Transatlantic??

[AliceS]

Tell us about your transatlantic experiences. We are going on our first one and want to know what you enjoy most about a crossing. Do you get much use out of a balcony? We have one. Do we need it? What has been your experience with lecturers, bridge games, special at sea days???????

[Druke I]

Love trans-Atlantics (and trans-Pacifics also).

 

Our last trans-Atlantic, on Golden Princess, 8-02, was fairly rough, West of the Azores. We hit two Atlantic storms, and were bouncing about quite a bit. Our balcony, up on Caribe Deck, had bow-slap spray raining down on it, and some dozen or so windows along Prom Deck shattered, due to ship's flexing while fighting for headway. Storms put us into NYC six hours late!

It was a great trip, but rough.

 

Love those sea days - never been bored. Great time to catch up on that book, and people watching is always a hoot.

 

We've done 4 Westbound trans-Atlantics, and have had some bumpiness on all of them.

 

One Eastbound trip, on Royal Princess, 3-98, crossing from Recife Brazil to Dakar Senegal, the South Atlantic was like a mill pond - very smooth.

 

Never know what the sea conditions will be out at sea - makes it adventurous.

[AliceS]

I remember reading about that Golden crossing. We will be going at the end of April and will be crossing south. What about the balcony? How much has anyone used balconies this time of the year? We will be keeping ours, just wondered if I will be enjoying coffee there in the am after we leave Bermuda.

[hajekfam]

We will be doing our third trans in 5 years this Nov. The previous two were in Oct - the first at the beginning and the and the second at the end of the month ending in Nov. We decided to our first trans after doing two port intensive cruises in 6 months. We picked out a westbound trans because the European stops were at the beginning and you had the crossing to rest up. We picked the Celebrity ship for our trans based on the arrangement of port and sea days.

Both of our previous trans had wonderful weather - the ocean was extremely calm and very little rain We enjoyed our balcony both times - a trans is the perfect itinerary for a balcony as you have all those sea days to enjoy it.

We enjoyed our first trans so much that we decided to do it every other year. There was plenty to do onboard from bridge to lecture series. We had three different lecture series on each cruise. The best part of doing a trans is that you get to enjoy the ship and its amenities.

[Druke I]

Well, we enjoyed our balcony, but with the storms, when we were out there, it was with windbreakers, etc.

 

Between Lisbon and the Azores, it was nice and sunny, and a nice place to sit and read, etc.

 

I still think the jury is out on balconies, but that is a personal opinion, which I haven't totally firmed up yet. (Fancy way to say I can't make up my mind.)

[Blazerboy]

Just signed up for another Transatlantic (bringing the total to 11) and have enjoyed every one! We've done both the Northern and Southern crossings, and done them in Spring and Fall. We've had "weather" a few times, but nothing like the Golden. I like some movement at sea, but not THAT much!:D

 

We've had a verandah on most recent crossings (except QE2 a few years ago) and we used the verandahs for a quick cup of coffee in the morning or a glass of champagne before dinner, and it was pleasant. Also like to wrap up in blanket and watch the water flow by and read. Certainly saw some ships and sea life on occasion, and certainly when I was a smoker used it all the time. These days, on most ships, it seems as though the nicer cabins come with them anyway, so unless you want an outside cabin further below decks, or an inside cabin, the verandah probably comes with your cabin. You didn't say which ship, so I don't know. I'd say take a chance, even if just to let in some fresh sea air to your stateroom. On a Southern Crossing, I bet you'll get some use out of it.

 

As for the rhythm of many sea days in a row, there's nothing like it for relaxing! You have an opportunity to meet people and really get to know them well, and to do as few or as many of the activities as suits your mood! And the Eastbound has the advantage of arriving for any land time in Europe fully rested with no jet lag, so you don't waste the first two days adjusting and missing out on sights. The Westbound has the advantage of arriving home fully relaxed before a return to your routine.

 

In an ideal world, matched crossings would be the way to go, but who has the time or $?:)

[hajekfam]

Also forgot to mention that we also enjoyed our balcony at night - kept the door open to fall asleep listening to the ocean - and no bugs during the crossing.

[AliceS]

Now you guys have me really excited!!!! My Tom was looking for more to do than hit the casino during all of those sea days. I love hearing your stories, so don't stop now. Thanks so much for sharing.

[Blazerboy]

There are several things I enjoy:

 

One is the slow daily routine of rising, exercising(maybe- or sleeping in;) ), showering, and then leisurely getting ready for lunch, usually meeting friends for a glass of wine beforehand. A stroll after lunch, an activity, a nap/reading, then dressing for drinks before a wonderful slow dinner with (luckily) nice tablemates, and perhaps an early evening, or stopping by the show or the disco. Such a lovely, no-pressure day, no shore excursions, or must-dos, and another day just like it to look forward to.

 

The other is to do things that I don't or won't take the time to do at home, like join in for a lecture series- had some really great ones recently on ships. Spa treatments are great. Or take yoga, or play scrabble while watching the waves roll by. On our last trip, I actually got to see movies in the movie theatre. And Tea is a lovely, civilized thing to do- yes perhaps indulgent, but it's vacation!

 

And the true luxury of so many sea days is to decide that you don't want to do something, and not feel like you've missed an opportunity, but, rather, made a good decision to help with your relaxation.

 

Ahhh....can't wait until April!

[SleevesEnd]

My first cruise ever was on the QEII 20 years ago England to New York. Everything was great but what I loved best was that you gain one hour of sleep each of the 5 nights! Perfect after a whirlwind Europe tour for a couple of stressed out New Yorkers ... especially when it docked 10 blocks from our apartment!

[casavaha]

We do a minimum of one transatlantic westbound every year. This year

we did our first eastbound. This October another westbound.

All of our transatlantics have been southern crossing except one.

 

The seas are what they are. Generally nice. We like sea days. If I had

my way, leave from Barcelona and the next land would be Ft. Lauderdale.

We love to dance and generally close the lounge. But since the

next day is a sea day, who cares when you get up.

 

I will say that eastbound transatlantics are generally smoother seas and

better weather.

[AFT_LOVER]

we flew nonstop to Gatwick, boarded in Dover after a 2 hour bus ride with the greenest green ride out there. Very relaxing!

 

After using my bod in the spa for 3 visits, we had great lecturers that kept your attention to come for part 2,3,4,5. It was a joke each morning, to sit with the Celebrity Today, rip out the page with the hours & activities by the hour & take a highighter to mark what we were doing. A few days we had to go to see how great something was & decide to leave to attend another one at the same hour.

 

The Chef has 2 cooking demos in 2 weeks, one including SUDI from the Martini bar who is a show in himself (pouring 5 martinis at once). So we had filet Mignon (dinner that night) with 2 martinis to taste. Nice freebie! Then the announced sales from jewelery to Russian goodies left over from the baltic before ours, so I got White Russian coffee $3/lb, bought 10#. Am still drinking it! Celebrity wear on sale once a week & some great bargains too.

 

Our tablemate who won the NJ tourney at age 84, wanted to get a group to play Texas Hold 'em but no dealer, so I volunteered. What fun in the card room. The table for 8 turned into 20 & they played for pennies, then dimes, then dollars. So never a dull moment onboard.

 

We had the 41 sq ft balcony in 9140, but friends in AFT CC had us over with other people, so I grew to have to have it mode on future sailings. SO now in must have AFT CC. Very relaxing, plenty of room for large table & 4 chairs for dinner or lunch or even breakfast. At night you see the white foam in the dark water, you can tell if we are turning, you see other ships that are not as fast as us, and a few planes flew over in the afternoon which seemed to alarm quite a few folks. You knew there were storms out there when trees were in the water as were housing pieces.

 

We toured Cork & Belfast Ireland, Paris France & instead of Iceland due to Hurricane Lilli who was to have hit Belfast on THursday but decided to goto Reynkavik instead. So then we hear we are headed to Vigo Spain, good it is very warm to sun in, but the place has -0- to offer when the city shuts down for siesta at 1 after we docked at noon.

 

2007 will be our next one unless the fares fall for 2006 since the prices are very steep........ and it is the air's fault.

[debby21]

We have really enjoyed our two TAs. Last year we did San Juan to Dover on the Constelation, and this year Galveston to Rome on the Galaxy. Last year the sea was rough between Lisbon a1nd LeHavre. This year the sea was like glass all 16 days, and we were on a smaller ship.

 

We love the sea days, getting up late, marking all the things we want to do, niot making them because we were enjoying relaxing and visiting.

 

The Enrichment Seriess are great. I especially enjoy the history ones.

[AliceS]

Thanks so much for the information. I know that we will enjoy this crossing. We were in the Med in June on the Grand Princess and the seas were like glass. That doesnt happen all of the time. It was great. I look forward to a long flight only one way in April. That will be wonderful. It's good to know that the lecture series was interesting. We like history and usually enjoy doing something to expand the brain, not just the bottom, on a cruise. I enjoy yoga and getting some gym time in. I love to eat, so I have to pay for it.

 

I can still use more information. Any tips or secrets that anyone has found? One of my special things on Celebrity is going to Cova Cafe for a coffee, just to get that chocolate. It is wonderful. Last time they put some in our cabin. I don't mean the bed time chocolates, the others are gold and rectangular, Yum!