Top 10 European Islands To Visit On A Cruise
That is because by the very nature of an island, they are easily accessible via a sea or ocean and with most islands been relatively small, it is easy to explore the whole destination on your day ashore.
Even islands that feature on this list that are far too big to visit it all on one day ashore, the nature of an island means that many of the country’s urban areas have developed close to the body of water that the island sits in and that often means cruises visit more than one port of call, allowing you to explore the larger islands over a number of days.
With so many fantastic options for an island getaway on a cruise holiday in Europe, just where should you visit? As always the answer really depends on your own likes and dislikes but here are our top 10 picks for islands to visit on a cruise in Europe.
Our top 10 are a great starting point to help your determine your perfect cruise holiday and for the purposes of this list we have omitted the British Isles.
Our Top 10 European Islands To Visit On A Cruise
Iceland
Iceland is a country almost like no other as a relatively young land mass that allows you to see the continents of North America and Europe from one viewing platfrom, volcano’s, glaciers, icebergs, mountains, fjords, incredible wildlife, great towns, and cities and so much more all on one holiday.
Best of all is the fact that Iceland’s rugged terrain makes it difficult to explore by road and with no rail and limited air options, a cruise truly is the best way to explore the island and to see all that is on offer.
Zealand
No we are not talking about the islands of New Zealand but the solidary island of Zealand in Denmark which is the landmass where the must visit city of Copenhagen is found but the island is also home to a number of must visit sites of interest including numerous castles and the famous town of Helsingor.
Lofoten Islands
The Lofoten Islands are found just off of the coast of Norway and close to the Arctic Circle and whilst they can be reached via a network of bridges from the Norwegian mainland or by air, the best way to visit is certainly by cruise.
The islands, which are often surrounded by mist and fog, seemingly appear from nowhere out of the Atlantic Ocean and make for one of the most stunning and memorable sights on any cruise.
Tenerife
Tenerife maybe best known as a winter sun getaway destination but the capital of the Canary Islands makes for a great cruise destination as well.
Most cruise ships dock in the islands capital city of Santa Cruz which makes it easy to explore all of the great attractions on the island including the must visit Mount Teide.
Majorca
The Balearic Island of Majorca (Mallorca) is another Spanish island perhaps best known for its beaches and holiday resorts but it is also an island with lots to offer including its fantastic capital city of Palma and its iconic Cathedral all of which is easily explored from the islands main cruise terminal within walking distance of the centre of Palma.
Crete
The island of Crete is the largest and most populous of all of the Greek Islands and one of the largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea which makes it an ideal destination to visit no matter if you want to explore its historic capital city of Heraklion, head to a number of ancient historical sites of interest or simply head to the beach- you can!
Sicily
The Italian island of Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean and is found just off of the ‘toe’ of the Italian mainland boot.
The whole island is dominated by the stunning Mount Etna, one of Europe’s largest active Volcanoes, but it is also home to many great sites of historical importance from the Byzantine and Roman Empire periods of history and it is also home to a number of great and authentic Italian cities away from the big tourist centres of the mainland.
Malta
The historic island of Malta is dominated by its capital city of Valletta and the great news for those looking to visit the island on a cruise ship is that your ship docks right in the historic heart of the city, making it simple to set off and explore the many attraction and historical sites of interest that await visitors.
Cyprus
Cyprus is a great mix of both European and Middle Eastern culture thanks to its location just off of the coasts of Europe, Africa and the Middle East and it is that complex blend that makes it such a fascinating destination for cruises who are sailing around the eastern Med, the Greek Islands, the Middle East, or the Aegean Sea.
Madeira
The Portuguese island’s capital city of Funchal is a popular stopping off port for cruises heading to the Canary Islands or even across the Atlantic but there is so much on offer on the island that makes it a memorable stop no matter if you choose your itinerary around it or not.
