Which of these European cruises?
- Thread starter Delrea
- Start date
I Have done all with kids your ages. Only fjords with dcl. But activities would be similar for other Sailings I assume.
Do they like historic buildings and touring or more sports/outdoors activities?
Do you want somewhere where most speak English exposure to different languages? Are you ok with hot weather if in the summer?
We loved every cruise. They’re all awesome. I really can’t pick a fav. But happy to advise based upon your kids’ interests. We did mostly diy in port or arranged tours outside of the ship. For a family of 4, some ports are easy and you can save a lot of $$. Other ports it’s worth taking an organized tour usually for logistics.
In a nutshell: fjords is Scenery and active outside, N capitals Focuses on Several big cities Plus quaint tallin, med is ancient towns iconic landmarks, BI quaint towns, active outdoors a few castles.
Do they like historic buildings and touring or more sports/outdoors activities?
Do you want somewhere where most speak English exposure to different languages? Are you ok with hot weather if in the summer?
We loved every cruise. They’re all awesome. I really can’t pick a fav. But happy to advise based upon your kids’ interests. We did mostly diy in port or arranged tours outside of the ship. For a family of 4, some ports are easy and you can save a lot of $$. Other ports it’s worth taking an organized tour usually for logistics.
In a nutshell: fjords is Scenery and active outside, N capitals Focuses on Several big cities Plus quaint tallin, med is ancient towns iconic landmarks, BI quaint towns, active outdoors a few castles.
We are 100% up for any new adventure. We will be wrapping up a 3 year stint of living in Southeast Asia and would have just moved back to the States. Really most interested in the easier of the logistics, and over all experience, as there really isn't an activity that we wouldn't try 
N Capitals typically involves an intensive tour of st Pete. Other ports can be a 1/2 day. Fjords were All mostly 1/2 days for us. The med and BI were most intense due to lots of port days and travel time to get to places. It’s very hot in the Med in the summer.
For your ages, I’d give them the ports and ask them to check out things they might want to see/do.
Some things we liked: fat tire bike tour Barcelona, kayaking in gerainger, hiking up the 500 steps in alesund, Hanseatic museum Bergen. Pompeii, climbing leaning tower Pisa, Guernsey wwii museum (read guernsey potato peel book), Edinburgh castle and little side street that’s inspiration for diagon alley in Harry Potter. Carriage house museum in Stockholm, biking tour Helsinki. Giants causeway and Belfast tour.
As you can see, so many varied options. All great.
For your ages, I’d give them the ports and ask them to check out things they might want to see/do.
Some things we liked: fat tire bike tour Barcelona, kayaking in gerainger, hiking up the 500 steps in alesund, Hanseatic museum Bergen. Pompeii, climbing leaning tower Pisa, Guernsey wwii museum (read guernsey potato peel book), Edinburgh castle and little side street that’s inspiration for diagon alley in Harry Potter. Carriage house museum in Stockholm, biking tour Helsinki. Giants causeway and Belfast tour.
As you can see, so many varied options. All great.
It has been a couple of years since I‘ve done them, but I’ve done 2 DCL Med Cruises and the Norwegian Fjords DCL Cruise that visited Iceland, Norway, and Scotland. I travel solo, so I can’t tell you what experience your teens will have just that there will be things for you and them to do on the ship both together and separately.
The Med Cruise is great, just realize you won’t be able to see everything in one trip. In several of the ports in Italy it takes about an hour or so to get to the major city from where the ship docks. If you plan to tour on your own, you will need to study the logistics necessary to get to what you want to see. Because the tours can be lengthy, I found it was better to have the late dinner seating for this cruise so that I didn’t have to rush when I returned to the ship. You should also be prepared to do a lot of walking. Most of it is over cobblestones which have become worn over the years. The tourist sites are not always friendly to those with mobility issues, so if that is a concern do your research ahead of time.
While I’m glad I did it, the Norwegian Fjords cruise tours were just so so. I loved Iceland, but was disappointed I couldn't do everything on my list. We spent two days in Reykjavik and one in Akureyki. It was really weird to be on a tour at 10pm in Iceland and it was still light out. IMO there was not much to see in Norway and Scotland based on the ports where the ship docked. I did tours in each port and all of the sites we visited were a good distance from the ship. However, Copenhagen is a great town with lots to do and is worth spending some pre or post nights depending on the itinerary. Even though this Cruise was during the summer, I remember the weather being cool. You will need to check the temps so you know how to pack. This was also the only DCL cruise I’ve taken where DCL kept my passport when we checked in for the cruise. Apparently, Iceland needed to see all of our passports before we got to the port so our passports weren’t returned to us until the day we docked in Iceland. While it was an organized process, we actually had to retrieve our passports from DCL and then we went through passport control on the ship for Iceland with their agents. While I’m pretty sure this process is standard now, it caught all of us off guard the first time it was done.
Given the ages of your kids, I would suggest doing the Med Cruise. It will have the most things they are familiar with. If you haven’t already, I would suggest looking at the excursions that are offered in each port to see if they are what you are interested in.
The Northern European Cruise is definitely on my list, but DCL keeps changing the date to a time when I can’t travel. I believe there should be a couple of trip reports which have been posted that you can review. I’ve been to England a number of times on my own, so the British Isles cruise isn’t high on my list. I hope this helps. Good luck planning your trip.
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Geomom
DIS Veteran
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We did the northern Europe starting/ending in Copenhagen, stops in Tallinn, St. Petersburg, Helsinki, and Stockholm. Our girls were 14 and 18 on the trip. We loved it! Since they're all port cities, you don't have long bus rides to the attractions. We did DCL excursions for the first 3 ports, and did Stockholm on our own with the Stockholm pass. (Got the 3 day Copenhagen pass for our precruise stay.). Plenty of details in the trip report in my signature if you want to know more. We found the cruise a great way to sample 5 countries without the hassle of constantly packing/unpacking. They also have the characters in unique outfits for all the cruises you listed, so it's fun to get pics with them.
more favs in N Capitals ports with teens:
Stockholm: take the HO-HO that picks up right at the pier. Take the Ho-HO to downtown and walk around. You can go into the Palace, etc. but the BEST place was the Livrustkammaren. Founded in 1633, it is also Sweden's oldest museum. Set in the palace vaults, this armory isn't just about weapons but displays some of the world's most magnificent state coaches and coronation robes, even the costume worn by Gustav III at a fatal masked ball. (The king was assassinated at the 1792 ball, and the incident inspired Verdi to write his opera The Masked Ball.) They have a free kit that you can borrow for the kids--it is a box with a fake mouse and you find clues throughout the museum. My kids spent 2 hours doing this--super fun nad interesting. We got the combo Ho-HO ticket and also took a boat tour. We did not have time to see the Viking ship (on the HO-HO bus/boat line). Since we've now seen Mama Mia, I might want to go to the ABBA museum.
Tallin--easy to walk from pier to town and they have costumed persons selling nuts, sodas, etc.--very festive. Plus, you can do archery outside the fort with Red Riding Hood type costumed workers. Large square in center of town to get food, etc. Tallin looks like a storybook village from a fairy tale. Easy DIY.
St. P. We used TJ tours for a 11 hour private tour. We joined someone forming a group. Excellent, but exhausting. We saw Peterhoff, Hermitage, etc.
In CPN, we got the CPH card and used it for train from airport to city(easy, safe, 10 minutes), free entrance to tivoli (
rides cost extra), entrance to Rosenburg Slot. We took a taxi from hotel to port for about $35. CPH is a nice, walkable city.
Stockholm: take the HO-HO that picks up right at the pier. Take the Ho-HO to downtown and walk around. You can go into the Palace, etc. but the BEST place was the Livrustkammaren. Founded in 1633, it is also Sweden's oldest museum. Set in the palace vaults, this armory isn't just about weapons but displays some of the world's most magnificent state coaches and coronation robes, even the costume worn by Gustav III at a fatal masked ball. (The king was assassinated at the 1792 ball, and the incident inspired Verdi to write his opera The Masked Ball.) They have a free kit that you can borrow for the kids--it is a box with a fake mouse and you find clues throughout the museum. My kids spent 2 hours doing this--super fun nad interesting. We got the combo Ho-HO ticket and also took a boat tour. We did not have time to see the Viking ship (on the HO-HO bus/boat line). Since we've now seen Mama Mia, I might want to go to the ABBA museum.
Tallin--easy to walk from pier to town and they have costumed persons selling nuts, sodas, etc.--very festive. Plus, you can do archery outside the fort with Red Riding Hood type costumed workers. Large square in center of town to get food, etc. Tallin looks like a storybook village from a fairy tale. Easy DIY.
St. P. We used TJ tours for a 11 hour private tour. We joined someone forming a group. Excellent, but exhausting. We saw Peterhoff, Hermitage, etc.
In CPN, we got the CPH card and used it for train from airport to city(easy, safe, 10 minutes), free entrance to tivoli (
rides cost extra), entrance to Rosenburg Slot. We took a taxi from hotel to port for about $35. CPH is a nice, walkable city.
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Fjords-with teens-emphasis on active activities. Very easy ports to DIY or book 3rd party excursions:
Geiranger: DCL was booked up, so DH and DS15 did guided kayak tour thru https://www.geirangerfjord.no/guided-kayak-tours. DD and I booked bus ride to Mt D also thru them. Both were excellent and cost was MUCH less than DCL. Kayak place emailed us to see if we needed a ride and sent a car to pick us up for free. Bus was right at port.
Stavanger: 3 hour fjord cruise thru https://rodne.no/en/fjordcruise. Right at the port--very nice. Much less than DCL, who were on the exact same boat.
Alesund: DIY 400 step walk to lookout (not too tough, many had 5 yr olds with them). Beautiful view.
Bergen: planned on DIY Mount Floyen and the Funicular, with prepurchased tickets and hiking down. It was rainy, so we went to Hanseatic Musuem and wharf area and then took their free shuttle to the Fishing Museum. It was quite interesting. This was actually a decent rainy 1/2 day.
Geiranger: DCL was booked up, so DH and DS15 did guided kayak tour thru https://www.geirangerfjord.no/guided-kayak-tours. DD and I booked bus ride to Mt D also thru them. Both were excellent and cost was MUCH less than DCL. Kayak place emailed us to see if we needed a ride and sent a car to pick us up for free. Bus was right at port.
Stavanger: 3 hour fjord cruise thru https://rodne.no/en/fjordcruise. Right at the port--very nice. Much less than DCL, who were on the exact same boat.
Alesund: DIY 400 step walk to lookout (not too tough, many had 5 yr olds with them). Beautiful view.
Bergen: planned on DIY Mount Floyen and the Funicular, with prepurchased tickets and hiking down. It was rainy, so we went to Hanseatic Musuem and wharf area and then took their free shuttle to the Fishing Museum. It was quite interesting. This was actually a decent rainy 1/2 day.
Time of year and which cruise line makes a difference too. The Med is HOT in the middle of summer but would be more bearable earlier or later. For many people, the upcharge to sail DCL in these locations isn't worth it, given the itineraries are so much more about the ports. We did a DCL Baltic cruise and switched to concierge on MSC (for about 30% of what non-concierge DCL would have cost) for a Med cruise, saving enough money to do a week in France before the cruise.
I wouldn't do a BI cruise, or anything that includes Iceland. Both locations are much better served by a land trip.
I wouldn't do a BI cruise, or anything that includes Iceland. Both locations are much better served by a land trip.
Agree with PP, for Med or Baltics, it's so port intensive that IMHO DCL is not "worth it." We came back right before dinner each day and were quiet tired from touring. Some nights we didn't even go to the shows at all. We were fine to be on another cruiseline. We also only had 1 sea day on each of those cruises.
But for Fjords on DCL, most of ports were 1/2 days. and we had 2 sea days. My teens loved coming back and watching a new movie, shows, etc. DCL was worth it there IMHO.
BI is a toss up. Ours was 12 days with 2 sea days. We did something every port-DS17 stayed on ship for 2 ports. If I did it again, I'd pick at least 1 port to stay on the ship. In that case, with then 3 sea days, DCL might be worth it--although Princess did a great job.
But for Fjords on DCL, most of ports were 1/2 days. and we had 2 sea days. My teens loved coming back and watching a new movie, shows, etc. DCL was worth it there IMHO.
BI is a toss up. Ours was 12 days with 2 sea days. We did something every port-DS17 stayed on ship for 2 ports. If I did it again, I'd pick at least 1 port to stay on the ship. In that case, with then 3 sea days, DCL might be worth it--although Princess did a great job.
DCSWO
Extra Disney magic
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We’ve done the Northern Europe cruise and we have the fjords cruise booked for next summer so I am biased but I would rank them as:
1) Northern European - kids were 14 and 20 & had a great time. High temps in the ports was in the 70s (In Aug).
2) Norwegian Fjords -this is only offered 1 or 2 times a year so timing with school can be tricky. Departs on 4 Sep in 2021.
3) Mediterranean - I book the northern trips to get a break from the heat. Main reason i haven’t booked yet.
4) British Isles - To me, the ports don’t justify DCL prices for a cruise.
Hope this helps!
1) Northern European - kids were 14 and 20 & had a great time. High temps in the ports was in the 70s (In Aug).
2) Norwegian Fjords -this is only offered 1 or 2 times a year so timing with school can be tricky. Departs on 4 Sep in 2021.
3) Mediterranean - I book the northern trips to get a break from the heat. Main reason i haven’t booked yet.
4) British Isles - To me, the ports don’t justify DCL prices for a cruise.
Hope this helps!
RACHEL_GB
Mouseketeer
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We’ve been on a Dover to Barcelona and a Barcelona Med Round Trip cruise and I loved the latter. We didn’t do Rome as the kids were 7 & 10 and the trip in was very long. There were also 9 other large ships in port that day so we thought it was be hellish in the heat, it was a heatwave for Italy. But we LOVED Pompeii, having authentic pizza in Naples afterwards and we splashed out on a privately arranged tour for Florence. Our guide managed to get us last minute tickets for the Academia so we got the see the statue of David and managed very well in the heat.
Being from the British Isles personally this is not the way I’d see the country, and the weather is so random so it might be miserable. I love Edinburgh for example but if it’s absolutely hosing down it’s still miserable, and it’s a long way from Greenock.
weather is a big factor for fjords and BI-our fjords with 4 ports had 2 day of rain. For a 1st European cruise, you really can't beat the Med. the heat is no worse (and likely better, drier) than the east coast of USA in summer. Just plan on cotton clothing, lots of water, and make some touring 1/2 days to enjoy the pool. Make sure to go to Pompeii in the morning.
We’ve done the British Isles one in 2018. No kids but we are a millennial couple and all of our excursions centered on exploring the cities and being on our feet. The welcome we received at the port in Scotland was amazing—an elderly gentleman shook hands with every passenger welcoming us to Scotland and a free shot of whiskey for all adults too (it was definitely a different time just two years ago!). Edinburgh was our favorite city. Highly recommend this itinerary as we were never bored and it had a great balance of Disney magic and touring new cities.
I'm eager to go on a Northern European cruise that includes a stop at St. Petersburg. It's a city that's relatively difficult to access without being on a cruise tour. I'm really hoping that will be on DCL's 2022 lineup at a time we can go.
I hope they switch the schedules of the Northern & Southern European cruises again, so that Northern will be in June, when we can go. I'm a teacher & have to go back to work at the beginning of August, so late summer cruises are impossible for us. They've had Med cruises in June for a few years now, so I hope they'll think it's time to switch back next year.
I hope they switch the schedules of the Northern & Southern European cruises again, so that Northern will be in June, when we can go. I'm a teacher & have to go back to work at the beginning of August, so late summer cruises are impossible for us. They've had Med cruises in June for a few years now, so I hope they'll think it's time to switch back next year.
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