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Europe Cruises
London, Paris, Rome, Madrid, Athens… Europe is chock-a-block with world-class cultural capitals rich with natural beauty. This diverse continent showcases its thousands of years of history in its grand monuments, from the acropolis in Athens to the imperial palaces of St Petersburg. Away from the main cities, European cruises involve unforgettable scenery whether it’s the mirrorlike lochs of the Scottish Highlands, majestic fjords of Norway or Mediterranean beaches. Explore this grand continent, the cradle of Western civilisation.
EUROPE CRUISE PORTS
British Isles
Fishing villages, stately castles and rolling hills all await you on a tour of the British Isles.
Scandinavia
Scandinavian cruises focus on Nordic destinations like Oslo and Bergen, though some will extend the itinerary into the wider Baltic Sea region. The star of the Nordic cruise show are Norway’s majestic fjords, which offer an unforgettable landscape dotted with pine trees and crashing waterfalls.
Baltic Sea
Admire all the traditional charm and imperial grandeur of port cities along the Baltic Sea, whether you’re visiting the pristine islands of Stockholm or the majestic palaces of St Petersburg.
Mediterranean Sea
You’ll walk Dubrovnik’s Old Town, snap the infamous landmarks of Rome and explore the hidden gems of Barcelona. The cuisine ranges from the much-loved pesto in Genoa to the traditional dish of Apochti in Santorini.
What You Need To Know About Europe
When is the best time to visit Europe?
Europe’s considered a year-round cruising destination, although the best time to visit will depend on your itinerary. You’ll find a spot of winter sunshine in southerly reaches of the continent like the Canary Islands, but for northern European itineraries through the Baltic Sea or Norwegian fjords the summer months are best. The Mediterranean’s beaches are at their finest between June and September, with Greece’s beaches remaining comfortably warm well into October. The autumn is an excellent time to visit Europe for its harvest festivals and fall foliage, while December brings the charm and cheer of traditional Christmas markets!
What are the can’t-miss highlights of a European cruise?
This continent is, to put it mildly, rather massive… so there are both well-known highlights like the canals of Venice, Colosseum in Rome or Eiffel Tower in Paris. However, there are also many hidden gems to explore on a tour of Europe including medieval German villages and sleepy Greek islands. View the Tower Bridge in London for amazing city views, or Norway’s rugged fjords for truly spectacular scenery. Madrid’s Royal Palace is well worth a gander, while Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate gives you insight into centuries of European history. And while Venice’s canals are enchanting, nothing compares to the grandeur and glitz of St Mark’s Basilica!
What are the visa requirements?
With a British passport, you’ll be able to enter virtually all of Europe without restriction. Europe’s Schengen Zone covers 26 different countries within Europe, offering freedom of movement within the region. So if you enter in Austria, you won’t need to show your passport again as you cross the border into Hungary on a Danube river cruise. There’s one country where you might need to apply for a visa – Russia. If you’re cruising to St Petersburg and want to explore away from your official tour group, you’ll need to apply in advance for a tourist visa to do so.
What regional European dishes should you try?
European cuisine is widely regarded as delicious the world over, from Italian pasta and pizza to French croissants and Austrian wiener schnitzel. The possibilities are endless! Don’t miss out on the chance to try waffles in Belgium, where they’re the perfect blend between light and crispy and served with strawberries and cream. There are many forms of dumplings across eastern Europe, such as Polish pierogi with their potato or cheese fillings. Speaking of cheese, it’s beloved throughout Europe but particularly in Switzerland where Gruyere or Emmenthal is melted down into the gooey goodness of fondue. For dessert, try the chocolate variety!
EUROPE EXPERTS
Sean Delaney
Genoa - Italy
"Genoa’s greatest selling point is the collection of 42 UNESCO recognised former palaces. Just off Genoa’s harbourside, is a glorious network of narrow alleys with surprises around every corner."
Laurie Matherson
Lisbon
"As one of the most-frequently visited ports, when visiting Lisbon, I recommend you take the time to do your own leisurely walking tour next time; you may notice a lot more to this great city."
Debbie Carmen
Rotterdam
"Popular areas to visit in Rotterdam include the Old harbour which boasts restored historic boats & you can visit the Museum Boijmans van Beuningen if you’re an art fan too. "
Alexander Abraham
Copenhagen
"A very modern city with a whole load of history to go with it. Its a city that a lot of cruises go from and it really is an amazing place."
EUROPE CRUISE REVIEWS
Mediterranean Cruise
EUROPE
Nightingale, Andover, 08th Dec 2018
This was our first cruise and was overwhelmed with our experience. Unbelievable food, superb entertainment, great value for money.
Marella Cruise
EUROPE
Mitchell, Dundrum, 2nd Dec 2018
Dubrovnik, Koper, split, Venice, just a few on our first week, outstanding, never saw such beautiful places, the one that sticks with me most on the sail away, was Venice.
EUROPE - DID YOU KNOW?
There are 50 countries included in Europe, although a few of these fall into Asia as well. Russia’s the largest country in Europe, followed by Ukraine. At the smaller end of the spectrum is the tiny Vatican City, housed entirely within the city of Rome!
- You’ll find remnants of the mighty Roman empire throughout Europe – the Empire’s territories spread north into Britain, eastward into the Balkans and south all the way to northern Africa. In addition to Rome’s impressive ruins like the Colosseum, well-preserved Roman complexes include the Imperial Baths of Trier in Germany, Pont du Gard in France and Pula Arena in Croatia.
- Istanbul is the only city which straddles two continents, positioned on the Bosphorus Strait which connects Europe with Asia. This gives it a unique east-meets-west culture with the Roman Hippodrome and Byzantine Hagia Sophia.
There’s a multitude of languages spoken in this diverse continent, but most of them can be divided into three main groups – Romance, Germanic and Slavic. You’ll find some obscure languages that fall outside the boundaries, particularly the Silbo language from the Spanish island of Gomera. Silbo consists entirely of different pitches of whistles, developed by the locals to suit Gomera’s mountainous landscapes!
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