One of the first decisions to be made when planning a trip is choosing the interesting cruise destination. Of course, if you have a dream cruise already in mind, this step is a snap, since you can build the rest of your cruise around the destination you’ve already chosen. If you’re still trying to choose, there are a few things to keep in mind.

One of the first considerations is purely practical – the travel budget. There is a wide price range for cruises, from short 3 day cruises to luxury world cruises. Common cruise destinations will be cheaper than exotic, seldom visited ports of call. And the need to travel overseas to reach the departure point will add greatly to the cost of the trip.

The next thing you would want to consider is when you’re planning to travel. Most European cruises are scheduled during the summer, Alaskan cruises are definitely summer only. Trips through the Panama Canal take place in fall and spring. World cruises generally offer January departures, while Caribbean and Asian destinations are offered year round, as are Mediterranean cruises.

Another thing to consider is the activities you enjoy. Cruises to eastern Caribbean ports are known for their shopping opportunities, with many boutiques and outlets. Western Caribbean destinations, on the other hand, feature less developed and less commercialized ports. And the destinations of the southern Caribbean are famous for their beautiful, uncrowded beaches.

Like Caribbean cruises, European cruises abound with gorgeous beaches. European destinations also offer history, art, and cultural opportunities that are unmatched in the world. Eastern Mediterranean cruises often feature stops in Italy as well as the Greek Islands, with plenty of opportunities to explore their ancient archeological sites. Western Mediterranean cruise destinations include Sicily and Mount Etna, the remains of Pompeii near Naples, or the sun-kissed island of Capri. The French and Italian Rivieras are some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, while Rome and Florence offer art and architecture.

Cruises of Scandinavia and the Baltics usually cover the northern capitals of Europe. Your cruise destination may include Copenhagen, Helsinki, or Stockholm, each very different, but with unique architecture and historical sites. St. Petersburg is one of the most popular cruise destinations, and has so many things to see and do that many itineraries include multiple days in port.

If your choice of northern European destinations is the fjords of Norway, then the cruise destination for you should includes western Norway. Summer cruises can include the dramatic mountains of the western coast, and even the island of Spitsbergen, which is above the Arctic Circle.

And an option available in Europe that is not common in the United States is the river cruise. Many of the historic European cities are built on rivers, and these cities are wonderful cruise destinations. It’s even possible to cruise across Europe by river, from Amsterdam on the North Sea south to the Black Sea. Moscow to St. Petersburg is a popular cruise across Russia. Another popular cruise choice is from Normandy to the south of France.

A cruise is a dream vacation for many, and for good reason. It’s hard not to like a vacation that’s planned in advance, so when it’s time to go, someone else is taking care of all the details – the traveler can just relax and go along for the ride. No matter what your budget or style, you’ll find one interesting cruise destination or more that will be a perfect fit!

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