(Above) Oceania Vista in Santorini
It’s that time of year again where Aussies cash-in their annual leave and fly eleventy-hundred hours to post on their Instagram that most enviable hashtag, #eurosummer.
But what if I told you that you were doing this annual pilgrimage to the sun-drenched beaches of Croatia all wrong?
The biggest mistake most Australian travellers are making is spending all their time on land when they could be squeezing every last second of bliss by incorporating a cruise segment in their itineraries.
I might sound like a broken-down record but cruising can alleviate the worst bits of travel, most annoyingly the unpacking and re-packing and wasting time getting between cities and countries.
Look, I’m not trying to dissuade anyone from doing a land-based holiday, but I’m really trying to persuade people to consider adding a cruise, even it’s a short one. (also a great idea if the point is to get closer to the airport to catch your flight home).
Personally, I can’t speak about all European cruises on offer – there are so many options to choose from and so many brands that never reach our shores.
However, I will break it down to three quintessential types: River, Ocean and Luxury.
River cruising: Forget any pre-conceived ideas about river cruising and listen carefully: River cruising is the ultimate way to have the most locally immersive cruise experience.
You will see towns and cities that large cruise ships can’t get into and the tours are often bespoke and curated by local operators.
Cruising is slow and steady and mostly at night and many times, the entertainment on board is provided by local musicians and performers, adding a delightful and authentic experience.
The ships cater for small numbers and passengers literally step on and off in mere seconds. Oh, and the food and beverage options are top tier.
I cruised on Viking from Budapest to Regensberg and it ranks in my top 10 cruise experiences. Sailing through the Wachau Valley will forever be a fantastical fairytale moment that lives in my core memories.
There are many river cruise operators in Europe (I’d love to try them all) but Uniworld seems intriguing.
Their ships are beautifully decorated and themed. A little bird told me Uniworld has some unusual last-minute availability for this summer on many of their popular Euro itineraries. If you cruise on Uniworld, let me know all the details.
Ocean cruising: Once again, there is an absolute plethora of ships and itineraries to choose from, but the deciding factor will really be based on budget.
Ocean cruising in Europe is the easiest way to see multiple large cities, enjoy many different dining options and watch Broadway-style shows.
The nightly rate on average is much cheaper than a hotel in any city in Europe during summer and ocean cruises cater for the whole family.
This makes it a no-fuss option if you’re travelling in a big group with lots of different ages. There are lots of tours to join but the ships themselves have ample entertainment if you choose to stay on board.
I have cruised on Celestyal, MSC, Princess and Royal Caribbean in Europe and each had their standout features.
MSC is unique in that passengers can start and end their cruise at any one of the ports on the itinerary. A flexible option indeed.
What a thrill to sail Sun Princess and attend the naming ceremony (and use the best tech at sea, Princess Medalion). Royal Caribbean has all the bells and whistles that your heart desires and is fabulous for families.
Celestyal offers smaller-sized ships with authentic experiences and a lower price point – and no sea days, so you see more ports on each voyage.
In the last 12 months Celestyal has grown their core Greece and Mediterranean program through the introduction of their Heavenly itineraries, taking in Greece and the wider Adriatic region, visiting Italy, Croatia and Montenegro.
While I haven’t cruised Norwegian Cruise Line in Europe (I have only cruised their brand in Asia and Mexico), I do love all the inclusions NCL offer.
Again, another little bird revealed that there’s still time to book a last-minute NCL cruise for this Euro summer and there are more than 150 itineraries across nine ships to choose from.
My pick would be an 11-day Northern Europe adventure on Norwegian Prima from London, just because I love the ship, and I’ve never been to London.
For something a bit more luxurious, Oceania has five ships in Europe until August, including Oceania Allura, which will be debuting in July.
Their ‘Iberia to Wine Country’ itinerary sounds amazing, sailing through Spain, Morocco, Portugal and France plus overnights in Barcelona, Bordeaux and Paris. Fun fact: I still haven’t made it to France.
Luxury and small ship cruising: If you have a bigger budget, the ultimate Euro summer cruise is to sail on a super yacht.
Last year, I cruised on Emerald Azzurra from Rome to Athens and it was the most incredible cruise experience.
From the cuisine, service, destinations, inclusions and the yacht itself, it was all beyond my wildest dreams.
I felt like a super star celebrity taking the tender to Capri, knowing I’d be returning to the super sleek yacht for a spectacular dinner and cocktail in hand at sunset. I’d encourage everyone to do this at least once in their life.
Small ship cruising, such as Windstar – with their striking sails – is also a super special way to cruise Europe and discover small ports such as Nafplio with its Venetian fortresses or the medieval village of Monemvasia, a pedestrian-only village built into a cliffside.
Whichever style of cruising suits you, enjoying a Euro summer cruise should be on your bucket list.
In my opinion, you’ll not only get a ‘best of both worlds holiday’ – land and sea – but you will experience what cruising outside of Australia is like. Newer ships, international local food and wines, and exciting entertainment.
And, if you’re anything like me, hearing all the different languages on board is wonderfully captivating and scratches that part of my brain that just make me happy.
