There's nothing quite like a European cruise. However, they differ from tropical getaways to the Caribbean or the Bahamas.
Although I had previously taken a 7-night Mediterranean voyage with MSC, my fiancée, Sarah, cruised to Europe for the first time last summer. We embarked on a weeklong cruise aboard Celebrity Ascent to Greece, Italy, and Turkey in July.
During our time onboard, she noted a few mistakes that made our trip less enjoyable, including underestimating the heat and staying up too late.
Stay hydrated
You must drink plenty of water and stay hydrated, regardless of where you are cruising. "I found myself feeling faint walking around in the heat because I wasn't drinking enough water," Sarah said.
Even though we purchased Celebrity's Premium Drinks Package, we neglected to prioritize bringing bottled water back to our cabin until halfway through our weeklong voyage.
Instead of rehydrating after a long shore excursion, we'd often debrief over martinis at Celebrity's infamous Martini Bar, which wasn't the smart decision. Dehydration can have nasty symptoms like headaches, muscle cramps, and constipation, none of which are ideal when on a dream vacation!
Pack proper footwear
European cruises aren't as beach-focused as Caribbean and Bahamian itineraries. While you can still lounge on the beach, we explored cities like Santorini, Mykonos, and Naples instead of wading in ocean waters.
Sarah regretted not packing the right footwear: "I wore the same sandals around Europe, and, after the cruise, my feet felt horrible." Sure, the sandals were cute and matched her outfits, but they weren't ideal for walking around cobblestone streets or climbing ancient ruins.
Knowing my feet hurt easily, I came prepared with my Veja sneakers. I love them because they're stylish and comfortable! I am also a fan of On tennis shoes for more active purposes.
Go to bed earlier
Sometimes, it's hard to balance the want to do all the onboard activities and the need to rest before long days ashore. "Even though we had fun at night, in the morning, I wish I was more alert to enjoy the ports," remarked Sarah.
We tried to be responsible about prioritizing rest, too. We'd set a bedtime for ourselves just to end up at a silent disco in the Grand Plaza until 11:30pm! Because it was Sarah's first time on an Edge Class ship, she didn't want to feel like she was missing any activities!
"It was my third-ever cruise, and I usually see the ships as another destination. It was hard to shut off that part of my brain and see it as a place to relax," she added.
Read more: I went on a 7-day cruise to Europe. Here are 12 things that surprised me the most
Overestimate the heat in July
During our 10 days in Europe, Greece was experiencing an intense heatwave. In fact, the Acropolis was closed the day we flew from North Carolina to Athens. Sarah, who doesn't fare well in extreme temperatures, struggled to enjoy herself. "I have never been so hot in my life. I continuously felt as if I was going to faint. My fan was a lifesaver," she said.
In the weeks leading up to our cruise, we purchased a few cooling devices to help make our experience less painful. Still, it was practically impossible to stay comfortable for long periods because some days felt as hot as 105°F—we ended up skipping our excursion to the Ephesus ruins in Turkey due to the high temperatures.
She agreed that next time, she'd only consider a Greek Isles cruise during the shoulder season, preferably April, May, or October. Plus, because the peak travel season hasn't started yet, the ports are usually less crowded. The big crowds in the ports did not help the heat when we were there in July.
Underestimate how much money we'd spend ashore
It's no surprise that Europe is pricier than the Bahamas or Caribbean. Everything from flights to shore excursions costs more for the average American than a 4-night cruise from Miami, Florida.
However, Sarah had thought everything was going to be more costly than it was. "I was surprised at the pricing in Europe," she recalled, "Although it's not cheap, it wasn't as expensive as I thought."
Aside from our expensive cruise line-sponsored excursions, the priciest things were our meals in Santorini and Mykonos. However, when researching restaurants, we weren't against splurging since this was our first time in Greece. It would have been easy to find a local gyro spot and have an affordable lunch.
Perhaps she's a little biased having lived in New York City, one of the most expensive U.S. cities, where it's easy to rack up a large bill on a night out, even if you think you're being financially responsible.
Read more: I spent $5,000 for an infinite veranda cabin on Celebrity's newest ship
Stay an extra day after the cruise ended
We booked our Greek Isles cruise before Sarah got her 2024-2025 school year work schedule and were disappointed to learn the cruise took place over a teacher work week. Instead of canceling, she took PTO, and we had to fly home from Rome, Italy, the day the cruise disembarked.
Though returning home was the right decision, Sarah said, "I wish we stayed a few days after the cruise ended to enjoy Rome." We figured we would be exhausted and ready to fly home after spending ten days in Europe.
However, it's not every day we're that far from home. In fact, that was Sarah's second-ever trip to Europe. We planned time to explore our embarkation port of Athens, Greece, but neglected to realize how badly we would want to visit Rome together.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
