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Europe is a popular cruise destination, but choosing a European cruise isn’t easy. There are so many options available.

A search of one full year of cruises on a major travel booking site showed more than 7,100 cruises over the 12-month period. There were 107 different European departure ports.

Out of the 7,100 cruises, ocean cruises made up 2,900 of the total and river cruises made up the other 4,200.

The cruise length from this group consisted of:

• 1-2 nights: 24 cruises
• 3-5 nights: 118
• 6-9 nights: 2,006
• 10-14 nights: 631
• 15+ nights: 141

Prices vary greatly depending on the cruise length, cruise line, supply and demand, and other factors. But in general, prices started as low as $55 per night per person plus taxes, port fees and other fees while others went as high as $350 per night.

Major departure ports for northern Europe cruises include Amsterdam Netherlands, Copenhagen Denmark, Dublin Ireland, Hamburg Germany, Oslo Norway, Southampton England and Stockholm Sweden.

Major departure ports for Mediterranean cruises include Athens Greece, Barcelona Spain, Cannes France, Genoa Italy, Istanbul Turkey, Lisbon Portugal, Marseilles France, Naples Italy and Venice Italy.

European ocean cruises break down into multiple locations. They include:

• Baltics
• British Isles
• Eastern Mediterranean
• Northern Europe
• Norwegian fjords
• Western Mediterranean
• Western Europe

Cruise Ports of Call

The most popular Baltic cruises embark from Amsterdam, Copenhagen or Stockholm. Common destinations include ports in Finland, Russia, Estonia, Lithuania and Poland.

Cruises among the British Isles are few in number. They often leave from Southampton England and visit the Channel Isle, Cork and Dublin in Ireland and Liverpool, among others

Western Mediterranean cruises are numerous. They typically leave from the southern coasts of Spain or France and visit various ports between those two countries plus the west coast of Italy. Other options include embarking from Genoa or Naples Italy and visiting the southern coasts of Spain and France. Some go as far south and west as Morocco.

Northern Europe cruises will depart from the likes of Copenhagen Denmark, Kiel Germany or Warnemunde Germany. They will visit ports in either country as well as multiple ports in southern Norway.

Cruises to the Norwegian fjords may leave from Amsterdam Denmark, Hamburg German, Dover England or Southampton England. As their name implies, they will visit multiple ports and fjords along the western Norwegian coast.

Western Europe cruises embark from Southampton England and travel south along the western coast of France and the northern coast of Spain. Likewise, they may embark from Barcelona Spain or Marseilles France, go around the southern tip of Spain and travel north along the same route.

Venice Italy is a popular embarkation port for eastern Mediterranean cruises. They may visit countries such as Albania, Croatia and especially Greece. Cruises that depart from Athens Greece will often tour the Greek isles.