Cruise ship by Thomas Quine

The influencing factors

In addition to the above geographical factors, you might also have your personal reasons such as the summer holidays or escaping the cold chilling winters at home. Each of these answers would further influence which season is the best for sailing.

The cruise regions mostly have peak seasons, moderate demand seasons and seasons during which demands are the lowest. Earlier the peak season seemed to be the ideal time when the weather used to be at its best in certain regions. But with cruise turning out to be more of a family event, the summer months have now become the peak season period regardless of the weather around or back home. Prior bookings are encouraged for those of you who are looking to book a cruise in the peak time, as most cruises have a limit on the number of children per sail. Each ship would also have a limited number of cabins that would accommodate not more than the specified number of people.

The off seasons can yield some of the best bargains. With the off season being comparatively longer, it also serves as the ideal time for cruising for those who can make it at that time. Alaska and Bermuda have six to seven months of peak period and off season would be at the time of end of the peak season. Panama and Northern Europe, on the other hand, have peak season all the year round.

Below are some popular destinations and the right time to go there:

Alaska: June to August is considered the peak season. This is when the temperatures are at their warmest best. This comes with an added advantage of spotting wildlife too. But with popularity comes a hitch. Higher demands mean prior bookings, almost a year in advance. You might also be surprised to witness congestion in small towns. The low-season periods are May and September.

Australia: The ideal time to cruise in Australia would be from early December to March. This is when the climate is favourable. The least demand would be from May till September. But these being the rainy months carry high chances of cruise cancelation.

Europe: April up till October is the right time for an ideal Europe river cruise. With the spring in full bloom, you could be in for a pleasant surprise too. The low season, on the other hand, is the cold and bitter winter months.

Mediterranean: The best time to cruise here would be between May and September. Most cruises would offer a culture mix of travellers with a plenty of on-board events. Nearing September, you can even avoid the school crowd and still manage to enjoy the warm temperatures.

So, by carefully analyzing your idea of the perfect holiday on a cruise, you should be able to make a favourable choice.

Penny is an expert associated with Boating Hub, a company that provides training on boating. You can view courses at https://www.theboatinghub.com to make your choice.

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After you’ve decided to go to Amsterdam, you have a few more decisions to make before your holiday. First, you must find a deal on Amsterdam flights. It is wise to book your flight well in advance to ensure a lower rate, especially if you are going during the busy season. While you may be able to find accommodations after you land, it is ideal to make your reservation in advance as well. After you have secured lodging, it’s time for the fun part – deciding what to do.

A view of the Reguliersgracht on the corner with the Keizersgracht, in Amsterdam, The Netherlands by Massimo Catarinella

The Seven Best Things to Do

The below top seven things to do in Amsterdam will help you decide which attractions and activities you cannot miss during your trip.

• De Pijp – This neighborhood is referred to as “Quartier Latin” due to 19^th-century architecture that reflects a collision of many different cultures. This eclectic neighborhood features ethnic restaurants and one-of-a kind shops to satisfy the food enthusiast and shopaholic. It is also home to Albert Cuyp Market, a famous street market with international vendors. This is a great place to meander around and take in flavors and experiences from all over the world.

• Vondelpark – As a well-maintained park that is home to ponds, playgrounds and winding paths, it is an ideal spot for an evening bike ride or roller blading adventure. There is a plethora of sculptures and statues to appreciate throughout the park. Vondelpark is open from sunrise to sunset and is an excellent free way to enjoy an evening in Amsterdam.

• Anne Frank’s House – Anne Frank’s universally respected and somber house is widely considered a must-see attraction. Visitors are able to see where Anne Frank hid for two years and wrote her diary before being taken to a concentration camp. As one of the most popular attractions in the city, visiting very early or very late in the day is the best way to avoid long lines. The House is open daily and charges a reasonable price for admission.

• Van Gogh Museum – Home to a collection of prints, paintings and etchings from the respected Vincent Van Gogh, this museum is a must-see for any art enthusiast. With over 200 paintings on display visitors can spend an entire day taking in Van Gogh’s work. Admission is more than other museums in the area and is often sold-out. Reserve your tickets well ahead of time to see this unique museum.

• The Heineken Experience – Located on the site of the company’s original brewery, this renovated attraction offers a self-guided tour of this famous brewery. The ‘experience’ entails a unique multimedia exhibit in which you actually become a beer. Visitors are shaken, sprayed and heated. Don’t worry, you won’t be drank at the end. However, you may do some drinking yourself.

• The Red Light District – Many travelers have called the Red Light District a can’t-miss attraction. Being home to many bars and clubs, this district is known for its legalized prostitution and is most alive at night. Even if you will not be a patron, visiting the district offers a unique perspective not found anywhere else in the world. Leave the camera at your hostel, as taking pictures of prostitutes is expressly prohibited.

• Di’Vino Wijnbar – The Jordaan district is home to this dedicated wine bar for the sophisticated tourist. Enjoy a candlelit experience filled with quality Italian wines paired with divinely arranged cheese plates. The flickering candles and comfortable seating create an idyllic environment for a romantic evening in a quiet part of town.

Make the Most Out of Your Amsterdam Trip

Planning a rough itinerary before your trip is the best way to make the most out of your Amsterdam holiday. While there is value in an unstructured visit, if you are on any sort of time constraints making a schedule is advised. Creating an itinerary of attractions and activities will help you optimize the time spent in this wonderful and historic city.

Jonathan M. Scott is a contributing writer and travel enthusiast. He makes regular trips to Europe and Asia to explore new countries and cultures. 

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It’s not cheap

You think you have it bad in the United States. Well Europe can be really expensive. In some places you’ll need a lot more money than you’ve ever thrown around before. If you want to go out in London you will have to take out a second mortgage. Know that you will have to look after your money. If that means heading to the shops to buy some groceries, great. You can always cook in a hostel. But don’t expect to be going out for food every night.

Photo by Gary Cycles

Watch your pockets

I don’t know how much experience you have with pick pockets, but unfortunately in some European cities you can see quite a lot of it. There are professionals that go around targeting unsuspecting people. It makes you an even bigger target if they can see you carrying around lots of fancy electronic equipment. Just be careful of anyone who welcomes you with a handshake and a little dance. Look in your pocket after this and it could be too late.

Photo by Daniel Lobo

It’s really cold

Especially in Northern Europe, you’re lucky if you will even see one week of summer. What I can tell you is that it’s really cold. Pack as much warm clothes as you can that will fit in your luggage, or be prepared to buy more from the shop. You don’t want to be waiting about at night with nothing keeping you warm except a t-shirt. It’s going to be even better if you have a hat, scarf and gloves.

Photo by Ffion Atkinson

Taking money from ATM’s

You will eventually have to withdraw money from ATM’s and you need to be very careful. Don’t let anyone see your card. It’s equally important not to flash too much cash around. Not everyone will be as rich as you and waving money in their face is likely to entice them to take it off you. Some gangs also use special machines they put on ATM’s in order to swipe your card details. Have a good look before you use the machine to check everything looks OK. The last thing you need is to lose all your money in a foreign country.

Photo by Frank Hebbert

Be careful in bars

Like anywhere else you will find trouble in some bars. This tends to happen a lot more regularly in Europe. The main culprits are England and Ireland. Unfortunately, some people will go out with the sole purpose of starting trouble. It’s unlikely it will happen to you, but it’s always something to be careful of. If anybody tries to cause bother you should walk away before it gets out of hand.

Photo by Glenn Harper

John Peters is an expert travel advisor and writes various articles on topics like unique vacation spots, travelling tips and adventurous holidays. His company provides great services like cheap flights to Murcia with Jet2.com.

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The Kronborg castle has been one of the most important Renaissance castles in Northern Europe. The castle was originally used to collect duties, and was later rebuilt to Renaissance castle. However it is important to note, that Renaissance means something else in Italy and something else in Scandinavia. Later the castle was used as barracks for two centuries.

You can save a tour of the interior. After the fire, there is not much remained to be seen inside. It is best to walk along the sea and the view from the ship.

Kronborg Castle has been added to UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites list in 2000.

History of Kronborg Castle

• In 1420s the fortress, Krogen, was built by the Danish king, Eric of Pomerania.
• In 1585 was rebuilt by Frederick II into a magnificent Renaissance castle and renamed to Kronborg.
• In 1629 the castle was totally burned due to some mistake of two workers.
• In 1639 the castle was restored by Christian IV, but the interior never fully regained its former glory.
• From 1688-1690, an advanced line of defence and ramparts were built around it, which made Kronborg Castle the strongest fortress in Europe.
• From 1739 until the 1900s, Kronborg was used as a prison.

View Kronborg Castle in Denmark – the place of William Shakespeare’s famous tragedy Hamlet in a larger map

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If you want a little rest and enjoy the atmosphere of the city you can not miss the waterfronts Granslei and Korenlei. At any time of day it is full of self-confident young people, mostly students of local universities, who will enchant you with their immediacy and helpfulness. Waterfront Granslei is typical for old guild houses with shields beautifully decorated, which are mirrored in the surface channel. Channels crisscrossing countless cruise ships full of curious tourists, which is the fastest way to experience all in an idyllic spot on the riverbank. If you get lost in small streets, you will be surprised by the number of caffes and many catering services for cyclists. Among other things, the Belgians take a bike as a natural means of transport anywhere in the office, on shopping, or on trips.

Much of the Gent’s medieval architecture remains intact and is remarkably well preserved and restored. The center of Gent is the largest carfree area in Belgium.

View Gent – one of the largest and richest cities of northern Europe Belgium in a larger map

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Lake Königssee, Germany by Bobak Ha’Eri

The Lake Königssee is considered to be the third deepest lake in the entire country. It is known, that the lake was formed during the last ice age by glacial erosion, and as such the lake is 7.7 km long while only being 1.7 km wide. The lake is also popularly known to mountain climbers who make their way to the area declared one of the tallest vertical ascents in northern Europe.

The lake itself, is very clear and is considered by many to be one of the cleanest lakes in all of Germany. In order to ensure that the lake stays clean and clear for future generations, transportation on Lake Königssee is limited to electric powered vessels with the proper permits. This regulation has actually been in place since the beginning of the 1900s.

An electric boat, Königssee Lake, Germany by Nachtgiger

The views afforded to anyone who chooses to visit the Lake Königssee is simply awe-inspiring. As a result, not only is the region very popular for mountain climbers, but is also very popular for ecotourists. The large lake is surrounded by parkland which is considered by many to be some of the most beautiful and picturesque in the entire country. There are a number of popular hiking trails around the lake.

Due to the many sheer rock faces that surround Lake Königssee in every direction, there is an amazing echo that can be heard no matter where you are. As a result, those who choose to take a boat to travel the length of the lake, will notice that the boat stopped midway and either play a flugelhorn or a trumpet. Passengers on the boat will notice that there is a distinct echo that can be heard more than seven times bouncing back and forth from one side to the other. In the past, the echo was created by shooting a cannon; however due to safety reasons this is no longer perform.

St. Bartholomä church, Lake Konigssee, Germany by gravitat-OFF

At the midpoint of Lake Königssee, there is a small peninsula that sticks out into the lake, which also has on it a smaller lake of its own. The smaller lake which is known by the name of Lake Obersee, has also become a very popular attraction in the area on account of its 470 m tall waterfall known as Röthbach. Unfortunately, there are no hiking trails that can reach the waterfall, and as such many people choose to take boat instead. Along the shores of Lake you will also find the famous St. Bartholomä church which attracts countless visitors as well.

While there are many things to see and do when you choose to visit Germany, if you want to really see the true beauty of the country then you have to make your way to Lake Königssee and the Berchtesgaden National Park region.

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Sweden, officially the Kingdom of Sweden, is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy of government with the current king Carl XVI Gustaf. The country has highly developed economy. The capital city is Stockholm, which has about 800,000 inhabitants. The whole kingdom covers 449,964 km² with approximately 9,856,000 inhabitants (of which about 1.5 million are immigrants). The largest cities after Stockholm are Göteborg, Malmö and Uppsala. Three main areas of Sweden, basically corresponding to the southern, central and northern parts of the country are Götaland (south), Svealand (central part) and Norrland (north).

The best time for visiting Sweden is Winter or Summer when you can see the polar night (in Winter) and have the daylight only for a few hours, or polar day (in Summer) with the sun above you almost for 24 hours.

Typical cuisine is Smorgåsbord (a buffet of savoury delicacies), Baltic herring, pea soup and pancakes.

Among the best know people from Sweden you will find actress Greta Garbo or music group ABBA.

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Lithuania is the most populous of the three Baltic States. Lithuania’s surface is mostly flat except for a few small hills on the western plateau and the eastern highlands. The highest point is at the Aukštasis top in 294 meters. Lithuania has 758 rivers within its territory, more than 2,800 lakes and 99 km long coast of the Baltic Sea, which is mainly used for recreation and is the subject of conservation. Forest area covers just over 30% of the country.

Approximately 84% of the population are ethnic Lithuanians. The two largest minorities are Poles, with more than 6%, and Russians with more than 5%. The Lithuanian language belongs to the Indo-European languages.

Capital of Lithuania – Vilnius is a picturesque port on the banks of the rivers Neris and Vilna with one of the architecturally most impressive old towns in Eastern Europe. University of Vilnius, founded in 1579, is the Renaissance complex with countless inner courtyards, which are like city within a city.

Lithuanian cuisine is known abroad mainly for its cold beet soup. Regular part of meals are potatoes, which are the most popular cakes and Cepelinai – potato dumplings stuffed with meat, cream cheese and mushrooms.

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Latvia’s surface is mainly lowland. The highest point is Gaizinkalns hill with an elevation of 311 meters. There are more than 12.000 rivers in Latvia. The largest are the Daugava, Lielupe, Gauja and Venta. The country has over 3.000 lakes.

The capital city of Latvia is Riga which is very interesting for tourists. For lots of tourists Baltic coast is here interesting as well. The most famous tourist resort on the Baltic Sea is a town of Jurmala, situated about 20 km from Riga. Be sure to visit the beautiful Latvian countryside with beautiful pine and mixed forests. The center of Riga is full of historical buildings.

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Finnish forests offer not a large number of species. The importance of landscape and forestry has only pine, spruce and birch. With considerable isolation of the country and small population, many species that are now very rare in othe rparts of Europe, survived in the wild here. In southern and central Finland, you can normally see the elk, the largest of nearly seventy species of mammals. There are living several hundreds of brown bears. In addition, there are living arctic foxes, wolves, lynx, marten, muskrat, beavers, otters, wolverines, lemmings, hares and hedgehogs.

All the water in Finland is so clean that also in Tampere – Finland’s third largest city, you can find trouts in the lake that is in the middle of the city.

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