Why I Always Recommend Pre- and Post-Cruise Plans
Considering additional days before and after your European cruise? How pre- and post-cruise plans can make or break your vacation.
Adding extra days to your European cruise can make or break your vacation and I always recommend them to my travel clients. They provide:
Let’s break these down.
Starting off on the right foot
How you deal with jetlag sets the tone for the whole vacation. Consider your comfort when planning your travel.
My husband has no problem falling asleep on overseas flights. I’m not so lucky. By the time we land, I’m exhausted and don’t want arrival day to be my only chance to see a city. Don’t get me wrong—I don’t recommend wasting the day, but I wouldn’t try to go see the Vatican from the airport. Be realistic.
If you have the time, I recommend flying in two to three days ahead of your cruise. That way you have time both to recover and to incorporate the embarkation city into your vacation. The exact number of days though can really depend on the “busyness” of the city, whether you’ve been there before, and any full-day trips outside of the city you might want to take.
Seeing the sites
Don’t miss the opportunity to see discover a new city.
Most ocean-going ships leave from iconic cities that should not be missed. And yet, cruise lines rarely include tours in starting or ending ports. You’re in an amazing city you may not have seen before—if touring it is not part of the cruise itinerary, why not take the time to explore?
Most cruise lines will offer some sort of pre- and post-packages, but they don’t normally include touring. You will need to do some research to see what might be available in the way of public group tours or private customized tours. Be sure to vet whatever company you are looking to use before you turn over any money.
For your convenience
We’ve talked about starting off on the right foot, what about ending on the right foot? I believe in making the departure process as convenient as possible.
The cruise experience is great… up until the time to depart. Then it’s a hectic and logistical nightmare, often starting before dawn. Nothing puts a damper on my last night at sea like:
- Trying to pack for an overseas flight in a crowded cabin
- Knowing I’m disembarking early in the morning
- Dreading either the rush through security or the hours waiting in the airport because the cruise line drops everyone off in the morning
- Getting prepared for US Customs and Immigration upon the return home
I like to build extra days into the end of my cruises because those of us staying in the city can disembark from the ship last. I can then leisurely take my luggage to my hotel and enjoy a full day of touring.
Depending on the city, I may stay one, two, or even three nights. The last afternoon I spread everything out in the hotel room. This way I can:
- Plan my packing strategy (or have my husband do it while I sit on the balcony and enjoy my last day in Europe)
- Make sure my carry-on has everything I need for both the plane and the Immigration/Customs process
- Set up transportation to the airport for the next day—for MY convenience, not the cruise line’s
Examples of Pre- and Post-Cruise Stays by City
Here are a couple of sample pre/post itineraries for popular ports that would make a great stay for your cruise:
Rome
3 nights before or after a Mediterranean cruise.
Day 1
With an early morning arrival in Rome, I recommend having a driver pick you up and take you on a more leisurely day trip outside the city—either Castel Gandolfo (Pope’s Summer Palace), wine tasting, or a tour of some of the other picturesque towns in the hills above Rome.
Day 2
Vatican tours (which can take most of a day).
Day 3
Iconic Rome sights like the Trevi Fountain, Colosseum, Spanish Steps, etc. and any last minute shopping.
Day 4
If sailing out of Rome, you would leave around noon for the ship which would be just over an hour away.
This itinerary also works for post-cruise. Day 1 would start with an early morning pick-up from the ship and Day 4 would be a morning departure for the airport.
Prague
2 nights before or after a Danube River Cruise
Day 1
Flying in from the US you are likely to arrive late morning to early afternoon. Taking a cab from the airport to your hotel (hopefully near Old Town), dropping your bags, and heading down to the historic area is easy and works with the flight schedules. Once in Old Town, you will find great shopping, food, and people watching.
Day 2
Head to the Castle area and Lobkowicz Palace.
Day 3/4
If you want to stay a 3rd night you could take a day trip to one of the many areas of interest nearby. Day 3 or 4 you would be transferred to your ship.
Again, this itinerary works pre- or post-cruise. Prague is about 2.5 to 3 hours from most Danube ships. The above is for pre-cruise. For post-cruise, you can still follow the schedule as listed.
NOTE: Some of the cruise lines do actually include one or two tours in their pre- and post-packages.
What if my cruise is roundtrip? Would I want to consider staying in the same city pre- and post-cruise?
While most European river and ocean cruises begin and end in different cities, there are some roundtrip itineraries. Even if your cruise itinerary is round-trip, it’s still worth considering extra days pre- and post-cruise. My husband and I took a cruise roundtrip out of Barcelona and couldn’t have been happier that we included days on BOTH ends of the trip. To experience even more of Barcelona, we stayed in two different parts of the city. Our cruise was much more enjoyable, we learned a great deal more about this wonderful area, and we were well-rested to take on the trip home.
Final Thoughts
A European cruise is an amazing vacation but you can make it even better by adding a few days to the beginning and end of your trip.
Remember these things which can impact the quality of your vacation:
So consider extending that trip by a few days. I promise you won’t regret it.
