Northern Europe & Scandinavia Cruise Holidays

Scandinavia is a group of countries in northern Europe that include  Denmark, Norway and Sweden and, more commonly, Finland, Iceland and the Faroe Islands. However, this can vary depending on whether you’re talking about geography or culture – the Scandinavian Peninsula excludes Denmark, but Finland has distinctly different cultural traditions and language. 

Whatever the similarities and differences, you’ll have the chance to see the best of this region on a P&O Cruises Scandinavian holiday. Whether you’re coming face-to-face with Viking longboats in Oslo, wandering the cobbled streets of Stockholm’s old town or saying ‘hi’ to a famous mermaid in the fairy-tale capital Copenhagen, there’s no end to the adventures waiting for you in Scandinavia.

Outside of the British Isles, Northern Europe consists of the Lowland countries, such as  Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, and the Baltics. The Baltics consist of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

And, more importantly for you, with P&O Cruises you can visit some of the prettiest places in this eclectic and culturally rich region. The winding lanes of Tallinn and Riga’s old towns will leave you feeling like you’ve stepped back in time.

Even in the summer months, it’s fair to say the weather in Scandinavia can be a tad unpredictable.  As well as waterproof clothing and an umbrella, make sure you bring along plenty of extra layers such as fleece jackets and jumpers, so you can put on or take off when needed.

Many of our Scandinavian destinations are perfect places for hiking trips or exploring (which is part of their appeal), so it’s a good idea to bring appropriate footwear, such as hiking shoes or durable trainers that you’ll be able to comfortably trek about in for a few hours.

Although this can be a personal choice, if you’re looking to enjoy more outdoor activities on your holiday, then between May and September would be the best time to go on a Northern Europe cruise holiday. The warmer weather during these months means you’ll have the chance to go cycling around picturesque old towns in one destination or kayaking in calm waterways in the next.  

June, July and August are the best months to visit Scandinavia. During this high season, you have long days with the sun rising at around 4am and setting at midnight in places like Oslo, Helsinki and Stockholm. In some parts of Norway, you’ll have nearly 24 hours of daylight in mid-June. Because of the pleasant temperatures and the sunny weather during these months, this is the ideal time to explore the great outdoors in Scandinavia. Known as the ‘shoulder season’, May and September are also good options for warmer weather but can be a bit more unpredictable. 

Given the vast wild areas of the region, it’ll come as no surprise to learn that traditional Scandinavian food is based on local natural resources such as meat and seafood. When mixed with fresh ingredients, this produces tasty meals for you to try.

One cuisine that you’ll find across the region is gravlax. This Scandinavian dish consists of salmon that’s been cured using a mix of salt, sugar, dill, black pepper and sometimes berries. Reindeer meat is also popular across Scandinavia and comes in various forms. If you fancy trying this meat, then you could try the Norwegian steak called finnbiff, which is often served with potato dumplings and a hearty gravy.

If you’re vegetarian or vegan and feeling missed out here, one Scandinavian food tradition you can get on board with is the smörgåsbord. This is a popular lunch option, where you can make up your own rye-bread sandwiches from an array of fillings such as roasted tomatoes with herbs, mushrooms, cloudberries and boiled potatoes (as well as meats and cheeses).   

Northern Europe is characterised by cold winters and mild, humid summers. That said, as the region’s climate can be affected by the Gulf Stream, it can, unlike southern parts of Europe, make for unpredictable weather at any time of the year.  Although you can expect an average temperature of 22°C in mid-summer, it’s always a good idea to be prepared for all weather possibilities when travelling in Northern Europe, whatever the season. 

The weather across Scandinavia varies greatly depending on the season. During the summer months, you can expect warmer weather with temperatures reaching as high as 25°C, while in mid-winter temperatures can drop to as low as -20°C in the more northern parts of the region.

During the summer months, the sun barely sets in Scandinavia. If you’re travelling around this region in June or July, you can enjoy almost 24 hours of daylight in some parts. 

Visiting between 5 to 8 ports, with evening and/or overnight stops on every itinerary, our Northern Europe & Scandinavia cruise holidays are 14 or 16 nights. 

Set sail for Northern Europe & Scandinavia from Southampton and start your holiday sooner. There are currently three ships you can explore this enchanting region on with P&O Cruises: Britannia and our two exclusively-for-adults ships Arcadia and Aurora.