European Cruise: A Vintage Experience

Europe is a popular cruising region, second only to the Caribbean (and followed by Alaska in third place), and it’s a no-brainer to see why. The region truly offers something for everyone: great sights, shopping, beaches, museums, cultural and natural attractions, and a decent climate.

The ports are close together, meaning you can visit several in a limited period of time; the seas relatively calm; the opportunities interesting and diverse. Europe has a seafaring tradition that goes back to ancient times— you can even choose an itinerary that follows the exact route of the ancient mariners—so is it any wonder a European cruise sounds so exciting and romantic?

WHY UNDERTAKE A EUROPEAN CRUISE?

A cruise is also one of the most practical, comfortable, and economical ways to see Europe. You only have to unpack once, your floating hotel takes you to different ports in different countries, and you don’t have to deal with the hassle and expense of getting around Europe by plane or train.

On a cruise you are fed, pampered, and taken care of in a stress-free environment. You don’t have to worry about currency fluctuations and their effect on your hotel, entertainment, and meal costs, because all of these are included in your cruise fare. Food will be familiar—you can even sip a piña colada while viewing, say, St. Petersburg—and you don’t have to deal with language problems, because there will be personnel on the ship who speak English.

A PRACTICAL DOWNSIDE:

A downside to European cruising is that your package might not have the provisions or even the time you may like in a particular port to experience the local culture, although some lines overnight in cities like Venice, Monte Carlo, and Istanbul, and smaller ships may overnight in smaller cities. The cruise lines do their best, through their organized shore excursions, to get passengers to the major sights. And if you’d rather sit at a cafe and check out the local scene than do an organized tour, you can head off on your own.

We’ve found that when cruising in Europe, it’s best to think of your cruise as a sampler package. If you fall in love with a city, plan on visiting again later.

However it is also mention worthy, that before you invest big bucks on your perfect European Cruise vacation, you should thoroughly understand a few facts, such as:

THE EUROPEAN CRUISE SEASON:

It is generally considered to be between April and November, though in many areas, the cruising season may even be year-round (as in case of the Mediterranean cruises).

THE WEATHER:

The variation in the weather across different countries in Europe is quite evident, and you will certainly get a first hand experience of the versatility of European weather during your cruise vacation.

TYPICAL CRUISE ITENARIES:

- The British Isles
- The Riviera
- The Greek Isles
- The Western Mediterranean
- The Scandinavian area
- The Black Sea/ Middle East region

Whether you like to do it all or do nothing at all, cruising is a convenient and leisurely way of traveling from one exotic port to another. While ports may be the focus for most of us on a European cruise, you’ll have plenty of time to sample shipboard life as well. It truly is experience of a lifetime, something that you can hold onto even till your last breath.

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