On a European cruise vacation visitors can step back in time and visit some of the most remarkable sites in the history of the world! In Athens visitors can climb to the Acropolis to view the Parthenon built by Pericles in the 5th century BC. Or, a short drive from the bustling city of Naples allows travelers to stroll through what’s left of the streets of the ancient city of Pompeii, buried by an eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79!

Bask in the richness of the most famous and celebrated galleries in the world, such as the Louvre in Paris, the Prado in Madrid or the Hermitage in St. Petersburg. Florence and Rome is a paradise for art lovers with an invaluable wealth of works of Michelangelo, Raphael, Botticelli, and Leonardo da Vinci.

Some of the world’s greatest “foodie” destinations can be found on a European or Mediterranean cruise and many people like to spend their days in port seeking out the specialties of a region. Whether it’s the paella in Valencia, the salami in Genoa, the Danish pastries in Copenhagen, or the bouillabaisse in Marseille, all are treated with reverence by epicureans!

Europe is a mecca for oenophiles and many cruisers come to explore the many wine regions. There are shore excursions that grant access and tasting at beautiful family-owned wineries that would otherwise be closed to the public. However, if your taste buds respond more favorably to “a cold brew” then a pub crawl is fun thing to do while in port. They are done in all major cities, but if your itinerary includes Dublin, you’re in for a real treat!

Shopping has always been a great way to spend a day in port on a European cruise. Maybe it’s experiencing the sites and smells of La Boqueria food market in Barcelona or Madrid’s historic Mercado de San Miguel. If bargain hunting is your passion spend the day negotiating for treasures at Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar or the Albert Cuyp market in Amsterdam. Those with designer tastes will love shopping on the Via Condotti in Rome or Bond Street in London.

Wander the cobblestone streets of quaint villages, visit castles that have inspired fairytales, get tickets for an opera, or rent bicycles and ride along the ramparts of walled cities. There is so much to do on a European cruise vacation you can’t possibly fit it all in!  But don’t despair…you’ll pick up where you left off on your next European cruise vacation!