A Europe cruise covers many cities in one trip, but port calls are short. Adding a land tour before or after the cruise gives you time to see great cities and inland regions properly. These combinations suit first-time visitors to Europe and anyone who wants the ease of a ship with the depth of a land trip.
When to go
Most Europe cruise-and-tour trips run from spring through fall. Each season has its trade-offs.
| When | What to expect | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| April–May | Mild weather in the Mediterranean, spring flowers and fewer crowds. Northern Europe is still cool. | Rome, Florence, Greece and Spain land stays |
| June–August | Peak season. Long daylight in Scandinavia and the British Isles. Hot and crowded in southern Europe. | Northern Europe, Norway, Baltic and British Isles tours |
| September–October | Warm seas, harvest season and thinner crowds in the Mediterranean. Cooler in the north. | Wine regions, Italy, Portugal, Greece |
| November–March | Limited sailings. Cool and rainy in many places, with Christmas markets in December. | City breaks, river cruises with market stops |
Popular combinations
Mediterranean
Start with a few days in Rome, Barcelona or Athens before a Western Mediterranean or Greek Isles cruise. Common land add-ons include Florence and Tuscany, the Amalfi Coast, Madrid, and Lisbon with Portugal’s Douro Valley.
British Isles
Spend time in London before a cruise around England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, or add Edinburgh or the Scottish Highlands after. A land stay helps with places such as the Lake District that ships cannot reach.
Scandinavia and the Baltic
Copenhagen, Stockholm and Oslo pair well with Baltic and Norwegian fjord sailings. Rail trips such as the Oslo to Bergen line make a good add-on to a fjords cruise.
Rivers and ocean together
Some travelers pair an ocean cruise with a short river cruise on the Rhine or Danube. This links coastal cities with inland towns in one trip. See our Europe river cruises for options.
Where cruises leave from
The main ports are close to cities that reward a stay of two or three nights:
- Barcelona and Rome (Civitavecchia) for the Western Mediterranean.
- Athens (Piraeus) for the Greek Isles and Eastern Mediterranean.
- Southampton for the British Isles, near London.
- Copenhagen and Amsterdam for Scandinavia, the Baltic and the fjords.
Note that the ports for Rome and London are an hour or more from the city centers, so plan transfers. Barcelona, Copenhagen and Amsterdam terminals are much closer to town. Many travelers also end their trip with a few nights in the city where the cruise finishes, which avoids a rushed flight on the last morning.
Which cruise line?
Many lines sell pre- and post-cruise land packages with hotels, transfers and guided touring.
- Viking includes a shore excursion in most ports and offers city extensions before and after many voyages.
- Azamara and Oceania Cruises focus on longer port stays and overnights, which leave more time ashore.
- Celebrity Cruises and Princess Cruises offer a wide choice of Mediterranean and Northern Europe itineraries on larger ships.
- Windstar sails small ships into ports that bigger ships cannot use.
Packing and travel documents
- Comfortable walking shoes for cobblestones and long sightseeing days.
- Clothing that covers shoulders and knees for churches and cathedrals.
- A light rain jacket and layers, especially for Northern Europe.
- A day bag that closes securely. Pickpockets work busy tourist areas.
A valid passport is required, and Europe’s border rules for visitors can change. Check current entry requirements for every country on your trip, and see our US passport page. Make sure your passport is valid well beyond your return date.
Browse current Europe tours and cruises, or request a quote and an advisor will build the land and sea pieces into one plan.
