Europe is the land of glorious history, beautiful cities and culture. Somewhere in the shadows of beautiful monuments, you will find medieval towns, timeless classics and a taste of la dolce vita. From the Scandinavian Grasslands to the British Isles, the Canary Islands to Norwegian Fjords, Italy to Greece, Croatia to Turkey or Israel. Europe has a lot in store. That’s why one’s biggest difficulty planning a European Cruise would be narrowing down to where to go. 

Best Times to Cruise Europe

The best suited time for cruising through Europe is summer i.e. from May to September. The weather is warm, the temperature increases in July and August. There are flowers with longer days and shorter nights. The mercury rises during the day time and dips in the night to a cool breeze. Baltic regions have shorter summers as compared to the rest of Europe i.e. from June through August. One can also witness the beautiful landscapes ablaze with spring colors during May. However, they turn generally turn brown around the autumn i.e. start of October. The peak season is June through August. Given August is the traditional European Holiday month. If one wants to avoid crowd and lower temperature, May and September end are the best times. But if one wants to enjoy the snow caps, by mid-October the temperature drops down considerably bringing rain and eventually snow in Europe. No matter whether you are buying your Europe tour package from USA, India, UAE or any other location, keep these tips in mind to enjoy the best cruise of your life. 

• Mediterranean Cruise

Mediterranean Europe is one of the most culturally rich and exotic locations on the globe. From the villages belonging to the Stone age to exotic sunny beaches of Portugal and the mystical eastern magic of Turkey. The Mediterranean Cruise has everything. So, if you’re looking for beautiful landscapes, amazing cuisine or a breath of fresh ‘cultural’ air (as millennial would call it). There’s something for everybody on this cruise.

Given the warm sunny beaches, summer is the peak travel season in this region. Since the weather is hot and sunny, and the water is pleasant, there are people from around the world coming here to take a break from there routine to soak up the sun. But, the best time to hop on a Mediterranean cruise is in Spring i.e. from May to June and Autumn i.e. from September to October. As the temperature is warm but enjoyable and there is less crowd as compared to July and August. Also, in the Spring months, the flowers are blooming and the landscape is a sight for sore eyes. While during Autumn the days are mildly cool with clear skies just before the winter rains.

For someone travelling in the late Winter season can visit the southern destinations along with the Mediterranean islands. Cyprus and Malta are treating to enjoy in April, with warm sun and breezy nights. Not just that, one can also visit Morocco, Greece, Italy, Slovenia and Turkey.

Given the cultural extravaganza of a Mediterranean cruise is one of the main highlights, people who are looking for wildlife will not be disappointed. As the Mediterranean is blessed with rich marine life and more than 1200 species of birds, along the coast of Albania, Greece and Turkey, one can find Loggerhead turtles and monk seals. Portugal, Spain and Morocco are home to flamingos, pelicans, sponbills, and egrets. Golden Eagle and giant black vultures can be found in Greece. Albania and Montenegro are home to the rare white pelican. Montenegro also has Lake Skadar, the largest bird sanctuary in all of Europe. With Turkey as one of the best places to see birdlife, as 250 species migrate each spring and fall on their way between Africa and Europe.

• Cruises through the British Isles

A cruise through Great Britain and Ireland has been on everyone’s bucket list. The ideal time for a British Isles cruise is Spring or Fall. Since the area experiences Maritime climate, rain is frequent. So, it is important that one keeps an umbrella handy. As Great Britain’s coastline is very compact, people spend less time on the sea and prefer exploring various ports.  Temperatures in the Mediterranean are way more comfortable. Thus, the crowd here is less making it an important place for people who prefer less crowd.

• Cruising through Northern Europe and the Baltic Sea

Summers are a short season in Scandinavia and the peak temperatures are somewhat bearable. So, a summer cruise is actually a good idea. But for those who want to see the northern lights, the summers are a definite no-no. As for them, dark cloudless winter nights are ideal. A good number of cruise lines operate winter cruise so that travelers can witness the beauty of this Artic spectacle.

• River Cruises

The best time for a river cruise is definitely during the summer season. The main waterways used for cruising are Douro, Seine and Rhone in Western Europe; Rhine in Central Europe and Northern Europe and the Danube in Eastern Europe.  Even when they cover thousands of miles within the continent, covering various countries, their temperatures are almost the same. 

The summer cruise happens between the months of June and August. The European summers bring bright, sunny weather and warm temperatures. One gets to witness the scenic beauty of Europe while taking up biking or hiking. Or like most people, soak the sun on the deck of the boat.

The Spring, as well as the fall season, is a pretty busy time. But because of that, it’s easier to find discounts.

The Netherlands is one of the main attractions of the cruise programs. As during the Spring Time, the flowers bloom into vibrant colors. Not only this, during the fall season the trees change color before winters making it everybody’s favorite delight.

December cruises are extremely popular because of the Christmas markets on the River Danube. Even when the temperatures are not favorable people try these cruises for the holiday season. Because in Europe, Christmas has been a centuries-old tradition with various customs which are different in different regions. These customs make this festival unique and enjoyable in their own way. So, for Europeans it’s not just Christmas, it’s a centuries-old holiday affair. Thus, this season also makes tourists see more of the cultural side of Europe. The vibrant celebrations of Europe are something nobody would miss for the world. 

After December ends along with the holiday season, most river cruises are closed for the season. The temperature starts dropping and the whole of Europe (especially northern and eastern) starts to freeze. Then they start again around Late March and Early April when the temperature starts rising and the ice caps melt.

Thus, cruising in Europe is once in a lifetime opportunity and gives you memories that last a lifetime. Finding the best travel agency in the USA or UAE, India or any other countries would be of great help to enjoy the best of a Europe cruise. Go ahead and have a great Europe trip.