Cruise holidays are a fantastic way to travel the world and explore different cultures, heritage and attractions. For many, the chance to visit some of the best museums in the world is a highlight of their cruise experience.
From ancient artefacts to contemporary art, a cruise to famous museums offers something of interest for everyone.
In this blog, we’ll explore five of the best museums to visit while on a cruise. Discover the highlights of what you can see there, which cruise ports are nearby and what travel options are available.
The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam
The Rijksmuseum is a must-visit museum if your cruise ship docks in Amsterdam. It houses over 8,000 objects that portray more than 800 years of fascinating Dutch history and art. Discover works by world-famous artists like Vermeer, Van Gogh and Rembrandt, including the museum’s most famous painting, Rembrandt’s Night Watch.
Another reason the Rijksmuseum is one of the best museums to visit while on a cruise is that it is highly accessible. At just over two miles from the cruise terminal, you can walk there in around 45 minutes. Alternatively, a taxi ride will take a little over five minutes, or it is also accessible by tram.
If you want to see The Rijksmuseum on a cruise, there are a great variety of options. For example, Celebrity Cruises and P&O Cruises offer itineraries sailing from Southampton. Meanwhile, Holland America has cruise holidays starting in Amsterdam that go on to visit Scandinavia.
If you prefer a river cruise holiday, Emerald River Cruises has itineraries beginning in Amsterdam and sailing down the River Rhine.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York
For North America museums to visit on a cruise, the Metropolitan Museum of Art has to be top of the list. Also known as the Met, the Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of the world’s largest and most famous museums.
Located in the heart of Manhattan, the museum houses over two million international works of art, including ancient artefacts, European paintings, and contemporary art. Some of the museum’s most famous pieces include Emanuel Leutze’s Washington Crossing the Delaware and Vincent van Gogh’s Self-Portrait with a Straw Hat.
When visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art on a cruise, your ship will dock at one of three New York cruise ports: The Manhattan Cruise Terminal, the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal or The Cape Liberty Port.
Many leading cruise lines dock at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal, which is situated right in the city centre and about three miles from The Met. Plenty of taxis are available for this short trip.
Ships belonging to Princess Cruises and Cunard Line dock at Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, around a 30-minute drive from Manhattan. Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises use the Cape Liberty Port, a 45-minute drive away.
The Uffizi Gallery in Florence
Located in the heart of Florence, the Uffizi Gallery is one of the most impressive Mediterranean museums, with exceptional collections of sculptures and paintings spanning from the Middle Ages to the Modern period.
Visit the Uffizi Gallery to discover some masterpieces of Italian Renaissance art, including works by Botticelli, Michelangelo, Caravaggio and Raffaello. You can also see ancient statues and busts from the Medici family and a collection of over 177,000 drawings and prints that date back to the fourteenth century.
The Livorno Cruise Port (Livorno Terminal Crociere) is the gateway to the stunning city of Florence. Although this cruise port is a 90-minute drive or train ride away from Florence, many cruise guests still choose to visit the Tuscan capital to explore some of the best museums of this region.
Most cruise lines offer itineraries that sail around this part of the Mediterranean and dock at the Livorno Cruise Port to visit Florence. These include Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises and P&O Cruises.
The Louvre Museum in Paris
Of all the European museums, the Louvre is home to some of the most internationally famous and impressive art and artefacts. Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, arguably the most renowned painting in the world, is found in the Louvre’s largest room, the Salle des États.
The Louvre is undoubtedly one of the best museums to see on a cruise. Amongst its vast collection, you’ll also find the illustrious Venus de Milo, the Winged Victory of Samothrace, and the Code of Hammurabi. The Louvre is also home to a range of temporary exhibitions, so there is always something new to see.
If you’re keen to see the Louvre on a cruise, you will need to travel to Paris from Le Havre, the nearest cruise port. One option is travelling by train. Paris is 120 miles from Le Havre, but the train journey is relatively straightforward. Gare du Havre (Le Havre Station) is 1.5 miles from the cruise terminal. A two-hour journey will take you to Gare St Lazare Station in Paris and cost around €30.
Alternatively, bus tours run from Le Havre to Paris with a journey time of 2.5 to 3 hours.
Most leading cruise lines offer cruise holidays that stop in Le Havre, including Princess Cruises, P&O Cruises, Royal Caribbean Cruises and Celebrity Cruises. Many of these will also provide day excursions to Paris.
The Egyptian Museum in Cairo
One of the best museums to visit while on a cruise has to be The Egyptian Museum in Cairo. As one of the world’s most famous museums for ancient history and archaeology, it is home to an extraordinary collection of Pharaonic antiquities.
The museum’s collection includes mummies, statues, and other artefacts from ancient Egypt, covering over 5,000 years of history. Some of the most famous pieces in the collection include the gold mask of Tutankhamun and the statue of Khafre.
Alongside The Egyptian Museum, the iconic Pyramids of Giza make this captivating city a popular destination for cruise guests. However, with the nearest ports, Port Said and Alexandria, around a three-hour bus ride away, it does take a bit of planning to make it a part of your cruise holiday. Nonetheless, many major cruise lines still have itineraries enabling cruise guests to see The Egyptian Museum on a cruise.
Some cruise lines, such as Cunard Line, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line, offer either a 12-hour day tour or an overnight trip. The other slower-paced option is to book a Nile River cruise.
If you enjoy absorbing yourself in a country’s history and heritage, you can visit some of the best museums in the world when on a cruise.
