If you've done Greece and Scandinavia which cruise do you prefer?

[aboveH20]

We're retired and I thought we'd spend our days planning where to travel to next and our weeks at sea (or land, either one is fine). My husband is willing to travel but would be content staying home. Therefore I feel the pressure to plan perfect trips so he's happy and willing to go again.

I'm looking at the DCL cruises that include Scandinavia or Greece. Both are on my bucket list. If you've done both do you have a thought to share?

Adding to trying to plan with a reluctant traveler is my wanting to get away during NY winters (I know neither of those itineraries answers that), mindful that warm weather means my husband missing his golf league (I know both itineraries would involve missing golf, probably for two weeks), and our aging dog is making it harder to want to board him. (Adding those three factors just to get some sympathy. I know they're hard to work around.)

Where should we go?

 

[kiford]

They're different. Pros and cons to both. Depends on what you want or like. The Baltic cruise stops in ports where you are right where you want to be; Mediterranean cruises usually require you to take transportation 1-1.5 hours away. Baltic is more temperate in terms of climate but sometimes downright cold in the evening. Med can be very nice or extremely hot depending on time of year.

I have a lot of interest in ancient Greek and Roman history so seeing some of the places in the Med was of high importance for me. There are definitely more ports I'd like to visit there. On the other hand, I learned a lot on the Baltic cruise (and beforehand - I did historical research before going) and found it fascinating. I loved Stockholm and Copenhagen and would like to spend some more time there. We had the great fortune to go to St. Petersburg and the Hermitage, which was on my bucket list. Sadly, that's no longer an option, but the other ports are still worth visiting.

Basically, I loved both. They were different, but both fantastic. If I were faced with the choice today it would come down to seeing if there was a port on one of them that I hadn't been to that I really wanted to go to, my schedule or a dartboard. You can't go wrong with either IMO.

 

[DCLMP]

DCL has cruises to Scandinavia?

 

[Donna3271]

DCL has cruises to Scandinavia?

Yes. Norway and Sweden. I don't think Denmark.

 

[kiford]

Yes. Norway and Sweden. I don't think Denmark.

I don't think they do right now, but when they do the Baltic one, it goes to Denmark. Sometimes the Icelandic or Nordic ones might include Copenhagen as a start or end. The options vary from year to year.

 

[o&smom]

We have been blessed to go on multiple Disney cruises to these areas. I agree with above poster who recommended looking at itineraries offered and seeing if any ports really call to you. Ports are so different that there really isn’t any way to say if some are better than others. The biggest difference on the cruises overall is the heat of the Mediterranean in the summer. Some people have a hard time in the heat, and visiting ports usually requires lots of walking. If you are sensitive to heat, the northern cruises might be a better fit. Has there been someplace that your husband has ever mentioned that might be enticing to him? Feel free ask ask any more specific questions. I don’t think you will be disappointed with either choice.

 

[holula]

I’ve been to Greece not on a cruise and the Baltics and Norway on two different cruises.

I loved Greece. More than Norway/Sweden/Northern Europe. But I loved Greece because I loved watching sunsets from the beach and getting a €4 gyro on the way home. I loved all the cheap food and zipping around the islands in the tiniest car I’ve ever driven. I loved walking through the tiny streets after dark and it still being so vibrant.

I don’t think I’d enjoy Greece so much on a cruise because I wouldn’t get any of these things.

I’d pick Northern Europe.

Edit: I’ve also been to Scandinavia not on cruises (I live in the UK so a short flight for me!) but it doesn’t have that same ‘vibe’ Greece has where it’s nice just to chill at a meal for multiple hours or wander around tiny streets when the tourists have gone home

 

[auntlynne]

If it is going to be a Disney cruise, looking at what’s available to book now (Summer 2025), I’d say Norwegian Fjords.

Southampton as homeport I allows you to be in England pre-cruise for getting over jet lag and a possible mini-visit. You can use your favorite air carrier or most European ones (even Icelandic Air; they allow for a stopover for a few days in Iceland).



This one starts in port from Rome. Again, an opportunity to see an additional town pre-cruise. But you are pushing into school break for Europe and increasing heat.



At this point, US and European schools should be out. It’s also hotter.

Santorini will be full of tourists vying for the ride up the mountain.



I love fjords and cooler weather over sweat-inducing heat. Even early May in the Med was pushing the comfort level for outdoor activities (which visiting ports is; ie, walking around ruins). Uneven walking is another consideration.

Norway.

 

[DCLMP]

Yes. Norway and Sweden. I don't think Denmark.

I was thinking of the traditional Baltic cruises. I would do Greece.

 

[DCLMP]

If it is going to be a Disney cruise, looking at what’s available to book now (Summer 2025), I’d say Norwegian Fjords.

Southampton as homeport I allows you to be in England pre-cruise for getting over jet lag and a possible mini-visit. You can use your favorite air carrier or most European ones (even Icelandic Air; they allow for a stopover for a few days in Iceland).
View attachment 904803


This one starts in port from Rome. Again, an opportunity to see an additional town pre-cruise. But you are pushing into school break for Europe and increasing heat.

View attachment 904804

At this point, US and European schools should be out. It’s also hotter.

Santorini will be full of tourists vying for the ride up the mountain.

View attachment 904809

I love fjords and cooler weather over sweat-inducing heat. Even early May in the Med was pushing the comfort level for outdoor activities (which visiting ports is; ie, walking around ruins). Uneven walking is another consideration.

Norway.

Those are all so overpriced. At least the bad Baltic cruise is a decent price.

 

[DCLMP]

The European cruises minus the Norway cruise were all discounted about 25% this year. Whatever you do I would hold off on booking.

 

[auntlynne]

When you think about the itinerary, do you get warm fuzzies or peaked interested when you think “I can visit the Parthenon (Athens) and Pompeii (Naples), the white walled houses of Santorini or other Med ports - or more so with neat, colorful wooden houses of Norway and its fjords with their high stone cliffs carved by ancient glaciers?”

I have more enjoyed vacations to Alaska and New Zealand (both with fjords and glaciers - and green) over visits to drier, rocky regions. (The exception being Hawaii, but it has plenty of lush greenery and fascinating mountains).

Med history, the beautiful water and white beaches or Nordic history and fjords.

For me, it’s the destination - and I wouldn’t sail Disney for either. I’d go to the Med in the Spring and Norway when I could find an itinerary that visits more of Norway. This one is not the best Disney has offered over the years.

And you are paying top dollar to do these cruises in the Summer, where shoulder seasons would provide more temperate weather and fewer crowds.

Whatever you do, don’t go to Europe in August. That is the Continent’s holiday month.

If it’s for a Disney ship experience, I’d go to Alaska. A nice blend of ship life and natural beauty.

 

[aboveH20]

First, thank you all for taking the time to offer thoughtful answers. I'm always impressed with how willing dis member are to share their experiences.

On the one hand I was hoping for an overwhelming "vote" for one or the other, on the other hand the ball is back in my court and I can make a decision based on schedule and $$$.

They're different. Pros and cons to both. Depends on what you want or like. The Baltic cruise stops in ports where you are right where you want to be; Mediterranean cruises usually require you to take transportation 1-1.5 hours away. Baltic is more temperate in terms of climate but sometimes downright cold in the evening. Med can be very nice or extremely hot depending on time of year.

I have a lot of interest in ancient Greek and Roman history so seeing some of the places in the Med was of high importance for me. There are definitely more ports I'd like to visit there. On the other hand, I learned a lot on the Baltic cruise (and beforehand - I did historical research before going) and found it fascinating. I loved Stockholm and Copenhagen and would like to spend some more time there. We had the great fortune to go to St. Petersburg and the Hermitage, which was on my bucket list. Sadly, that's no longer an option, but the other ports are still worth visiting.

Basically, I loved both. They were different, but both fantastic. If I were faced with the choice today it would come down to seeing if there was a port on one of them that I hadn't been to that I really wanted to go to, my schedule or a dartboard. You can't go wrong with either IMO.

When I starting considering a Baltic cruise (early March 2020) St. Petersburg was an option. I was at a travel agency and asked the agent if people were really canceling trips because of covid. "Yes, a few," she said.

I appreciate your reminder about the cold. I've read that and it would definitely make the trips much less enjoyable for me.

If it is going to be a Disney cruise, looking at what’s available to book now (Summer 2025), I’d say Norwegian Fjords.

Southampton as homeport I allows you to be in England pre-cruise for getting over jet lag and a possible mini-visit. You can use your favorite air carrier or most European ones (even Icelandic Air; they allow for a stopover for a few days in Iceland).
View attachment 904803


This one starts in port from Rome. Again, an opportunity to see an additional town pre-cruise. But you are pushing into school break for Europe and increasing heat.

View attachment 904804

At this point, US and European schools should be out. It’s also hotter.

Santorini will be full of tourists vying for the ride up the mountain.

View attachment 904809

I love fjords and cooler weather over sweat-inducing heat. Even early May in the Med was pushing the comfort level for outdoor activities (which visiting ports is; ie, walking around ruins). Uneven walking is another consideration.

Norway.

Yipes. I haven't researched lately and forgot how pricey they can be. When I started looking four years ago we were considering Princess. (We've done Alaska and Panama Canal with them, and while they'll never have the Disney ambience, it's a possibility.)

The European cruises minus the Norway cruise were all discounted about 25% this year. Whatever you do I would hold off on booking.

Interesting, thanks for the heads up.

When you think about the itinerary, do you get warm fuzzies or peaked interested when you think “I can visit the Parthenon (Athens) and Pompeii (Naples), the white walled houses of Santorini or other Med ports - or more so with neat, colorful wooden houses of Norway and its fjords with their high stone cliffs carved by ancient glaciers?”

I have more enjoyed vacations to Alaska and New Zealand (both with fjords and glaciers - and green) over visits to drier, rocky regions. (The exception being Hawaii, but it has plenty of lush greenery and fascinating mountains).

Med history, the beautiful water and white beaches or Nordic history and fjords.

For me, it’s the destination - and I wouldn’t sail Disney for either. I’d go to the Med in the Spring and Norway when I could find an itinerary that visits more of Norway. This one is not the best Disney has offered over the years.

And you are paying top dollar to do these cruises in the Summer, where shoulder seasons would provide more temperate weather and fewer crowds.

Whatever you do, don’t go to Europe in August. That is the Continent’s holiday month.

If it’s for a Disney ship experience, I’d go to Alaska. A nice blend of ship life and natural beauty.

I guess they're both on my bucket list because they're so different from any where I've been. I finally decided I'm not going to get to NZ or Australia until continental drift moves them a little closer. (I was hoping to see koalas at the San Diego Zoo before a DCL Mexico cruise, but due to mechanical difficulties and a blizzard we never made it out of our home airport.)

 

[aboveH20]

We have been blessed to go on multiple Disney cruises to these areas. I agree with above poster who recommended looking at itineraries offered and seeing if any ports really call to you. Ports are so different that there really isn’t any way to say if some are better than others. The biggest difference on the cruises overall is the heat of the Mediterranean in the summer. Some people have a hard time in the heat, and visiting ports usually requires lots of walking. If you are sensitive to heat, the northern cruises might be a better fit. Has there been someplace that your husband has ever mentioned that might be enticing to him? Feel free ask ask any more specific questions. I don’t think you will be disappointed with either choice.

Good reminder about the amount of walking.

Once he wanted to return to Turkey where his father was stationed when he was a kid, but he primarily wanted to find the apartment building where they watched some uprising from their balcony. And once he talked about returning to Vietnam where he spent some memorable, not necessarily enjoyable days as a young Army officer. Neither one appeals to him anymore.

I'll keep you in mind for future questions, thanks.

 

[Marthasor]

We have been to both Italy and Greece on land tours/vacations and both were spectacular. I, personally, would never do the Med on a cruise. The ports are quite far from the towns/cities you will most likely want to visit and those areas are very, very hot in the summer. We have done 3 DCL cruises - 1 Norway cruise, 1 Norway/Iceland/Scotland cruise and 1 Denmark/Germany/Sweden/Norway/England cruise - they were spectacular and the weather was fantastic in the summer. Not hot, not terribly rainy and we docked right in town/cities where we wanted to tour (or had a short bus ride at one port to get to Jelling in Denmark). We also just did a Rhine Cruise with Adventures by Disney/Amawaterways this past August and that was spectacular. Are you sold on doing DCL or are you open to other cruise lines?

 

[DCLMP]

First, thank you all for taking the time to offer thoughtful answers. I'm always impressed with how willing dis member are to share their experiences.

On the one hand I was hoping for an overwhelming "vote" for one or the other, on the other hand the ball is back in my court and I can make a decision based on schedule and $$$.



When I starting considering a Baltic cruise (early March 2020) St. Petersburg was an option. I was at a travel agency and asked the agent if people were really canceling trips because of covid. "Yes, a few," she said.

I appreciate your reminder about the cold. I've read that and it would definitely make the trips much less enjoyable for me.



Yipes. I haven't researched lately and forgot how pricey they can be. When I started looking four years ago we were considering Princess. (We've done Alaska and Panama Canal with them, and while they'll never have the Disney ambience, it's a possibility.)



Interesting, thanks for the heads up.



I guess they're both on my bucket list because they're so different from any where I've been. I finally decided I'm not going to get to NZ or Australia until continental drift moves them a little closer. (I was hoping to see koalas at the San Diego Zoo before a DCL Mexico cruise, but due to mechanical difficulties and a blizzard we never made it out of our home airport.)

There used to be a thread that posted all the GT rates, but it's not kept up anymore. I do remember the 12 night med going from around 11k and change to 7k and change for an inside room. I can't remember the prices on the other categories. I remember wishing I could take advantage of it. I think that is by far the best itinerary they offer next year.

 

[auntlynne]

We’ve done Princess for Alaska and British Isles (different combinations of family members). My sister and I did a Southern Caribbean last year - after which, she stated she didn’t need Disney for port intensive cruises in the future. Hence, this year, she sailed Cunard in Alaska.

I don’t think you are going to see cruise prices, as a whole, go down to those reasonable ones we used to see. (But definitely keep looking! No one would have expected the DCL Europe discounts a few years ago).

And the Baltic states, near Russia, aren’t happening until Ukraine is settled. Sort of like the Eastern Med and the Suez Canal area are on hold.

I also look at $$$ when picking cruises! Not just the cruise fare, but also flights and pre-cruise hotel and land transportation. And, like Alaska - port excursions.

If I could find a Norway fjords cruise that starts in Copenhagen, it would be top of the list. I was going to start a cruise there, but it got cancelled. The city offers history, charm, reasonably priced hotels. Plus Tivoli Gardens - the inspiration for Disneyland, but so different. (You don’t pay a big admission fee!)

…Found one. Actually, a lot. Muktiple cruise lines. I just stopped looking with the first, earliest one in May. These are prices pp (tax included). Some Americans dislike MSC. I am comfortable with them, especially for the price. You could stay in a suite (more benefits than Disney’s Concierge) for about half the price of Disney’s lower-level cabins (a month earlier.).

I just watched a favorite YouTuber, Emma cruises, review her experience on this ship. It is new as of last year. My Disney Platinum status got me MSC’s top tier level.



I use Vacations To Go to find ships and itineraries.

I hope you pick something! Often, there is no single right choice - and you may enjoy it so much that you do the other or a different vacation later.

Don’t forget river cruises!

 

[DCLMP]

We’ve done Princess for Alaska and British Isles (different combinations of family members). My sister and I did a Southern Caribbean last year - after which, she stated she didn’t need Disney for port intensive cruises in the future. Hence, this year, she sailed Cunard in Alaska.

I don’t think you are going to see cruise prices, as a whole, go down to those reasonable ones we used to see. (But definitely keep looking! No one would have expected the DCL Europe discounts a few years ago).

And the Baltic states, near Russia, aren’t happening until Ukraine is settled. Sort of like the Eastern Med and the Suez Canal area are on hold.

I also look at $$$ when picking cruises! Not just the cruise fare, but also flights and pre-cruise hotel and land transportation. And, like Alaska - port excursions.

If I could find a Norway fjords cruise that starts in Copenhagen, it would be top of the list. I was going to start a cruise there, but it got cancelled. The city offers history, charm, reasonably priced hotels. Plus Tivoli Gardens - the inspiration for Disneyland, but so different. (You don’t pay a big admission fee!)

…Found one. Actually, a lot. Muktiple cruise lines. I just stopped looking with the first, earliest one in May. These are prices pp (tax included). Some Americans dislike MSC. I am comfortable with them, especially for the price. You could stay in a suite (more benefits than Disney’s Concierge) for about half the price of Disney’s lower-level cabins (a month earlier.).

I just watched a favorite YouTuber, Emma cruises, review her experience on this ship. It is new as of last year. My Disney Platinum status got me MSC’s top tier level.

View attachment 904936

I use Vacations To Go to find ships and itineraries.

I hope you pick something! Often, there is no single right choice - and you may enjoy it so much that you do the other or a different vacation later.

Don’t forget river cruises!

My three med cruises have been in May and October. I have not experienced the Mediterranean heat in the heart of Summer. I agree with you about looking at other cruises lines. My last Greek Isles cruise on Odyssey of Seas was a 12 night in May 2023. 3500 for a balcony. Nothing on Disney can touch that price.

I was also going to suggest a river cruise. As expensive as river cruises are they are still a better bargain then DCL. All excursions, tips and alcoholic beverages are included in the price.

I'm going to Japan next year and missing shopping for a cruise. I need to be a TA cruise planner in my next life.

 

[auntlynne]

@DCLMP - Japan would be an adventure, too, though. My non-cruise vacations in New Zealand and China and various other places are great memories of a lifetime. Actually, I was on a boat for Fiordland and Li River adventures. (Mentioning them helps me reminisce - maybe someone else will pipe in with their adventures . I can’t imagine others here haven’t traveled without a cruise ship.)

Sometimes we need to remind our fellow Disney cruisers to look outside the box. We are not the only two who do, but it is a touchy subject among a dedicated Disney audience.

It was a Super-Disney cruiser who got me to do my first other cruise-line. (She hit 100 DCL cruises several years ago. Mixing things up didn’t mean she didn’t still sail with the Mouse. It just meant more options - and lower prices).

I miss shopping for my own cruises, too. When someone asks for suggestions, I love seeing what’s available. Planning for me is nearly half the fun (that’s what my Mother said to me - she’s right). I think 25% is the actual vacation and 25% is remembering it (and that can go on until your memory goes. I remember details and can picture many places I have been. Maybe it is actually 25% planning and 50% remembering. But Alzheimer’s hasn’t set in yet.) I wish the same for all adventurers (not the Alzheimer’s - the memories and fun).

 

[Wosmama6]

this is very port dependent. we went on the N Europe cruise in 2023 with the intent of going to LEGO house in Billund one day. Well, it turns out, we weren't in that port long enough to make the trip... we ended up staying on the ship that day. Kiel wasn't super interesting. Stockholm and Oslo were cool, but that was it. Our ports on our Med cruise were so much easier and better.