Travelers looking to escape the unusually long winter can take advantage of exceptional savings with Costa Cruises' "Spring in Our Step" promotion. The reduced rates will entice travelers to enjoy Costa's famous la dolce vita ambiance and Italian-style cruising on spring sailings with rates starting from $499 per person, double occupancy.

Featured on select seven-night eastern and western Mediterranean cruises in April and May 2014, the itineraries call at popular ports in several countries, including Italy, Spain, France, Turkey, Croatia and Greece.

"Spring is the ideal time to travel the Mediterranean, and our special fares make a last-minute cruise to Europe an affordable possibility," said Scott Knutson, vice president sales and marketing for Costa Cruises North America. "The temperatures are beautiful this time of year and passengers can enjoy the destinations without the rush of the summer season."

Guests can wine, dine and dance their way through the western Med on Costa Serena's April 6 departure with fares starting from just $499 per person, double occupancy. The cruise sails roundtrip from Savona, Italy, and include calls at Naples, Italy; Palermo, Sicily; Tunis, Tunisia; Barcelona, Spain; and Marseille, France.

Guests looking for a bigger taste of Italy can choose from seven select Costa Serena sailings in April and May that feature calls at La Spezia (Florence/Pisa), Civitavecchia (Rome) and Naples, Italy, along with Barcelona and Marseille. Fares for the roundtrip Savona departures begin at $649 per person, double occupancy.

Guests can take a similar roundtrip Savona route on Costa Mediterranea with calls at Marseille, Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Tunis, Palermo and Naples. Rates on six departures in April and May start from $649 per person, double occupancy.

Roundtrip Barcelona sailings on Costa Favolosa are offered as well. On seven departures in April and May guests can enjoy calls at Palma de Mallorca, Malta, Palermo, Civitavecchia and Savona. Fares begin at $849 per person, double occupancy.

Travelers also can take advantage of special spring rates on eastern Mediterranean cruises. Starting at just $799 per person, double occupancy, Costa Magica offers four roundtrip Venice, Italy, sailings in May calling at Bari, Italy; Katakolon (Olympia) and Piraeus (Athens), Greece; Izmir, Turkey; and Dubrovnik, Croatia.