If you dream of visiting the Nordic countries, but don't want to spend a fortune, the best method is to let yourself be pampered by the staff of a cruise! Full board and relaxation await you. Excursions, even in lesser known places, will amaze you.
Il northern Europe fascinates you and dreams of going there but have you always been held back by the language barrier or the exaggerated price? I have good news for you! There Northern Europe cruise it is the best way to visit these countries.
A cruise allows you to enjoy your holiday in complete tranquility, visiting the most beautiful places and without necessarily spending a fortune. As? With some tricks that I will reveal to you shortly.
Northern Europe cruise
It is a vacation indeed relaxing, which never hurts. It generally is all inclusive.
In addition to the cabin, the full board (endless buffets await you for breakfast and lunch and more sophisticated dinners with fully dressed waiters). Furthermore you will always be followed and pampered. The activities on board are endless and there is also something for children who will have a blast.
The 4 best destinations
Choose an excursion with a guide in your language and set out to discover these enchanting destinations:
1. Stockholm: “The Venice of the North”. In the capital of Sweden, a boat tour at sunset. Let yourself be lulled by canal navigation as Stockholm parades in front of you in all its magnificence. As evening falls you will pass under many splendid bridges and you will see the buildings of greatest historical interest from a particular perspective. After a ride in the old City go to Skyview, the panoramic lift that will take you to the top of a spherical structure, for a breathtaking view across Stockholm.
2 Helsinki: like a true Finn, visit the capital in bicycle! From Piazza del Mercato go to the “Church in the Rock”, the Lutheran church entirely dug into a hill and let yourself be surprised by the amount of green spaces that characterize this city. In the summer, it would not seem to be within walking distance Arctic Circle.
After your excursion to the modern part of the country, step back in time with a tour to the medieval village of Porvoo. The ancient part of this delightful town with sloping roofs takes place along the banks of a river that flows placidly between the hills, and is dotted with tiny craft shops.
3. St. Petersburg: even in the ancient capital of Russia the canals and bridges are the masters. Here too the ideal is a night tour by boat, when the bridges on the Neva are opened to allow the larger ships to pass. The light show will leave you breathless. Don't miss a visit to the great Museum ofHermitage with the square in front, the undisputed symbol of St. Petersburg.
La Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood it will leave you breathless with its vibrant colors, while the Fortezza with the Peter and Paul Cathedral you will be amazed by the large amount of gold that covers it.
4 Tallinn: the capital of Estonia will surprise you with its liveliness, in a typically medieval and perfectly preserved setting. Walk between walls and towers to the spectacular Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, a real Orthodox jewel.
Pubs and restaurants often stage shorts shows with costumed figures to attract customers, which make it even more picturesque. In High City there are some truly splendid panoramic views over the rooftops of the city.
Low cost cruise in Northern Europe: you can
You can spend less by booking a cruise well in advance. But there's even more savings by booking a cruise last minute. In fact, many shipping companies sell off the last cabins to fill the ship, so if you don't have any vacation problems, take advantage of it and go on an adventure.
Before booking, check what is included in your purchase. If the ship does not depart from Italy, the return flight. Sometimes buying the flight in this way is not really convenient, but if you prefer to be followed from Italy by the company staff who speak your language, take advantage and you will not regret it.
At the time of booking you can also buy the excursions. I advise you to book the ones you deem indispensable immediately, so as not to risk having to choose others because they are full.
Some shipping companies do big discounts on the cost of excursions with fewer participants. Find out online if your company adopts this method; if it does, however, you will have to wait the day before the excursion departure to take advantage of the discount. Don't think that this type of tour is of lesser quality. Often these are simply shorter tours or that lead to lesser-known places. Although less appreciated by most travelers, these places often hide pearls of rare beauty.
One last tip
If you decide to go to Russian soil when organizing your cruise in Northern Europe, it is more convenient to do so by booking an organized excursion. Verify that your company requires the visa in your name and leave without worrying about anything. If not, or if you decide to go down alone in Russia, you will have to follow the visa application process to the competent authorities, so move in time.
In all other European countries, however, you can always get off the ship freely.