Northern European Cityscapes Cruise

TAKING A TRIAL CRUISE FIRST

We chose the Northern European Cityscapes Cruise on Royal Caribbean Cruises because we were looking for an affordable way to introduce our sons to Europe. It had the benefit of being reasonably priced and our grown children had plenty of things to do on their own. We visited places we would never have gone otherwise. It was the perfect trip for my husband and myself…plus our two college-aged sons.

Reasonably priced northern European cruise

The whole family was eager to go abroad for the first time, but we were concerned it would be cost-prohibitive. It was quite by chance that we stumbled upon the Northern European Cityscapes Cruise. We were looking at cruise itineraries at the “Next Cruise” desk and our sons had just seen a movie they loved, “In Bruges.” This dark comedy which took place in an enchanting city which looked like a fairy tale fascinated them. Indeed, the city was basically a character in the film. Well, much to our surprise, this particular cruise made a stop in Bruges, Belgium. It was an unusual choice, but the price was right. Because it sailed from Southampton, England, we knew that we could get a reasonable flight. In fact, it was less expensive than a recent trip we’d taken cross country to California.

Ideal travel choice with grown children

Because the Northern European Cityscapes cruise was a non-premium route, it was on a smaller ship…but it still had all the amenities we needed. Our sons had their own stateroom and were independent most of the day. We would meet up at the pub before dinner to discuss the next day’s plans. During days at sea, there was plenty of time to lounge by the pool. With so many restaurants (and meals included), our sons could eat all they wanted. On days in port, we all enjoyed the excursions offered by the cruise line. We chose basic “getting to know the town” choices which provided free time to walk through the cities. It was a perfect mix of getting our bearings and exploring on our own.

Visit unusual ports taking northern european cityscapes cruise

Last summer, it seemed like everyone was going to Barcelona, Italy and Greece. These options were simply out of our budget. Our cruise took us to Hamburg, Germany; Oslo, Norway; Bruges, Belgium, and Southampton, UK. Each of the ports was distinctive and interesting. Also, because we were on a smaller ship, the port didn’t seem inundated with passengers. We could never have seen such a wide number of countries or cities traveling by air, train or automobile. We were able to see 4 countries in a week and the hotel, food and travel were included in the cruise package…so no daily packing and transportation headaches or dining on the run. It was the perfect Northern European sampler for our whole family.

Successful First Trip prepared us for more adventure

With one European adventure successfully completed, our family decided to plan another. We visited the “Next Cruise” desk before disembarking to receive a discount on our future cruise with minimum money down. This summer we will explore the Baltic Countries of Denmark, Sweden, Russia, Estonia and Finland. Cruising made these European trips possible for our family of four. Without the reasonable, all-inclusive costs, large number of included amenities and interesting itineraries, we would never see so many countries in such a short time in such comfort. We each now have a list of our favorite ports and plan to return someday for a longer, more comprehensive stay. If you’re looking for affordable, European summer travel options with adult children, we highly recommend the Northern European Cityscapes Cruise with Royal Caribbean Cruises.