We have done 7 transatlantics on the QM2 since 2013, and enjoyed them, particularly the lectures, the promenade and the music. We encountered varied weather, from smooth as glass to converging storms, Force 10, and the tail end of a hurricane, but then the QM2 was built for the North Atlantic, and we were fine. We cancelled our last one, for April of 2021, when Cunard would not answer whether or not their crews were vaccinated against Covid. Viking seems to offer everything that we enjoyed, and had a much more reassuring regimen concerning Covid, but we wondered how Viking would handle rough seas.
Last week, we completed the Viking Venus, Barcelona to Tilsbury, to test out the Bay of Biscay. The Bay lived up to its January reputation. After leaving Vigo (on, I believe, the 17th) we were experiencing 20 ft swells (and heavy rain). My source was one of the speakers. Certainly, there were a lots of things falling over and crashing. I believe that we changed course further away from the continental shelf, and as a consequence missed a port call in Portsmouth. Disappointing but understandable. I am happy to say that we personally had no ill effects, and booked a crossing while on board, San Juan to Barcelona, for March of 2024.
We enjoyed QM2, but Cunard's admin was generally sub par. I do believe that we are set to become loyal to Viking!
Karen