The Love & Hates of European Cruises
Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about taking a European cruise. You’ll most often find river cruises in Europe or small-ship coastal cruises like the Croatia cruise I took along the Dalmatian coast. The huge ocean liners are also becoming more popular in Europe, but we’re focusing on the smaller ships sailing in Europe. As you know, we like to share a realistic picture of our travel destinations, so you’re getting the best and the worst about taking a European cruise.
Best of Cruising in Europe:
Turn Key Traveling
For those of us used to planning our own travel itineraries, a European cruise is so refreshing because everything is planned for you. You don’t have to worry and you barely have to think! Choosing which cruise may be tough, but once you’ve decided, they handle everything else. No deciding between restaurants and hotels. They can even bundle your airfare if you don’t feel like shopping for flights!
Port Locations
Unlike major cruise ships, the smaller European cruises often dock right in town. So, many times you can just walk off the ship and start exploring. You won’t have to board a bus or a train to get to the good stuff. If your ship is docked overnight, you can skip the cruise dinner and walk into town for a local experience. You also get a nice, close view of the shore as you pass by. Some of my favorite moments were just enjoying a beer on the deck and watching activities on the shore.
Finding New (to you) Towns
On these smaller cruises, you really get to niche down and explore some areas you might never have visited on your own. A lot of the European river cruises have a theme, like wine, castles, or Christmas markets. When the ships relocate overnight, you get to cover a lot more ground than a typical vacation itinerary. The downside is that you’re going to have limited time to visit each town, but it’s perfect for seeing which towns you’d like to return to on your next trip.
Laid Back Atmosphere and Relaxed Attitudes
My experience with the European cruise is that it was much more laid back and relaxed. The passengers are typically older than on a Caribbean cruise, so you don’t have the spring break atmosphere, and many European river cruises don’t even allow passengers under 18. You won’t find casinos and ice skating rinks and water parks on board, so you really do feel like you can kick back and relax when the ship is moving. Part of this, too, goes back to Love #1 and not having to worry about catching trains and buses and packing up your luggage every time you move to a new city.
The People You Meet
It’s fun being thrown together with like-minded travelers and the relaxed atmosphere helps everyone get along so much better. With the smaller ship size, you also have a better opportunity to get to know the staff. These cruises are so targeted, that you will probably have a lot in common with your fellow passengers. My parents have made friends on all their cruises and they end up planning future travel with their cruise friends.
Worst of Cruising in Europe:
Lack of Independence
We tend to be independent travelers, and we know a lot of our readers are as well. So giving up that independence to go on a cruise is probably the biggest downside for us. You don’t set the schedule; your schedule is set for you. Meals and excursions are at set times, so if you prefer a more leisurely start to your day, you might not like it. However, the schedules are set to maximize what you can see in each port, so you really can pack a lot into your itinerary.
Additionally, these smaller boats will often wait for late passengers, unlike the major cruise ships. So, if you have a few passengers who are constantly late reboarding the ship, you’re going to get frustrated that the entire ship is affected.
Excursion Selection
If you’re used to the larger cruise ships, you know they offer a ton of shore excursions at each port. European cruises tend to have fewer options for excursions, and they can be quite pricey. You don’t have to do the excursions and tours, so deciding which ones to take is going to take up some of your planning time before you leave.
Walking City Tours
Nearly every port will offer a walking city tour as the excursion. If you sign up for these every day, they can get a bit tedious. Spend some time thinking about which cities you want a tour guide for, and which you prefer to explore on your own. Maybe alternate days of the walking tours and choose other excursions on the alternate days, if there are other options available.
What Shoes to Pack for Walking in Europe
Limited Space
Cruise ships are known for having cramped quarters. The cabins are quite small, with very limited storage space, This means limited electrical outlets as well. Make sure you pack light so you aren’t tripping over your belongings every time you stand up. The cruise line will often provide a packing list for guidance. Think of your room as a place to sleep, and get to know the common areas of the ship. You can relax outdoors and watch the scenery float by.
Essential Items to Pack for a Cruise
Dinner Seating
Oftentimes, you will be assigned a table for dinner and you’re often seated with the same people for the entire trip. If you get seated with a fun group, then it’s great and you will have new friends for the duration of your trip. But if you don’t get a great table, you are stuck with those people for the duration.
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I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed my Croatia cruise along the Dalmatian Coast. Granted, I was the youngest on the ship by 20 years, but it was a really nice change of pace from our usual travel style. And the food was fantastic! Looking for more travel tips?
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