You're extremely excited about your upcoming cruise. Europe! You'll visit a half dozen European countries, cruising the seas while attending shows, dinners, balls, and "beaches" aboard the elegant cruise ship. But you're a tad worried; after all, you've never done a European cruise before. What travel tips should you keep in mind? Read on.
One of the drawbacks of a cruise to Europe is that interaction with the locals in the various countries you will visit is typically severely limited. This means that you must make an effort to interact with the locals. Make a resolution that you'll interact with at least one local, striking up a conversation, at each port in which your ship calls. This will add something to your trip that nothing on the cruise itself can simulate.
A typical European cruise lasts between seven and 10 days. This means by the time your body is used to the jet lag, you'll be halfway done with the cruise. Consider getting to Europe a few days early, both to adjust and see some of the sights on foot before embarking on your cruise. Or, alternately, try hanging around in Europe a few days after the cruise has ended.
Make plans now for exactly what you want to see when you dock at the cruise's various ports of call. Generally, you'll spend between eight and 12 hours in each city --- not nearly enough time to do everything or even much of anything. It is therefore imperative that you avoid disembarking with no real clue as to what you are going to do. Do some research and decide upon one or two musts for each city. Whether it's a museum visit, a visit to a historical site or a visit to a famous local pub, you'll likely never do it unless you plan for it.
