European Cruises

Archive for the ‘Cruise Planning’ Category

Once you have decided you are going on a wonderful European cruise vacation, I guess that is all you can think about until it comes time to packing. Then comes a little bit of stress that begins to set in. The stress is mainly due to the big decision of what clothing to take with you. It is not such a chore to do this if you take a deep breath, sit down with a cup of coffee and start by making a list.

To begin with, determine what the climate is going to be like at the various ports en route. For the most part, they will all be the same with a few degrees variation. So let us assume you are going to be going on your cruise during the summer months.

The first thing you need to determine is what type of events will be taking place on the cruise ship. If you have never been on a cruise before then you are going to be surprised at what takes place onboard. There will most likely be all kinds of activities and you are going to want to dress accordingly so having said this plan for three types of venues.

1. Formal
2. Semi casual
3. Casual

For your formal, it will most likely be for a formal dinner and dancing while on the cruise. Therefore, you will want at least one formal outfit which for men consists of a dinner jacket with possibly a bow tie. Ideally, it would be good if you could take one piece of clothing and perhaps some accessories to change the look as you may have a formal event as well on your return trip. A suggestion would be an outfit that you would wear a light jacket. One time you could wear it without and the next time with it.

Then for your semi casual, you may need an outfit that would be appropriate to wear to an evening of live entertainment such as a show. Here you want to plan for something you will not only be wearing on the ship but during your trips and stays at the various ports.

Finally, there is your casual wear and this includes your bathing suit. Even if you figure, you are not likely going to wear one, take it with you anyway. There is something magical about a cruise that just entices you to do things out of the norm.

Coordinate your clothing. Take one top that will go with a pair of pants, skirts, or shorts. This way you can mix and match your outfits. Rather plan your outfits per day. Also, try to take clothes that will not crease easily. Some materials are better than others are for this. You will want accessories such as jewelry (preferably costume jewelry) and scarves, which can really change the look of an outfit. Take a maximum of three pair of shoes such as one formal, one dressy sandals and then a casual pair. Take one warm outfit in case you run into cooler weather.

Then add your list of miscellaneous items that you need. Make sure everything is on your list. If you leave it until the last minute, you will be sure to forget something.

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It is exciting in itself just to be planning a cruise. A European Cruise makes it even more exciting. A cruise to any destination in Europe has much to offer. Almost any European destination you choose will give you the opportunity to enjoy yourself. Each place that you could take a cruise to in Europe has something special to offer. The difficulty about planning your cruise simply comes down to just where you want your cruise to take you.

You will discover various packages for cruises. This means that when you choose an area then within that area you will have several destinations. Here is a few of them…

If you have a desire to visit Greece, Greek Isles and Turkey then you should choose an Eastern Mediterranean Cruise. You will find that the main ports of leaving and returning are Athens, Greece, Istanbul, Turkey, Venice and Italy. You will need to decide whether you want a round trip cruise or a one way. If you choose, one way it means you start at one port and end at one of the others. Along the way, you will find many ports of call that may be included in your cruise packages. These are usually ports that you will go and spend a day. They may include the Dubrovnik and Hvar in Croatia or Bari in Italy for example. A particular port that has been gaining a lot of interest lately is Malta’s wonderful Valletta. The highlights of an Eastern Mediterranean Cruise are to take in the archeological beauty that one finds at all these locations. One must not forget about the beautiful Greek islands as well.

If you decide you would like to embark on a Western Mediterranean Cruise then you will be visiting from the southern tip of Italy onto the straits of Gibraltar. This is one of the most favored cruises by the ladies because of the spectacular boutique shopping that they can enjoy. The ports of interest in this cruise will be Spain France and Italy. Depending on the cruise package that you choose, there may be port visits in Portugal, Morocco, Monte Carlo, Malta and Croatia. Then also, there will be specific locations within each of these as well. You may want to pick your favorites then find a cruise package that will encompass your major interests on the Western Mediterranean Cruise. Don’t forget to take advantage of the many cafes that you will be sure to come across. Then, there are of course, the arts and culture to take in as well.

In addition to these two wonderful European cruise destinations, you may want the opportunity of taking a Scandinavia and the Baltics cruise. Then we must also mention the European River Cruises that are becoming so popular. There is a whole European continent out there for you to explore you just need to decide which interests you the most. In any case no doubt you will have a wonderful cruise.

Technorati Tags: baltic cruise, cruise, Cruise Planning, cruises, european cruise, mediterranean cruise, scandinavia cruise