Times have changed since Christopher Columbus knew the best routes to distant worlds. Today, the only way to travel is aboard the cruise line. And you can take your choice of cruises in Europe from 10 to 18 days; enjoy overnight stays in legendary ports like Venice, Istanbul, Barcelona, visit as many as six different countries and experience more in two weeks than most people do in a lifetime. Cruising is a really easy way to visit interesting places along Europe's coasts and waterways. Once you've boarded the ship and unpacked, your transportation, hotel, and dining needs are taken care of until the end of the cruise.
Experience Europe with Grand Princess. Explore Venice, Athens, Rome and more on amazing cruises in Europe. Grand Mediterranean cruises onboard the luxurious Grand Princess capture the heart of the idyllic region, with its sun-drenched beaches and renowned art centers. Grand Princess boasts more than 700 balconies, four swimming pools, a nine-hole putting course, Lotus Spa, wedding chapel and Las Vegas-style casino. The amenities are plentiful onboard the flagship of the Princess fleet, but the real adventure begins when you pull into port. Rome, Naples and Florence are glorious examples of the scenic beauty of Europe.
The Northern Europe cruise region stretches from the British Isles through Scandinavia, and all the way to St. Petersburg, Russia. Amazing historical and cultural sites await passengers, and shore excursions typically visit museums, palaces, castles and cathedrals. The Northern Europe cruise season is very short due to the cooler climate, with fewer ships sailing here. The regular per-diem rate is high compared to most other regions of the world, though some excellent discounts for these cruises in Europe are frequently available.
Royal Caribbean International is an American cruise line that serves the mass market with affordable cruises on mega-ships that carry 1,800 to 2,500 passengers each. In 2006, Royal Caribbean is cruising in Europe from spring through fall, with itineraries that range from 4 to 14 days. Most cruises depart from Barcelona, Spain or the English ports of Harwich and Southampton, with a few leaving from Venice or Istanbul. Celebrity Cruises is a "premium" sister to Royal Caribbean International, with a target audience of adults from ages 35 to 60.
In 2006, Celebrity's cruises in Europe range from 2- and 3-night "short breaks" from Dover to voyages of up to 14 nights in the Baltic and Mediterranean. Ships include the 2,034-passenger Constellation, the 2,032-passenger Millennium, the 1,896-passenger Galaxy, and the 1,770-passenger Century. Families are welcome on most Celebrity cruises, and each ship has a staff of youth counselors to supervise kids from ages 3 to 17.
Crystal Cruises fits into the "large-ship luxury line" niche, although the line's two vessels are considerably smaller than the mega-ships. The line consistently ranks high in reader polls and media ratings. Crystal offers luxury cruises in Europe from May through early November. Voyages are in the Mediterranean, the Baltic, and Western Europe.
So which part of Europe is calling you?