Many clients come to us asking for advice on whether to take a Europe cruise or a land tour. Many people feel a cruise is the better choice. The answer, at the risk of being evasive is yes and no. It's like comparing apples and oranges, and although both taste great, they are quite different.
A rather simplistic answer could be that you won't really see Europe on a cruise ship. You'll see piers and ports which are usually industrial areas that you will want to hurry through to catch the tour bus that will take you on a tour of the region for a few hours. So you're back to the land tour option, and a brief one at that.
For example, a cruise of the Mediterranean stops in Rome, well that's not true. The port of Rome is really the city of Civitavecchia which is 50 miles from Rome and takes about one and a half to two hours by bus. So, if your ship is in port for 12 hours you will be spending almost a third of your precious time shore traveling to and from the ship. You will have time to see a few, (very few if you are traveling in the summer months,) of the sights and perhaps enjoy an espresso or gelato before your bus ride back to the port.
Another popular port of call is Barcelona for usually 8 hours. The port is close to the city, but it is not nearly enough time to see and taste what this wonderful city has to offer.
Most ships give twelve hours in St. Petersburg, Russia. That only gives you time for a run-through of the Hermitage, a glimpse of Peter-Paul Fortress, a blini and then back to the ship.
Shore excursions on cruises can also be quite expensive. To spend the day in Rome could easily cost $150 USD pp. If you are taking a cruise that has several ports of call, you could be talking about spending as much on your sightseeing tours as you did on your cabin.
Now don't misunderstand me, I love cruising! The leisurely dining, great theatricals, breakfast on the balcony, cocktails at sunset, unlimited ship-board activities, unpack once for the entire trip and sleeping in the same bed every night are all wonderful, but not, in my opinion, a way to really get the flavor and see a country. Cruises also offer a wonderful advantage to families by having programs to keep the children occupied on sea days versus trying to entertain them on a bus.
On the other hand, land tours are not the total panacea. There's that suitcase to pack and unpack every few days and a different hotel. Depending on the itinerary, you would experience long bus or train rides between your highlighted cities. The plus side is that there will be much more time for sightseeing. and if you plan properly and in advance, free time to visit areas on your own, unhurried and in depth. A ten day tour of Italy will typically visit at least the three major cities of Rome, Florence and Venice giving plenty of time to visit museums and cathedrals, small shops and mysterious back streets as well as wonderful restaurants and trattorias. However, unlike your cruise ship, not all (if any) of your meals will be included in the price and as on-site gyms, spas, beauty salon and gracious service are not at your fingertips. Also look at itineraries closely to see how much sightseeing in included versus having to purchase optional excursions.
There is one way to combine your apples and oranges and make a nice fruit salad, which is the packaged "cruise-tour" offered by many of the best ship lines and some tour operators. This is your chance to combine the best of both. Depending upon the cruise and the area involved, you can tour an area for five, six or seven days then board your ship for a wonderful restful sail, and even make brief visits to other cities.
No matter how you travel, Europe is filled with gems, amazing history, architecture and cuisine, so you are sure to enjoy your vacation. The key is knowing what to expect in advance so you are not disappointed. Europe cruise versus a Europe tour? Well, whatever floats your boat.
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