Northern Europe, Baltic & British Isles Cruises
Scandinavian capitals, Norway’s fjords, Iceland and the British Isles — cool-weather cruising under long summer days.
Get Up to 5 Free Cruise QuotesCruising Northern Europe & the Baltic
Northern Europe cruises sail from late spring to early fall, when the days are long and the weather is mild. There are three main families of itinerary:
Baltic
Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki, Tallinn, Riga and German ports such as Warnemünde (for Berlin) and Kiel. Medieval old towns, royal palaces and design-savvy capitals. Since 2022, cruises no longer call at St. Petersburg, Russia; many lines added longer stays in Stockholm, Helsinki or Tallinn instead.
Norway, the Arctic & Iceland
Fjords such as Geiranger and the Sognefjord, Bergen, Flam and Ålesund, the North Cape and Svalbard, often combined with Iceland. Norway’s coastal ships sail the coast year-round.
British Isles & Ireland
Round-Britain voyages from Southampton or Dover: Edinburgh, the Scottish Highlands and islands, Belfast, Dublin, Cork, Liverpool, the Channel Islands and often Normandy.
At a Glance
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Season | May through September |
| Typical length | 7–14 nights |
| Main homeports | Southampton and Dover (UK), Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Kiel, Hamburg, Stockholm |
| Good for | Culture, history and scenery; travelers who prefer cool weather |
Smart Traveler tips
- Expect cool, changeable weather even in summer: pack layers and a rain jacket.
- Combine a cruise with a few days in London, Copenhagen or Amsterdam before or after.
- Midnight-sun voyages to northern Norway run around June; northern-lights voyages run in winter on coastal and expedition ships.
Plan Your Northern Europe & the Baltic Cruise
Flights
Flights to the UK (London) · Flights to Denmark (Copenhagen) · Flights to Europe. Plan to arrive at least a day before the ship sails.Shore excursions
European shore excursionsBrowse Northern Europe & the Baltic cruise lines, deals and specialists on the Official Cruise Directory: Northern Europe · Baltic · Scandinavia · British Isles.
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Northern Europe & the Baltic Cruise FAQ
Do Baltic cruises still visit St. Petersburg?
No. Cruise lines dropped St. Petersburg after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Baltic itineraries now spend more time in Stockholm, Helsinki, Tallinn, Riga and German ports.
When is the best time for a Norwegian fjords cruise?
June through August brings the warmest weather and very long days. May and September are quieter and often better value; waterfalls are at their fullest in late spring.