Last week we discussed vacationing in central interior Europe on river cruises. While that is an outstanding way to see some fascinating places that you can’t typically visit from seaports, another great option for your European vacation is along the coastline on a major cruise line. You have a number of choices in itineraries and each will give you a very different experience.
Your major options for European sea cruises are:
· Northern Europe and the Baltic Sea
· The Norwegian Fjords
· The British Isles
· Southern Europe including the western, eastern and southern Mediterranean
· Black Sea cruises
· Holy Land cruises.
Northern Europe is consistently one of the favorite destinations for North American travelers. There are plenty of good reasons for this popularity. The many great cities in this prosperous and sophisticated corner of the world include London, Paris, St. Petersburg and many others. Its landscapes include the rugged beauty of Norway and Finland, the bright flower fields of the Netherlands and the lush greens of Ireland. The architecture encompasses modern masterpieces as well as ancient churches and castles. And the art and music and literature of this region form a large part of the cultural fabric of the western world. These destinations offer visitors the chance to explore the Viking past of Scandinavia, the wonders of legendary St. Petersburg, the famous art in Dublin, the ultramodern architecture of Helsinki, sparkling Stockholm as well as less-explored countries like Estonia and Poland. These cruises typically range from 10 to 14 days in length and embark and disembark from London (Dover or Harwich), Copenhagen or Amsterdam.
A popular northern Europe cruise for golfers and those with Irish and Scottish ancestry is the British Isles. The lush greenery, quirky pubs, breathtaking shoreline and intrigue of the past create a great vacation experience. British Isles cruises generally take you from Dover or Harwich (London) to places like St Peter Port Guernsey, Holyhead Whales, Dublin Ireland, Belfast Northern Ireland, Greenock Scotland (Glasgow), Kirkwall Orkneys, Scotland Inverness Scotland (Loch Ness) and Edinburgh Scotland.
The Norwegian Fjords are often described as Alaska on steroids. Norwegian fjords shimmer above the horizon and exciting adventures can be experienced at the Arctic Circle. The Norwegian Fjords are a once in a lifetime experience. Some of the longest, deepest, narrowest and most beautiful fjords in the world will be seen on your Norwegian Fjords cruise. And in Norway there are thousands of them. If you are a photographer, you will be in heaven on this cruise.
Moving south to the Mediterranean, you will travel the pathways of Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, Saint Paul, Marco Polo and millions of others from the dawn of civilization to present-day cruise vacationers who have explored the coastal cities and thousands of islands of Southern Europe and the Mediterranean Sea. These are, in fact, places linked mainly by the sea, and much of their history, commerce and traditions have their origins there.
Cruises in this part of the world fall into four broad categories:
· The Grand Mediterranean typically sails between Barcelona through Istanbul and usually concludes in Venice or Rome. They also sail reverse itineraries. Grand Mediterranean cruises are a great choice to get an overview of southern Europe.
· Eastern Mediterranean/Aegean Sea cruises are often called Greek Isles cruises and visit ports in Turkey, Greece and islands such as Rhodes, Santorini, Mykonos and Crete. Ships traveling this itinerary often depart from Piraeus (Athens), Greece, or Istanbul, Turkey, though some longer voyages sail from ports farther west.
· Western Mediterranean cruises sail among the cities and villages of Southern Europe from the Adriatic to the Straits of Gibraltar, including Venice, Dubrovnik Croatia, Naples, Civitavecchia (Rome) and Genoa, Italy; Monte Carlo, Monaco; St.-Tropez, France; Barcelona, Spain; and a host of others, ranging from small villages to major cities.
· Southern Mediterranean cruises visit the more exotic ports of call along the coast of North Africa from Morocco to the Holy Lands, including Tunis, Tunisia; Tripoli, Libya; Alexandria, Egypt; and Haifa, Israel, among others. Since 2001, the number of cruises in this area decreased dramatically due to unrest in the area. Over the past year however, a number of cruise lines have started sailing to this area again. All cruise lines and tour operators work closely with the regional security officers in the Embassies and will do everything possible to ensure the highest level of safety to passengers.
Black Sea cruises combine a bit of eastern Mediterranean itineraries with some of the most intriguing ports in the world, many of which were not open to westerners a few short years ago. These are Yalta, Odessa and Sevastopol in the Ukraine. Your adventure continues with ports of call in Sinop and Trabzon in Turkey, Batumi in Georgia, Constanta in Romania and Nesebur in Bulgaria. The catacombs of Odessa are a main attraction for tourists looking for history. These underground wonders are the most expansive in the world, and hundreds of people hid here during the Nazi invasions. They are absolutely incredible, and demand a visit.
You can incorporate a land tour of varying lengths to the beginning or end of your European river or sea cruise to expand your experience. There are many good tour packages that are reasonably priced and blend well with your itinerary. Whatever choice you make, you will return with a lifetime of memories from the old world.
· Northern Europe and the Baltic Sea
· The Norwegian Fjords
· The British Isles
· Southern Europe including the western, eastern and southern Mediterranean
· Black Sea cruises
· Holy Land cruises.
Northern Europe is consistently one of the favorite destinations for North American travelers. There are plenty of good reasons for this popularity. The many great cities in this prosperous and sophisticated corner of the world include London, Paris, St. Petersburg and many others. Its landscapes include the rugged beauty of Norway and Finland, the bright flower fields of the Netherlands and the lush greens of Ireland. The architecture encompasses modern masterpieces as well as ancient churches and castles. And the art and music and literature of this region form a large part of the cultural fabric of the western world. These destinations offer visitors the chance to explore the Viking past of Scandinavia, the wonders of legendary St. Petersburg, the famous art in Dublin, the ultramodern architecture of Helsinki, sparkling Stockholm as well as less-explored countries like Estonia and Poland. These cruises typically range from 10 to 14 days in length and embark and disembark from London (Dover or Harwich), Copenhagen or Amsterdam.
A popular northern Europe cruise for golfers and those with Irish and Scottish ancestry is the British Isles. The lush greenery, quirky pubs, breathtaking shoreline and intrigue of the past create a great vacation experience. British Isles cruises generally take you from Dover or Harwich (London) to places like St Peter Port Guernsey, Holyhead Whales, Dublin Ireland, Belfast Northern Ireland, Greenock Scotland (Glasgow), Kirkwall Orkneys, Scotland Inverness Scotland (Loch Ness) and Edinburgh Scotland.
The Norwegian Fjords are often described as Alaska on steroids. Norwegian fjords shimmer above the horizon and exciting adventures can be experienced at the Arctic Circle. The Norwegian Fjords are a once in a lifetime experience. Some of the longest, deepest, narrowest and most beautiful fjords in the world will be seen on your Norwegian Fjords cruise. And in Norway there are thousands of them. If you are a photographer, you will be in heaven on this cruise.
Moving south to the Mediterranean, you will travel the pathways of Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, Saint Paul, Marco Polo and millions of others from the dawn of civilization to present-day cruise vacationers who have explored the coastal cities and thousands of islands of Southern Europe and the Mediterranean Sea. These are, in fact, places linked mainly by the sea, and much of their history, commerce and traditions have their origins there.
Cruises in this part of the world fall into four broad categories:
· The Grand Mediterranean typically sails between Barcelona through Istanbul and usually concludes in Venice or Rome. They also sail reverse itineraries. Grand Mediterranean cruises are a great choice to get an overview of southern Europe.
· Eastern Mediterranean/Aegean Sea cruises are often called Greek Isles cruises and visit ports in Turkey, Greece and islands such as Rhodes, Santorini, Mykonos and Crete. Ships traveling this itinerary often depart from Piraeus (Athens), Greece, or Istanbul, Turkey, though some longer voyages sail from ports farther west.
· Western Mediterranean cruises sail among the cities and villages of Southern Europe from the Adriatic to the Straits of Gibraltar, including Venice, Dubrovnik Croatia, Naples, Civitavecchia (Rome) and Genoa, Italy; Monte Carlo, Monaco; St.-Tropez, France; Barcelona, Spain; and a host of others, ranging from small villages to major cities.
· Southern Mediterranean cruises visit the more exotic ports of call along the coast of North Africa from Morocco to the Holy Lands, including Tunis, Tunisia; Tripoli, Libya; Alexandria, Egypt; and Haifa, Israel, among others. Since 2001, the number of cruises in this area decreased dramatically due to unrest in the area. Over the past year however, a number of cruise lines have started sailing to this area again. All cruise lines and tour operators work closely with the regional security officers in the Embassies and will do everything possible to ensure the highest level of safety to passengers.
Black Sea cruises combine a bit of eastern Mediterranean itineraries with some of the most intriguing ports in the world, many of which were not open to westerners a few short years ago. These are Yalta, Odessa and Sevastopol in the Ukraine. Your adventure continues with ports of call in Sinop and Trabzon in Turkey, Batumi in Georgia, Constanta in Romania and Nesebur in Bulgaria. The catacombs of Odessa are a main attraction for tourists looking for history. These underground wonders are the most expansive in the world, and hundreds of people hid here during the Nazi invasions. They are absolutely incredible, and demand a visit.
You can incorporate a land tour of varying lengths to the beginning or end of your European river or sea cruise to expand your experience. There are many good tour packages that are reasonably priced and blend well with your itinerary. Whatever choice you make, you will return with a lifetime of memories from the old world.