One of the most exciting parts of a European cruise is waking up somewhere new.

One day you might be exploring an Italian city, the next walking through a Greek village or discovering the coastline of Croatia.

Because cruise port visits are often relatively short, however, planning your excursions is important.

Don't wait until you're onboard to discover what each destination offers.

Research the port and surrounding area before your holiday.

Identify the attractions you most want to see and determine how long it takes to reach them.

Some ports are close to city centers, while others require a shuttle, train, bus or longer transfer.

A common mistake is creating an itinerary that is too ambitious.

If your ship is in port for eight hours, you don't have eight full hours for sightseeing.

You need to account for getting off the ship, transportation, meals and returning before departure.

Choose one or two priorities rather than trying to visit every attraction.

Cruise lines often offer organized shore excursions.

These can be convenient because transportation is arranged and the excursion is designed around the ship's schedule.

Independent exploration can provide more flexibility and may be less expensive.

However, you are responsible for getting back to the ship on time.

If you're travelling independently, always allow plenty of extra time.

European sightseeing can involve substantial walking.

Historic areas may have stairs, hills and uneven surfaces.

Read excursion descriptions carefully before booking.

A tour described as an easy walking excursion may still involve several kilometers of walking.

Weather can dramatically affect a shore excursion.

Hot Mediterranean days may make long walking tours tiring.

Rain can also change your plans.

Bring appropriate clothing and comfortable footwear.

Some excursions have limited capacity.

If there is a particular experience you absolutely don't want to miss, investigate booking options before departure.

Popular attractions may also require advance tickets.

Major landmarks are popular for a reason, but don't overlook smaller experiences.

A local market, neighborhood café, scenic viewpoint or traditional restaurant may provide a more memorable experience than rushing between famous landmarks.

Give yourself time to simply enjoy the destination.

This is the most important rule of independent port exploration.

The ship will have a scheduled departure time, and passengers are responsible for returning before departure.

Never plan to arrive back at the last possible moment.

Traffic, transport delays and unexpected problems can happen.

A cruise doesn't provide the same amount of time as a traditional city holiday.

But that doesn't mean you can't experience a destination.

Research beforehand, prioritize what matters to you and leave enough time to return to the ship.

With sensible planning, each port can become one of the highlights of your cruise.