Cruising Europe

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While on a shore excursion in France, we visited Mont-Saint-Michel 



The European continent offers an incredible variety of cruise experiences, from Scandinavia’s glacial north to the subtropical islands of the Mediterranean. On shore, there are historical and modern wonders to appreciate, along with incredible food, wine, and more. In addition, the continent is threaded with rivers that provide even more possibilities for cruise travel.

How can you best discover Europe via cruise? Here’s a look at its major cruise regions.

·         The Mediterranean is a popular choice for cruisers, whether they are repeat passengers or sailing in Europe for the first time. Because a dozen European nations border this storied body of water, many cruises focus on either the Eastern or Western Med; both are bursting with historical interest and natural beauty.

Western Med cruises feature ports in Spain, France, and western Italy; they may also visit islands like Mallorca, Corsica, and Sardinia. Some itineraries venture south to North African ports, too. Eastern Med cruises call on the eastern coast of Italy, as well as Croatia, the Greek Islands, and sometimes Montenegro, Albania, or the island of Malta.

·         Europe’s Atlantic Ocean coastline offers another cruise route that includes Spain, as well as Portugal and Western France. These cruises may also venture to the Canary Islands, Madeira or the Azores.

·         The British Isles are their own cruise region, with fascinating places to visit in every port. Some itineraries circumnavigate all of England, Scotland and Wales; some cross the Irish Sea to call on Ireland, too. The weather usually means it’s best to cruise here from spring through fall.

·         Northern European cruise itineraries include voyages into the fjords along the coast of Norway, and/or calls on the capital cities of Scandinavia. Some itineraries include Baltic Sea ports in Estonia, Latvia, and Poland, too. Late spring through early fall is the high season for cruising here, and winter cruising is rare.

·         In addition to sea and ocean voyages, there’s another way to cruise Europe: along a scenic river. European river cruises feature continually changing shoreline views and daily port calls, often docking in historic town centers. Major rivers for cruising include the Danube and Rhine, which flow through multiple countries; the Seine and Rhone, which wind through different parts of France; and the Douro, which flows through Portugal’s famous port wine region.

There’s much, much more to know about cruising in Europe; contact Anita, your professional travel advisor, to talk about all the options.

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