14/10/2026
Flying all the way to Europe for a cruise? Please don’t arrive the day your ship leaves!
It’s one of the biggest travel tips I share with anyone planning a European cruise, and here’s why!
Before our first Mediterranean cruise, we spent FIVE days exploring Athens, Greece.
We visited incredible historical sites, enjoyed Greek food and had time to adjust to the jet lag.
Best of all? We didn’t have to worry about a delayed flight causing us to miss our ship!
And when our cruise ended in Barcelona, we had more adventures ahead of us.
So we flew to Rome, Italy, for another WEEK!
We explored the Colosseum, Roman Forum and so much more than we ever could during a typical cruise port stop.
It was like THREE vacations in one!
Ever since that first Mediterranean cruise, I’ve made it a point to arrive in Europe several days early.
My advice? Arrive at least 2–3 days before your cruise.
You’ll have a buffer for flight delays, time to adjust to jet lag and a chance to explore.
And if your schedule allows, stay a few extra days AFTER your cruise, too!
You’re already making that long flight to Europe. Why not make the most of it?
I’m curious! How many days before your cruise do you usually arrive?