Planning a Med cruise...completely overwhelmed

[Frwinkley]

Even cruisecritic.com has me overwhelmed!

We are considering such a trip fall of 2024. I've looked at a few cruise lines, and most of the ports seem to be a good bit away from the main cities, attractions, etc. There just seems to be so much planning that goes into such a trip (and I like planning), that I'm getting a bit discouraged.

I'm now wondering if we should just pick 1 or 2 countries and just travel between them by train. I don't want the stress of flying in and out of different airports.

We are in the US, couple in early 60s. Not interested in beaches, but like walkable cities, shopping, etc.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[insureman]

Wife and I are in your age range. I think a cruise will give you the best bang for your money because it will give you a taste of the countries visited then if you want you can go back on a land vacation. For your first cruise I would recommend the cruise line's excursions until you're comfortable venturing out on your own.

 

[Travel60]

Some of the European ports are a ways from the city centers. For that reason, I'd advise cruise lines excursions.

But, since you seem to be open to other ideas, have you considered River cruising? We did our first last year and LOVED it. So much more relaxing and I felt like we got to see more because the ships usually dock right in city center. We went on Tauck and it was fantastic. I understand Viking is good, too. We did Danube but looking ahead at Rhine.

 

[Marc D]

A Med cruise takes a lot of planning… if you decide to venture on your own. As you pointed out, most ports are a bit away from tourist attractions and you need to figure a plan for each stop. Fortunately, both the cruise line you’ll choose and independent tour operators are available to take you from the pier on organized tours, managing transport, tickets for attractions and bringing you back to the ship. In some cities and on certain days, like Florence, certain museums are only opened for tour groups.

Of course, those tours are more expensive than visiting on your own, but they take care of everything.

 

[RACHEL_GB]

I did Med round trip with Disney back in 2017 and I found the Rick Steves book on Med cruising really helpful. The stops were Naples, Civitivecchia (Rome), Livorno (Florence or Pisa) and Villefrance. At Naples we walked to the train station, got a train to Pompeii, spent a while there and then came back and had the best pizza of our lives (based on a Rick recommendation)

We decided Rome was too much - there were 9 ships I think in port that day and it was hot, it’s a long way from the port so it’s one I’ll come back to.

Florence we hired a private guide for about £500 for the half day and he was great. He picked us right at the port, took us up to Fiesole (I wanted my “Room with a View” moment) got us into the Academia to see the statue of David, told us the best place for gelato.

So I guess what I’m trying to say is a mixture of planned excursions/tours and doing it yourself might work well depending on how close the port is to the attraction you want and which stops are really important to you. Having done rail trips too I agree with Insureman that cruising is a good way to do it. Rail travel in Europe is great but also needs quite a lot of planning, and taking luggage about is a bit of a pain.

 

[Flossbolna]

We just did a Med cruise and enjoyed it a lot. BUT you are right: it’s a lot of planning. We did every port on our own, took trains and walked around. But we live in Europe and just wanted to get a taste.

Depending on what you want to see, I think a land based trip can be far more relaxing. But you will see more in some places and muss out others. You need to figure out what is most important to you.

I do like the idea of a river cruise as a bit more relaxed trip that still lets you see a lot.

I don’t understand what you meant by not wanting to fly out of different airports. It actually is a very easy thing to fly from the USA to one city in Europe and then back from another. Doesn’t make the flight more expensive usually.

But using the train within Europe can make a lot of sense. I always recommend this website for planning train travel in Europe: https://www.seat61.com/

 

[Karin1984]

River cruises are probably the way to go as they can dock usually much closer to the city center or in the city center.

Or indeed, do a land trip. It can also be a lot of planning, but you are much more in control of your sightseeing as there is no being back at the ship at time x. And by train or car you do see more of the country.

 

[Frwinkley]

We just did a Med cruise and enjoyed it a lot. BUT you are right: it’s a lot of planning. We did every port on our own, took trains and walked around. But we live in Europe and just wanted to get a taste.

Depending on what you want to see, I think a land based trip can be far more relaxing. But you will see more in some places and muss out others. You need to figure out what is most important to you.

I do like the idea of a river cruise as a bit more relaxed trip that still lets you see a lot.

I don’t understand what you meant by not wanting to fly out of different airports. It actually is a very easy thing to fly from the USA to one city in Europe and then back from another. Doesn’t make the flight more expensive usually.

But using the train within Europe can make a lot of sense. I always recommend this website for planning train travel in Europe: https://www.seat61.com/

Actually I meant flying from one European country to another European country (while in Europe).

I think I’m leaning more towards cruising. Accommodations will be taken care of which is one less thing to plan.

 

[starry_solo]

So, the one thing with cruising is that you’ll have the same place to return to so you can unpack rather than living out of your suitcase. Land tours are great, accommodations are handles, transfers to/from airport are handled and transportation is handled too.

we did more land tours internationally when sibling and I were in our 20s, for about 10 years , before we started traveling domestically about 10 years ago. So we are sure cruise companies have changed, etc.

what do you want to see?

 

[Frwinkley]

We would like to see Sweden, Denmark, Finland.

However, we would also like to see Italy, Spain, France. I’m willing to forego Rome and Paris (simply. because ports are too far away). Maybe we ’d begin our trip in one of those cities.

I realize those would have to be two separate cruises.

As far as things in those countries, the easiest way to say it might be I‘m not sure. That where the overwhelmed part comes in. Realizing we will never see it all, I’m having trouble deciding.

We’ve been to Amsterdam and many parts of Germany, but not since the mid 80S. We had family in Germany at that time.

We’ve only travelled domestically for the last 30 years and have done some great trips that have involved flying into cities and then driving to various spots for 9-10 days. We’ve used to packing/unpacking, moving every few days, planning everything on our own. I’m looking for a bit of a break from that. Cruising would definitely eliminate so,e of that.

Because we’ve always travelled without a group, I’d like a mix of exploring on our own and excisions either with the cruise line or an independent operator.

Thanks for letting me ramble! Your help is greatly appreciated.

 

[Karin1984]

If you want to do Scandinavia, I would definitely do a land trip. Get a car and get around. They have great ferries between Sweden and Finlandd that are like a cruise ship.

 

[Budzooka]

We did a 12 Mediterranean last year with 6 nights in 3 cities before we boarded the ship. We so much preferred being on the cruise. Only having to unpack once and a familiar setting to come back to everyday. Not having to worry about how to get there or where to eat, but all the while getting to see a glimpse of new places. I certainly recognize that we didn’t get to see near as much as on our own but it was so much more relaxing and enjoyable on the cruise.

 

[cedricandsophie]

We love cruises. But there is nothing like traveling on land in Italy or France etc. We always drive ourselves but I’m sure trains would be fine. Rick Steves has some great travel books. And if yiu consider driving yourself, there are books that have the best road trips.
i don’t really think about cruising being overwhelming. Just pick the ports thst interest you the most, look up travel ideas around those ports, get on, unpack and relax. Try to go a few days before to enjoy the area around the starting port (like Rome or Barcelona) and stay a few days after for the same reasons.

 

[DCLMP]

Can you list the ports, that would help us help you.

 

[Marthasor]

I would highly recommend looking at land tour companies that do small group tours (Tauck comes to mind). When doing group tours, we like to do pre- and post-days on our own as a family to explore on our own. You will see so much more of all of the countries you are interested in by either doing land tours or even river tours. We are doing Northern Europe on a cruise this summer only because most of the capitals are actually ports (or very close to the ports) in that part of Europe (Oslo, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, etc.) In the Med, you will dock fairly far from the major cities. We toured with Tauck in Italy and they did a very good job covering the major parts of Rome, Florence and Venice on the tour we chose.

 

[auntlynne]

Based on what you have expressed. With the assumption that you have the time and means to travel several times over the next decade (or linger).

Go on a cruise out of Copenhagen that visits Sweden, Finland and Norway (probably goes to Kiel or Warnemunde). okay - that’s a Baltic cruise, isn’t it? It might not do all three of your choices, but look for at least two of those at first.

Plan for a day or two pre-cruise in Copenhagen. Spend an afternoon / evening in Tivoli Gardens (inspiration for Disneyland). Hotels can be fairly reasonable near Nyhaven - a canal area with colored wooden buildings. It is walkable (a few blocks to the city center and to the current monarch‘s castle). Food is expensive. There’s a UNESCO world heritage site about 1.5 hours away. Malmo, Sweden, is across a bridge.

(I was in planning stage - we had a very nice, active group on Cruise Critic; then the itinerary was cancelled when the ship was re-assigned).

If you don’t want long transports inland for the big cities, just find things to do in the port city area (Warnemunde is a long way to Berlin. Kiel is used for Hamburg). But a stop in Oslo is pretty much right there.

If you are okay with just scratching the surface (and the perimeter / coast of a country, then doing an ocean cruise is one of the easiest ways to sample the world).

I did an 11-night Med in Disney in 2010. A lot of ports. We combined ship tours and DIY activities. It was tiring at times - a shorter cruise, but with more return visits to Europe, would help with that. (I did go back for London and some France. Revisited London/ Bath /Stonehenge /Paris on the way to a second TA cruise and Barcelona). It is the thought that I can return (even if I don’t) that makes a cursory trip sufficient to at least see a little of a country - I am not going to see it all, ever. Most of us don’t even see most of our own country.

Yes, lugging bags from hotel to hotel is not the most fun way to travel. Although I would love to do some train travel. That I would save for a trip to one region or area - perhaps a trip to Italy to visit Rome, Florence, Venice.

Dipping your toes back into European travel with a cruise should help you determine your comfort, fitness, and interest in future trips. I find travel spurs me on to want more travel. I am 62 and looking forward to more adventures.

I think just picking a general area for your First trip will help. Thinking it won’t have to cover all your travel wishes. The fact that you actually stated an area that interests you is a good location around which to travel. And you posted on a cruise site. Sounds like you have a good idea of what you want.

(Cruising really should make it a lot easier - no hotels, train schedules). It is okay to do ship excursions - there is no shame in that).

If you discover a country you would like to visit more in depth, come home and plan for that trip.

 

[Frwinkley]

We did a 12 Mediterranean last year with 6 nights in 3 cities before we boarded the ship. We so much preferred being on the cruise. Only having to unpack once and a familiar setting to come back to everyday. Not having to worry about how to get there or where to eat, but all the while getting to see a glimpse of new places. I certainly recognize that we didn’t get to see near as much as on our own but it was so much more relaxing and enjoyable on the cruise.

This is exactly what is appealing to me about a cruise.

We would definitely spend a few days prior to cruising in the departure port.

 

[Frwinkley]

Based on what you have expressed. With the assumption that you have the time and means to travel several times over the next decade (or linger).

Go on a cruise out of Copenhagen that visits Sweden, Finland and Norway (probably goes to Kiel or Warnemunde). okay - that’s a Baltic cruise, isn’t it? It might not do all three of your choices, but look for at least two of those at first.

Plan for a day or two pre-cruise in Copenhagen. Spend an afternoon / evening in Tivoli Gardens (inspiration for Disneyland). Hotels can be fairly reasonable near Nyhaven - a canal area with colored wooden buildings. It is walkable (a few blocks to the city center and to the current monarch‘s castle). Food is expensive. There’s a UNESCO world heritage site about 1.5 hours away. Malmo, Sweden, is across a bridge.

(I was in planning stage - we had a very nice, active group on Cruise Critic; then the itinerary was cancelled when the ship was re-assigned).

If you don’t want long transports inland for the big cities, just find things to do in the port city area (Warnemunde is a long way to Berlin. Kiel is used for Hamburg). But a stop in Oslo is pretty much right there.

If you are okay with just scratching the surface (and the perimeter / coast of a country, then doing an ocean cruise is one of the easiest ways to sample the world).

I did an 11-night Med in Disney in 2010. A lot of ports. We combined ship tours and DIY activities. It was tiring at times - a shorter cruise, but with more return visits to Europe, would help with that. (I did go back for London and some France. Revisited London/ Bath /Stonehenge /Paris on the way to a second TA cruise and Barcelona). It is the thought that I can return (even if I don’t) that makes a cursory trip sufficient to at least see a little of a country - I am not going to see it all, ever. Most of us don’t even see most of our own country.

Yes, lugging bags from hotel to hotel is not the most fun way to travel. Although I would love to do some train travel. That I would save for a trip to one region or area - perhaps a trip to Italy to visit Rome, Florence, Venice.

Dipping your toes back into European travel with a cruise should help you determine your comfort, fitness, and interest in future trips. I find travel spurs me on to want more travel. I am 62 and looking forward to more adventures.

I think just picking a general area for your First trip will help. Thinking it won’t have to cover all your travel wishes. The fact that you actually stated an area that interests you is a good location around which to travel. And you posted on a cruise site. Sounds like you have a good idea of what you want.

Thank you so much for your valuable insight. You have summed up my feelings nicely.

 

[msmama]

Several years ago we did Norway/Iceland (with Disney) and it was fantastic. It was a perfect mix of sea days and port days and we didn't feel overwhelmed. The Med cruise (with disney, also) was EXHAUSTING!!

I loved every second of it, but the port days were A LOT (though I can't complain too much because I chose them and knew that going in and we climbed Mt. Vesuvius on Day 1, and that ended up being our light day, also hit Pompeii that day). Rome was crazy busy, if I ever go again, I'd go in the off season, whenever that may be. I would've been miserable without our Disney tour guide. That said, we did get to see everything we wanted to see. I loved Florence but it turned out my son was allergic to something there and the poor kid sneezed ALL DAY!

So, having enough time to rest is now important to me when picking a cruise!

This fall, we're flying to Scotland (via a few days in Iceland) and making our way via train to Southhampton over a few weeks before cruising back home. We thought it would be a good practice trip for more of the interior of Europe in the upcoming years now that my son is older.

 

[auntlynne]

A quick internet search found this. Ended up being the CCritic site. There weren’t a lot of choices in the fall. This is sort of a blend between a 7-night Baltic and a 7-night Northern.

I find the planning to be 1/2 the fun (my mother taught me that). But reminiscing and egging on others is great fun, too.