Budget European Travel by Cruise Ship

Budget Travel - 
What Comes to Mind

The next #WeekendWanderlust twitter chat will take place Tonight Thursday August 9th at 9 PM  Eastern time. This week’s questions are all about Europe travel.

Preparing for this week's chat, we gave that question some serious thought.  Most likely the first thing that comes to mind is backpacking across Europe, traveling by rail, and staying in hostels.  That's fine if you are in your early twenty's but after that, we doubt that would be your preferred method of travel.

Cruising Europe

We can't argue that backpacking across Europe is the epitome of budget travel, but for those that can no longer travel in that fashion, the next best thing could be seeing Europe by cruise ship.   If you are coming from the United States, the cost of air travel will be your largest component.   Since it is a fixed cost, no matter what you do upon arrival in Europe, we will not factor that into our budget assessment.

We'll use a Baltic cruise for an example on how cruising in Europe can be budget travel.  A typical Baltic itinerary will have about 7 or 8 ports of call.   If you were to visit those same ports by making your own travel arrangements, it would most likely include several flights between the various destinations, which as we've already mentioned could add significant cost to the trip.   Likewise, you would need to have lodging in each destination.

With a cruise, your lodging and transportation between countries is already included in the price.  Meals and entertainment are also included, all of which would have been extras if sight seeing on your own.

Exploring Ports

There are many ways to explore the countries that the ship visits.  There are several options which fall in the budget travel category.  We'll explore some of those which we used during a past cruise to the region.

The picture above is a "hop-on-hop-off" bus.   With this form of transportation you can typically start the tour when you get off the ship and conclude back at the ship, making a circle around the port city.  For one low price, usually around $20 USD, you have the option to get on and off the bus as many times as you like to see points of interest along the route.  This is how we toured Copenhagen for example.

In several of our ports, there were shuttles from the ship that would take us into town.  In Stockholm, we took the shuttle and then after a short walk, we were able to book a boat excursion "Under the Bridges of Stockholm".  This two hour tour was one of the highlights of the cruise.   We also used the shuttle method to go to Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen for an evening at the amusement park.

In many ports of call, it was possible to simply walk to nearby attractions.  Such was the case in Bergen, Norway.   In this picture, we walked to the Fløibanen Funicular, one of Bergen's most popular attractions. Ride the tramway to the top for views of the entire area.

If you decide to have a meal while in port, for example in Bergen,  you have a full range of choices from the choices for the budget minded to expensive.   Perhaps something in the fish market would give you a taste of Bergen on the budget side.

The great thing about cruising is that it is all about choice.   The cruise lines offer excursions, which typically cost more than if you organize the same tour on your own.  The benefit to the ship's tours is that you don't have to plan anything and also, they are responsible for getting you back to the ship on time.  Which ever way you decide to go, you have already saved money by not having to pay for hotels, meals, entertainment and additional transportation during your multi-port visit.

Join Us for a Fun Hour on Twitter Wednesday Nights

If you love Food & Travel you should join #FoodTravelChat every Wednesday at 8 PM Eastern.  I'm one of the chat moderators.  Each week we discuss a new food and travel related topic.

 

Follow Us On

       

Sign-up for Exclusive Email Offers

Budget Travel by Cruise Ship

Budget Travel - 
What Comes to Mind

The next #travelpics will take place Monday, July 21st, 2014, from 3-4pm Eastern time (8-9pm UK time). This week’s questions are all about budget travel.

Preparing for this week's Twitter photo chat, we gave that question some serious thought.  Most likely the first thing that comes to mind is backpacking across Europe, traveling by rail, and staying in hostels.  That's fine if you are in your early twenty's but after that, we doubt that would be your preferred method of travel.

Cruising Europe

We can't argue that backpacking across Europe is the epitome of budget travel, but for those that can no longer travel in that fashion, the next best thing could be seeing Europe by cruise ship.   If you are coming from the United States, the cost of air travel will be your largest component.   Since it is a fixed cost, no matter what you do upon arrival in Europe, we will not factor that into our budget assessment.

We'll use a Baltic cruise for an example on how cruising in Europe can be budget travel.  A typical Baltic itinerary will have about 7 or 8 ports of call.   If you were to visit those same ports by making your own travel arrangements, it would most likely include several flights between the various destinations, which as we've already mentioned could add significant cost to the trip.   Likewise, you would need to have lodging in each destination.

With a cruise, your lodging and transportation between countries is already included in the price.  Meals and entertainment are also included, all of which would have been extras if sight seeing on your own.

Exploring Ports

There are many ways to explore the countries that the ship visits.  There are several options which fall in the budget travel category.  We'll explore some of those which we used during a past cruise to the region.

The picture above is a "hop-on-hop-off" bus.   With this form of transportation you can typically start the tour when you get off the ship and conclude back at the ship, making a circle around the port city.  For one low price, usually around $20 USD, you have the option to get on and off the bus as many times as you like to see points of interest along the route.  This is how we toured Copenhagen for example.

In several of our ports, there were shuttles from the ship that would take us into town.  In Stockholm, we took the shuttle and then after a short walk, we were able to book a boat excursion "Under the Bridges of Stockholm".  This two hour tour was one of the highlights of the cruise.   We also used the shuttle method to go to Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen for an evening at the amusement park.

In many ports of call, it was possible to simply walk to nearby attractions.  Such was the case in Bergen, Norway.   In this picture, we walked to the Fløibanen Funicular, one of Bergen's most popular attractions. Ride the tramway to the top for views of the entire area.

If you decide to have a meal while in port, for example in Bergen,  you have a full range of choices from the choices for the budget minded to expensive.   Perhaps something in the fish market would give you a taste of Bergen on the budget side.

The great thing about cruising is that it is all about choice.   The cruise lines offer excursions, which typically cost more than if you organize the same tour on your own.  The benefit to the ship's tours is that you don't have to plan anything and also, they are responsible for getting you back to the ship on time.  Which ever way you decide to go, you have already saved money by not having to pay for hotels, meals, entertainment and additional transportation during your multi-port visit.

Follow us on Twitter: @ChrisPappinMCC  Pinterest: CruiseWithChris Pappin and Facebook: CruiseWithChris Pappin Cruises Inc for more ideas.

Celebrity Reflection and Constellation Europe 2013

Where Europe vacation dreams
become a reality.
2013 Europe Deployment

Celebrity Reflection^SM

Celebrity Reflection – which sets sail in October of this year, complete with the brand's first "Signature Suites" and jaw-dropping, two-bedroom "Reflection Suite," complete with a sea-view bathroom extending out over the edge of the ship, a veranda tub with soothing rain shower, and panoramic views courtesy of the wraparound veranda – will present a full season of 10- and 11-night sailings roundtrip from Rome. The 10-night itinerary features visits to Sicily, Italy; Athens, Greece and the Greek Isles, and Kusadasi, Turkey, while the 11-night sailing also features an overnight stay in Istanbul.

DESCRIPTION	SAIL DATE(S) 2013	ITINERARY
16-Night Eastbound Transatlantic Cruise	Apr 20	Miami, Florida; Tenerife, Canary, Islands; Lanzarote, Canary, Islands; Barcelona, Spain; Provence (Toulon), France; Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Italy; Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy
10-Night Eastern Mediterranean Cruise	May 17; Jun 07, 28; Jul 19: Aug 09, 30;Sep 20; Oct 11	Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy; Sicily (Messina), Italy; Athens (Piraeus), Greece; Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkey; Rhodes, Greece; Santorini, Greece; Mykonos, Greece; Naples/Capri, Italy; Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy
11-Night Eastern Mediterranean Cruise	May 06	Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy; Santorini, Greece; Athens (Piraeus), Greece; Istanbul, Turkey (overnight); Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkey; Mykonos, Greece; Naples/Capri, Italy; Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy
11-Night Eastern Mediterranean Cruise	May 27; Jun 17; Jul 08, 29; Aug 19; Sep 30; Oct 21	Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy; Santorini, Greece; Istanbul, Turkey (overnight); Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkey; Mykonos, Greece; Athens (Piraeus), Greece; Naples/Capri, Italy; Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy
15-Night Westbound Transatlantic Cruise	Nov 01	Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy; Tenerife, Canary Islands; Basseterre, St. Kitts; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; Miami, Florida

Celebrity Constellation®

Celebrity Constellation – featuring guest-favorite enhancements incorporated in the line's Solsticizing initiative, including the Tuscan Grille specialty restaurant, Cellar Masters wine bar and Café al Bacio and Gelateria, among other venues and, by Spring of 2013, new AquaClass accommodations with exclusive access to the Mediterranean specialty restaurant, Blu – from May through August 2013 will present seven Scandinavia/Russia cruises, an Arctic Circle voyage and a Norwegian Fjords sailing, all roundtrip from Amsterdam. Then, from Istanbul, the ship will set sail on two new 12-night Black Sea & Greek Isles sailings, highlighted by an overnight stay in Odessa, Ukraine; visits to Sevastopol and Yalta, Ukraine, and Celebrity's first visit to Varna, Bulgaria. Celebrity Constellation will round out her summer season with four 12-night Greek Isles & Turkey voyages, all roundtrip from Istanbul.

DESCRIPTION	SAIL DATE(S) 2013	ITINERARY
15-Night Eastbound Transatlantic Cruise	May 05	Miami, Florida; Madeira (Funchal), Portugal; Lisbon, Portugal; Paris/Normandy (Le Havre), France; Dover, England; Amsterdam, Netherlands
12-Night Scandinavia & Russia Cruise	May 20; Jun 01; Aug 24	Amsterdam, Netherlands; Berlin (Warnemunde), Germany; Stockholm, Sweden; Helsinki, Finland; St. Petersburg, Russia (overnight); Tallinn, Estonia; Copenhagen, Denmark; Amsterdam, Netherlands
10-Night Norwegian Fjords Cruise	May 24; Jun 14; Jul 05	Harwich, England; Oslo, Norway; Stavanger, Norway; Olden, Norway; Alesund, Norway; Geiranger, Norway; Flam, Norway; Bergen, Norway; Harwich, England
12-Night Scandinavia & Russia Cruise	Aug 12	Amsterdam, Netherlands; Berlin (Warnemunde), Germany; Stockholm, Sweden; Tallinnn, Estonia; St. Petersburg, Russia (overnight); Helsinki, Finalnd; Copenhagen, Denmark; Amsterdam, Netherlands
12-Arctic Circle Cruise	Jun 13	Amsterdam, Netherlands; Arctic Circle (Crossing); Leknes (Lofoten), Norway; Arctic Circle; Longyearbyen, Norway; Arctic Circle; Honningsvag, Norway; Arctic Circle (Crossing); Molde, Norway; Bergen, Norway; Amsterdam, Netherlands
12-Night Norwegian Fjord Cruise	Jun 25	Amsterdam, Netherlands; Bergen, Norway; Olden, Norway; Molde, Norway; Geiranger, Norway; Alesund, Norway; Skjolden, Norway; Flam, Norway; Oslo, Norway; Amsterdam, Netherlands
12-Night Scandinavia & Russia Cruise	Jul 07, 19, 31	Amsterdan, Netherlands; Berlin (Warnemunde), Germany; Stockholm, Sweden; Helsinki, Finland; St. Petersburg, Russia (overnight); Tallinn, Estonia; Copenhagen, Denmark; Amsterdam, Netherlands

Celebrity Europe 2013 Deployment

Where Northern Europe vacation  dreams become a reality.
2013 Europe Deployment

Celebrity Infinity – the second of four Millennium Class ships to complete Celebrity's ambitious, $140-million 'Solsticizing' initiative, incorporating a host of guest-favorite venues and experiences from the Solstice Class, such as the hip Celebrity iLounge, the eclectic Qsine specialty restaurant, and AquaClass accommodations with exclusive access to the Mediterranean specialty restaurant, Blu – will make her European debut in 2013, offering new 10- and 11-night British Isles, Norwegian Fjords and Iceland & Fjords itineraries roundtrip from Harwich, England.

Celebrity Infinity^®

DESCRIPTION	SAIL DATE(S) 2013	ITINERARY
12-Night Eastbound Transatlantic Cruise	May 01	Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Ponta Delgada, Azores; Cherbourg, France; Bruges (Zeebrugge), Belgium; Harwich, England
11-Night British Isles Cruise	May 13	Harwich, England; Paris/Normandy (Le Havre), France; St. Peter Port, Channel Islands; Cork (Cobh), Ireland; Dublin, Ireland; Liverpool, England; Belfast, Northern Ireland; Glasgow (Greenock), Scotland; Inverness/Loch Ness, Scotland; Harwich, England
10-Night Norwegian Fjords Cruise	May 24; Jun 14; Jul 05	Harwich, England; Oslo, Norway; Stavanger, Norway; Olden, Norway; Alesund, Norway; Geiranger, Norway; Flam, Norway; Bergen, Norway; Harwich, England
11-Night British Isles Cruise	Jun 03	Harwich, England; Paris/Normandy (Le Havre), France; St. Peter Port, Channel Islands; Cork (Cobh), Ireland; Waterford (Dunmore East), Ireland; Dublin, Ireland; Liverpool, England; Glasgow (Greenock), Scotland; Inverness/Loch Ness, Scotland; Harwich, England
11-Night Iceland & Fjord Cruise	Jun 24; Jul 15	Harwich, England; Torshavn, Faroe Islands; Reykjavik, Iceland (overnight); Akureyri, Iceland; Geiranger, Norway; Bergen, Norway; Harwich, England
10-Night Norwegian Fjords Cruise	Jul 26	Harwich, England; Oslo, Norway; Kristiansand, Norway; Stavanger, Norway; Alesund, Norway; Geiranger, Norway; Flam, Norway; Bergen, Norway; Harwich, England
11-Night British Isles Cruise	Aug 05	Harwich, England; Paris/Normandy (Le Havre), France; St. Peter Port, Channel Islands; Cork (Cobh), Ireland; Dublin, Ireland; Liverpool, England; Belfast, Northern Ireland; Glasgow (Greenock), Scotland (overnight); Iverness/Loch Ness, Scotland; Harwich, England
10-Night Norwegian Fjord Cruise	Aug 16	Harwich, England; Oslo, Norway; Stavanger, Norway; Flam, Norway; Alesund, Norway; Geiranger, Norway; Olden, Norway; Bergen, Norway; Harwich, England
11-Night British Isles Cruise	Aug 26	Harwich, England; Paris/Normandy (Le Havre), France; St. Peter Port, Channel Islands, Waterfront (Dunmore East), Ireland; Dublin, Ireland; Liverpool, England; Glasgow (Greenock), Scotland; Iverness/Loch Ness, Scotland; Harwich, England
12-Immersive Wine Cruise	Sep 06, 18, 30; Oct 12	Harwich, England; Paris/Normandy (Le Havre), France (overnight); Bordeaux (Le Verdon), France (overnight); Bilbao, Spain (overnight); Vigo, Spain; Porto, Portugal; Harwich, England
14-Night Westbound Transatlantic Cruise	Oct 24	Harwich, England; La Rochelle, France; Gijon, Spain; Vigo, Spain; Lisbon, Portugal; Nassau, Bahamas; Miami, Florida

Celebrity Eclipse – named "Best from the UK" in Cruise Critic's Cruisers' Choice Awards (UK), and the first ship to debut the hip Celebrity iLounge and the eclectic Qsine specialty restaurant – will continue to offer a mix of distinct 14-night Mediterranean, Scandinavia/Russia, Iceland/Norwegian Fjords and Canary Islands/Azores holidays roundtrip from Southampton.

Celebrity Eclipse^®

DESCRIPTION	SAIL DATE(S) 2013	ITINERARY
13-Night Eastbound Transatlantic Cruise	Apr 20	Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Nassau, Bahamas; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Southampton, England
8-Night Norwegian Fjord Cruise	May 03	Southampton, England; Molde, Norway; Alesund, Norway; Flam, Norway; Bergen, Norway; Stavanger, Norway; Southampton, England
14-Night Mediterranean Cruise	May 11	Southampton, England; Malaga, Spain; Provence (Toulon), France; Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Italy; Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy; Nice (Villefranche), France; Gibraltar, United Kingdom; Lisbon, Portugal; Southampton, England
14-Night Scandinavia & Russia Cruise	May 25; Jun 08,22; Jul 20; Aug 17	Southampton, England; Bruges (Zeebrugge), Belgium; Berlin (Warnemunde), Germany; Stockholm, Sweden; Helsinki, Finland; St. Petersburg, Russia (overnight); Tallinn, Estonia; Copenhagen, Denmark; Southampton, England
14-Night Iceland & Fjord Cruise	Jul 06	Southampton, England; Reykjavik, Iceland (overnight); Akureyri, Iceland; Klaksvik, Faroe Islands; Geiranger, Norway; Flam, Norway; Stavanger, Norway; Kristiansand, Norway; Southampton, England
14-Night Iceland & Fjord Cruise	Aug 03	Southampton, England; Reykjavik, Iceland (overnight); Akureyri, Iceland; Klaksvik, Faroe Islands; Geiranger, Norway; Alesund, Norway; Olden, Norway; Stavanger, Norway; Southampton, England
8-Night Norwegian Fjord Cruise	Aug 31	Southampton, England; Bergen, Norway; Flam, Norway; Geiranger, Norway; Alesund, Norway; Stavanger, Norway; Southampton, England
14-Night Mediterranean Cruise	Sep 08, 22	Southampton, England; Malaga, Spain; Nice (Villefranche), France; Rome, (Civitavecchia), Italy; Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Italy; Genoa, Italy; Gibraltar, United Kingdom; Lisbon, Portugal; Southampton, England
14-Night Canaries & Azores Cruise	Oct 06, 20	Southampton, England; Ponta Delgada, Azores; Madeira (Funchal), Portugal; Tenerife, Canary Islands; Gran Canaria, Canary Islands; Fuerteventura, Canary Islands; Lanzarote, Canary Islands; Lisbon, P ortugal; Southampton, England
13-Night Westbound Transatlantic Cruise	Nov 03	Southampton, England; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; Nassau, Bahamas; Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Royal Caribbean 2012 Oslo Norway

Oslo is the oldest of the Scandinavian capital cities with a varied collection of cultural attractions and natural wonders. Situated at the head of a 60-mile fjord on the southern coast, Oslo is beautifully framed by a vast expense of woods, moors and lakes. Today, Norway's capital is a blend of 19th and 20th-century architectural styles. Woodcarvings and colorful frescoes decorate the city's buildings, and the parks and public squares are resplendent with unique works of sculpture.

2012 – Summer Europe & Transatlantic Sailings 


 VISION of the SEAS®

Ship Profile | Itineraries & Pricing | Deck Plans   Dining Menus | Wine Lists | Kids Programs | Ship Reviews | 360 Tours | Photos

On April 16, 2012, the VISION of the SEAS® sets sail on a 13- Night Eastbound Transatlantic from Sao Paolo, Brazil to Lisbon, Portugal.  Following that cruise, a special 8-Night Repositioning voyage brings the ship to its Summer 2012 homeport in Oslo, Norway.  The season will end with several short cruises in the Baltic region.

5-Night Amsterdam & Brugges

Oslo, Norway • Cruising • Bruges (Zeebrugge), Belgium
Amsterdam, Netherlands • Cruising • Oslo, Norway

9-Night British Isles

Oslo, Norway • Cruising • Paris / Normandy (Le Havre), France
Cherbourg, France • Dublin, Ireland • Liverpool, England • Cruising
Edinburgh (S. Queensferry), Scotland • Cruising • Oslo, Norway

6-Night Norwegian Fjord

Oslo, Norway • Arhus, Denmark • Cruising
Bergen, Norway • Geiranger, Norway • Cruising • Oslo, Norway

7-Night Scandinavia Russia

Oslo, Norway • Cruising • Cruising
St. Petersburg, Russia • Tallinn, Estonia • Cruising
Copenhagen, Denmark • Oslo, Norway

5-Night Repositioning

Oslo, Norway • Copenhagen, Denmark
Berlin (Warnemunde), Germany • Cruising
Visby, Sweden • Stockholm, Sweden

4-Night Short – St. Petersburg

Stockholm, Sweden • Tallinn, Estonia
St. Petersburg, Russia • Cruising • Stockholm, Sweden

5- Night Short – St. Petersburg

Stockholm, Sweden • Helsinki, Finland
St. Petersburg, Russia • St. Petersburg, Russia
Cruising • Stockholm, Sweden

Royal Caribbean 2012 Harwich England

An international port located on the estuary of the rivers Stour and Orwell in northeast Essex, Harwich is one of England's busiest coastal towns. It's also just 69 miles from London. Throughout history, the town has been a crucial port, providing a sheltered anchorage for many ships. The old town of Harwich is a conservation area, where you'll discover many historic buildings. The neighboring town of Dovercourt is a bit more modern, but equally quaint and fascinating to explore.

2012 – Summer Europe & Transatlantic Sailings 


 JEWEL of the SEAS®

Ship Profile | Itineraries & Pricing   Deck Plans | Dining Menus | Wine Lists | Kids Programs | Ship Reviews | 360 Tours | Photos 

On May 3, 2012,  JEWEL of the SEAS® sails a 12-Night Eastbound Transatlantic from Miami, Florida to Harwich, England which will serve as its home port for the Summer 2012 season.   On August 31, 2012, the ship will sail a 16-Night Westbound Transatlantic from Harwich to Boston, Massachusetts.

12-Night Scandinavia and Russia

Harwich, England • Cruising Gothenburg, Sweden • Cruising • Tallinn, Estonia
St. Petersburg, Russia (overnight) • Helsinki, Finland • Stockholm, Sweden • Cruising
Copenhagen, Denmark • Cruising Harwich, England

12-Night Fjords and Iceland

Harwich, England • Cruising • Bergen, Norway • Flam, Norway • Geiranger, Norway
Lerwick/Shetland, Scotland • Klaksvik, Faroe Islands • Cruising
Reykjavik, Iceland (overnight) • Cruising • Harwich, England

2012 EUROPE CRUISETOUR DEPLOYMENT

 Get a local's view of the great cities and sights of Europe, as well as its hidden treasures. 

16-Night Paris & London Cruisetour #6EB

Featuring an 12-Night Scandinavia & Russia Cruise
& 4-Night Pre-cruise Escorted Paris & London Land Tour

May 11, 23; June 4, 28; July 10, 22; August 3, 15; 2012

Day 1: Paris
Day 2: Paris
Day 3: Paris/London
Day 4: London
Day 5: London/Harwich
Days 5-17: Jewel of the Seas®
12-Night Scandinavia & Russia Cruise

16-Night Paris & London Cruisetour #6EB

Featuring an 12-Night Fjords & Iceland Cruise
& 4-Night Pre-cruise Escorted Paris & London Land Tour

May 11, 23; June 4, 28; July 10, 22; August 3, 15; 2012

Day 1: Paris
Day 2: Paris
Day 3: Paris/London
Day 4: London
Day 5: London/Harwich
Days 5-17: Jewel of the Seas®
12-Night Fjords & Iceland Cruise

Princess Scandinavia - Russia - Norway 2012

Norwegian Fjords

Scandinavia, Russia & Norway cruises


From the glorious spires of St. Petersburg and the idyllic waterfront of Stockholm to the fjords of the Norwegian coast, Princess Cruises can show you all the inspiring sights of this breathtaking region on a wide selection of enticing cruise vacation options.

• See the best of the region on a Scandinavia & Russia cruise and longer sailings that reach the remote lands of North Cape.
• 7-day Interlude Cruises on large and small ships that visit the stunning coast of Norway or Scandinavia
• 2-Day Experiences in regal St. Petersburg to see all the palaces, museums and the city by night.
• Imperial Europe cruisetours pairing a 11-day cruise with visits to the cities of Berlin, Budapest, Vienna, and Prague.

If you are interested in this article, also see: 

Princess Cruises 2012-13 Europe Deployment 

Princess Mediterranean - Greek Isles - Holy Land 2012
Princess British Isles - Iceland - Canary Islands 2012

Itinerary	Itinerary Highlights†	Ship	2012 Dates
Norwegian Fjords Interlude	7 Nights London (Southampton or Dover), Stavanger, Olden/Nordfjord, Bergen, Hellesylt (drop-off for Geiranger Fjord Shore Excursion), Scenic cruising of Geiranger Fjord, Geiranger, London (Southampton or Dover)	Grand Ocean	Jul 21 Aug 10
Scandinavia	7 Nights London (Southampton), Brussels/Bruges (Zeebrugge), Copenhagen, Helsingborg, Oslo, London (Southampton)	Grand Caribbean	Jun 2; Aug 25 Jul 1
Scandinavia & Russia	11 Nights Copenhagen, Oslo, Aarhus, Berlin (Warnemünde), Tallinn, 2-day St. Petersburg Experience (includes 2 full days & overnight), Helsinki, Stockholm, Copenhagen	Emerald	May 12, 23; Jun 3, 14, 25; Jul 6, 17, 28; Aug 8, 19, 30
North Cape & Norwegian Fjords	12 Nights London (Southampton), Bergen, Hellesylt (drop-off for Geiranger Fjord Shore Excursion), Scenic cruising of Geiranger Fjord, Geiranger, Honningsvåg (for North Cape), Tromsø, Lofoten Islands (Gravdal), Flåm/Sognefjord, Stavanger, London (Southampton)	Caribbean	Jun 19
Scandinavia & Russia Collection	14 Nights London (Dover), Copenhagen, Klaipeda, Riga, Tallinn, 2-day St. Petersburg Experience (includes 2 full days & overnight), Helsinki, Stockholm, Kiel Canal Transit, Amsterdam, London (Dover)	Ocean	Jun 3; Jul 3
Baltic Heritage	14 Nights London (Southampton), Rotterdam (for Amsterdam), Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki, 2-day St. Petersburg Experience (includes 2 full days & overnight), Tallinn, Gdansk (Gdynia), Oslo, London (Southampton)	Grand	Jul 7
Spitsbergen & North Cape	14 Nights London (Southampton), Stavanger, Lofoten Islands (Gravdal), Longyearbyen (Spitsbergen), Honningsvåg (for North Cape), Tromsø, Hellysylt (drop-off for Geiranger Fjord Shore Excursion), Scenic cruising of Geiranger Fjord, Geiranger, Bergen, London (Southampton)	Grand	Jun 23
Land of the Midnight Sun	16 Nights London (Dover), Bergen, Hellesylt (drop-off for Geiranger Fjord Shore Excursion), Scenic cruising of Geiranger Fjord, Geiranger, Tromsø, Magdalenafjord scenic cruising (Spitsbergen), Ny Ålesund (Spitsbergen), Murmansk (Russia), Honningsvåg (for North Cape), Flåm/Sognefjord, London (Dover)	Ocean	Jun 17; Jul 17
Scandinavia & Russia Grand Adventure	27 Nights Ft. Lauderdale, Azores Islands (Ponta Delgada), Cork (Cobh – for Blarney Castle), Cornwall (Falmouth), Paris/Normandy (Le Havre), London (Dover), Rotterdam (for Amsterdam), Oslo, Copenhagen, Oslo, Aarhus, Berlin (Warnemünde), Tallinn, 2-day St. Petersburg Experience (includes 2 full days & overnight), Helsinki, Stockholm, Copenhagen	Emerald	Apr 26
Northern Europe Grand Adventure®	27 Nights Copenhagen, Oslo, Aarhus, Berlin (Warnemünde), Tallinn, 2-day St. Petersburg Experience (includes 2 full days & overnight), Helsinki, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Oslo, Kristiansand, Glasgow/Edinburgh (Greenock), Dublin, Belfast, Reykjavik, Qaqortoq (Greenland), New York (Brooklyn)	Emerald	Aug 30

†Port order and content for all itineraries may vary.

Cruise Lines Return to Europe in 2011

Cruise To Europe in 2011

In 2009 the cruise lines were over-deployed in Europe, and as the economy took a turn for the worse, they were forced to re-deploy ships to other destinations.  Cruise lines have begun announcing their deployments for Summer 2011, and once again they are including Europe in their schedules.

Passengers wishing to visit Europe in 2011 will find a wide selection of itineraries and ships traveling to the most popular destinations including Northern Europe, Scandinavia and Russia, the Mediterranean, and the Norwegian Fjords.  Another popular choice is Transatlantic cruises for passengers wishing to only have one long flight between the states and Europe.  Learn more about European destinations.

Since the demand for cruising in Europe is now at an all time high, many of the cruise lines will be offering the most ships and itinerary choices than any time in the past.  Disney Cruise Line is even entering the market with 10 and 11-night Mediterranean cruises.   We will take a closer look at the Europe choices in other columns.   Search past columns for information about our visits to European destinations.

Despite the additional capacity in Europe, it is still wise to plan well in advance for your European escape.  The best cabins and popular destinations will sell out fast.   The most popular cruises will be those that feature overnight stays in various ports of call, such as Copenhagen and St. Petersburg, Russia.

Europe is a family destination and planning for the trip can be a family project.  You will want to plan your daily itinerary in  advance so that you will be able to take full advantage of your time in port.   A cruise specialist can assist you in the planning;  take advantage of their expertise.

Traveling to Europe is a great way to take the classroom learning experience to a much higher level.   Instead of reading about the great battlefields of the past, imagine walking on the same hollowed ground where battles raged.   Let the pages of the history books come to life for you and your family as you explore the historical locations using your comfortable cabin accommodations as your base of operations.

 

   

February Celebrity Cruise Offer

February Cruise Offer

In past articles, we've talked about the various destinations that Celebrity Cruises sail to. These include Europe (featuring the Mediterranean, Scandinavia, and Russia), Alaska, Canada & New England, Bahamas, Bermuda, and the Caribbean. I think you'll agree that these are among the most sought-after cruise destinations.

You've also heard about the Solstice-class ships as well as the Millennium-class ships that bring innovation and comfort to you from the moment you walk onboard and are greeted by the friendly Celebrity staff. For those that like a little smaller ship, Mercury and Century would be among your choices in the Celebrity fleet.

For this month only, we have arranged additional savings onboard select Celebrity cruises to introduce you to the cruise line that is Designed for You SM.

Receive Up to $100 in Onboard Credit
7-10 Night Itineraries -$50 Onboard Credit
11+ Night Itineraries - $100 Onboard Credit
(Ocean View and higher staterooms/ per cabin)

Click the following link for complete details:
Up to $100 in Onboard Credit

Booking Window: February 1 – February 28, 2010

Best cabin selections are available to those that plan early, so I suggest that you review the itineraries that are featured in this month's sale and place your deposit to lock in this deal.

Where in the World Does Celebrity Cruise - Vol. 5

The Baltic & Europe

Our next destination in our series on Where in the World does Celebrity Cruise in 2010/2011 is the Baltic and other European destinations, such as the Norwegian Fjords and Arctic Circle. You don't have to worry if you can't spare seven days or more. Celebrity has short cruises to Europe to accomodate your busy schedule!

Celebrity Cruises has two ships in this part of Europe in 2010, including the brand new Celebrity Eclipse. Your ship becomes your base of operations for exploring several European cities. You can marvel at the scenery in Norway or at the architectue in St. Petersburg, Russia. Visit the land of your ancestors and become enriched by the experience.

Celebrity Constellation®

7 Night Norwegian Fjords Cruise
05/09/10

Amsterdam, Holland • Oslo, Norway • Stavanger, Norway • Alesund, Norway • Bergen, Norway • Amsterdam, Holland

12 Night Scandinavia & Russia Cruise
05/16; 05/28; 06/09; 07/03; 07/15; 07/27; 8/22/09

Amsterdam, Holland • Berlin (Warnemunde), Germany • Stockholm, Sweden • Helsinki, Finland • St. Petersburg, Russia • St. Petersburg, Russia • Tallinn, Estonia • Copenhagen, Denmark • Amsterdam, Holland

12 Night Arctic Circle Cruise
06/21/10

Amsterdam, Holland • Alesund, Norway • Arctic Circle • Tromso, Norway • Honningsvag, Norway • Molde, Norway • Geiranger, Norway • Olden, Norway • Bergen, Norway • Amsterdam, Holland

8 Night Northern Europe & Mediterranean Cruise
09/03/10

Amsterdam, Holland • Brussels, Belgium • Cherbourg, France • Vigo, Spain • Lisbon, Portugal • Gibraltar, United Kingdom • Barcelona, Spain

Celebrity Eclipse SM

4 Night Cork Short Break Cruise
04/29; 05/03/10

Southampton, England • Cork, Ireland • Cork, Ireland • Southampton, England

14 Night Scandinavia & Russia Cruise
05/07/10

Southampton, England • Brussels, Belgium • Berlin (Warnemunde), Germany • Stockholm, Sweden • Helsinki, Finland • St. Petersburg, Russia • St.Petersburg, Russia • Tallinn, Estonia • Copenhagen,Denmark • Copenhagen, Denmark • Southampton, England

06/12/10

Southampton, England • Brussels, Belgium • Berlin (Warnemunde), Germany • Stockholm, Sweden • Tallinn, Estonia • St. Petersburg, Russia • St. Petersburg, Russia • Helsinki, Finland • Copenhagen, Denmark • Copenhagen, Denmark • Southampton, England

06/26/10

Southampton, England • Brussels, Belgium • Berlin (Warnemunde), Germany • Stockholm, Sweden • Helsinki, Finland • St. Petersburg, Russia • St. Petersburg, Russia • Tallinn, Estonia • Copenhagen, Denmark • Copenhagen, Denmark • Southampton, England

07/10/10

Southampton, England • Brussels, Belgium • Berlin (Warnemunde), Germany • Stockholm, Sweden • Helsinki, Finland • St. Petersburg, Russia • St. Petersburg, Russia • Tallinn, Estonia • Amsterdam (Rotterdam), Holland • Southampton, England

Let me help plan YOUR Baltic or Europe Cruise Vacation on Celebrity Cruises

Itineraries:

Celebrity Eclipse and Celebrity Constellation

EXCITING DEALS for Tuesday, March 31, 2009

It's hard to believe that one quarter of 2009 is over. There have been many exciting deals all month long. I hope that you have been able to take advantage of them.

If not, it's not too late - here is your final chance.

Some of the EXCITING DEALS for Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Celebrity Cruises 1-Day Sale - New Bookings Only

7-Night Caribbean - Celebrity Solstice
starting from $949*Concierge Class

12-Night Scandinavia/Russia - Celebrity Century
starting from $1099*Inside Stateroom

7-Night Alaska - Celebrity Infinity
starting from $1199*Concierge Class

14-Night Scandinavia/Russia - Celebrity Constellation
starting from $1499*Ocean view stateroom

For more information:
Celebrity Cruises Xceptional Offers for Tuesday, March 31st


Royal Caribberan 1-Day Sale - New Bookings Online

Select from 4, 5, or 7-night Western Caribberan sailing in April.

For more information:
Royal Caribbean Online Booking Offers for Tuesday, March 31st

Oceania and Regent Offers End Today

Princess Announces 2010 Europe Program

I've just received advance info about Princess Cruises 2010 Europe Program


For 2010, Princess® is offering more of Europe – more unique itineraries and departures than ever before!
•
Ships grand and small sailing to the Mediterranean, Greek Isles & Holy Land; Scandinavia, Russia & Norway; and the British Isles, Iceland & Greenland
•
Five new 7-day Interlude cruises on small ship Ocean Princess® with optional hotel packages in London and Rome
•
Princess signature 2-day Experiences in Europe available on five itineraries visiting Egypt, Israel or St. Petersburg, Russia
•
Returning favorites like the 12-day Grand Mediterranean, 10-day Scandinavia & Russia and 12-day British Isles cruises
•
Three cruisetours – providing an in-depth Europe land and sea vacation!

At a glance, the 2010 Europe Program includes:
• 39 Unique Itineraries (9 New)
• 96 Departures• 130 Ports (11 New for the Season)
• 6 Ships

I am now accepting advance reservations for sailings to Europe in 2010. Whether you are planning a get-away for two of you or a large group, now is the time to contact me to secure space on one of these fantastic itineraries. Bring your entire family for an experience of a lifetime in Europe. Bookings will open April 9th, so don't delay.

Fans of my Facebook page will get some additional insider information, so be sure to become a fan today.

Why Not Europe 2010

Why Not Cruise to Europe in 2010

If you watch television at all, you've probably seen the commercials for Royal Caribbean International Cruise Line (RCCL). They have branded themselves "The Nation of Why Not" in their current ad campaigns.

They are featuring many of the activities that can be done on the Freedom Class ships in their fleet (Freedom of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, and Independence of the Seas).

As of March 12th, you can book your 2010-2011 Europe cruise and cruisetours. Once again, RCCL will have several ships in Europe next year. In fact, they will have 8 ships in Europe to serve that market.

Adventure of the Seas starts off with a 13-night Transatlantic cruise and then does 4 - 7 night Western Mediterranean cruises and ends with 5-night Canary Island cruises.

Brilliance of the Seas will do 12-night cruises to Mediterranean Greek Isles, Mediterranean Venice, and Egypt & Eastern Mediterranean.

Independence of the Seas, the largest ship sailing in Europe, starts with a 14-night Transatlantic cruise and then does 10-night Canary Islands, 4-night Cork Short Break, 3-night Paris Short Break, 14-night Italian Mediterranean, and finally 14-night Mediterranean Treasures.

Jewel of the Seas starts with a 13-night Eastbound Transatlantic cruise and does 12-night Scandinavia and Russia cruise, and ends with a 14-night Westbound Transatlantic cruise.

Navigator of the Seas starts with a 14-night Transatlantic cruise followed by 12-night Eastern Med & Egypt, 7-night Eastern Mediterranean, 7-night Western Mediterranean, and ends with a 14-night Westbound Transatlantic cruise.

Splendour of the Seas starts with a 14-night Eastbound Transatlantic then continues with 6, 7, and 8-night Greek Isles (some include Turkey), and 7-night Mediterranean cruises.

Vision of the Seas features 13-night Northern Europe & Med, 12-night Holy Land, and 9-night Mediterranean cruises.

Voyager of the Seas starts and ends with 14-night Transatlantic cruises and features 7-night Mediterranean cruises throughout the season.

All Royal Caribbean ships have plenty of onboard activities to keep you entertained on the sea days. The largest of the ships sailing in Europe, the Independence of the Seas, has a FlowRider Wave Simulator, Ice Skating Rink, H2O Zone Family Water Park, Boxing Ring, Rock Climbing Wall and more.

Whether you are looking for short or long cruises, big or small ships, Mediterranean to Transtlantic, one or more of these cruises should meet your criteria. So, I ask you, Why Not start planning your European get-away for next year right now? I'd be happy to provide you with more information and help you plan your cruise / cruisetour.

Private Tour to Berlin

One of the ports we visited on our 14 Night Scandinavia / Russia Cruise on Celebrity Constellation was Warnemunde, Germany. We booked a private tour with Berlin Sightseeing with three other people from our Cruise Critic group. Our plans originally included taking the Celebrity "Berlin - a 20th Century Experience" tour with a train to Berlin and sightseeing once we arrived there. We had also considered doing this on our own, but due to the construction port advisory, we decided to take an organized tour.

When we arrived in Warnemunde, it began to rain. Around 7:30 AM. our driver met us by the exit of the port terminal. We got into the Merecdes van without getting wet. Off we went on our 2.5 hour ride to Berlin. We met our guide, Klaus, next to the Charlottenburg Palace at 10 AM.
which you can see in this photo. For more photos, see this album. After a photo stop, we were on our way to the Olympic Stadium , one of the sights of the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

As you can see from this photo, taken from the tower which provides this aerial view, there was lots of activity as preparation was being made for the games to begin. Click here for more Olympic Statdium photos.

Other sites that we visited included Brandenburg Gate , Checkpoint Charlie , Berlin Cathedral and Museum Island . Read Berlin Tour Description for more details about our Berlin tour. We had free time in Berlin and went to KaDeWe (Kaufhaus des Westens) Department Store where we had a fantistic meal in the food court.


The entire town was tranformed for the World Cup. Notice the large soccer ball in front of Brandenburg Gate for example.

No trip to Berlin would be complete with the stops we made at Checkpoint Charlie and the Berlin Wall. Just like during our Normandy trip, our tour to Berlin brought history to life.

I've often heard people debate about going to Berlin from cruise ports such as Warnemunde or Rostock. I believe it was worth the 2.5 hour drive from port to Berlin proper. The choice of how to get to Berlin is yours. I would recommend checking things like construction before you make a decision about venturing out on your own. We had plenty of time between the end of our tour and the actual departure from port at 9:30 PM, so we were comfortable taking a private tour.

If you are worried about missing the ship, then I'd advise taking one of the ship's tours instead. But no matter which way you go, I do believe you should include Berlin in your itinerary if your plans take you to this area of Germany.

For more pictures from Germany and the rest of this cruise, see our Photo Album page.