The short answer
Pick your region first, because it decides the season, the ship type and the price. Sunny history-and-beach trips mean the Mediterranean; scenery means Norway or Iceland; easy, unpacked-once sightseeing in the heart of cities means a river cruise.
At a glance
| Region | Type | Typical length (nights) | What it's like | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Mediterranean | Ocean | 7-12 | Big famous cities | First-timers |
| Eastern Med / Greek Isles | Ocean | 7-12 | Islands, ruins, beaches | Sun and history |
| Adriatic | Ocean | 7-10 | Walled towns, coast | History, smaller ports |
| Norway fjords | Ocean | 7-14 | Cliffs, waterfalls, rain | Scenery lovers |
| Baltic | Ocean | 7-14 | Capitals, long days | City sightseers |
| British Isles | Ocean | 10-14 | Castles, countryside | Heritage, golf |
| Iceland / Arctic | Ocean or expedition | 10-16 | Glaciers, wildlife | Nature, adventure |
| Atlantic / Canaries | Ocean | 7-14 | Mild winter sun | Winter trips |
| Danube / Rhine / Moselle | River | 7 (up to 15) | Towns, castles, vineyards | Easy sightseeing |
| Seine / Rhone | River | 7-8 | Paris, Normandy, Provence | Food, art, WWII history |
| Douro | River | 7 | Vineyards, small ships | Wine lovers |
| Elbe | River | 7-10 | Quieter, Dresden/Prague | Repeat river cruisers |
Ocean regions
- Western Mediterranean (Spain, France, Italy): big-name cities like Barcelona, Rome (via Civitavecchia), Florence (via Livorno) and the French Riviera. Common lengths: 7-12 nights. Suits first-timers who want famous sights.
- Eastern Mediterranean and Greek Isles (Greece, Turkey, sometimes Cyprus): islands, ruins and beaches. Often 7-12 nights. Suits people who like sun and slower days. Santorini and Mykonos can be very crowded in summer.
- Adriatic (Croatia, Montenegro, Venice area, Slovenia): walled towns like Dubrovnik and Kotor. Often 7-10 nights. Good for history lovers; many old towns have steep stairs and slippery stone.
- Norway fjords: steep green cliffs, waterfalls and small towns. Typically 7-14 nights from UK, German, Danish or Dutch ports. Suits scenery lovers who don't need beach weather. Expect rain.
- Baltic (Scandinavian capitals, Tallinn, sometimes Germany and Poland): city sightseeing in long summer days. Often 7-14 nights. St. Petersburg has not been on mainstream itineraries since 2022 (check each line).
- British Isles (England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, sometimes Norway or France): castles, gardens, golf. Often 10-14 nights. Many ports use tenders (small boats).
- Iceland and the Arctic (Iceland, Greenland, Svalbard, North Cape): wild nature, glaciers, whales. Often 10-16 nights; expedition ships common. Expensive, cool, and weather can change plans.
- Atlantic islands and Canaries (Canary Islands, Madeira, Azores, Portugal, Morocco): mild winter sun. Often 7-14 nights; also the route for spring and fall 'repositioning' crossings to and from the US.
River regions
- Danube (Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary; longer trips to Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria): Vienna, Budapest, Wachau Valley. Usually 7 nights; 10-15 nights for the lower Danube. The most popular first river cruise.
- Rhine (Switzerland, France, Germany, Netherlands): castles, vineyards, Amsterdam. Usually 7-14 nights.
- Seine (Paris to Normandy): Monet's Giverny, Rouen, D-Day beaches. Usually 7-8 nights. Good for WWII history fans.
- Rhone and Saone (Lyon, Avignon, Provence, Burgundy): food and wine. Usually 7 nights.
- Douro (Portugal and a little of Spain): terraced port-wine vineyards, small ships, hot summers. Usually 7 nights.
- Elbe (Berlin/Prague area, Dresden): quieter and shallower; low water is a known risk. Usually 7-10 nights.
- Moselle (Germany, Luxembourg, France): small wine towns; often combined with the Rhine. Usually 7 nights.
How to choose
- Want the most famous sights in one trip: Western Med.
- Want scenery from the deck, not crowds: Norway fjords.
- Want to unpack once and walk off the ship into town: a river cruise.
- Have trouble with steps, tenders or hills: rivers and Northern Europe are usually easier than Greek islands or Adriatic old towns (see the accessibility topic).
- Going in winter: Canary Islands, or a Christmas market river cruise. Most Med and Northern Europe sailings shrink or stop.
Your checklist
Sources & what we could not confirm · 2 sources · checked 2026-11
Still being confirmed
- Typical night counts are based on common itinerary patterns, not a single official source; check the specific sailing.
- Whether any 2026-2027 Baltic itinerary includes St. Petersburg was not checked line by line.