What to know before booking a European cruise
It is important to be realistic about how much can be seen in a single port day, especially in large cities like Rome.
See inside Princess Cruises’ newest ship, Star Princess
USA TODAY was invited to be among the first to experience the newest ship in Princess’ fleet, Star Princess.
- Cruising offers a convenient way to see multiple European cities without the hassle of constant travel planning.
- Arriving a day or two before your cruise departs allows time to explore the port city without rushing.
- While in port, travelers can choose between cruise line excursions, third-party tours, or exploring on their own.
I am over backpacking across Europe.
It was a thrilling way to sightsee on a shoestring in my 20s, but the older I get, the less I want to schlep luggage from city to city and figure everything out on my own.
These days, I’d rather leave the navigating to someone else.
That’s just what I did on Princess Cruises’ new Star Princess, which sailed its inaugural voyage in the Mediterranean last fall before repositioning to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Here were the best and worst parts of sailing in Europe.
A taste of Barcelona
My trip began in Europe’s busiest cruise port, Barcelona. I arrived a day before my ship’s departure, which is always advised to circumvent potential flight delays.
I’d visited Barcelona before, but if you’ve never explored your departure port, I’d recommend arriving a few days early to enjoy it at your own pace. You don’t want to rush through sites like Gaudí’s Basilica de la Sagrada Familia.
The only thing on my agenda this time around was food. I wanted to try everything at the bustling Mercat (market) de la Boqueria along Las Ramblas, but settled on a handheld cone of artisanal cheese, cured meats, and crackers.
I saved my appetite for a Tapas Crawl I’d booked through Tripadvisor’s Things to Do section, which, like Viator and Airbnb Experiences, offers third-party, traveler-rated activities around the world. Cruise lines sometimes offer excursions in departure and arrival cities as well.
The tour was a literal taste of Barcelona. Our small group’s English-speaking, local guide took us to four different eateries in neighborhoods where we were the only tourists. As we shared tasty tapas and toasted to Spanish cider and Vermouth, our guide shared the history behind the city and its food.
I was delighted to recognize the next morning some of the same dishes in the sumptuous breakfast buffet at my hotel, Eurostar Grand Marina.
All aboard
Over the next few days, the Star Princess became my roving base camp for other adventures.
I relished settling into my stateroom and not having to repack and move for each destination.
I also appreciated developing a familiar rhythm — having breakfast at the buffet every day (though room service and table service were available), grabbing coffee at the same cafe, being greeted by the same welcoming crew members even as the scenery changed.
There was plenty to do on sea and port days. Port days are typically a great opportunity to enjoy onboard amenities with fewer crowds, though it would be a shame to miss ports on European cruises given that there’s so much to experience within a short distance of wherever you dock. At any major port, there are plenty of excursion operators, cabs, and rideshares happy to drive you to a location.
The French countryside
Our first port stop was Marseille, the second-most populous city in France, where I opted for one of Princess’ Local Connections. The cruise line describes these excursions as “meaningful, authentic, personal, and exclusive experiences crafted and hosted by local experts.”
Mine included a tour of an olive farm and mill, Moulin de la Coquille in charming Fontvieille, about an hour and 15 minutes from Marseille. We learned about their olive oil-making process and tasted their world-class offerings. The excursion also included lunch at a nearby restaurant, a walking tour of picturesque Les Baux-de-Provence, and guided motorcoach travel in between.
It was a perfect snapshot of Provence, focusing on depth over breadth, that felt completely unhurried.
When in Rome
Rome was a different story.
Cruises that parenthetically include Rome in their itineraries actually dock in Civitavecchia, which is about an hour and a half away without traffic. Of course, the motorcoach for my Rome highlights excursion hit traffic both ways, cutting into our time.
Our walking tour wove through the heart of the city with stops at Trevi Fountain, Trajan’s Forum, and the Colosseum, without entering. We did have plenty of time for lunch on our own in Vatican City, but not enough to independently visit the Vatican amid Jubilee-year crowds.
In retrospect, I regretted not staying closer to the port or booking a more narrowly focused experience like the one in France. Just like Rome wasn’t built in a day, there’s no way to see it all in a day, much less a port day. Some cruise lines, however, offer overnight stays at ports on select itineraries.
Lessons learned
It may be tempting to disembark at specific locations for longer stays, but that’s not usually possible. “Disembarking a cruise mid-itinerary is typically only permitted in limited circumstances, such as a medical emergency, and requires coordination with the cruise line and local authorities,” Cruise Lines International Association told USA TODAY, noting that even in emergencies, travelers may be responsible for extra logistical costs. Advance approval and documentation are typically required, and relevant legal rules apply even when early disembarkation is allowed, CLIA added.
My leg of the cruise ended in Naples as part of a pre-arranged schedule. I would’ve liked to have seen the city and tried real Neopolitan pizza, but had to head straight to the airport due to flight schedules and personal time constraints.
My fellow passengers spent the day in Naples, then continued onto Sicily, Cartagena (Spain), and Gibraltar before returning to Barcelona on their 11-day voyage. This was a Western Mediterranean sailing, but there are myriad ocean and river routes across Europe, offered by various cruise lines.
Travelers should pick the one with the most destinations of interest to them, then research what can be done while they’re there, be it on their own, through their cruise line, or through third parties. Note, unlike with excursions booked through cruise lines, ships aren’t obligated to wait for you if third-party operators run late.
Before you choose, read reviews from fellow travelers and consider joining unofficial Facebook fan groups for your particular ship for additional insights. If there’s a particular city you want more time in, and you don’t mind packing and unpacking one more time, you can always take a plane or train there before or after your cruise.
USA TODAY reporter Eve Chen was provided access by Princess Cruises. USA TODAY maintains editorial control of content.
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