October 15, 2025 • 17 mins
Planning a European cruise and overwhelmed by shore excursion choices? Travel advisors Ryan and Julie break down the must-do tours and activities at Europe's most popular cruise ports. From Norwegian fjords to Greek islands, discover how to maximize your limited time in each destination and choose experiences that match your travel style.
Northern Europe Ports:
- Edinburgh, Scotland - Royal Mile walking tour with National Gallery visit featuring Da Vinci and Rembrandt
- Lisbon, Portugal - Historic neighborhood exploration including 10th-century cathedral and cobblestone cafes
- Oslo, Norway - Traditional wooden boat fjord cruise with Akershus Fortress visit (dating to 1299)
- Amsterdam, Netherlands - GPS-guided tour to Volendam and Marken windmills with Dutch cheese-making demonstration
- Copenhagen, Denmark - Segway waterfront tour past Gefion Fountain and Royal Opera House with Danish pastry tasting
Mediterranean & Central Europe Ports:
- Barcelona, Spain - Montserrat Monastery combined with Sagrada Familia and Park Güell tour
- Athens, Greece - Acropolis visit with Temple of Zeus, Tomb of Unknown Soldier, and Plaka free time
- Naples, Italy - Amalfi Coast day trip to Positano, Amalfi, and Sorrento
- Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy - Full-day Rome tour including Colosseum, Vatican City, and Trevi Fountain
- Dubrovnik, Croatia - Old Town walking tour with panoramic views and Game of Thrones filming locations
- Mykonos, Greece - Coastal panoramas, Oia village, windmills, and Little Venice exploration
Expert Tips
Learn why European cruise ports make perfect "sampler trips" for planning future extended vacations. Discover which ports require longer transit times and how to balance guided tours with free exploration time. Plus, hear why some excursions work better for families versus couples.
Perfect for first-time European cruisers and seasoned travelers looking to optimize their port days on Northern Europe or Mediterranean itineraries.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (00:00):
Hello and welcome to all things Travel.
Cruising is a great way toexperience multiple countries or
cities in Europe withouttransferring hotels or packing
and unpacking all your bags.
If you're planning a Europeancruise, there's a good chance
you're choosing your cruisebased just on the port stops.
(00:21):
So today we're sharing our topshore excursions for your cruise
through Europe.
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (00:26):
listen in with travel advisors and
destination experts.
Ryan and Julie, I'm your travelprofessor teaching you
everything you need to know tohave a magical vacation, and
she's a Disney loving Marylandmom of three and a specialist in
family travel.
Whether we're discussingincredible destinations, top
vacation tips, or sharingpersonal stories, it's always
(00:47):
all things travel.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (00:50):
last week we did an episode about the top
Caribbean short excursions.
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (00:54):
yeah.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (00:55):
we thought, let's kind of go into
Europe and.
are so many stops you can do onEuropean cruises, right?
You can go up north, you can goa little more central, you can
go to the Mediterranean and alot of those ports, there's the
really popular ones and thenthere's some smaller ones,
there's usually a lot of optionsfor things to do when you only
(01:15):
get one day in that city.
So we thought, let's run throughthe shore excursion that you
should pick for those cities andwe're
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (01:24):
Yeah.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (01:24):
focus on The highlight cities, the really
big ones, that are a lot morecommon.
But if you are on a cruise thatis going to a smaller port, or
one of those more unique citiesthat not a lot of cruises stop
at, we are happy to help youchoose an excursion for that
too.
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (01:41):
Yes, because, sometimes as we'll talk
about some of these today, Justbecause you're stopping at this
port doesn't mean you can't gointo Paris, or you can't go into
Rome.
or you can avoid those largerplaces and explore, things
around the countryside.
Really mapping out and planningwhat you want to do with this
(02:02):
type of cruise.
Kind of like an Alaskan cruise,I would say, is really, really
important.
So let's focus on NorthernEurope first.
Julian, let's do Edinburg, whichis in Scotland.
So Edinburgh, I want to talkabout the highlights of
Edinburgh tour.
You're gonna visit a beautifulSt.
Giles cathedral.
Bustling Royal Mile and othernotable landmarks, making your
(02:24):
trip unforgettable.
I actually had a, a mother andtwo daughters, 11-year-old
daughters, do a British Islescruise and, and they did a
walking, like a haunted walkingtour of the, of the Royal Mile
and just absolutely loved it.
So on this tour, you're going togain, unique insights into
masterpieces of Da Vinci,Rembrandt and others at the
(02:48):
renowned.
National Gallery, so that soundslike a really good cultural day
to soak it all in when you're inScotland.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (02:56):
Yeah.
And something that I alwaysthink about with these cruises
that go to Europe and you justget one day in each of these
cities is it's a really goodsampler to then think where do I
wanna go back
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (03:09):
Yes, yes.
I had such a good,
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (03:11):
these excursions.
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (03:13):
yeah, I had such a good time.
you know, in this area of mycruise, I definitely want to go
back.
What's next?
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (03:20):
So next is Lisbon, and this is in
Portugal.
and this is the LisbonHighlights tour.
You're gonna explore theeclectic neighborhoods of
Lisbon, including Portes deSoul, and Naza Ro de Monte.
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (03:34):
Okay.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (03:35):
You're gonna see a majestic 10th
century Lisbon cathedral andwalk along the cobblestone
streets to visit quaint cafes inLisbon's, oldest city.
You'll also make your way tosome historic towers,
monasteries, and see how Lisbongrew during their age of
discoveries long ago.
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (03:57):
Sounds great.
So you'd really come awayunderstanding that city and how
you might come back and add itto a full vacation.
Alright, so Oslo is next.
Now I do wanna throw in here,remember a few weeks ago when we
talked about, ancestry trips
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (04:14):
Yes.
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (04:15):
I had said that I was pretty sure I
had Scandinavian.
ancestry and that would be kindof my travel focus.
Well, so I had actually someblood work done as part of my
normal health physical, and theyhad an option to add an ancestry
portion to that blood work.
And Julie, you will be shockedto know that I am 99.1% European
(04:42):
with the focus on Northwestern.
Ancestry in Europe, so I amsmack dab in Scandinavia.
There's no doubt about it.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (04:53):
All right, well this is on your list
then.
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (04:55):
So in Oslo, I want to do a Fjord
sightseeing cruise.
witness the breathtaking beautyof Oslo's fjords on a unique
fjord sightseeing cruise.
With a traditional wooden boat,immerse yourself in the rich
history of Ker Castle, a robustfortress that dates back to
(05:15):
1299.
yes, this is exactly what I wantto do when I'm in this area.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (05:21):
Now if cruising to Norway is not in
your immediate future timeline,I recommend heading over to
Epcot, where you can board awooden boat
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (05:34):
where we can board a wooden bow and
then have Valencia
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (05:37):
then
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (05:38):
er shoes.
It's, it's,
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (05:40):
so funny how well it paralleled
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (05:43):
Yeah.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (05:43):
of Norway.
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (05:45):
It's similar,
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (05:46):
They
ryan_1_10-06-2025_1115 (05:46):
Alright.
I love this next city so much.
What can we do there?
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (05:52):
next up is Amsterdam, and this was a
cool tour option because you'regonna go to Volland Dam Marking
and the windmills on a GPS tour.
you have some flexibility, butyou also have, guided.
Like navigation to tell younumber one, where you're going,
but it also is an audio guide totell you what you're seeing as
well.
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (06:12):
Love it.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (06:12):
you're gonna explore the 18th century
windmill industrial area, watcha demonstration of Dutch cheese
making, which I feel like thatshould sell you right there.
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (06:23):
Yep.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (06:24):
capture memories of antique mansions,
beautiful churches charminghouseboats and all those things
I feel like are so unique toAmsterdam.
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (06:34):
Yes, and it gets you out of the city
a little bit.
So you're gonna be seeingAmsterdam, but then you can also
get out of the city, see howpeople live in more of the
countryside.
I absolutely love it.
Next, We are going over toCopenhagen and doing a segue
tour where we're gonna revel inthe beauty of the waterfront
Passing key highlights, such asthe Gian Fountain and the Royal
(06:58):
Opera House.
We're gonna admire renownedarchitecture and sample
traditional Danish pastry.
we're gonna go to a cafe in theheart of the city and sample
some goodies there.
I absolutely love it.
These are all really goodoptions for a northern European
cruise, and obviously there's alot more that we could talk
about, but we wanted to hit someof the key points before we go
(07:22):
on to the Mediterranean.
Julie, I wanna talk about wherein the world is wonder and
beyond.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (07:29):
Alright, so this one is.
way different than anythingwe're talking about today.
And I wanna highlight trips thatI've had over the past week and
that are coming up in the nextweek as well.
And that is all of my trips toWalt Disney World.
For the Mickey's not So ScaryHalloween party,
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (07:50):
Very cool.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (07:51):
time to visit, and I've gotten such
great feedback from my clientswho are, going to experience
this and go to the Boot to YouParade and all those super fun
things and trick-or-treatingamount, magic kingdom.
if that's something thatinterests you, October, 2026 is
available for booking.
ryan_1_10-06-2025_1115 (08:09):
Alright, so let's talk about Central
Europe and focus on theMediterranean.
The first spot here isBarcelona.
I've been to Barcelona, not on acruise, but on part of, a study
abroad trip that I led severalyears ago.
It is a fabulous city and what Ilove about it is where you port,
(08:31):
you are super close.
A quick taxi ride, a quick,subway ride.
Right into the heart of thecity.
with the Barcelona andMontserrat tour.
Montserrat is a monastery that'sa little farther out of the
city, but still very accessible.
You're gonna experience theawe-inspiring monastery of
Montserrat.
(08:51):
You're gonna explore Barcelona'siconic landmarks such as the La
Ci Grata Familia, which is amust.
And as part of that, you'regonna go to Gaudi's Famous Park
g Gu.
And anytime you see picturesfrom Barcelona, I guarantee it's
one of those places you're alsogonna Visit the Plaza Espania.
An impressive gateway to themagic fountain of JE and the
(09:15):
Emblematic National Palace.
So many cool things to see inBarcelona.
So much good food.
This would be a fabulous day.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (09:25):
And sometimes Barcelona and many of
the other ones we're gonna talkabout in this Mediterranean
section, a lot of times thecruise embarks from here, so you
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (09:34):
Yeah.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (09:34):
extra days and,
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (09:35):
Yes, absolutely.
I've planned a trip like thatfor folks where, they spent a
few days in Barcelona before thetrip cruised, then spent a few
days in Rome after the trip.
So it was a perfect kind ofbookends, if you will.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (09:47):
so next up is Athens.
many Mediterranean cruises noware doing a lot of stops in
Greece, so we wanna make sure wehighlight that country as well.
This is the exclusive Athenswith free time in Placa Tour,
and you're gonna witness iconicsites like The Temple of Zeus,
the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier,and the former Royal Palace.
(10:09):
You can visit the Acropolis.
Double check the excursion youbook.
Sometimes tickets are includedand sometimes they aren't.
you're also going to indulge ina traditional Greek pita suv.
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (10:21):
It is perfect.
Absolutely.
And again, all of that stuff isrelatively close so you can
accomplish this easily in anafternoon.
if you do nothing else.
Go to the Acropolis, go to theAcropolis Museum, walk down one
of the streets close there, andyou can pick up a Slovak and you
can walk right to the palace tosee the changing of the guards.
(10:44):
the Placa, which is the old partof Athens, it's just a really
good place to, to walk aroundSightsee and uh, shop
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (10:51):
And that's why I liked this
excursion because you did getthat free time, at the end of
the
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (10:57):
Yeah,
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (10:57):
to explore whatever else you wanted
to explore.
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (11:01):
Next is Naples, and on this tour we
are going to explore the AmalfiCoast.
So explore iconic townsPositano, Amalfi and Sorento
craft your own itinerary withopportunities to dine and shop,
and then spend free time inPanos pedestrian area.
(11:21):
it's just a way to kind of.
Make sure that you're seeing thethings you wanna see, but you
also have time to relax andexperience it.
with this tour, they're takingyou there, giving you a way to
spend time there and thenthey're bringing you back.
sometimes that's all you needwhen it comes to a shore
excursion.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (11:39):
Yeah, a lot of the options in Naples are
also gonna give you the optionto do a stop in Pompeii, and
that just felt like a lot to doin one shore excursion.
you don't always have a ton oftime off the ship, so you really
wanna be mindful of how muchyou're doing especially.
if you're going with a family,if kids are gonna last that
(12:01):
long.
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (12:02):
Right.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (12:04):
All right, so next up is Akia, which
is Italy.
a lot of ships either stop hereor embark from here.
This is the best of Romeexcursion where you can go and
explore the ancient ruins ofRome, including the Colosseum.
see everything from the foundinghills to the iconic Vatican City
(12:24):
and have an expert guide.
Make a Wish at the worldrenowned Trevi fountain.
And then you do have someflexibility that if you wanted
to purchase a ticket to go intoSt.
Peter's Basilica or just wanderaround the area, you have the
flexibility to do that.
Ryan mentioned earlier that alot of the ports, were easy to
(12:45):
access the town, and this one isa little bit of a drive.
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (12:49):
this would be a very long day, but if
you have not been to Rome andyou want to see these sites, you
will come away with pictures andexperiences galore.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (13:00):
for sure.
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (13:02):
So next is Dubrovnik in Croatia,
and it is a hot, hot port stop.
people are excited to go toDubrovnik, to the old town.
discovering Dubrovnik and OldTown Tour, drinking the
panoramic views of the harbor,the Peninsula, and Spring River
amia, which is the city'slifeblood, ascend for stunning
(13:26):
vistas of old town locum islandand historic kafta while
learning captivating tales ofFort Imperial and Dubrovnik.
You may not be as familiar, butif you see pictures it looks a
lot like, Game of Thrones.
'cause they, they, they filmedsome of the stuff there.
So definitely checking out OldTown is what you want to do.
(13:48):
on your first cruise visit toDubrovnik.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (13:51):
And I will say I personally don't know
a ton about Croatia andDubrovnik, but it is a very
popular port stop or even landtrip right now.
looks a lot like Italy, so a lotof people will kind of tag team
those trips together and it'ssupposed to be very, very
beautiful.
Okay.
Last port stop we're gonnahighlight is Konos in Greece,
(14:12):
one of their islands off thecoast of Greece.
We're gonna talk about thehighlights of Konos Tour, where
you'll enjoy breathtakingpanoramic views of the coastline
and de Los Island.
yourself in Greek culture at thecharming village of Omera and
visit the historic monasterythere.
And maybe the best part isstrolling through the town's,
(14:34):
pictures, streets, seeing theiconic windmills, and exploring
little Venice.
I know you've been Ryan, yourave about it.
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (14:43):
it is one of those places.
Yes, it is very touristy butthere's also ways to get away
from that if any place has thehashtag no filter needed.
the day that I was there, I wason a cruise, It looks exactly as
it does in the pictures.
the whitewashed walls the pinkflowers and the blue accents
(15:04):
around.
it is unreal to see a place likethis.
Going out on a tour like this,then finding a place to stop and
have a drink, have a lunch, andjust kind of soak it in
literally and figuratively isthe perfect way to experience a
place like Menos.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (15:21):
Agree.
That sounds amazing.
we ran through a lot of
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (15:26):
Yeah.
Yeah.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (15:27):
If you were to book a European cruise
today, Ryan, what port or shoreexcursion would be top of your
list?
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (15:35):
Well, I would focus, and some of this
is'cause I've been to a lot ofthe places in the med.
So, I would definitely gonorthern.
and definitely, you know, I'mgonna stick with it.
I think, doing Scandinavia,going up to Norway and different
places like that.
Maybe doing a, I I've beenworking with folks doing an
Amsterdam round trip up intoNorway, and that just to me
(15:56):
sounds perfect.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (15:57):
it does.
'cause you kind of get thattaste of Amsterdam again, but
then get to see all theScandinavia, how, how amazing s.
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (16:05):
How about you, Julie?
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (16:06):
I know this is gonna sound surprising,
but I'm gonna stick with thoseItaly ports.
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (16:11):
we are not surprising today.
Neither of us.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (16:15):
so we've talked about before how I had a
Disney Mediterranean cruisebooked for summer of
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (16:19):
Yep.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (16:21):
we actually just decided to push it
back to 2027, and I'm reallyhoping that Naples is on the
itinerary.
I don't need to see Pompeii onthis cruise, but what I do wanna
do is go down to the Amul coastand see that area because it
just looks so unique andbeautiful.
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (16:38):
Okay, very cool.
The world is full of wonder andyour next great adventure is
waiting at Wonder and BeyondTravel.
We work with you to create a oneof a kind journey, taking the
stress off your plate so you canfocus on the joy of exploring
and the memories that will staywith you forever.
If you're ready to startplanning or you just wanna dream
a little bigger, head on over toWonder and Beyond travel.com.
(17:01):
We would love to help you getstarted.
We look forward to talking toyou next week on All Things
Travel.
When we discuss a Disney WorldRite of Passage, the four Park
Challenge.
Hello and welcome to all things Travel.
Cruising is a great way toexperience multiple countries or
cities in Europe withouttransferring hotels or packing
and unpacking all your bags.
If you're planning a Europeancruise, there's a good chance
you're choosing your cruisebased just on the port stops.
(00:21):
So today we're sharing our topshore excursions for your cruise
through Europe.
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (00:26):
listen in with travel advisors and
destination experts.
Ryan and Julie, I'm your travelprofessor teaching you
everything you need to know tohave a magical vacation, and
she's a Disney loving Marylandmom of three and a specialist in
family travel.
Whether we're discussingincredible destinations, top
vacation tips, or sharingpersonal stories, it's always
(00:47):
all things travel.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (00:50):
last week we did an episode about the top
Caribbean short excursions.
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (00:54):
yeah.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (00:55):
we thought, let's kind of go into
Europe and.
are so many stops you can do onEuropean cruises, right?
You can go up north, you can goa little more central, you can
go to the Mediterranean and alot of those ports, there's the
really popular ones and thenthere's some smaller ones,
there's usually a lot of optionsfor things to do when you only
(01:15):
get one day in that city.
So we thought, let's run throughthe shore excursion that you
should pick for those cities andwe're
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (01:24):
Yeah.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (01:24):
focus on The highlight cities, the really
big ones, that are a lot morecommon.
But if you are on a cruise thatis going to a smaller port, or
one of those more unique citiesthat not a lot of cruises stop
at, we are happy to help youchoose an excursion for that
too.
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (01:41):
Yes, because, sometimes as we'll talk
about some of these today, Justbecause you're stopping at this
port doesn't mean you can't gointo Paris, or you can't go into
Rome.
or you can avoid those largerplaces and explore, things
around the countryside.
Really mapping out and planningwhat you want to do with this
(02:02):
type of cruise.
Kind of like an Alaskan cruise,I would say, is really, really
important.
So let's focus on NorthernEurope first.
Julian, let's do Edinburg, whichis in Scotland.
So Edinburgh, I want to talkabout the highlights of
Edinburgh tour.
You're gonna visit a beautifulSt.
Giles cathedral.
Bustling Royal Mile and othernotable landmarks, making your
(02:24):
trip unforgettable.
I actually had a, a mother andtwo daughters, 11-year-old
daughters, do a British Islescruise and, and they did a
walking, like a haunted walkingtour of the, of the Royal Mile
and just absolutely loved it.
So on this tour, you're going togain, unique insights into
masterpieces of Da Vinci,Rembrandt and others at the
(02:48):
renowned.
National Gallery, so that soundslike a really good cultural day
to soak it all in when you're inScotland.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (02:56):
Yeah.
And something that I alwaysthink about with these cruises
that go to Europe and you justget one day in each of these
cities is it's a really goodsampler to then think where do I
wanna go back
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (03:09):
Yes, yes.
I had such a good,
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (03:11):
these excursions.
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (03:13):
yeah, I had such a good time.
you know, in this area of mycruise, I definitely want to go
back.
What's next?
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (03:20):
So next is Lisbon, and this is in
Portugal.
and this is the LisbonHighlights tour.
You're gonna explore theeclectic neighborhoods of
Lisbon, including Portes deSoul, and Naza Ro de Monte.
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (03:34):
Okay.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (03:35):
You're gonna see a majestic 10th
century Lisbon cathedral andwalk along the cobblestone
streets to visit quaint cafes inLisbon's, oldest city.
You'll also make your way tosome historic towers,
monasteries, and see how Lisbongrew during their age of
discoveries long ago.
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (03:57):
Sounds great.
So you'd really come awayunderstanding that city and how
you might come back and add itto a full vacation.
Alright, so Oslo is next.
Now I do wanna throw in here,remember a few weeks ago when we
talked about, ancestry trips
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (04:14):
Yes.
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (04:15):
I had said that I was pretty sure I
had Scandinavian.
ancestry and that would be kindof my travel focus.
Well, so I had actually someblood work done as part of my
normal health physical, and theyhad an option to add an ancestry
portion to that blood work.
And Julie, you will be shockedto know that I am 99.1% European
(04:42):
with the focus on Northwestern.
Ancestry in Europe, so I amsmack dab in Scandinavia.
There's no doubt about it.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (04:53):
All right, well this is on your list
then.
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (04:55):
So in Oslo, I want to do a Fjord
sightseeing cruise.
witness the breathtaking beautyof Oslo's fjords on a unique
fjord sightseeing cruise.
With a traditional wooden boat,immerse yourself in the rich
history of Ker Castle, a robustfortress that dates back to
(05:15):
1299.
yes, this is exactly what I wantto do when I'm in this area.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (05:21):
Now if cruising to Norway is not in
your immediate future timeline,I recommend heading over to
Epcot, where you can board awooden boat
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (05:34):
where we can board a wooden bow and
then have Valencia
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (05:37):
then
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (05:38):
er shoes.
It's, it's,
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (05:40):
so funny how well it paralleled
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (05:43):
Yeah.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (05:43):
of Norway.
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (05:45):
It's similar,
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (05:46):
They
ryan_1_10-06-2025_1115 (05:46):
Alright.
I love this next city so much.
What can we do there?
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (05:52):
next up is Amsterdam, and this was a
cool tour option because you'regonna go to Volland Dam Marking
and the windmills on a GPS tour.
you have some flexibility, butyou also have, guided.
Like navigation to tell younumber one, where you're going,
but it also is an audio guide totell you what you're seeing as
well.
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (06:12):
Love it.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (06:12):
you're gonna explore the 18th century
windmill industrial area, watcha demonstration of Dutch cheese
making, which I feel like thatshould sell you right there.
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (06:23):
Yep.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (06:24):
capture memories of antique mansions,
beautiful churches charminghouseboats and all those things
I feel like are so unique toAmsterdam.
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (06:34):
Yes, and it gets you out of the city
a little bit.
So you're gonna be seeingAmsterdam, but then you can also
get out of the city, see howpeople live in more of the
countryside.
I absolutely love it.
Next, We are going over toCopenhagen and doing a segue
tour where we're gonna revel inthe beauty of the waterfront
Passing key highlights, such asthe Gian Fountain and the Royal
(06:58):
Opera House.
We're gonna admire renownedarchitecture and sample
traditional Danish pastry.
we're gonna go to a cafe in theheart of the city and sample
some goodies there.
I absolutely love it.
These are all really goodoptions for a northern European
cruise, and obviously there's alot more that we could talk
about, but we wanted to hit someof the key points before we go
(07:22):
on to the Mediterranean.
Julie, I wanna talk about wherein the world is wonder and
beyond.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (07:29):
Alright, so this one is.
way different than anythingwe're talking about today.
And I wanna highlight trips thatI've had over the past week and
that are coming up in the nextweek as well.
And that is all of my trips toWalt Disney World.
For the Mickey's not So ScaryHalloween party,
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (07:50):
Very cool.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (07:51):
time to visit, and I've gotten such
great feedback from my clientswho are, going to experience
this and go to the Boot to YouParade and all those super fun
things and trick-or-treatingamount, magic kingdom.
if that's something thatinterests you, October, 2026 is
available for booking.
ryan_1_10-06-2025_1115 (08:09):
Alright, so let's talk about Central
Europe and focus on theMediterranean.
The first spot here isBarcelona.
I've been to Barcelona, not on acruise, but on part of, a study
abroad trip that I led severalyears ago.
It is a fabulous city and what Ilove about it is where you port,
(08:31):
you are super close.
A quick taxi ride, a quick,subway ride.
Right into the heart of thecity.
with the Barcelona andMontserrat tour.
Montserrat is a monastery that'sa little farther out of the
city, but still very accessible.
You're gonna experience theawe-inspiring monastery of
Montserrat.
(08:51):
You're gonna explore Barcelona'siconic landmarks such as the La
Ci Grata Familia, which is amust.
And as part of that, you'regonna go to Gaudi's Famous Park
g Gu.
And anytime you see picturesfrom Barcelona, I guarantee it's
one of those places you're alsogonna Visit the Plaza Espania.
An impressive gateway to themagic fountain of JE and the
(09:15):
Emblematic National Palace.
So many cool things to see inBarcelona.
So much good food.
This would be a fabulous day.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (09:25):
And sometimes Barcelona and many of
the other ones we're gonna talkabout in this Mediterranean
section, a lot of times thecruise embarks from here, so you
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (09:34):
Yeah.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (09:34):
extra days and,
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (09:35):
Yes, absolutely.
I've planned a trip like thatfor folks where, they spent a
few days in Barcelona before thetrip cruised, then spent a few
days in Rome after the trip.
So it was a perfect kind ofbookends, if you will.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (09:47):
so next up is Athens.
many Mediterranean cruises noware doing a lot of stops in
Greece, so we wanna make sure wehighlight that country as well.
This is the exclusive Athenswith free time in Placa Tour,
and you're gonna witness iconicsites like The Temple of Zeus,
the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier,and the former Royal Palace.
(10:09):
You can visit the Acropolis.
Double check the excursion youbook.
Sometimes tickets are includedand sometimes they aren't.
you're also going to indulge ina traditional Greek pita suv.
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (10:21):
It is perfect.
Absolutely.
And again, all of that stuff isrelatively close so you can
accomplish this easily in anafternoon.
if you do nothing else.
Go to the Acropolis, go to theAcropolis Museum, walk down one
of the streets close there, andyou can pick up a Slovak and you
can walk right to the palace tosee the changing of the guards.
(10:44):
the Placa, which is the old partof Athens, it's just a really
good place to, to walk aroundSightsee and uh, shop
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (10:51):
And that's why I liked this
excursion because you did getthat free time, at the end of
the
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (10:57):
Yeah,
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (10:57):
to explore whatever else you wanted
to explore.
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (11:01):
Next is Naples, and on this tour we
are going to explore the AmalfiCoast.
So explore iconic townsPositano, Amalfi and Sorento
craft your own itinerary withopportunities to dine and shop,
and then spend free time inPanos pedestrian area.
(11:21):
it's just a way to kind of.
Make sure that you're seeing thethings you wanna see, but you
also have time to relax andexperience it.
with this tour, they're takingyou there, giving you a way to
spend time there and thenthey're bringing you back.
sometimes that's all you needwhen it comes to a shore
excursion.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (11:39):
Yeah, a lot of the options in Naples are
also gonna give you the optionto do a stop in Pompeii, and
that just felt like a lot to doin one shore excursion.
you don't always have a ton oftime off the ship, so you really
wanna be mindful of how muchyou're doing especially.
if you're going with a family,if kids are gonna last that
(12:01):
long.
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (12:02):
Right.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (12:04):
All right, so next up is Akia, which
is Italy.
a lot of ships either stop hereor embark from here.
This is the best of Romeexcursion where you can go and
explore the ancient ruins ofRome, including the Colosseum.
see everything from the foundinghills to the iconic Vatican City
(12:24):
and have an expert guide.
Make a Wish at the worldrenowned Trevi fountain.
And then you do have someflexibility that if you wanted
to purchase a ticket to go intoSt.
Peter's Basilica or just wanderaround the area, you have the
flexibility to do that.
Ryan mentioned earlier that alot of the ports, were easy to
(12:45):
access the town, and this one isa little bit of a drive.
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (12:49):
this would be a very long day, but if
you have not been to Rome andyou want to see these sites, you
will come away with pictures andexperiences galore.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (13:00):
for sure.
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (13:02):
So next is Dubrovnik in Croatia,
and it is a hot, hot port stop.
people are excited to go toDubrovnik, to the old town.
discovering Dubrovnik and OldTown Tour, drinking the
panoramic views of the harbor,the Peninsula, and Spring River
amia, which is the city'slifeblood, ascend for stunning
(13:26):
vistas of old town locum islandand historic kafta while
learning captivating tales ofFort Imperial and Dubrovnik.
You may not be as familiar, butif you see pictures it looks a
lot like, Game of Thrones.
'cause they, they, they filmedsome of the stuff there.
So definitely checking out OldTown is what you want to do.
(13:48):
on your first cruise visit toDubrovnik.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (13:51):
And I will say I personally don't know
a ton about Croatia andDubrovnik, but it is a very
popular port stop or even landtrip right now.
looks a lot like Italy, so a lotof people will kind of tag team
those trips together and it'ssupposed to be very, very
beautiful.
Okay.
Last port stop we're gonnahighlight is Konos in Greece,
(14:12):
one of their islands off thecoast of Greece.
We're gonna talk about thehighlights of Konos Tour, where
you'll enjoy breathtakingpanoramic views of the coastline
and de Los Island.
yourself in Greek culture at thecharming village of Omera and
visit the historic monasterythere.
And maybe the best part isstrolling through the town's,
(14:34):
pictures, streets, seeing theiconic windmills, and exploring
little Venice.
I know you've been Ryan, yourave about it.
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (14:43):
it is one of those places.
Yes, it is very touristy butthere's also ways to get away
from that if any place has thehashtag no filter needed.
the day that I was there, I wason a cruise, It looks exactly as
it does in the pictures.
the whitewashed walls the pinkflowers and the blue accents
(15:04):
around.
it is unreal to see a place likethis.
Going out on a tour like this,then finding a place to stop and
have a drink, have a lunch, andjust kind of soak it in
literally and figuratively isthe perfect way to experience a
place like Menos.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (15:21):
Agree.
That sounds amazing.
we ran through a lot of
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (15:26):
Yeah.
Yeah.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (15:27):
If you were to book a European cruise
today, Ryan, what port or shoreexcursion would be top of your
list?
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (15:35):
Well, I would focus, and some of this
is'cause I've been to a lot ofthe places in the med.
So, I would definitely gonorthern.
and definitely, you know, I'mgonna stick with it.
I think, doing Scandinavia,going up to Norway and different
places like that.
Maybe doing a, I I've beenworking with folks doing an
Amsterdam round trip up intoNorway, and that just to me
(15:56):
sounds perfect.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (15:57):
it does.
'cause you kind of get thattaste of Amsterdam again, but
then get to see all theScandinavia, how, how amazing s.
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (16:05):
How about you, Julie?
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (16:06):
I know this is gonna sound surprising,
but I'm gonna stick with thoseItaly ports.
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (16:11):
we are not surprising today.
Neither of us.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (16:15):
so we've talked about before how I had a
Disney Mediterranean cruisebooked for summer of
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (16:19):
Yep.
j_1_10-06-2025_111519 (16:21):
we actually just decided to push it
back to 2027, and I'm reallyhoping that Naples is on the
itinerary.
I don't need to see Pompeii onthis cruise, but what I do wanna
do is go down to the Amul coastand see that area because it
just looks so unique andbeautiful.
ryan_1_10-06-2025_111519 (16:38):
Okay, very cool.
The world is full of wonder andyour next great adventure is
waiting at Wonder and BeyondTravel.
We work with you to create a oneof a kind journey, taking the
stress off your plate so you canfocus on the joy of exploring
and the memories that will staywith you forever.
If you're ready to startplanning or you just wanna dream
a little bigger, head on over toWonder and Beyond travel.com.
(17:01):
We would love to help you getstarted.
We look forward to talking toyou next week on All Things
Travel.
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