DREAMWORTHY DESTINATIONS
OCEAN CRUISING
— IN EUROPE —
A true melting pot of history, culture, and language, there are 44 countries in Europe. Europe is geographically divided into 4 main areas: Northern, Eastern, Western, and Southern. Historically, we know it’s much more complex than that.
Since we are talking about cruise travel, we can cut it down to two cruising areas: Northern Europe and The Mediterranean.
MEDITERRANEAN CRUISES
These are the most popular European cruises thanks to sunny stops like Barcelona, Rome, Santorini, Mykonos, and lesser-visited islands such as Sicily and Malta. Cruises tend to depart from Barcelona, Rome (Civitavecchia), Venice, or Athens.
Mediterranean cruises cater to every type of traveler. Whether you’re a foodie, a history buff, an art enthusiast, or even a die-hard beachgoer, you can find something you enjoy doing.
IDEAS
If you’re a foodie:
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Enjoy Italy’s gastronomical delights
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Treat yourself to tapas in Spain
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Savor an authentic Greek Salad
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Eat a pizza in its birth city of Naples
History buffs can:
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Visit the Colosseum in Rome, the ruins of Pompeii, and the beautiful city of Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance
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Stand atop the Acropolis in Athens
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Explore the ancient walled city of Dubrovnik
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Walk down the historical roads of Ephesus in Turkey
For art lovers:
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Admire the beauty of David in Florence’s Galleria dell’Accademia
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Marvel at the archeological wonders in the Acropolis Museum in Athens
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Visit the Vatican Museums (Rome is your gateway)
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Stand in awe in the Sagrada Familia and the entire city of Barcelona pays homage to Antoni Gaudi
Soak up some sun on some of the most famous beaches in the world:
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Mykonos – Where the rich and famous party
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Elafonissi Beach in Crete (the pink sand is a sight to behold)
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Barceloneta Beach in Barcelona
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The French Riviera - highlights include Nice and St Tropez
BALTIC/NORTHERN EUROPE CRUISES
Usually less sunny and cooler than a Mediterranean cruise, the draw for most Northern European cruises is a stopover in St. Petersburg or Iceland.
Cruises set off from a number of places, depending on the length of the cruise. The most common boarding points are Amsterdam, Southampton, Copenhagen, and Stockholm.
Highlights on a Northern European cruise:
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Anne Frank House, Rijksmuseum and a canal boat cruise in Amsterdam
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The Scandinavian capital cities of Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki, and Oslo*
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St. Catherine’s Palace
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Peterhof Palace
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Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood and The Hermitage
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Baltic countries Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania
Other types of Northern Europe cruises include the British Isles and Iceland. Sometimes these countries can be combined into one cruise. If you’re looking for a more adventurous cruise experience in Iceland, why not consider an expedition cruise?
Visas are not required for any Northern European countries except Russia. Generally, if you are doing an organized shore excursion with the cruise line, the tour company will take care of the visas. Even if you go with a third party tour company, they will request your passport information beforehand and organize the visa for you. If you’re venturing out on your own, getting a Russian visa is essential before going. The cruise line staff and Russian authorities will not allow you to disembark without the right paperwork. Although many of the attractions are close together, St. Petersburg is a sprawling metropolis. Getting around can be very time consuming and very few people speak English. You will save time reserving an organized tour, either with the cruise line or a certified operator.
*Oslo is rarely included on a Baltic itinerary, but some cruise companies dedicate entire cruises to sailing the North Cape of Norway. These cruises usually start in Bergen and travel northwards across the Arctic Circle.
