The Prices of Cruise Tours and Packages to Europe
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Sailing into adventure has never been easier – or more luxurious! Ocean cruise tours around Europe combine the thrill of guided excursions with the relaxation of life at sea. From exploring vibrant ports to soaking up stunning coastal views, these cruises offer a seamless blend of adventure and downtime. With all-inclusive packages, exciting entertainment onboard, and expertly planned shore tours, ocean cruise tours make your vacation as stress-free as it is unforgettable.
In this guide, we'll break down the costs, showcase the best options for cruising in Europe, and reveal the top destinations that make these trips so enticing. We've scoured the options to find cruises that deliver unbeatable value through competitive prices, exceptional itineraries, and fantastic amenities. Ready to trade your desk chair for a deck chair? Let's dive in and plan your dream escape to the open sea!
Why does Europe appeal to cruise passengers?
Europe appeals to cruise travelers with its vibrant ports, diverse excursions, and rich culture. Albufeira, Lagos, and Palma de Mallorca are popular with beach lovers. Albufeira, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, and Positano have beautiful high-end resorts that draw visitors from around the world. Also, don't miss the scuba diving in Marbella, Kos, and Albufeira. Europe's inviting climate, welcoming locals, and variety of activities make it a top cruise destination.
How much do cruise packages in Europe cost?
The average price per day for cruise tours in Europe is $603, based on our analysis of 11 tours. While the overall prices can vary greatly, when we look at the daily price of these tours, the costs range from $350 to $962 per day.
Budget-friendly tours average around $440 per day, while higher-end luxury tours average about $757 per day.
Budget tours will usually provide less luxurious accommodation, have larger group sizes, and visit less expensive destinations. They will also sometimes have you pay for more activities on your own instead of including everything up front.
Mid-range tours often provide a step up in accommodation and transportation, and include more guided activities.
Luxury tours usually provide the highest levels of service, luxury hotels, more gormet food choices, comfortable transportation, and offer more all-inclusive payment options.
We partner with TourRadar because they offer the world's largest selection of multi-day organized tours, offering seamless travel experiences while supporting local businesses. It's the perfect way to explore new destinations with ease and confidence.
The Best Cruises in Europe
Budget-Friendly Cruises
Budget-friendly and affordable cruise tours in Europe average $440 per day, with daily prices from $350 to $560. Budget tours usually include hotels, meals, and activities that are not quite as nice as other tours. Often, they might only include transportation, lodging, and some activities, leaving you on your own to pay for meals and other attractions during the tour. This can be a very convenient and economical way to visit France without spending too much money, as it gives you control over the amount you spend on meals and extra services. If you're looking for a really great option, check out Portugal, Spain & the Douro River Valley (2028, Porto to Lisbon) here.
Mid-Range Cruises
For typical cruise tours in Europe that fall in the middle range of prices, the average cost is $616 per day. Daily prices range from $597 to $649. Taking this step up in price from the cheaper tours to mid-range will often get you plenty of extra amenities and service for a great price. These tours usually include very comfortable hotels, meals at delicious local restaurants, comfortable transportation, knowledgable guides, and entry to many of the top attractions. One of the best tours is Christmastime on the Danube (Westbound) 2027.
Luxury Cruises
Luxury cruise tours in Europe average around $616 per day, with daily costs ranging from $655 to $962. At this price, you'll be very well taken care of and pampered on your journey through the scenic destinations. Knowledgable guides, the best accommodation options, the finest restaurants, comfortable transportation, and quick entry into attractions are all part of the itinerary. Every luxury and detail has been planned and thought about so that you don't have to deal with any hassle, you simple show up and enjoy your vacation. One of the best luxury tours here is A Culinary Experience in Burgundy & Provence with 2 Nights in Paris (Northbound) 2027.
Which tour companies offer these trips?
A number of fantastic tour companies offer cruise tours in Europe. These are a few of the best, because they offer the highest rated service, provide the best overall quality, and have the most five-star guest reviews to prove it.
Avalon Waterways
Focusing on river cruise tours through Germany, France, Hungary, and the Netherlands, Avalon Waterways is a well established tour provider. Most participants on their tours are adults and their tours range in length from 5 days to 4 weeks. Some of their offerings cater to families with children. Most of the tours provided by Avalon Waterways are high-end and luxurious with a top-tier level of service.
See All Tours from Avalon Waterways
Albatros Expeditions
Albatros Expeditions is a smaller international tour company with cruises to 13 countries, including Argentina, Antarctica, Greenland, and Chile. Most of the cruises provided by Albatros Expeditions are high-end and luxurious with a top-tier level of service.
See All Tours from Albatros Expeditions
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection is a large company with a focus on river cruise tours through Germany, Austria, Hungary, and France. Most participants are adults and the tours range in length from 8 days to 3 weeks. The tours offered by Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection are usually luxurious, high-end, and provide a top-tier level of service.
See All Tours from Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
Collette
Collette is a large international travel company offering tours all over the world. Some of their most popular destinations include the U.S., Italy, Great Britain, and France. The company appeals to travelers of all ages, with many tours focusing on families with children. Many of the tours fall into the mid-range price category. The company's adventures often highlight activities such as wine tasting, island hopping, and camping.
Departure Destinations in Europe
Wondering where tours launch from in Europe? With a variety of stops and destinations along the way, there's something for everyone.
Vienna
Vienna is the capital of Austria and its beautifully situated on the Danube River. It's an artistic city that has a long history of classical music including being home to such renowned musicians as Mozart and Beethoven. The city has many palaces and beautiful architecture.
The city has beautiful Baroque architecture and a livable atmosphere.
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. It's divided into two section, Buda, and Pest, which are separated by the Danube River and connected by the Chain Bridge. The Buda side is the hilly side. There's a funicular that runs up to the top of Castle Hill. The Pest side is flat with promenades and beautiful architecture. It also has a lively nightlife.
Set against the river, the city has beautiful buildings and nice parks.
Salzburg
Salzburg a beautiful Austrian city near the border with Germany. It's part of the Eastern Alps and it has a beautiful old town that is filled with music and nice architecture. The city is the birthplace of Mozart and there are several museums relating to his life. Salzburg is also the setting for the famed Van Trapp family whose story is retold in the classic "Sound of Music."
This stunning city is known for its beautiful churches and hillside views.
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia. It sits along the Danube River and is a less touristy, but still beautiful, European city. It's surrounded by vineyards and mountains, so the setting is picturesque. The city also has many great walking and cycling trails. Bratislava's old town is beautiful and a fun place to explore.
While it's often overlooked by travelers who breeze through Europe, those who stop where will appreciate its history, charm, and natural beauty.
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Other popular destinations for ocean cruise tours through Europe include Melk, Passau, Longyearbyen, Regensburg, and Vodice.
Cruise Tours and Packages vs. Independent Travel: Pros and Cons
Deciding between an organized tour and independent travel? Keep these important aspects of each option in mind.
Organized Tours
Pros- On the cruise ship, you can relax and enjoy the on-board activities.
- Your hotel room moves with you as you travel.
- The ship provides the food and fun.
- Tour guides provide expert knowledge, advice, transportation, and logistical planning.
- Tours that extend from the cruises allow for even more in-depth exploration without any hassle or stress.
- You might not get to spend as much time as you like at each destination
- Some excursions cost extra
Independent Travel
Pros- You have total control over the plan.
- You can focus on the destinations instead of cruise ship activities.
- You'll need to plan the entire itinerary on your own, and make all of the bookings separately.
- Costs are uncertain.
- You might have trouble getting tickets to the most popular events or sights during the busy season.
Which is cheaper?
Is traveling independently less expensive than taking guided cruise tours? The answer isn't straightforward. Guided tours often include services like hotels, transportation, meals, entry tickets, guides, and activities, all of which you would need to arrange and pay for individually if traveling on your own. To determine the cost difference, you'd need to compare the total cost of the tour package with the cost of booking everything separately. You may prefer a less expensive hotel or splurge on dining, so the cost of a tour could either save you money or cost you more. Be sure to review what's included in the tour package before making your comparison.
Also, before booking a tour, make sure you know exactly what is included as tour companies sometimes change their itineraries or included amenities to keep them updated with seasonal changes and customer interests.
More Tour Options
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Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
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