"Not so hectic" European cruises?

[elycelynne]

I've just been glancing at some European itineraries and, while knowing they were going to be port intensive, I had no idea to what degree that would be true! Such as 1 or 2 "sea" (or whatever equivalent body of water) days for 10-14 day cruises? And some had not many more for 3-4 week itineraries.

 

I was wondering, aside from transatlantics, do any of the mass market cruise lines offer any slightly less hectic itineraries?

[ab0si]

You can always make the trip less hectic. No one forces you to get off at every port. So, occasionally stay on board and relax.

[Mary Ellen]

You can always make the trip less hectic. No one forces you to get off at every port. So, occasionally stay on board and relax.

LOL - That was my exact thought. We have lovely days on board while almost everyone else is in port. We aren't the only ones who don't always go ashore.

[luvs2travl]

Same thoughts here! You can always choose to stay on board. We have been to Aruba so many times on our Caribbean cruises that we don't even get off the ship any more. Same with Cozumel and Acapulco...

 

We love sea days and tend to choose cruises that have several of them. But if you have a cruise that is port intensive, I would think that would be why you selected that particular itinerary. That is why most people choose a European cruise - becasue the ships are able to visit so many ports.

 

For a relaxing European cruise - the only suggestion I would have is to try a trans-Atlantic. Lots of sea days there and you would still have loads of ports to visit.

[paul929207]

There are some cruises from London to the western Med. They often have a couple of sea days in each direction

[BaumD]

When people go to the Caribbean, many say "Same s***; different island" as many of the islands are very similar. When people go to Europe, they want to see as many different places as possible, that's why the cruiselines have few sea days.

[euro cruiser]

I suspect that market research has told the cruise lines that the majority of consumers (Americans, largely) equate value with amount of ground covered, therefore the port intensive itineraries. It's the water version of the 1960's movie "If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium" (and even they only did seven countries in 18 days).

[luvs2travl]

I suspect that market research has told the cruise lines that the majority of consumers (Americans, largely) equate value with amount of ground covered, therefore the port intensive itineraries. It's the water version of the 1960's movie "If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium" (and even they only did seven countries in 18 days).

 

I remember that movie! Now - we are living it! :D

[Keith1010]

As others have said you can pace yourself.

 

Other than that is to find a crossing cruise that includes some stops in ports.

 

Keith

[cruisemom42]

Others have already pointed out the reasons why these cruises tend to be so port intensive.

 

A couple of suggestions:

 

Look at cruises on MSC or Costa -- they tend to have shorter port times, forcing (?) you to choose to do only one or two things ashore rather than try to cram 5 things into a 10-hour port day.

 

Look for cruises where the destinations are close to the ports -- for example, Greek isles (where you can just explore on your own in a more leisurely way) versus ports with a long commute to what you want to see (Rome, Paris, Florence, etc.)

[kitty9]

elycelynne, unfortunately, that's the way it is for Med cruises. Everyone seems to want to see everything possible when they take a Med cruise, because for many, it's a one time, trip of a lifetime, cruise. I know you may not be interested, but Crystal does seem to have more sea days than any other line. The mass markets will have very port intensive cruises because that's what a vast majority of passengers demand.

 

You could go with a 7 day itinerary, but for me that defeats the purpose of going all the way to Europe. It's just too short a time after the long flight.

[uppitycats]

The other issue that no one has mentioned is that European cruises cover a relatively small geographic area -- it doesn't take very long to get from port to port! Other than simply "parking" out in the middle of the river, where do you expect the ship to be? There isn't much room for "sea days"...or river days in most of the area where cruise ships travel!

 

Like several others said, we just stay on the ship at some ports.

[Keith1010]

While I think it is important to pace this trip and not run around on a full schedule, I would not recommend staying on the ship in port unless you have been there many times before. For a first time cruiser of the Med I would explore each and every port. Just do it without running around at 100+ MPH.

 

Keith

[Garyorient]

I am on b2b on Adventure of the Seas in November 2 x 5 night cruise

 

Stops

Corsica/Provence/Malaga/Tenerife/Madeira

Plenty of seaa time and very relaxing.

 

Cruise for 10-14 nights and you will get more evenly paced cruises.

[hal2000]

The other issue that no one has mentioned is that European cruises cover a relatively small geographic area -- it doesn't take very long to get from port to port!

 

That makes sense -- when we looked at cruises for this fall we were only looking at ones that included Egypt, and so that added a few sea days. The one we're taking in October has 4 sea days on a 12-day cruise, and they're spread out nicely so that there are no more than 3 port days in a row.

[ovccruiser]

European cruises are the same as Caribbean cruises, the number of port days you have is dependant on the originating port. New York to Caribbean usually 2 days there 2 days back in a 10 day cruise 6 ports of call. Ft Lauderdale one day each way in a 10 day cruise 8 ports of call. Start in the Caribbean and that can be very inrensive. In Europe, start at a UK port and it is usually a day at sea into the Med, a day at sea upto the Norwegian Fjords or Baltics. Star you cruise in Venice and the cruise in very port intensive. The other major factor with European cruises is there is so much to see and do in each port, Rome is probably the ultimate. I have been there twice, did the same trip and didn't even scratch the surface, how can you see the Vatican museum in a day? At 5 seconds per item, I think they estimate 2 weeks just to walk around there. Europe also tends to be much more site seeing than beach type holiday so time seems to be much tighter maybe.

[Grannycb]

Our first cruise in Europe we ran ourselves into the ground. Second time to Europe we did only half day tours. That was wonderful. The ship was so nice and quiet while everyone was off exploring. We've done several others with shorter excursions mixed with longer ones. On our next cruise, we are staying on the ship at ports we've visited several times. Those will be our 'sea days'.

[jsummerton]

I'm taking a mediterranean cruise in Europe on the Jade. It's a 12 day trip with 5 sea days broken out so you have no more than 2 port days in a row. I thought that worked out pretty well.

[FUN33]

If you find one let us all know. Every time we take a European cruise we arrive home feeling like we need a vacation!!!!

 

There is just so much to see they really keep you moving. Just the opposite of the Caribbean where every island is the same and you can just relax.

[uppitycats]

If you find one let us all know. Every time we take a European cruise we arrive home feeling like we need a vacation!!!!

 

There is just so much to see they really keep you moving. Just the opposite of the Caribbean where every island is the same and you can just relax.

 

No, "they don't keep you moving." YOU can choose to go..or not go...on excursions. YOU can decide whether you just want to go off on your own, or stay aboard, or a combination thereof. You're not compelled to leave the ship at any time...except at the end of your cruise!

[chipmaster]

As others have suggested what you do any given day is totally up to you.

 

Just be aware that on port days ship sponsored activities like entertainment, kids clubs, food, spa , casino, will be very different than on sea days. Sometimes that is a good thing as spas often are running good prices, but many other things are greatly reduced.

 

If you are looking for a relaxing vacation and little interest in some of the ports are you planning correctly. Seems a pity that you would fly to Europe, spend lots of $ and then not lineup the best set of ports with things you want. Almost better to do a land base to hit the cities you want in depth then tack on an additional beach stop/vacation to get a vacation on your vacation. I agree if you take this strategy 80% of your vacation, the port days will be exhausting and you'll look back and realize you had little time to enjoy the boat, but in reflection of our last Med cruise I wouldn't have done it any other way.

 

Happy planning

 

I've just been glancing at some European itineraries and, while knowing they were going to be port intensive, I had no idea to what degree that would be true! Such as 1 or 2 "sea" (or whatever equivalent body of water) days for 10-14 day cruises? And some had not many more for 3-4 week itineraries.

 

I was wondering, aside from transatlantics, do any of the mass market cruise lines offer any slightly less hectic itineraries?

[elycelynne]

As others have suggested what you do any given day is totally up to you.

 

Just be aware that on port days ship sponsored activities like entertainment, kids clubs, food, spa , casino, will be very different than on sea days. Sometimes that is a good thing as spas often are running good prices, but many other things are greatly reduced.

 

If you are looking for a relaxing vacation and little interest in some of the ports are you planning correctly. Seems a pity that you would fly to Europe, spend lots of $ and then not lineup the best set of ports with things you want. Almost better to do a land base to hit the cities you want in depth then tack on an additional beach stop/vacation to get a vacation on your vacation. I agree if you take this strategy 80% of your vacation, the port days will be exhausting and you'll look back and realize you had little time to enjoy the boat, but in reflection of our last Med cruise I wouldn't have done it any other way.

 

Happy planning

 

Right now I was just looking around and not planning anything serious. I know about the relaxing cruises -- I'm doing a Caribbean in December. I wouldn't be looking to TOTALLY relax in Europe (because really, what would be the point?), but I was just curious about finding itineraries that had one or two more sea days to catch my breath in a 2-3 week itinerary, just so everything wasn't in such rapid succession. I know that how much I see would be totally up to me, but I really wouldn't want to cruise Europe and miss a lot of the planned ports on a given cruise.

[FUN33]

No, "they don't keep you moving." YOU can choose to go..or not go...on excursions. YOU can decide whether you just want to go off on your own, or stay aboard, or a combination thereof. You're not compelled to leave the ship at any time...except at the end of your cruise!

 

Can't imagine why anyone would take a cruise to Europe just to stay aboard the ship; oh well, to each his own!!! We travel to Europe to see marvelous venues in every country. If you just want to stay on a ship, go to the Caribbean and stay on the same ship for a fraction of a European cruise.

[uppitycats]

Can't imagine why anyone would take a cruise to Europe just to stay aboard the ship; oh well, to each his own!!! We travel to Europe to see marvelous venues in every country. If you just want to stay on a ship, go to the Caribbean and stay on the same ship for a fraction of a European cruise.

 

No, you misunderstand. The issue is whether you HAVE to get off the ship, and HAVE to go on EVERY excursion offered, and why European cruises have so many "port days". I'd get off the shp whenever I could, and see as much as I could, as I did on my last cruise up the Norwegian coast (not always easy as I use a wheelchair). But you don't HAVE to do it, if you don't want to!