Eastern Europe Cruises Departure Ports

It is said Eastern Europe makes history come alive, a land where every city or village has a story to tell. A perfect blend of magic and reality with castles straight out of a fairytale and ancient churches on one end, and coffee bars and art galleries on the contemporary end. Wandering through cobbled alleys, being draped in awe-inspiring landscapes, or being immersed in deep-rooted traditions are some of the many surprises Eastern Europe has to offer. Let this guide take you through the sites that you must visit on your trip.

Eastern Europe Cruise Departure Ports

Departing from some of Europe’s most beautiful cities, cruises to Eastern Europe are guaranteed to mix culture, history, and beautiful views. There are five popular ports of embarkation that regularly maintain a presence in the itineraries of cruises to Eastern Europe:

Amsterdam, Netherlands

As a Rhine and Danube River cruising place, the port of Amsterdam fits all picturesque and busy features for Europe. Guests are, then, entertained by viewing the famous canals, museums, and vibrant quarters of the city before setting off for voyages linking Western Europe with castles, vineyards, and medieval cities of the East.

Barcelona

Though technically Spanish and pinpointed as a Western Mediterranean hub, Barcelona is often grouped with travel ideals within Eastern Europe due to its functioning as a gateway city. Its active port is among the busiest cruise departing ports in Europe, with joining cruises to the Mediterranean and indeed to longer cruises across the Atlantic.

Budapest

Being one of the stops for the Danube River cruises, a nice city of Budapest is also the capital of Hungary. The beautiful city stands straddling the river; its Pest is the busy town on one side, whereas Buda presents itself as the medieval little town across the river. Starting the river cruise here is to step into a picture-perfect setting with Buda Castle towering from the heights along with the shimmering night view of the Parliament Building. From Budapest, cruises usually journey westward to link the city with Vienna and Bratislava on the way to Germany. You will still want to stop by even for a layover, whether to walk across the Chain Bridge or soak in an outdoor hot spring pool.

Prague

Prague is situated about 230 km away from the Danube, yet the city forms an important part along many cruise itineraries in Europe. Flights in not uncommon as well, since many guests choose to see the city for a couple of days before driving to their embarkation points at Nuremberg or Passau. The town itself holds magic within its walls: cobbled alleys, medieval squares, and the famous Charles Bridge all seem to induce a timeless moment. St. Vitus Cathedral with its Gothic spires stands over the castle of Prague; all that energy of the Old Town Square is most felt around the Astronomical Clock. Pretty with a good vantage for transport, Prague has risen to become an extremely popular "pre-cruise" site for the eager visitor desirous of squeezing in a little more history before setting sail.

Vienna

Vienna is yet another important port city located along the Danube River. Many of the river cruises either embark or dock at this city; hence it must be suggested as the gateway to the region. Some cruises from Vienna often link with Budapest and various other Danube capitals, offering an adequate amount of vintage charm and scenic river travel. A few days in the city before or after a cruise would definitely provide some culture to the whole experience.

Major Cruise Ports in the Eastern Europe

A cruise offers some of the most wonderful landscapes between the Mediterranean and Adriatic, with ports that serve as a nexus of history, culture, and spectacular vistas and thus form prime stops in any European cruise schedule. Ancient cities and seaside fortresses: here are a few names of the principal cruise ports that travellers frequent in this part of the world:

Dubrovnik

Being the “Pearl of the Adriatic,” this city remains one of the favorites in Europe to cruise. The Old Town, encircled with huge stone walls, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site comprising filed with cobbled streets, century-old churches, and picturesque squares. One can wander on the old city walls and admire a sea view or take a cable car that ascends Mount Srđ to get a panoramic view down towards the sea and the red rooftops.

Athens

Most of the cruises call Athens and dock at the neighboring port of Piraeus, the port being just a few minutes' drive away from Athens. Athens is the birthplace of democracy and Western philosophy. Numerous ancient loci should be visited. A colorful blend of history and shopping leads firmly into late-day contemporary Greek life along its busy streets.

Kotor

Lying deep in the Bay of Kotor, this terminal comes up as a showstopper anywhere in Europe. Even the approach to Kotor port is to be remembered with towering mountains above calm waters glistening in the light of the sun. The Kotor Old Town is a fine mélange of narrow streets, medieval squares, and fortified walls climbing up the hillside. It's nowhere near the size or crowd of bigger ports and certainly adds to its intimacy and genuineness.

Valletta

Known as the Harbour that ranks first in grandiosity in the Mediterranean, the capital Valletta is located therein. The city is anything but a dry subject of history, with the Knights of St. John erecting huge palatial buildings with elegant baroque-style churches and palaces.

Istanbul

Running east to west, Istanbul is truly an unusual cruise port. The skyline of the city is dotted with domes and minarets, thereby welcoming the tourist for an interesting visit. The visiting list includes the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and Topkapi Palace to name just a few. Then the Grand Bazaar comes to the crack offering never-ending shopping. A cruise on the Bosphorus or a walk through the colorful neighborhoods will surely add more in the experience.

Things to Know Before You Go on a Eastern Europe Cruise

One of the best ways to see the history and culture of this part of the world, particularly made so presentable by Mother Nature herself through a generous display of splendid views, is just by taking an Eastern Europe cruise. Most cruise lines operate along the Danube and the Adriatic or Mediterranean coasts, connecting the globally famous capitals with the little towns and lovely coasts. Hence, here are some vital considerations to take into account before buying your cruise trip.

How Much Is a Eastern Europe Cruise?

Price-wise, Eastern Europe cruises have much latitude, as most river cruises that last about a week fall in the $2,500-$4,500 range per person, and ocean cruises can start at $3,000 per person and even go up.

Can you cruise the entire Eastern Europe?

No, not at all. Eastern Europe refers to a huge tract with not a single cruise covering all its countries. Most itineraries would concentrate on either river cruising, placing countries of Hungary, Austria, Slovakia, and Serbia to the Danube, or coastal cruising, taking in Adriatic and Mediterranean ports including Dubrovnik, Kotor, Athens, and Istanbul. Travellers seeking to view more of Eastern Europe often land tours complementing with a cruise.

How long do you expect to take for a trip to Eastern Europe?

Depending on the nature of the cruise, its duration will be set. In Eastern Europe, river cruises usually travel for about seven to fourteen nights, stopping at several interior towns and cities for sightseeing. Longer routes exist, however, and you might prefer to take them if you wish to get to know both Eastern and Western Europe; ocean cruises in the Adriatic or Mediterranean usually last seven to twelve nights, though. To further enrich their experience, several visitors spent some days adventuring in Budapest, Prague, or Athens before or after their cruise.

Book Your Eastern Europe Cruise

Ready to experience the magic of Eastern Europe for yourself? You have been daydreaming of walking through historical cities, exploring riverside towns, or soaking in rich cultures in the area; all begins at the port. Book your Eastern Europe cruise today with CruiseBooking.com so that you can start arranging an unforgettable trip.