From the Mediterranean to the Baltic Sea, Europe's waterways offer a myriad of cruise options that cater to all interests. Simply board your ship and relax as you sail from port to port, visiting amazing destinations like Barcelona, Rome, Athens, and Istanbul. Cruise tours in Europe are massively popular thanks to their all-inclusive nature. With planned shore excursions at each destination, you can make the most of your time on land. These land-based excursions might include a history tour in Europe at destinations like the Colosseum and The Roman Forum if your ship docks in Rome. One of the many options if you’re on a river cruise in Southern Germany might be a wine-tasting tour. If you’re docking in Dubrovnik, you might be able to choose from a cultural city tour, a food tour, or even head off on a day trip to a nearby island.
With so many cruise ship tours in Europe to choose from, the world is your floating oyster.
Great trip to Western Arctic: Canada and Greenland
5 - Excellent
Anonymous
“First two days due to strong winds we were exploring unexpectedly fjord near Kangerlussuaq airport in Greenland. This affected the planned itinerary and expedition team worked hard to resolve various issues. It was a very memorable experience with 18 nights on board of Ultramarine. We have visited places where no other expedition ships have been or only visited on rare occasions. We were lucky with clear skies on the first 6 nights and the Aurora Borealis was better and better on each night. Glaciers, icebergs were nice backdrops on many photos and experiences were enhanced with helicopter flights over magnificent landscapes of Baffin island (Sam Ford fjord especially) and Greenland. Wonderful autumn colours of tundra and rock formations were explored on many hikes in addition to the visits to archeological sites. Introduction to Inuit culture and history was during visits to Itileq, Ilulissat, Uummannaaq, Nipisat island and Pond Inlet. It was enhanced by performances of local artists and visits to Inuit colourful homes. Although the wildlife of Arctic is not so plentiful as in Antarctica, we managed to have wonderful observations of numerous polar bears (12 in one day!), seals and birds. We also followed somewhat the footsteps of Franklin's expedition and reached the Beechey island where the expedition has spent the winter in 1845/46 and where are some graves of the sailors. Expedition team members presented many interesting lectures on history, geology, birds and bears. It was also a nice culinary experience of Greenlandic cuisine: Tundra to Table.”
Cruising Croatia
5 - Excellent
Christian
“Wonderful trip/cruise along the coast of Croatia, which is a must-visit. I thought Croatia's infrastructure was behind before visiting but was surprised as to how developed the nation is. The duration, timings etc. was appropriate and our guide was great!”
Perfect pizza, heavenly Herculaneum
5 - Excellent
Anonymous
“Brilliant planning meant that every day kept the kids occupied, entertained and interested. We loved Herculaneum, Pompeii and all the little towns. The walk of the gods was one of my favorite bits, which was a surprise to me. The scenery and lunch that day was phenomenal! The hotel was lovely - small clean and friendly. Excellent food and the kids loved the pool. Well worth the money.”
Cruise Tours in Europe
Sail on crystal clear waters and discover port cities on a cruise in Europe.
Highlights of cruise tours in Europe
Discover the history and culture of Venice as part of your cruise tour in Europe.
Enjoy a food tour in Naples, Italy. You know that a food tour in the city that gave us pizza is going to be good. From fried street food to sweet treats to the perfect pizza, you are going to be spoiled for choice.
Chase the Northern Lights in Iceland. Plenty of European cruises sail up to the “Land of Fire and Ice” after traveling around Scotland or Norway, so keep your eyes peeled for the natural phenomenon known as the aurora borealis
Get inspired by Gaudi’s masterpieces during a tour of Barcelona. From the Sagrada Familia to Park Guell to the eponymous Gaudi House, it’s impossible to have a shore excursion in Barcelona and not be inspired by this master artist.
Learn to sea kayak and enjoy various watersports on a day trip to the Greek Islands.
Sit back and relax on a sandy beach in Spain. Cruise excursions don’t always have to be active, after all. Rest and recuperate on the gorgeous sands before heading to your next destination.
Travel tips for Europe cruise tours
Try to book a cruise during the shoulder season. Cruise tours in Europe often run from April to October, so if you book at the start or end of the season, you might be able to bag a bargain.
Check if you need to pay for a shuttle between the ship’s dock and the city you’re visiting. Many cruise tour operators will put on a shuttle into the city for a fee, but in some locations, you can get into town much cheaper on public transport.
Follow the flag! Most shore excursion guides will have a flag or sign for your ship and your group. In popular cruise cities like Rome, Nice, or Split, there can be dozens of cruise tours around the main sights.
Bring local booze back onto the ship. If you don’t have a drinks package included in your cruise tour, bring local booze like limoncello, ouzo, or local wine back from your shore excursion.
Don’t bring all your valuables with you on shore excursions. Big cruise tour groups are like catnip to pickpockets and thieves, so be alert, and leave your valuables in your cabin.
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