings in Kotor, Montenegro, to reality-TV-inspired cooking competitions on board. “People experience the Mediterranean through their taste buds,” CEO James Rodriguez says.

For French Flair

Based in Marseille, France, Ponant will have seven different ships in the Mediterranean over the next two years. Highlights include a seven-night, music-focused trip in the Aegean Sea in partnership with France’s Radio Classique. “What makes us special is our enrichment,” says Samuel Chamberlain, the company’s CEO Americas. “It’s a highly curated, highly educational approach.” To that end, Ponant also partners with both Smithsonian Journeys and Abercrombie & Kent on specialty trips, like a history-focused itinerary that visits Malta, Sicily, and Sardinia, and an eclipse-spotting sail to Spain in August 2026. 

For Next-level Ports

This August, the 96-cabin Diana will sail the less-visited southern shore of the Mediterranean on an 11-night voyage from Portugal to Italy that will stop in Algeria and Tunisia. “For us, it’s all about trying to find places that not many people go,” says Mario Bounas, an executive at Swan Hellenic, which operates Diana. Among the archaeological focal points of the trip will be the UNESCO-listed ruins of ancient Carthage, in the modern-day city of Tunis. 

For Serendipity

The 53-stateroom National Geographic Orion is small enough to be able to visit Greek islands that most cruise ships wouldn’t: Naxos, Sifnos, even the now-uninhabited Despotiko, with its picturesque ancient sites. And because those ports are relatively close together, the Lindblad Expeditions ship can spend time on spontaneous adventures, rather than sticking to a rigid timetable. “We have the flexibility to stop to watch a group of dolphins—or to see a perfect sunset behind the ruins at Cape Sounion,” explains Trey Byus, the line’s chief expedition officer.

For Top-notch Access

Because of their smaller size, many expedition ships are light on amenities. Then there’s Seabourn Venture, which offers the same perks—such as spacious suites and caviar on demand—that you’ll find on Seabourn’s bigger vessels. The 132-stateroom ship debuted in the Mediterranean this past spring and will operate a similar 2026 season in the region. “These voyages include access to exclusive events,” says Mike Fulkerson, a Seabourn executive, who cites admission to the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters and Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell tennis tournaments as two examples.

New for 2026

With its distinctive inverted bow, which improves fuel efficiency, the Douglas Mawson from Aurora Expeditions is sure to turn heads when it arrives in the Mediterranean. After an inaugural season in Antarctica in late 2025, the 86-cabin Mawson will head north to the Adriatic Sea and spend the summer visiting the Dalmatian Coast, Greece, and Turkey.

A version of this story first appeared in the June 2025 issue of Travel + Leisure under the headline “A Taste of Adventure.”