The Prices of Cruise Tours and Packages to Western Europe
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Sailing into adventure has never been easier – or more luxurious! Ocean cruise tours around Western 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 Western 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 Western Europe appeal to cruise passengers?
Western 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, Albufeira, and Lagos. Western Europe's inviting climate, welcoming locals, and variety of activities make it a top cruise destination.
How much do cruise packages in Western Europe cost?
The average price per day for cruise tours in Western Europe is $559, based on our analysis of 7 tours. While the overall prices can vary greatly, when we look at the daily price of these tours, the costs range from $396 to $655 per day.
Budget-friendly tours average around $425 per day, while higher-end luxury tours average about $652 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.
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The Best Cruises in Western Europe
Budget-Friendly Cruises
Budget-friendly and affordable cruise tours in Western Europe average $425 per day, with daily prices from $396 to $454. 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 Western Europe that fall in the middle range of prices, the average cost is $586 per day. Daily prices range from $560 to $602. 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 Western Europe average around $586 per day, with daily costs ranging from $649 to $655. 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 Christmastime in Alsace & Germany (Northbound) 2027.
Which tour companies offer these trips?
A number of fantastic tour companies offer cruise tours in Western 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
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
Emerald Cruises
Emerald Cruises is a large company with a focus on river cruise tours through France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. Most participants are adults and the tours range in length from 5 days to 4 weeks. The tours offered by Emerald Cruises are usually luxurious, high-end, and provide a top-tier level of service. The company's adventures often highlight activities such as wine tasting, island hopping, and snorkelling.
See All Tours from Emerald Cruises
Departure Destinations in Western Europe
Wondering where tours launch from in Western 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.
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.
Linz
Linz sits on both sides of the Danube River and is filled with Baroque architecture and a great main square. There are art museums and many historic sights to visit. It's also a city that's filled with bakeries so make sure you sample the many sweet treats around town.
It sits along the Danube and is filled with charming cafes and beautiful architecture.
Paris
Paris is not only the capital city of France, but it is one of Europe's most iconic cities. For many visitors, its a dream destination that is filled with wide boulevards, charming cafes, and world class landmarks. The food is widely recognized as some of the best in the world. The city sits along the River Seine, and a stroll down the river at night is a quintessential Parisian experience.
It is famous for it's beautiful buildings, grand avenues, and impressive gardens. Many consider it among the most romantic and beautiful cities in the world.
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Other popular destinations for ocean cruise tours through Western Europe include Melk, Passau, Regensburg, Macon, and Lamego.
Cruise Tours and Packages vs. Independent Travel: Pros and Cons
When deciding between a self-planned trip and an organized tour, remember to evaluate the key features of each travel style.
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 independent travel less expensive than booking guided cruise tours? The answer varies. Organized tours package essential services like accommodations, transport, meals, entrance fees, and activities into a single price, while independent travel involves booking each aspect separately. To assess which is more economical, compare the tour price with what you'd spend arranging everything yourself. If you prioritize budget options or premium experiences, the cost comparison could swing either way. Always review the details of what's included in the tour package to decide.
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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