Ferry Cruises

Ferries or Cruise Ships?

If there’s one thing that closely resembles a traditional cruise—both in terms of the type of vessel and onboard amenities and services—it’s ferries.

To stand out from air travel and its competition, ferries in Europe have undergone a transformation in recent years. Beyond simply transporting passengers and vehicles from one port to another, the largest ferries, especially those operating overnight or two-night crossings, have upgraded their facilities to offer luxurious cabins, bars, restaurants, casinos, cinemas, pools, and a variety of shops. They also feature themed crossings or packages that include shore stays. All of this closely mirrors what you’d find on many cruise ships, with the added advantage that on ferries, everything remains optional and thus more budget-friendly.

In short, by combining several existing routes, you can create a more affordable alternative to traditional cruise ships, sometimes on nearly identical itineraries.

Possible Routes and Prices

Routes

The Mediterranean, the Baltic, and the English Channel offer the easiest opportunities to "design" your own cruise by combining different ferry routes (though some overland segments may be necessary). Summer is the best time to plan such a trip, thanks to the number and variety of sailings—though prices are naturally higher than in the off-season.

Example Routes

Western Mediterranean: Southeast France / Corsica / Sardinia / Naples / Sicily / Malta / Tunis / Marseille.

Western Mediterranean: Sète (France) / Northern Morocco / Barcelona / Balearic Islands / Barcelona / Sardinia / Genoa... with the option to continue on other circuits from Genoa.

Eastern Mediterranean: From Venice or southeastern Italy / Turkey (west coast) / Greek islands / Athens / Patras (Greece) / southeastern Italian coast... then return to southeastern France/Genoa from Sicily... or Croatian coast / northeastern Italy (overland) / northwestern coast / Corsica / southeastern France.

Baltic Sea: France / Southeast England / Denmark / Northern Germany / St. Petersburg / Finland / Estonia / Sweden / Poland / Northern Germany / Denmark / Southeast England / France. Note that from St. Petersburg, you can reach Moscow via the Volga.

English Channel: Cherbourg / Ireland / West England / Channel Islands / Cherbourg.

Prices

When it comes to pricing, the main difference from traditional cruises lies in "accommodation." On a ferry, you can choose between a luxurious cabin, a standard one, a dormitory, or even just a deck seat. If you’re traveling with a caravan or camper van, there’s also a "camping" option.

For a standard cabin, expect to pay roughly half as much per day at sea compared to a cruise ship (even with meals and a few extras included, it’s still a good deal). If you opt for a deck seat, it’s three to four times cheaper—but admittedly, that’s a far cry from the cruise experience.