One of the most popular European cruises booked by cruise guests every year is a longer cruise starting in Northern Europe and ending on the sunny shores of the Mediterranean.
Starting in a lively European capital and ending in one of the world’s finest coastal cities, on a cruise that gives you 11 days and 10 fun-filled nights, MSC Cruises has to be up there amongst the best cruise itineraries currently available that offer good value for money.
And it’s a cruise the whole family are going to enjoy.
Why?
It’s because the cruise ship is a medium-sized classic favorite, and the ports are many and varied. And you end your vacation in Barcelona, and here you can extend your stay with post-cruise hotel nights for as long as you like.
Let’s look a little closer at this 10-night cruise and the cities your MSC Cruises ship visits.
Cruise Line: MSC Cruises
Name of Ship: MSC Grandiosa – read more about MSC Cruises and MSC Grandiosa here!
Start Date: April - October (Tip! Cruise dates and itineraries are subject to change at any time check with MSC Cruises at the time of booking)
Cruise Port: From Copenhagen, Denmark to Barcelona, Spain
Itinerary:
1: Copenhagen
2: At Sea
3: Southampton
4: At Sea
5: El Ferrol
6: At Sea
7: Lisbon
8: Cadiz
9: Malaga
10: At Sea
11: Barcelona
Copenhagen and London – two of the world’s greatest cities in two days
This 10-night Northern Europe cruise is offered by MSC Cruises, on board MSC Grandiosa. It departs Denmark’s capital city, Copenhagen.
In our Cruise From Copenhagen article we give you a 3-day detailed guide to help you make the most of the city before starting your cruise from Copenhagen.
You are going to love this Nordic capital and we recommend that you experience this city before you start your criuse by booking 3 or 4 pre-cruise hotel nights before exploring the rest of Europe on your cruise from Copenhagen.
We offer travel info, tips and itineraries on our Copenhagen pages to help you make the most of your stay.
You next port of call is in Southampton, England. And that means you have have the opportunity to see the beautiful Jurassic Coastline of Southern England during a shore visit, or take a bus tour to London for the day and see the gleaming captial of Great Britian.
Whichever alternative you choose, be sure to disembark early to pack as much as you can into this one shore day. Often the cruise ship will stay in port until late evening as there is so much to see and do. Check your cruise itinerary.
To help you decide if you want to spend your time exploring Southern England and the surrounding area of Southampton, or visit London, we have travel tips and detailed itineraries for you on our Southampton page and on our London page.
Spain and Portugal – The Iberian Peninsula
This great cruise combines the coasts of Portugal and Spain. In almost guaranteed sunshine in the month of September, this is one of the best times of year to visit these Mediterranean countries. You will avoid the blistering heat of high summer and be there well before the winter chill sets in. September is a perfect time of year to visit.
Lisbon – Portugal’s hilly captial
When visiting Lisbon we recommend booking a tour with a professional guide, either with your cruise line or with a trusted independant tour operator. If you want to stay in the city this is definitely the way to see the best of it.
Whilst Lisbon is trying hard to become a modern city, you can’t help feeling that you are standing in the middle of a bygone age that is trying to catch up with the vibrancy of other European capitals. Whilst locals seems to be reserved, they are friendly. But do be prepared to see a city that is in need of a little tender loving care.
In fact our favorite thing to do on this port of call is to book an excursion to see the coastline and beaches, for example to Cascais.
Cascais is a quaint, sunny coastal town just a short distance from Lisbon. Here you will find great food, friendly locals and inviting beaches.
Ferrol, Seville, Malaga and Barcelona
Ferrol, Seville, Malaga and Barcelona – this heady mix of soulful Spanish cities will leave you wanting to visit this country time and again.
From historic Seville to the fun-loving Malaga, except stunning scenery, beautiful beaches and fabulous food. Buy a guide book and read up on what there is to see and do in each port before you visit.
Or take a look at the excellent tourist information sites with lots of tips and travel info for each city: Malaga, Ferrol, Seville, and Barcelona.
Value for money vacations with MSC Cruises
When you do your homework you will see why MSC Cruises are so popular for singles, couples and families alike. Most often the price is more than right. And the cruise ships are many and varied all offering a good cruise. Read more about MSC Cruises here.
With MSC Cruises your budget will take you further. They are very price-competitive with other major cruise lines. Very noticably when travelling with children, MSC Cruises offer some of the best child prices for cruises you will find.
For great deals, book well in advance and don’t miss out on those “Early Bird” deals by signing up for the MSC Cruises newsletter on their website.
Who are MSC Cruises?
MSC Cruises are a privately owned Italian cruise company. They offer cruises on board 20 different cruise ships. The newest of which are MSC Virtuosa, a megaship with a capacity of nearly 6000 guests, and MSC World Europa which will be able to accommodate a huge 6700 guests.
MSC Cruises were one of the first cruise lines in the industry to be back sailing during the Covid pandemic. They were able to quicky implement safety guidlines on board, such as Covid Screening, social distancing, constant cleaning and protected excursions.
As well as offering itineraries to many regions of the world, they also have world cruises and grand ocean voyages. All at cruise-friendly and kid-friendly prices.
Need more tips on cruising? We’re here to help!
- Cruise from Barcelona – the essential guide
- 12 Ways to Make the Most of A Cruise Vacation
- Cruise Packing List Essentials – 26 Great Tips
- The Best Cruises With Single Cabins
- Cruise from London – the essential guide
- The 8 best cruise ships for families and kid-friendly cruises
- Cruise from Southampton – the essential guide
- 12 Top tips for booking a cruise and avoiding common mistakes
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