Royal Caribbean Europe Cruisetours
Extend Your Vacation in Europe
At Royal Caribbean, we believe that a longer vacation is a better vacation. So we've made extending your cruise vacation simple by offering packages at resort hotels near the port where you board or depart the ship. Select the port where you board or depart the ship from the list below to see packages available for the selected port and nearby cities.
Mediterranean Cruisetours include these great cities:
Barcelona, Spain
A top European center for art, architecture, design and cuisine, this stylish city has its own language and culture. The soul of old Barcelona is its Gothic Quarter; outside the medieval district, discover iconic landmarks and more.
Revel in two nights and days to stroll Las Ramblas, taste tapas, and be wowed by Antonio Gaudi's architectural flights of fancy, including the unfinished masterpiece Sagrada Familia. While you're in Barcelona, don't miss the Picasso Gallery. Several adjoining 15th-century palaces house a huge collection (over 2,000 pieces) of Picasso's work. Stroll along Las Ramblas, a wonderfully vibrant part of the city where street vendors and performers vie for your attention. Explore the many churches and cathedrals of Barcelona and discover the city's modernist architecture along Paseo de Gracia. Visit Antoni Gaudí's unfinished Segrada Familia. With eight soaring spires and a spectacular main façade, this cathedral is a true architectural masterpiece. Don't miss paella, the Spanish national dish. It's a delicious combination of seafood, chicken and vegetables mixed together with saffron-colored rice.
Venice, Italy
Discover the magic and mystery of Venice, a city built entirely on water. Along the iconic Piazza San Marco, elaborate buildings attest to its splendor and elegance. But the city's character lies along crooked calli and across little bridges.
Soak up the lively atmosphere of St. Mark's Square. Roam the fascinating rooms of the Doge's Palace - and don't miss the view of the Bridge of Sighs. Stroll the cobblestoned sestieri of this magnificent floating city and discover its hidden treasures on your own. Probably the most famous site in Venice is St. Mark's Basilica. Built to enshrine St. Mark's body in the 9th century, it was rebuilt in the 11th century with a new, spectacular edifice. The interior is clad in wonderful mosaics and holds statues, icons and its famous horses, brought to St. Mark's after the 4th Crusade in 1204. Explore the Doge's Palace, the official residence of the Venetian ruler, founded in the 9th century. See its famous Bridge of Sighs, linking the palace to the state prisons. Take a walking tour through the quaint cobblestone streets and across the endless Venetian bridges to discover the intimate details that make Venice so unique. Enjoy a gondola ride through the canals as you relax and absorb the surroundings. Italians rarely shop in supermarkets. Instead, most prefer specialty stores. You can buy cakes at the pasticceria, milk at the latteria, and pasta, ham and cheese at an alimentari. It's a fun and interesting way to shop, and you'll find that the food is always fresh and delicious.
Rome, Italy
Enjoy all the magnificence of this ancient city; whether it's the Forum, the Sistine Chapel, the Pantheon or St. Peter's Basilica that sparks your interest and intellect, Rome is home to a lifetime's worth of historical, architectural and spiritual sites. Depending on traffic, the drive from Civitavecchia to Rome takes approximately an hour and a half.
Explore the Roman Forum, Trevi Fountain and other wonders of this ancient city. Picture the gladiators and their chariots on an interior tour of the Colosseum. Bask in the glory of Vatican City, with an inside look at St. Peter's Square, St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museum and the magnificent Sistine Chapel. Experience the history of Rome as you wander around the Colosseum and Roman Forum. Explore the amazing history and culture of Rome. Stop at the Ara Pacis, or Altar of Peace, a Roman sacrificial altar enclosed in a screen of Parian marble. Visit the Vatican Museum, where you can walk through the many rooms that house the largest art collection in the world. Travel through magnificent St. Peter's Basilica, the largest church in the world. View the Sistine Chapel, a masterpiece of Renaissance art, the ceiling of which was painted by Michelangelo. Toss a coin in the famous Trevi Fountain - a way to ensure that you'll always return to Rome. There are many varieties of pasta available with a wide range of sauces. Bucatini all'Amatricana, a thick spaghetti in a tangy tomato and bacon sauce, is one example associated with Rome. Osso Bucco, also popular, is a casserole of veal shin flavored with garlic, tomatoes and wine. For dessert, try ricotta cake, a form of cheesecake, or Zuppa Inglese, a liqueur-soaked sponge cake covered with custard, similar to English trifle.
Northern European Cruisetours include these great cities:
Southampton, England
One of the world's most famed ports, Southampton served as the launching point of the Mayflower and the Titanic. Today, it's one of the busiest passenger ports.
Visit the Southampton Maritime Museum, which chronicles the history of Southampton and its significant role as a port for ocean liners, the most famous being the Titanic. Not to be missed is the exhibit Titanic Voices, where visitors can hear the story of the tragic voyage in the words of survivors and those touched by the tragedy. Browse the halls of The City Art Gallery, which was named the National Fine Art Museum of the Year in 1994. Take a guided tour of Old Southampton and walk along the medieval town wall. Explore the more than 300 acres of open park space in The Common. It's an amazing collection of flora and fauna, so remarkable, in fact, that it has been designated a site of special scientific interest. Southampton is a shopper's delight, with several shopping areas and a wide variety of retailers. The most popular shopping center is WestQuay, located right in the city. It offers stores such as John Lewis, Waitrose and Marks & Spencers, as well as the more internationally known H&M, Gap, Sephora and Tower Records. Alternatives to WestQuay are the Marlands, which offers an even larger selection, including homeware and toy stores, and Bargate, the place to go for urban, surf or beach attire as well as the arcade, Sega Park.
Copenhagen, Denmark
Scandinavia's largest city is a treasure trove of art, history, architecture and modern design. Copenhagen artfully mixes fairy-tale settings like palaces, castles and elegant gardens with cutting-edge style and contemporary chic.
Take a stroll down Langelinie Promenade to see the heart of Copenhagen. It runs along the water from the port, skirting the 300-year-old, moated citadel near the celebrated statue of Hans Christian Andersen's Little Mermaid. The surrounding park is home to the Gefion Fountain, Copenhagen's most spectacular fountain. Visit two of Copenhagen's most famous castles - the Rosenborg, home to the Danish crown jewels, and the Christianborg, the house of Denmark's three supreme powers. See the symbol of Copenhagen, the famous bronze sculpture of the Little Mermaid. Visit the Canals of Gammel Strand and the water fountain of Gefion. Pay your respects at the Resistance Museum, featuring relics of the Resistance Movement during the German occupation of World War II. The Danes are probably best known for their open-face sandwiches (smorrebrod) of which there are many tempting varieties. Typical of Scandinavia, the cold table buffet-style lunch is also very popular, consisting of many types of fish and seafood, particularly herring, which may be pickled, marinated, or fried; a range of cold meats and pâtés; and even the odd hot dish such as meatballs. World-renowned Danish pasty is very common and oddly enough referred to as wienerbrod, or Viennese pastry.
Stockholm, Sweden
Water and green space are never far away in the stylish Swedish capital, built on 14 islands with acres of parks. But don't miss the medieval Old Town, whose narrowing streets are lined with unique shops, art galleries and cafes.
The Gamla Stan is the oldest part of Stockholm and a popular attraction. Its narrow cobblestone streets are lined with beautiful buildings dating from the 16th through the 19th centuries. Today they house boutiques, restaurants, cafes and clubs. Explore the city's ancient history by visiting the medieval Old Town and the impressive City Hall, the site of the Nobel Prize banquet. Take time to enjoy the smart boutiques, art galleries and antique shops that line the streets. Visit the grand Vasa Ship Museum, home to Vasa, the world's oldest preserved ship. Get medieval in the Medieval Museum, which focuses on the archaeological discoveries of the Castle of Three Crowns of Stockholm. Vodka is the drink most widely associated with Sweden, but the locals prefer Aquavit, a potato based liquor, served ice-cold and drunk as a shot. But beware, it is very strong.
