Planning a European Cruise - Everything You Need to Know
If you are planning your first European cruise then finding all the information you need to make sure you have the dream vacation you’ve always wanted can be daunting. Here at European Cruise Vacations we want to help simplify this process as much as possible for you. Throughout the site we have dozens of articles to aid you in choosing the best cruise line, How to pack for a cruise and deciding on whether an all inclusive cruise is worth the money. These are but a sampling of the information we’ve compiled. However, we realize that your time is valuable and with all the other research and planning you need to do you probably don’t have time to read through 60+ articles. With that in mind we’ve compiled an overview of this information into one handy easy to follow guide. Read on for a quick primer on planning your vacation:
European Cruise Lines
One of your main considerations in planning your voyage is which cruise line you will book with. There are plenty to choose from, and there are great variances in the price of passage as well as the amenities, activities and luxuries offered. Here are the cruise lines broken down by category:
Ocean Cruise Lines
Carnival Cruises
Crystal Cruises
Holland America Line
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)
Sea Cloud Cruises
SeaDream Yacht Club
Royal Caribbean International
Lindblad Expeditions
Golden Star Cruises
Princess Cruises
P&O Cruises
The Majestic Line
Louis Cruise Lines
Hurtigruten
Cunard Line
easyCruise
CroisiEurope
Costa Cruises
Silversea Cruises
Swan Hellenic
Zeus Casual Cruises
Windstar Cruises
Strand Voyages
Seabourn Cruise Line
MSC Cruises
Celebrity Cruises
Azamara Cruise Lines
Club Med 2 Cruises
Peter Deilmann Cruises
Saga Cruising
Oceania Cruises
Hapag-Lloyd
Regent Seven Seas Cruises (Radisson)
Fred Olsen Cruise Line
Thomson Cruises
Voyages of Discovery
Travel Dynamics International
European River Cruise Lines
Gota Canal Cruises
Peter Deilmann
Avalon Waterways
Viking River Cruises
Amadeus Waterways
Vantage Travel
Tauck World Discovery
Uniworld
Scenic Tours
Rivercloud
CroisiEurope
A-ROSA River Cruises
Ports of Call
Hand in hand with choosing a cruise line is deciding upon which ports of call you want to visit. Certain companies only sail in certain regions, and if they do not visit the areas you want to visit then you can quickly cross them off your list. Here are some of the best European ports of call by region:
Northern Europe (Baltic Sea, North Sea, European Rivers)
Russia
Sweden
Norway
Denmark
France
Finland
Iceland
France
British Isles (Scotland, Ireland, England)
Netherlands
Germany
Poland
Estonia
Southern Europe
Spain
Italy
Greece (Greek Islands)
Morocco
Turkey
Croatia
South of France
Canary Islands
Portugal
Albania
Yugoslavia
Czech Republic
Hungary
Once you’ve chosen the ports of call you would like to visit from the list above, cross reference them with the cruise line itineraries. This will be a big job, but if you really want to find a cruise vacation package that is as close to your dream trip as possible.
Obviously, budget is going to play a role in your decision as well, so you need to sit down and figure out how much you can afford to spend on a European cruise. If money is no object then this part of the planning makes things much easier. However, if every penny counts then you will have to really make sure you do your research thoroughly to find the best deal possible.
Speaking of great deals, don’t forget that many companies offer great last minute cruise deals. If you have the flexibility to travel at a moment’s notice then be sure to check these companies’ websites, as well as your local travel agents to see if you can find discounts before you go. If you are planning any shore excursions don’t forget to research your options before you go. You can often find better deals in advance with private tour companies than are offered aboard your cruise ship.
What To Pack For Your European Cruise
Once you’ve finally managed to choose your cruise vacation package you are down to the little details. These may seem tedious, but you don’t want to ignore them if you want to have the best vacation possible. Before you start randomly throwing things into your suitcase you need to sit down and make a checklist. This will help ensure you don’t forget any crucial items (travel documents, medications etc), and will help ease your stress the night before you leave. Make a separate list for each member of the family. This is especially important for kids who can’t be relied upon to remember everything they might need to bring with them.
Start the packing process as early as possible. You’ll have enough to do in the 24 hours leading up to your vacation. By getting the bulk of your packing done in advance, you’ll eliminate that mad last minute scramble most travelers have to deal with. By packing earlier you’ll also have the benefit of knowing if you are packing too much. Be sure to weigh your luggage so you know for certain that it conforms to airline restrictions.
Get your travel documents in order and make multiple photocopies of everything. Have a set for your stowed luggage, your carry-on, and leave copies at home with friends or family members. This may seem excessively cautious, but in the event of loss or theft your information can be quickly and easily retrieved. Being stuck in a foreign country with no documentation is a quick way to ruin a great vacation. You can never be too prepared!
Figure out what you will need to wear on your cruise. This will be contingent on several factors including what time of year you are traveling, in what regions, the formality of the cruise line you choose, and your own personal tastes. Don’t overpack! Pick outfits that you can mix and match, and bring along scarves, jewelry, and hats to accessorize. By using this strategy you can still wear a different outfit every day, but only have to take half the amount of clothes, which will make it much simpler to make sure you don’t exceed luggage restrictions while you are traveling.
Once you’ve got the packing taken care of all you need to worry about it your transportation. Arrange your trip to the airport and any connections you need to make to arrive at your cruise ship. After that you are ready to enjoy an incredible European cruise vacation. Have fun!
Related posts:
- European Cruise Checklist
- Europe Cruise Deals
- European Cruises - What To Take With You
- European Cruises - What Choices Do You Have?
- European Cruise Lines - Norwegian
Filed under: Cruise Deals, Cruise Reviews, European Cruise Lines, European Cruises, Mediterranean Cruises, Norwegian Cruise, Planning a Cruise, Uncategorized