Vipond - Northern Europe by cruise ship: the complete guide to cruising Northern Europe: includes Baltic, British Isles and Fjords of Norway

Published by: Ocean Cruise Guides Ltd.

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Copyright 2015 Ocean Cruise Guides. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise (except brief passages for the purposes of review) without the prior permission of Ocean Cruise Guides Ltd. Whilst every care has been taken in compiling this publication, all details are liable to change and cannot be guaranteed. The publisher and author cannot accept any liability whatsoever arising from errors or omissions, however caused.

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Editors: Mel-Lynda Andersen, Steve Blake

Contributing editors: Stephen York, Michael DeFreitas, William Kelly

Cover artwork by Alan H. Nakano.

Cover design by Ocean Cruise Guides.

Cartography: Reid Kelly, Cartesia USA, OCG.

Design: Ocean Cruise Guides Ltd

Ebook Production: Reid Kelly

Publisher: William Kelly

Northern Europe By Cruise Ship Second Edition

ISBN: 978-1-9277470-8-7 (ebook)

ISBN: 978-1-9277471-0-0 (print)

Foreword

N orthern Europe is both foreign and familiar. It encompasses the British Isles, Scandinavia and, for the purpose of this book, the countries bordering the Baltic Sea, North Sea and English Channel. These nations each sustain their own culture and centuries-old history, as evidenced by winding medieval streets and hilltop castles.

Kings and queens still reign here, royal guards still parade in palace forecourts, and loyal subjects are still knighted by their sovereign. The famous capitals of Northern Europe London, Paris, Amsterdam, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Oslo, Helsinki and St. Petersburg could be described as vibrant, open-air museums with their Gothic cathedrals, baroque palaces and cobblestone streets that have clamoured with activity since the Middle Ages.

One of the best ways to visit these diverse countries is by cruise ship. A European cruise is a cost-effective way to sample multiple destinations without the hassle of daily packing and unpacking. Your nightly accommodation and all meals are part of your cruise fare, and while youre enjoying a sound nights sleep at the end of each sightseeing-filled day, your ship is taking you to the next port of call.

This book is designed to help you get the most out of your European cruise and, like a faithful friend, is meant to share with you the pleasures and the wonder of travelling to this beautiful and fascinating destination.

Bon Voyage!

Anne Vipond

Northern Europe Cruise Options

Choosing Your Cruise

A European cruise is a relaxing and cost-effective way to visit numerous countries in a single trip. Early-booking discounts and the all-inclusive nature of cruising enhance the good value this mode of travel represents, which is also an efficient use of time. A cruise is an effortless way to travel between cities and countries, sampling the highlights of each destination, then enjoying a good nights sleep while your ship takes you to the next port of call.

Northern Europe cruises vary in length with the majority of itineraries ranging from seven to 14 days. The most popular are cruises of the Baltic Sea, which is bordered by Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Germany. Copenhagen and Stockholm are major base ports for Baltic cruises, as are Amsterdam and the British ports of Dover, Harwich and Southampton. Popular Baltic ports of call include Helsinki, Tallinn and Warnemnde (for Berlin). St. Petersburg is the premier port of call on a Baltic itinerary, with most ships docking here overnight so their passengers can spend two full days exploring this beautiful and historic city.

The Norwegian capital of Oslo is frequently included in Baltic itineraries, and is sometimes a port of call on cruises of the Norwegian Fjords and/or British Isles. The main base ports for British Isles itineraries are Southampton, Dover and Harwich. These itineraries often include a port call at Le Havre (for Paris) or Cherbourg (for the D-Day beaches), as well as one or two Norwegian fjords. Iceland and Greenland are usually included in transatlantic voyages that end or originate in New York or Fort Lauderdale.

Dover is a major base port for Northern Europe cruises.

The Northern Europe cruise season begins in May as ships leave the Caribbean and head across the Atlantic. June and July are the most popular cruising months in Northern Europe, due in large part to Scandinavias long hours of daylight at the height of summer. By late August or early September most ships are leaving northern waters, many of them heading to the Mediterranean or back across the Atlantic. Spring and fall repositioning cruises between North America and Northern Europe, or between Northern Europe and the Mediterranean, often feature less-visited ports, such as those in Iceland and Greenland, or those along the west coast of France.

A small luxury ship approaches Douglas Bay on the Isle of Man.

The array of ships servicing Northern Europe includes modern megaships, mid-sized premium ships and small luxury ships which can dock at the smaller ports of call. The Glossary of Cruise Lines at the back of this book provides a summary of the cruise lines deploying ships to Northern Europe.

When choosing a cruise, youre well advised to visit a travel agent who specializes in cruises. Look for an agency displaying the CLIA logo, indicating its agents have received training from Cruise Lines International Association. The cruise lines strongly encourage their clients to book through a travel agent with CLIA accreditation, and these qualified agents are a good source of information, with personal knowledge of many ships. They are able to provide pertinent detail regarding on-board atmosphere, cabin selection and pricing. Supplied with the relevant information, i.e. which countries or specific destinations you would like to visit, the length of cruise you wish to take, and the type of onboard atmosphere you are seeking, a travel agent can recommend suitable itineraries and ships. They are also kept up-to-date by the cruise lines regarding special pricing.