Markanddonna

I think cc needs to look at some forums that have few posts get rid of them and add others.

There are so many of us who LOVE transatlantics and the questions we have are different than the Caribbean/Alaska sort of cruises. How about if we start a campaign to get Cruise Critic to start one? The World Cruise forum is rarely used but questions about TAs are quite frequent!

We love TAs but I'm going to offer a different take on East/West bound. True, the fall sailings give you an extra hour- usually six in total spread out over the trip. The opposite is true of the spring sailings.

 

BUT, spring- April-May gives you more daylight which was absolutely wonderful on the northern route. You get over the jet lag issue BEFORE you get to Europe and can hit the ground running. So, if seeing Europe is important to you, your weather might be slightly better in May and is considered an ideal time to see Europe and is still before the high tourist season. We had a very smooth and warm sailing all the way to Copenhagen. The pool area was very usable, which was a surprise considering the route. As new retirees, we prefer to do our jetlag recovery AFTER our trip when we get back home.

 

I'd go either season, if I had a chance and the price is right. We had to deal with the travel problems of Hurricane Sandy in the fall on our East bound TA. Once we all got on board (a few folks didn't make it), the sailing itself was relatively calm but a bit rainy and cool. The outside areas didn't see much use. The RCCL Mariner was our favorite ship so far and was near perfect.

We were recently on a 14 day NCL Transatlantic and there was a pretty big age range that went against traditional thinking for a TA. Lots of people over 55 who were in very good shape and did not need any accomodations. I'd say about half the scooters were younger people who had significant mobility problems likely due to obesity.

I've been on all three ships and would only consider the Sun or Pearl because, as another person mentioned, several important public viewing areas on the Star were turned into suites or extra cost restaurants. The ship's staff is great but unless you plan on living on your balcony, you don't have many options on the Star. We are also considering a PC cruise and crossed off the Star after being on her this past May.

I have been on two transatlantics (which I realize has an older passenger group) and learned that things DO happen. On the last one, the captain announced a med evacuation was in progress off the coast of England or Denmark. We saw the helicopters landing. We also heard someone died. All those ships have a morgue/holding area.

 

On another cruise, we actually met a younger woman who had a major medical emergency at the ports in Spain and needed an MRI or CT-scan that the ship's doctor had arrange because of an abdominal blockage. I believe two people died on this voyage also. Those were just things I heard about.

 

I have learned to purchase the insurance through insuremytrip as soon as I book. I cancelled one cruise and the company let me switch the coverage to another booking for six months later. I don't worry too much about the actual price of the trip because we travel rather inexpensively, but I do make sure I have medical and med evacuation insurance for trips overseas.

I agree with the others that people can feel totally free to do what they want, but I tend to go on longer cruises (TA's) and then I travel in Europe so I am resolute to not even pack ONE cocktail dress next time. Every few ounces counts and one of the nice things of traveling without set tablemates is that almost no one cares or pays attention to what you wear.

I have cruised quite a bit and have learned that much of the extras just aren't necessary IMHO. I was on a 14 day transatlantic and worked hard at spending the $100 on board credit. I maybe went $2 over so NCL only made $2 extra on us!

 

We had only one bottle of wine, just a few purchases at the gift shop (meds and such), two beers (wow- drinking is expensive), etc. We find that photos are not important and that the food is just fine, not great, just okay. I also observed the yoga class $ and noted that the instructor was likely a newbie. I did my yoga outside the studio and rolled my eyes at all the people who paid...

 

You will have a great time.

I disembarked the NCL Star in May at the new Oceankaj 330 port. I wouldn't pay attention to any advice older than that as I believe NCL is using this new port which is even farther and more $ than Freeport.

 

There are several posts about this topic and it is changing frequently. The Danish Viking usually has the most current info so look for his posts.

 

In general, if you are not in top physical shape and have heavier luggage, you should use a taxi. I understand there are buses that go to Oceankaj now but it is still confusing as the city works out the needs of cruisers and this new port.

If this type of logic plays out, we should be seeing lots of available cabins when all the smokers cancel out in the next few weeks when they discover the no smoking announcement. I think we will see no difference very soon.

That looks totally doable. Have you ever had any experience visiting village areas with just the name from the old government/church records? We have Torklestrop and Estatorp and the numbers or are those archaic names?

Hello,

I see you are from that area and I have a question. I would like to take a transatlantic cruise that is really just transportation to get to Sweden and also Poland. I would likely take TA and go to Krakow or Warsaw first and then take a short flight to Gothenberg where I would either rent a car or take a train to Fjaras/ Kungsbacka to visit a cousin.

How easy is it to drive in your area? I doubt we would see Gothenberg and perhaps we would be connecting through Copenhagen. Our intention is to see my great grandparents' farm and village in Sweden.

I was in Helsingborg this spring so have just a bit of familiarity but it was only for one day in port.

Thanks so much!

Advice from anyone who has ventured around this region is appreciated!

My Mediterranean TA was cooler and rainer than I predicted. It was never short/capri weather until we were closer to the Caribbean. I went on a northern route TA this year and it was shorts/capri weather for the majority of the way with the pool and sunning areas well occupied. Like everyone says, the weather is unpredictable.

I would prefer to NOT belong to AARP but that discount is substantial... I don't know what relationship they have with AARP but it seems unnecessary to belong. Just look at my driver's license or my passport for my age!

I recall them giving the pool temps on the TV regularly and believe they were always in the mid to low eighties.

I was on their TA this past spring and I think the entertainment was very good to excellent. They made an effort to have all sorts of options: bridge instruction, cooking demos, card/game areas, trivia, lectures (I didn't attend any), a few daytime shows, some dance lessons by the crew, exercise classes, some newer movies in the theater,Bible study, pool activities since the weather was pretty awesome. Yes, there are wine tastings and craft classes.

 

We did perhaps one or two daytime activities but mostly walked, exercised, read, and brought our own favorite game. The CC group was very active. Be sure to check out some of the reviews of the StarTA.

We were on the Star TA this past May 5-19, which is about one week later than you will go. We packed for just one or two warm days and then packed for 55-65 degrees on the Atlantic and northern Europe. Wrong!

 

The pool and sundecks were used the majority of sea days, although it did become cooler as we left the Azores. It was a bit rainy in the Azores, which is sadly typical but Dover, Sweden and Copenhagen were sunny in the morning at all three ports with drizzle in the middle of the day in Sweden. The weather was quite spectacular. We traveled to central Europe after that and experience days in the 70's and 80's. We wished we had packed for warmer weather and those sweaters stayed in the closet/luggage.

 

The seas were very calm for the two weeks. I recall only one or two times feeling much of anything. But, this was just one trip. If we had come the week before, we might have experienced the horrible weather than flooded much of central Europe. A week makes a lot of difference. I read that the temps in central Europe were in the low to mid sixties in mid-June this year. Go figure.

 

It isn't a Caribbean cruise for sure, but we were outside quite a bit.

There is usually a fall type of holiday at that time in October in many school districts around the country. Parents will think "they have off two school days, what does three more matter?" Not sound thinking in my books, but that is the logic.

It really does have everything you need and the pattern is like all other ships: busy in the morning. Someone complained that it was dark and there are few "views"- just four bikes that have the view. I liked to use the studio room when classes were not taking place since I do my own yoga. I also managed to gain no weight on this cruise, but I was pretty diligent. It wasn't hard because the food was "just okay" and not worth a big splurge.

Yes, they have very good wifi. Bethel is close to all the attractions you want in central Copenhagen- close to Rosenborg, Amielenborg Palace, the Netto Canal boats are a few steps away, the Stroget is also a short distance and Trivoli is also about a 15-20 min walk. We didn't use a taxi except to the airport and from the port. Very navigable. The Bethel has everything I think you might want in a nice little hotel and the price is right. The staff is also helpful and very pleasant and enjoy conversing with the guests.

I flew from Berlin to Chicago last month and it was a very nice flight. Good airplane, nice food and good service. There were no complaints at all. I would highly recommend them. They are not a bargain airline like Norwegian.

 

We flew Norwegian within Europe which was fine but everything costs extra and the luggage allotment was 20KG which is less than other airlines. We had to take things out and put them in our carryons. I would fly Norwegian again, even across the Atlantic but learned to not take ANYTHING for granted. We also had to do our own luggage tagging and weighing in CPH which was a new experience. Not bad, probably a sign of the future for all of us. The kiosk printed out our tag, we secured it and then took the bags to scan ourselves. If it was below weight, the luggage just moved along the conveyor belt. If too heavy, you removed it and either paid extra or took things out.

Great choice. There is a lift, so don't worry. There is a way to exit through the courtyard from the lift/elevator and you usually don't find out about it until some nice person tells you. If walking up the stairs is an issue, I would have the person who can do the stairs go to reception and the lift is directly ahead. Have the person who has problems with stairs wait with the luggage. Ask the staff how to get outside for your luggage. I believe there are green doors to look for that lead you out the special way.

 

With this strategy, you won't have to worry about stairs. The Bethel is a great place to stay. Just be aware the CPH is expensive and look for restaurants off the Nyhavn.

We were in Sweden, Copenhagen and Poland mid- May and it was quite warm- between 75-82 degrees and sunny. We WAY overpacked with clothing for the cold but had a two week transatlantic which was also warmer than anticipated. You never know. Right now it is much cooler in those areas than it was a month earlier...go figure.

Why don't you fly into a city that you want to explore in the Mediterranean and then take a cheap flight to Copenhagen and get on a transatlantic cruise to come home to at least see a little of the Baltics? Flying within Europe is relatively cheap and opens up lots of options.

Most main stream cruiselines travel to Europe across the Atlantic twice a year and are referred to as transatlantics. They are really repositioning cruises and are increasingly popular. It is tough, but not impossible to find a ship that will be sailing across the Atlantic at different times, although I believe Cunard and some smaller, European cruise lines do some of that.

 

I would recommend that you look at a cruise that interests you and read the reviews from that port and that cruiseline to get an idea. For example, say Rome is your real dream. Go in the fall by flying to Rome one way, spend several days or a week there and then sail home on a ship that is probably wintering in the Caribbean. Or, do the opposite in the spring time and sail from Florida (most common) across the Atlantic to your destination. Flights within Europe are pretty inexpensive so don't limit yourself by the final or beginning port. I traveled to Krakow from Copenhagen for about $88 pp. Flexibility is your friend.

 

It seems that you are at the beginning of your European cruising career, so do lots of research and be constantly thinking outside the box on how you can accomplish your goals. Personally, it may be extremely difficult to travel back and forth on a ship geared to Americans. You might be spinning your wheels trying to get the right fit.