European Cruise:
For the real go getters, a European cruise is quite the adventure. What some may think of as an easy way to travel multiple countries and cities in a short amount of time is slightly mistaken, but don’t get me wrong, it’s still one heck of a fun experience. On a European cruise, the majority of your days will be port days, and in most instances day trips only. This means timing and your itinerary need to be thoroughly planned out.
That said, traveling by cruise gives you the privilege of seeing so many incredible countries and cities while still having a “home base” with top-tier entertainment, dining, and amenities.
Since you’re traveling by boat, you’ll primarily be docking outside of major cities, so transportation and timing are key. Most often, you’ll walk or taxi from the cruise port to a local train station and then train into your city of choice. At some stops, the train rides were as short as 10 minutes while others as far as 1.5 hours, drastically limiting the time you could spend exploring, since every hour counts.
For our itinerary we had the following stops:
Villefranche-Sur-Mer: A very quick train or car ride to both Nice and Monaco. The town itself is quaint and charming, and perfect for those who want to stay local for a slower day.
La Spezia: This port offers many options. A close and popular beach choice is Cinque Terre, while a longer city option is Florence. I chose Florence since I was dying to go back and see my home away from home; however, it was a trek and a half. I felt very rushed, which doesn't represent Florence at all, but every minute there was worth it to me. I’ve been to Cinque Terre before and can confidently say it’s beautiful and absolutely worth a visit if you’re craving a beach day. That's the beauty of cruising, you can choose city VS beach and shape your kind of day!
Civitavecchia: An easy 50 minute train ride to Rome, with trains constantly running to and from the city. Personally, I feel that one day in Rome is more than enough. Hit the tourist highlights, walk between the major hot spots, grab a meal at a local café and call it a day.
In some instances the cruise is able to tender directly onto the mainland, allowing for a full day with little transportation or planning required. On our itinerary we tendered in Portofino and Mallorca. In Portofino, we had a short boat ride from the cruise ship to the mainland, all arranged by the cruise company. In Mallorca, the ship docked directly in the major city of Palma, allowing us to hit the ground running.
Some of these cities, like Portofino and Mallorca, were first time visits for us, so a day trip was the perfect glimpse. We now know we’d love the opportunity to return. Other stops felt like one day was more than enough, and we left feeling satisfied with what we saw.
The accessibility of having a “home base” for your belongings, paired with incredible amenities and entertainment, while still seeing some of Europe's most popular countries and cities make European cruises extremely desirable. Just keep in mind that this style of travel does require a little extra planning and a go-go-go mentality, but for those up for the challenge you will not be let down.
