Mediterranean Shipping Company Cruises vs Blue Cruise Turkey.
Compare Mediterranean Shipping Company cruises with Blue Cruise Turkey. Learn the differences between big-ship Mediterranean cruising and small-group Turkish gulet cruises, including group size, route style, swimming, food, local culture, flexibility and which travel experience suits you best.
Searching for Mediterranean Shipping Company cruises often means you are comparing big-ship cruising, multi-country itineraries and resort-style comfort. But there is another way to experience the Mediterranean: a small-group Blue Cruise in Turkey on a traditional wooden gulet.
Both travel styles can be excellent. The real question is what kind of holiday you want: a structured floating resort that visits major cities, or a slower, more local journey through hidden bays, ancient coastlines and swim stops along Turkey’s Turquoise Coast.
MSC-style Mediterranean cruise vs Blue Cruise Turkey
A large Mediterranean cruise and a Turkish Blue Cruise may both happen at sea, but they feel completely different. One is built around scale, entertainment and major port cities. The other is built around slow travel, small groups, swimming, local food and quiet anchorages.
Mediterranean cruise lines
Best for travellers who want a floating resort, entertainment, shopping, large restaurants, scheduled excursions and the chance to visit multiple countries in one trip.
- Large cruise ship atmosphere
- Multiple city ports
- Structured daily programme
- Restaurants, shows, pools and amenities
- Less flexibility and less direct sea access
Blue Cruise Turkey
Best for travellers who want calm bays, daily swimming, traditional gulet life, fresh Turkish food, local crew and a more personal connection with the coastline.
- Small group atmosphere
- Traditional wooden gulet
- Daily swim stops
- Local food and local crew
- Hidden bays, ruins and coastal villages
What are Mediterranean Shipping Company cruises?
MSC Cruises is one of the world’s largest cruise lines, with modern cruise ships sailing to destinations across the Mediterranean and beyond. Typical Mediterranean itineraries often include famous cities such as Barcelona, Rome, Athens, Istanbul and Marseille.
These cruises are popular because they make travel simple: accommodation, transportation, dining, entertainment and port-to-port logistics are bundled into one large floating hotel.
For travellers who want convenience, structure and a wide choice of onboard facilities, this style of cruising can work very well.
The trade-off is scale: more passengers, less flexibility and a more commercial travel rhythm.
Floating resort feeling
Large ships can include pools, theatres, restaurants, shopping areas, spas, gyms and nightlife.
Multi-country itineraries
They are useful if you want to see several famous Mediterranean cities in a single trip.
Structured schedule
Daily programmes, port stops and shore excursions are planned in advance.
What is a Blue Cruise in Turkey?
A Blue Cruise in Turkey is a small-group or private gulet journey along the Turquoise Coast. Instead of joining thousands of passengers, you travel on a traditional wooden gulet, often with fewer than 20 guests.
The route focuses on places big ships cannot reach: quiet bays, island anchorages, ancient ruins, coastal villages, clear-water swim stops and scenic stretches between Fethiye, Kaş, Kekova, Göcek, Marmaris or Bodrum.
Fethiye to Kekova and Back
A classic gulet route with Kaş, Kekova, Sunken City views, clear bays and slow coastal cruising.
View itinerary →
Explore Blue Cruise Turkey
Compare cabin cruises, short routes, week-long gulet journeys and social sailing options.
Browse cruises →Direct comparison: big cruise ship vs Blue Cruise Turkey
| Feature | MSC-style cruise | Blue Cruise Turkey |
|---|---|---|
| Group size | Thousands of passengers | Usually small groups, often under 20 guests |
| Ship type | Mega cruise ship | Traditional wooden gulet |
| Travel style | Structured and resort-style | Relaxed, local and nature-focused |
| Destinations | Major port cities | Hidden bays, ruins and coastal villages |
| Swimming | Usually limited | Daily swim stops from the boat |
| Food | International buffet and restaurants | Fresh Turkish meals cooked on board |
| Entertainment | Shows, casinos, clubs and large venues | Sunsets, swimming, stargazing and quiet bays |
| Local connection | Lower | Higher: local crew, food and coastal culture |
Which cruise is right for you?
There is no single correct answer. The better choice depends on whether you want scale and structure, or intimacy and nature.
You want a large, structured cruise holiday
- You want to visit multiple countries in one trip
- You prefer a packaged, all-in-one travel style
- You enjoy big-ship entertainment and facilities
- You want many restaurants, shows and activities on board
- You like fixed schedules and organized port stops
“We saw several major Mediterranean cities and enjoyed resort-style comfort on the ship.”
You want the coast to feel personal
- You value peace, swimming and nature
- You want local food and local crew
- You prefer slow travel over city-hopping
- You want hidden bays and off-the-beaten-path stops
- You want a smaller, less commercial journey
“We woke up in quiet bays, swam before breakfast and felt close to the real Turkish coast.”
Big ships visit the Mediterranean. Blue Cruises live inside it.
A large cruise ship can take you across countries. A Blue Cruise takes you closer to the coastline itself: the morning swim, the quiet cove, the smell of grilled fish on deck, the village harbour, the sunset behind pine hills.
More time in the water
The sea is not just scenery. It becomes part of your day through swimming, snorkelling and anchoring in quiet bays.
More local connection
Turkish crew, local meals, small harbours and coastal villages create a more grounded Mediterranean experience.
Less rushing
Instead of checking off cities quickly, you settle into the rhythm of the coastline.
Final thoughts: which experience would you remember more?
For travellers who want maximum convenience, multiple cities and big-ship facilities, an MSC-style cruise can be a strong option. It is efficient, comfortable and easy to understand.
But for travellers who want something more personal, nature-connected and culturally immersive, a Blue Cruise in Turkey offers something large ships simply cannot replicate: small-group life on a traditional gulet, daily swimming, local food, quiet bays and the feeling of waking up inside the Mediterranean rather than just passing through it.
Frequently asked questions
No. A Mediterranean cruise usually refers to a large cruise ship visiting major ports. A Blue Cruise in Turkey is a smaller gulet-based coastal journey focused on bays, swimming, local food and slow travel.
It depends on your travel style. Blue Cruise Turkey is better for nature, swimming, small groups and local atmosphere. MSC-style cruises are better for city-hopping, onboard entertainment and structured travel.
A large Mediterranean cruise can be easier for first-time Europe travellers who want multiple famous cities in one trip. A Blue Cruise is better if Turkey’s coastline, swimming and local travel are the main priority.
Yes. Cabin charters are ideal for couples and solo travellers because you can book one cabin on a shared gulet instead of renting the whole boat.
No. Blue Cruises focus on Turkey’s coastal bays, villages, ruins and gulet routes, especially around Fethiye, Göcek, Kaş, Kekova, Marmaris and Bodrum.
Fethiye to Kekova and back is one of the strongest routes for first-time Blue Cruise travellers because it combines swim stops, Kaş, Kekova, Sunken City views and classic Turquoise Coast scenery.
Planning a blue cruise in Turkey?
Tell us your dates, route preference and group size. We’ll help you find the right gulet cruise or private boat option.
