Which European cruise and why?

[Shanti]

Which European cruise would you choose to sail on, if given the choice? Summer 2019 itineraries will come out soon, and when they do, I'll probably put money down on a European cruise. I'm not sure which one, though. Suggestions?

 

[Pens Fan]

I think that's a tough question to answer. Do you like history, great architecture, food and wine? Then you'll love the Med. Do you prefer natural beauty and scenery? Then maybe Norwegian Fjords or Iceland would be a better choice. Have you always wondered what Russia was actually like? Then the Baltic capitals cruise would be interesting.

There is also the weather factor. Can you handle the Summer Mediterranean heat (and crowds)? Will being in Norway and Iceland where it might be rainy and 50 degrees (but also could be sunny and in the 70's ) be OK?

When we sailed on Disney to Europe, for us it came down to timing. As they only have one ship in Europe if you have a specific time you are looking for, that will probably dictate where you go. We had been thinking Med, but then the year we wanted to go they only offered those itineraries beginning late July and on. That didn't work with my son's band schedule, so we went to Norway / Iceland. That turned out to be one of our top two vacations of all time, so no regrets!!! DH and I are hitting the Med / Greece in 2019, but we are going in the Fall - hopefully less crowds and heat. No son though - when they hit college age it's very hard to find the time to vacation together as a family. Enjoy it while you can!!!

 

[Shanti]

Just added a poll to the thread.

 

[Shanti]

I think that's a tough question to answer. Do you like history, great architecture, food and wine? Then you'll love the Med. Do you prefer natural beauty and scenery? Then maybe Norwegian Fjords or Iceland would be a better choice. Have you always wondered what Russia was actually like? Then the Baltic capitals cruise would be interesting.

There is also the weather factor. Can you handle the Summer Mediterranean heat (and crowds)? Will being in Norway and Iceland where it might be rainy and 50 degrees (but also could be sunny and in the 70's ) be OK?

When we sailed on Disney to Europe, for us it came down to timing. As they only have one ship in Europe if you have a specific time you are looking for, that will probably dictate where you go. We had been thinking Med, but then the year we wanted to go they only offered those itineraries beginning late July and on. That didn't work with my son's band schedule, so we went to Norway / Iceland. That turned out to be one of our top two vacations of all time, so no regrets!!! DH and I are hitting the Med / Greece in 2019, but we are going in the Fall - hopefully less crowds and heat. No son though - when they hit college age it's very hard to find the time to vacation together as a family. Enjoy it while you can!!!

I would really like to visit St. Petersberg, so a cruise that includes Russia would be very tempting. I'll keep my eyes open for that when itineraries are announced.

 

[Pens Fan]

Check out this trip report. This particular poster hasn't been around for awhile, but I always enjoyed his trip reports - tons of good information in there.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/d...key-dcl-7-22-navigators-video-photos.3421099/

 

[anricat]

For us it came down to timing. We had been to Italy before so Med wasn't at the top of our list. Historically, Norway/N. Europe was in June and then the others later in the summer. My daughter is a competitive gymnast and her meets start early August so missing practice later in the summer isn't an option. When the itineraries came out for 2018, they had flip flopped them. So Mediterranean it was! At first, we weren't sure and a little disappointed, but one of the itineraries (the Barcelona -> Rome point to point) has some unique ports of call so we booked that one. We are going to two cities we've been to before, but not with my daughter and so it's okay. I think all are winners, quite honestly.

 

[jdb in AZ]

I would really like to visit St. Petersberg, so a cruise that includes Russia would be very tempting. I'll keep my eyes open for that when itineraries are announced.

St. Petersburg is fascinating!

 

[Geomom]

We're doing the Northern European one this summer. We were looking at either Norway, Norway/Iceland, or Northern European. DD17 really wanted the Norway cruise, but the timing didn't work. DH and I were most interested in the Northern European, and the timing worked out for us with both the school schedule and using our placeholder right before it expires. I'm really interested to see St. Petersburg--and having a chance to visit without going to the trouble of getting a Visa is fantastic. I'm looking forward to seeing all the architecture, seeing castles in Copenhagen, etc. It will be a first trip to Europe for DH and I. DD17 went to Germany on a school trip last year. DH and I aren't really interested in visiting Italy, and don't really like heat...so I'm really glad the Magic is doing it in this order this year. Last year the Northern cruises were too early--kids still in school.

 

[MUN]

The Norwegain Fjords cruise is the best option, because the best way to visit Norway is from the water. I would be very picky on any Med cruise, because, the ports are frequently a long distance from the city. Rome for example.

 

[dcassetta]

Northern or Norway, for sure. I think the Med is too hot during the times of year the Disney sails there, plus the cruises are very port intensive. I am not a fan of Norwegian Cruise line, but would consider them for a Med cruise in the Haven area of the ship. You can sometimes find Haven suites, for similar prices to Disney ocean views.

 

[kuhltiffany]

Hmmm, we are trying to puzzle through the same thoughts for next summer. Any idea when Summer 2019 will be released?

 

[anricat]

The Norwegain Fjords cruise is the best option, because the best way to visit Norway is from the water. I would be very picky on any Med cruise, because, the ports are frequently a long distance from the city. Rome for example.

This is one reason we were attracted to the sailing that ends in Rome. Also, one day is just impossible for Rome. Last time we were there for three days and we still didn't see everything.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

The Norwegain Fjords cruise is the best option, because the best way to visit Norway is from the water. I would be very picky on any Med cruise, because, the ports are frequently a long distance from the city. Rome for example.

I agree with this. I think much of the Mediterranean is better seen by land tour (unless you are sailing on a boat or smaller ship in the Greek Isles). Docking in Citavecchia to see Rome or Le Spezia to visit Florence just really isn't ideal, IMHO. I'm also not a big fan of sailing into big city ports. We did back-to-back Norway/Norway/Iceland/Scotland cruises on the Magic in 2015 and it was absolutely amazing. We went to ports, like Geiranger, which really can be best appreciated by sailing in and out of the fjord and not by doing a land tour.

 

[DahliaRW]

I LOVED our Norway cruise. That being said, I would not sail Norway on DCL with their current itineraries. They don't get up into the more northern and more picturesque fjords. If you're not getting up to Geiranger, it's not worth it, IMO.

We're doing the Baltic this summer and it seems like a great set of ports.

 

[disneyholic family]

i voted for the med just because all other things being equal, i prefer warm to cold weather..

however, it really doesn't matter to me what the destination is - for us, a disney ship itself is the destination..

we live in Israel, so getting to WDW is VERY expensive...

if we can get a little slice of disney on a disney ship, without having to fly all the way to the US - that's great for us...

so i really don't care where it's going....med/UK/northern europe/fjords.....all good...though i still would prefer warm to cold, but i really wouldn't care.

for me it would come down to what works with my schedule and can i afford it.....

the norwegian cruise this year costs a kings ransom, so that would probably be out regardless...

so i guess i should say, whatever is cheapest and works with my schedule...

i've been most places in europe many times and am not interested in seeing them again, so i would be staying on the ship in most ports anyway...


as for ports - the ones i would might actually leave the ship for?

certainly st petersburg, a beautiful city that i haven't been to in years - so many years in fact, the last time i was there it was still called leningrad

any ports in scotland, another favorite of mine..

and i guess, ville franche for a walk around and to have lunch...

doubt i'd get off the ship anywhere else...

so i guess that's one port on each different cruise...
.

 

[ACQUADUCK]

Check out this trip report. This particular poster hasn't been around for awhile, but I always enjoyed his trip reports - tons of good information in there.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/d...key-dcl-7-22-navigators-video-photos.3421099/

He has loads of online versions.

Russia./ Baltic

http://torussiawithmickeybars.blogspot.co.uk/

Mediterranean

http://mickeymed.blogspot.co.uk/

Iceland.

http://magiccopenhagendovergeothermalcruise.blogspot.co.uk/

Includes photos navigators, private tours videos and planning.

 

[aggiedog]

I'm from Texas and the Med in July was too hot even for me. After this summer's cruise, I vowed to only travel north for summer vacay. We loved our Baltic cruise 3 years ago, and all the ports were amazing, not just SPB. We did a food tour in Tallinn, which ended up being our favorite port, with Stockholm a close second. I'd love to go back.

The Baltic is cities and history. Norway seems to be about scenery and nature, which I'd love to do one day. Honestly, I'd rather do England by land.

 

[jdb in AZ]

I'm from Texas and the Med in July was too hot even for me. After this summer's cruise, I vowed to only travel north for summer vacay. We loved our Baltic cruise 3 years ago, and all the ports were amazing, not just SPB. We did a food tour in Tallinn, which ended up being our favorite port, with Stockholm a close second. I'd love to go back.

The Baltic is cities and history. Norway seems to be about scenery and nature, which I'd love to do one day. Honestly, I'd rather do England by land.

We're desert people, and cruise to cool down in the summers, so we try to avoid hot ports. But we've managed to hit heat waves, even on a Baltic cruise. We've also had record-breaking heat in London and in Paris, and a lot of places don't have A/C -- including the London "tube," some of the buses in Paris, the Louvre, and the St. Petersburg Hermitage.

 

[mrsp1030]

We are a family of 5 with three DS under age 12 that traveled on the Magic in the Mediterranean last August. For us, it was a great introduction to Europe for our kids. Yes, it was port intensive and you have to go in with the mentality that you will never see it all in one day. Just like Rome wasn't built in a day. We felt it was a great way for our kids to experience different cultures and different experiences but we weren't unpacking each night in a new hotel room either. We booked our own private tours after reading extensive reviews on trip advisor and reaching out to multiple agencies. This helped tremendously. IN Naples, we tasted 30 varieties of olive oil, visited Sorrento, made our own pizzas, and then ended up in Pompeii. Rome we explored the city and more. Livorno was a day spent with Pisa, biking around LUcca, visiting a winery and seaside gelato. Many nights during Italy we chose simple dinners and the kids ate room service and hit up the clubs or we went swimming once back on board. I think you can't go wrong with any location. Just go in with the mentality that you will not see or do it all on one cruise.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

We are going on our first Med cruise this summer, but went to Norway in 2015 and loved it. The scenery was breathtaking and the culture in Norway is inviting . We enjoyed the smaller ports in Norway. I don't think you could go wrong with any European cruise, you just need to determine what interests you more.