Cruising the Mediterranean

If you want to visit the best of Europe quickly and cheaply—with weeklong trips starting at less than $1000—cruising the Mediterranean is a pretty perfect option. Instead of carrying backpacks, searching for hotels, jockeying for train positions and packing and unpacking almost daily, you unzip your suitcase once—and let the ship and its pampering crew do the rest.

There's only one decision to make: east or west? A cruise to the eastern Mediterranean blends the ancient civilizations of Italy, Greece and Turkey with tempting beaches and cultural escapades, while the western Mediterranean is a fusion of some of Europe's most prized destination, including Barcelona, Marseille and Rome.

For Culture-Barcelona: Spain's cultural capital stands tall for its mix of old and new Spanish wonders—from the rococo representations and soaring towers of Catalonian architect Antonio Gaudí (hint: his name's a root for the English word "gaudy") to the melting clocks and structures of Salvador Dali's work, this former Olympic host combines beauty and hospitality with flair and near-perfect beaches. Seabourn Cruise Line's Quintessential Barcelona tour will have you checking out architect's creative masterpiece, La Sagrada Família, before descending—or more accurately, ascending—on Montjuich Mountain Park; the uphill climb is trying, but the views from the top are worth it. If cubism is more your slant, a visit to the Picasso Museum with Celebrity Cruises is a requisite. Living in Barcelona as a student, Picasso left many of his private works to the museum, resulting in an unusually extensive collection. Lines can grow remarkably long, but standing in a queue along a cobblestone street filled with Renaissance architecture isn't so bad.

For Extravagance - Monte Carlo: This city is synonymous with elegance and opulence, with yachts lining the harbor and haute couture hanging in boutique windows. Take it all in on Crystal Cruises' Need for Speed excursion, where you can tour Monaco from behind the wheel of an Italian sports car: Ferrari? Lamborghini? Maserati? Is there any other way to see this place? Stop by the royal palace of the Rainier family, where Grace Kelly is buried, or try your hand at the craps table at Monte Carlo's Grand Casino.

For the Unexpected—Dubrovnik: When you think of European wine, you probably focus on France, Italy and Spain—and for good reason: they make great wine. But Croatia is slowly climbing the ranks, earning a deserved place on the culinary and wine tasting radar. Royal Caribbean offers a splashy excursion of the Dalmatian coast, starting with a tour of an old-fashioned olive oil mill (still powered by horses) before exploring one of the regions most famous wine cellars, Milos, where you'll get a chance to swish some unique Peljesac peninsula varietals. Go home with at least one bottle to enjoy while reminiscing about your Mediterranean cruise.