Unique Itinerary: Northern Europe and France

Sail the historic waters of Northern Europe with Oceania Cruises.

Photo-illustration courtesy of Oceania Cruises

Picking the right cruise can be a challenge at the best of times.  When it comes to picking the right European cruise, things can get downright intimidating.   With a multitude of Northern Europe and Mediterranean voyages to choose from, the possibilities are endless.

Here at From the Deck Chair, even we're looking to see where our travels will take us - and you - in 2011.

One itinerary in particular caught our eye, courtesy of Oceania Cruises.  Offering port-intensive itineraries aboard relaxed, casual yet elegant ships where the focus is on fine food and exceptional service, the line was also one of the first to pioneer the inclusion of airfare in the price of the voyage if you book before a certain date - a feature that can be worth its weight in gold when looking at European voyages, where airfare can sometimes cost as much as your entire trip.

Departing July 29, 2011 from Dover, England aboard Oceania's newest and perhaps most exciting ship - Marina - passengers will be whisked on a twelve-day odyssey including some of the best ports in Northern Europe and France.  The full itinerary is:

Amsterdam, Netherlands - 10am to 10pm

Bruges, Belgium - 10am to 7pm

Paris (Honfleur), France - 9:45am to 11pm 

Guernsey, St. Peter Port, UK - 8am to 6pm

Saint-Malo, France - 11am to 8:30pm

Pont-Aven, France - 11am to 6pm

Bordeaux (Le Verdon), France - 8am to 9pm* (Overnight)

Biarritz, France - 8am to 6pm

Santander, Spain - 8am to 4pm

Cruising the Bay of Biscay & English Channel

Dover, England - Disembark

Pricing for this incredibly unique voyage, aboard what promises to be the crown jewel of the Oceania fleet, starts at $5,899 per person for Veranda Stateroom Category B4, and includes airfare from a number of US and Canadian gateways if booked before August 31, 2010.  

Those interested in this itinerary would be wise to book early: all interior and outside stateroom categories are already showing as "Wait List Only" or "Sold Out".

For more information, be sure to visit the Oceania Cruises Webpage.