GuidePassport rules for each cruise countryMost of Europe is in the Schengen Area. Your US passport must be less than 10 years old on the day you arrive and still valid at least 3 months after …GuideThe new EU Entry/Exit System (EES): photo and fingerprintsSince October 2025 the EU has replaced passport stamps with a digital record of when you enter and leave. It has been fully in place at every Schengen…GuideETIAS: the EU's new travel permit (not open yet)ETIAS is a new online travel permit Americans will need for most of Europe. As of November 2026 it is not open yet. The official EU site says no appli…GuideUK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)Americans need a UK ETA, an online permit, to visit England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, and that includes cruise stops. It costs 20 pounds a…GuideThe Schengen 90/180-day ruleAmericans can spend up to 90 days in any 180-day period across all Schengen countries combined. Each day ashore or in a hotel counts. Days in the UK, …GuideMoney: currencies, cards, ATMs and tippingMost cruise ports use the euro, but the UK, Scandinavia, Iceland, Turkey, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Hungary use their own money. Cards and t…GuidePhones and internet on a European cruiseAt sea, your phone may connect to the ship's own cell network, which is billed as costly satellite roaming. Keep your phone in airplane mode at sea an…GuideHealth, insurance, medicines and seasicknessOriginal Medicare generally does not cover you in Europe or on most of your cruise. Care in the ship's medical center usually costs extra. The State D…GuidePlugs and voltageEurope runs on 230 volts, about twice US voltage. Phone and laptop chargers usually handle this and need only a plug adapter. Most of the continent us…GuideGetting sales tax (VAT) back on shoppingVisitors who live outside the EU can often get back part of the sales tax, called VAT, on goods bought in the EU and taken home. Each country sets its…GuidePickpockets, strikes and signing up for STEPPickpocketing is the most common crime against tourists in busy European cities. The State Department warns about it in Spain, France (especially the …GuideWhat to wear at churches and monasteriesMany major churches and monasteries require covered shoulders and knees, and staff turn people away. At the Vatican, shoulders and knees must be cover…GuideChoosing a RegionPick your region first, because it decides the season, the ship type and the price. Sunny history-and-beach trips mean the Mediterranean; scenery mean…GuideWhen to GoMay-June and September-October are the sweet spot for the Mediterranean: warm, less crowded and cheaper than July-August, which is hot and packed. Nor…GuideOcean vs. River vs. Small ShipRiver ships are small (often well under 200 guests), dock right in town, and include more in the price; they cost more per day. Big ocean ships cost l…GuideCruise Lines That Sail EuropeLines fall into four groups: mass-market (lowest fares, most extras), premium (better food and service), luxury (most included), and river lines. Rive…GuideWhat a European Cruise Really CostsThe cruise fare is only part of the bill. Add flights, a hotel night or two before the cruise, tips, excursions, drinks, insurance and new local fees.…GuideWhen and How to BookBook Europe cruises about a year or more ahead for the best cabin choice, especially for summer and river cruises. You pay a deposit at booking and th…GuideFlights from the USFly in at least one day before the cruise, ideally two. Flight delays happen and the ship will not wait. On one-way cruises book an 'open-jaw' ticket …GuideTravel InsuranceBuy it. A Europe cruise is expensive, penalties start months before sailing, and US health plans may pay little or nothing overseas. Look for trip can…GuideCruise Limits and Visitor Fees in 2026Several popular ports now charge cruise visitors or limit ships. In 2026: Greece charges up to EUR 20 per person in Santorini and Mykonos, Venice char…GuidePort Days: How They WorkThe ship sets an 'all aboard' time, usually 30 minutes or more before sailing, and it will not wait for you if you are late on your own. Ship tours co…GuidePacking and Life OnboardPack layers and good walking shoes; Europe means cobblestones, hills and changing weather. River cruises and most premium lines are 'smart casual' eve…GuideCruising Europe with Limited MobilityBig ocean ships are usually the easiest ships for wheelchairs; the harder part is Europe itself: tenders, cobblestones, steep old towns and long walks…GuideKids, Solo Travelers and First-Timer MistakesFamilies do best on big ocean ships with kids' clubs; river cruises rarely suit young children. Solo travelers often pay a 'single supplement' that ca…