There’s a lot to see in Europe! From the Fjords of Norway to the beaches of Greece or the canal banks of Amsterdam, pick your favorite! Sadly, time is a limited resource for many of us. Cruises in Europe provide the perfect solution: a method to get the flavour of multiple countries and destinations – multi functional go. You’d be amazed how much you’ll be able to fit into 7 days. Whether or not it’s Spain, Norway, Budapest, or Greece, listed here are 4 varied options that supply something special for those seeking to dip their feet into the European cruise experience.
Table of Contents – European Cruises
4 Cruises in Europe – Which is your favorite?
Guest post by Auston Matta from Two Bad Tourists
Virgin Voyages – French Daze and Ibiza Nights
Virgin Voyages are the brand new kid on the block, with their cruises launching in only 2021. These adults-only cruises offer the highest in onboard activities, dinners, and entertainment. You can expect to experience extravagant performances and parties with risqué themes, like drag queen bingo and a sex therapy cabaret show. You could also be hard-pushed to even need to get off the boat at times!
Virgin Voyages provide the perfect big ship experience and are incredibly welcoming as one of the gay-friendly cruises within the travel industry. They offer a spread of voyages, but French Daze and Ibiza Nights is considered one of their best, a 7-night trip through western European waters.
Setting off from the favored holiday destination of Barcelona, it first ports in Marseille – lovingly known as the crossroads of France. The second biggest city in France, its medieval vibe is an ideal introduction to French culture. The third day takes you to the glamorous French city – Cannes, with designer bars and couture stores to peruse. Day 4 sees you setting sail for the Spanish island of Palma de Mallorca. You can spend two days exploring the colourful island, visiting an area winery, and, in fact, hitting the beach.
Finally, the voyage arrives within the ever-popular Ibiza, where you’re free to absorb some more sun for 2 days or hit the isle´s (in)famous nightlife before returning to Barcelona. Just be certain you make it back to the boat in time!
Celebrity – Norwegian Fjords
If the cold doesn´t trouble you, then why not explore the wonders of the north on Celebrity cruise line’s 7-night Norwegian Fjords cruise. Celebrity claims to be probably the greatest cruise lines going, and so they have the awards to back it up, having won Travel Weekly’s best cruise line in Europe award in 2020. What’s more, they’re a family-friendly option that provides luxury trips, on well-designed boats, at reasonable prices.
The Norwegian Fjords cruise begins on the legendary capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam. Lovingly known as “the Venice of the north”, its historic canals, iconic architecture, and wealth of museums make it greater than worthy of exploration before you even board the ship. The first day is spent out at sea, having fun with the ship´s amenities. Take a respite from the cold inside the ship´s luxurious spa as you set sail deep into the north of Europe, before eventually arriving at Haugesund in Norway.
Haugesund is a picturesque city framed by epic mountains and delightful rugged landscapes. The cruise continues alongside the deepest and longest fjord on the earth, anchoring in quaint Norwegian towns and eventually town of Bergen – a former Viking stronghold! Expect to see cascading waterfalls, glacial lakes, and towering snow-capped mountains inside a lost world of tranquility on this unique cruise.
Viking – Danube River Cruise
European cruises needn’t be limited to the ocean. The Danube River runs through the oft-neglected parts of Europe not reachable by the ocean and provides the potential of seeing 4 countries and three capital cities in only 7 nights. Viking is considered one of many cruise lines to supply this river option, but what makes them so special is just how destination-focused they’re. Not only does the Danube River Cruise provide tours and focused cultural activities at every port, but even the food on board adapts to the destination.
The Danube River Cruise begins at Hungary’s capital Budapest, often called the “Paris of the East” for its ravishing beauty – especially by the river when illuminated by night – and vibrant culture. From one capital to the following, the next port is Bratislava, Slovakia´s capital – a city of baroque palaces flanked by considered one of the world’s most epic castles. Then, the cruise reaches its third capital in only three nights: Vienna – where you’ll be able to soak up the impressive architecture, great music, good coffee, and abundance of gardens and parks. The latter half of the cruise takes you thru the remainder of Austria, visits a monastery, and at last ports at Passau – considered one of Germany’s oldest cities.
Variety Cruises – Jewels of the Cyclades
Cruises will also be a very good opportunity to sink your teeth into the texture of a person country by visiting multiple destinations there. Greece is a treasure trove of paradisiacal islands and locations best viewed from the ocean and Variety Cruises provides a smaller ship to accomplish that, all whilst providing you with a more intimate experience not found on the larger cruise lines. Furthermore, being on such a smaller ship creates a neater atmosphere to get to know your fellow shipmates and revel in inland excursions in tighter-knit groups.
Besides having a reputation that feels like an Indiana Jones movie, the Jewels of the Cyclades cruise showcases a few of the perfect islands in Greece. Setting sail from the traditional Greek capital, Athens, it consists of a circular route anchoring at each the better-known islands like Poros or Mykonos, in addition to a number of the lesser-known gems like Folegandros.
All islands have Greece´s signature white sandy beaches and clear azure waters but still boast their very own distinct personalities. One night you is likely to be swimming in a fascinating bay off the isle of Paros, the following having fun with the view over Santorini and the following partying in Mykonos. The cruise fittingly ends by arriving in Athens, alongside the temple of Poseidon, the god of the ocean, bidding you adieu and – more than likely – planning your next cruise.
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