1. European cruise travel guide: How to choose a suitable cruise ship? There are many cruise products on the market.

In Europe alone, there are dozens of cruise line products to choose from.

Pick any cruise ship and your cruise can turn into a nightmare.

1. Look at the size of the cruise ship.

Large ships refer to cruise ships with a passenger capacity of more than 2,000 people, while small ships generally refer to cruise ships with a passenger capacity of less than 1,000 people.

When choosing a cruise ship, the first thing to look at is the size of the cruise ship.

On the one hand, the larger the cruise ship, the more passengers it can carry, and the higher the cost-effectiveness.

More importantly, large cruise ships have a higher safety factor than small cruise ships and will be more stable when encountering wind and waves.

It’s the same reason as choosing a big plane to travel.

When encountering airflow, the feelings of large aircraft and small and medium-sized aircraft are completely different.

If you board a giant cruise ship, you will feel like you are in a small city, with restaurants, entertainment facilities, leisure venues, duty-free shops, cinemas, casinos and more.

In short, almost everything that a high-level tourist city can find on a giant cruise ship is available.

The experience of taking a small cruise is like coming to a small village, or returning to your hometown after being away for more than ten years.

All facilities are primitive and simple.

And when encountering bad weather such as storms, small cruise ships feel very bumpy.

2. Look at the cruise route and time. For passengers who are experiencing a cruise for the first time, it is not recommended to choose a long-distance cruise.

A 3-4 day cruise is enough.

While the comfort and experience of a cruise can be guaranteed, it is also important for individuals experiencing a cruise for the first time to begin the acclimation process.

A 3-4 day sailing trip is enough for first-time passengers and the price is very cost-effective.

When you are sure that you really like cruising, choose a long-distance cruise, otherwise you will just waste your money.

For 3-4 day itineraries in Europe, it is recommended to take a Baltic cruise.

Maybe you have been to popular destinations such as France, Switzerland, and Italy, and small European cities are not to be missed.

In some ways, small cities are the best way to experience life in Europe.

Estonia on the Baltic Sea coast is full of rich medieval European style, while Finland is a typical Nordic scenery.

People who like Nordic simplicity must check it out.

During Christmas, Sweden’s Christmas markets and subway allow you to see a real Europe.

3. Look at the services provided by the cruise ship. Food and entertainment are almost standard on every cruise ship.

Although most cruise companies try their best to improve these two aspects and enrich passengers' travel experience, the content is actually the same, nothing more than singing and dancing, cinemas, swimming pools, and wine.

In addition to these standards, I personally feel that some detailed services are more impressive, such as the language on the cruise ship, because international luxury cruise ships mainly use English to introduce the ship's instructions, menus, daily activities, ship facilities, etc.

Including the crew, they are basically all foreigners.

I have lived in Europe for a long time and my English and French skills are pretty good.

Although there is no communication barrier, I always long to hear familiar Chinese, as if this will make me feel a sense of belonging.

If European cruises could provide Chinese services, it would be great for the Chinese.

Although I have been on dozens of cruises, unfortunately, I have experienced very few Chinese-speaking services.

Many cruise lines focusing on high-end luxury international styles still require communication in English, with only those from the Nordic Cruise Group taking advantage of last December.

4. Look at the cost of a cruise.

The word "luxury cruise" is flying all over the world in the promotional leaflets of major cruise companies, such as five-star hotels floating on the sea, enjoying the world and delicious food.

;Luxury always seems to come with cruises.

In fact, even on a 100,000-ton ultra-luxury cruise ship, the cabins are only about three stars by hotel standards.

The feeling of high-end luxury is often accompanied by high fees, giving people the misunderstanding that cruises are only for wealthy people.

In fact, cruise travel, like other travel, can be based on one's financial ability.

Those with good financial means can choose luxury cruises and private yachts.

For those who simply want to experience a cruise, cost-effective travel is the most important.

It should be our pursuit that everyone enjoys the best service at the most reasonable price.

Take the Anastasia Princess cruise ship, for example.

In December every year, the single-person cost of the Tallinn-St. Petersburg-Helsinki-Stockholm route is only 7,500 yuan per person (this price is for a 4-day cruise and 7-day land tour in Germany, Sweden, and Denmark), which translates into a cruise cost of less than 2,000 yuan.

Sea view rooms are arranged for tourists.

With more than 2,000 cabins in the market, such a cruise is very cost-effective.

5. Check the qualifications of the cruise agency.

When traveling to Europe, if you want to take a cruise, you generally need to make a reservation through a qualified travel agency.

Although cruise lines have their own official websites, generally speaking, guests can book tickets online they cannot.

Although some cruise lines have call centers at home and abroad, they do not provide ticket booking services, and tickets must be booked through a travel agency.

It is especially important to choose a qualified travel agency to book cruise tickets.

If you are like me and feel that your language proficiency is limited when you first go to Europe and you are worried that you will not understand English and will be deceived by travel agencies, it is recommended to find a reliable Chinese travel agency to book tickets, which can avoid many problems caused by language communication.