Transatlantic roundtrip?

[CRocks]

I'm looking for a roundtrip transatlantic to Spain or Italy from the US east coast. It doesn't have to be the same cruise line. It doesn't even have to end in the same port. In fact, I could even fly to a different European departure port from where the first ends.

 

Basically, I just detest flying anymore + won't even attempt the long flight back. Dates are flexible, but, I ain't gettin any younger. I've looked all over, not having any luck roundtrip. Maybe there's a TA around. TIA

[dogs4fun]

5 minutes ago, CRocks said:

I'm looking for a roundtrip transatlantic to Spain or Italy from the US east coast. It doesn't have to be the same cruise line. It doesn't even have to end in the same port. In fact, I could even fly to a different European departure port from where the first ends.

 

Basically, I just detest flying anymore + won't even attempt the long flight back. Dates are flexible, but, I ain't gettin any younger. I've looked all over, not having any luck roundtrip. Maybe there's a TA around. TIA

We have done 2 TAs in the same year but these are usually in the spring and fall. Most ships reposition to Europe in the spring and reposition to the Caribbean in the fall.  So - we usually book just one multi-city (open jaw) r/t airline ticket. Good luck finding a r/t that fits your parameters - there may be one out there of which I am not aware.

[2552phxcrzr]

When the ships travel from the US to Europe, they are moving their ships to stay in Europe for the spring/summer/fall season before returning to the US again for the Caribbean season in the winter.  Not sure how long you plan to stay in Europe, but it’s probably for a shorter time frame than three seasons.  Assuming you’re crossing to Europe in the spring, you can pretty much have your pick of cruiselines (I would use an online cruise agency website to see all the options by limiting your search to TransAtlantics (or repositioning) in the filters).  The only return I can think of is to check Cunard for their Southampton to NYC crossings and see if they have something that fits your return.

 

(We’re like you and hate flying long hauls, but have yet to come upon the perfect T/A solution both ways, so end up flying in one direction ... We find westbound is definitely easier since the flights are during the day.)

Edited February 4, 2020 by 2552phxcrzr

[TheOldBear]

26 minutes ago, CRocks said:

I'm looking for a roundtrip transatlantic to Spain or Italy from the US east coast. It doesn't have to be the same cruise line. It doesn't even have to end in the same port. In fact, I could even fly to a different European departure port from where the first ends.

 

Basically, I just detest flying anymore + won't even attempt the long flight back. Dates are flexible, but, I ain't gettin any younger. I've looked all over, not having any luck roundtrip. Maybe there's a TA around. TIA

 

Our last couple of cruises were transatlantic round trips on QM2 - we have also decided to avoid flying as part of our vacation planning, are are less than 90 minutes from the Brooklyn Cruise terminal.

 

As you have likely discovered, it is difficult to pair seasonal repositioning cruises into a round trip [unless you want several months between eastbound and westbound legs.

 

You have few round trip options

• Book a round trip with ports to visit between the eastbound and westbound legs - for example we are looking at Cunard's "Grand Norwegian Explorer'.  HAL offers the 'Voyage of the Vikings' as a more port intensive round trip.
• Book a westbound Cunard crossing to pair with an eastbound repositioning. You can meet QM2 in one of several ports [Southampton, Hamburg, LeHavre...] depending on Cunard's schedule.
• Book two separate QM2 crossings, and do stuff in between. Last fall some 'Road Scholar' folks left the ship in Southampton and did a Normandy / D Day tour while the ship was sailing to Hamburg, rejoining in LeHavre. 

 

[dawnrae]

We have booked  a 15 day cruise on Carnival Valor from New Orleans to Barcelona departing Jan 25, 2021.  The ship will under a refurbishment and then return on February 26, 2021 back to New Orleans.  This gives us 17 days in between.  Many options but we have also booked an MSC 7 day from Barcelona during that time.  

[Essiesmom]

https://www.cruisetransatlantic.com/cruises.html

 

This will be updated periodically, as more cruises are scheduled.  Carnival has already added on for Magic in March 2021.

[dogs4fun]

22 hours ago, Essiesmom said:

https://www.cruisetransatlantic.com/cruises.html

 

This will be updated periodically, as more cruises are scheduled.  Carnival has already added on for Magic in March 2021.

Great link - thanks for sharing!

[sardam]

As Dawnrae mentioned Carnival Valor is doing a roundtrip transatlantic Tampa to Barcelona January 26th '21 I believe it is and returning to Tampa Feb. 28th.

[Jim_Iain]

Very few Round Trips are available in my observation.   Cunard of course have regular sailings.   Celebrity had a RT this year on Summit to Dublin, Ireland.    I believe it was very well booked by B2B's

[RosieRoo]

On 2/4/2020 at 12:23 PM, CRocks said:

I'm looking for a roundtrip transatlantic to Spain or Italy from the US east coast. It doesn't have to be the same cruise line. It doesn't even have to end in the same port. In fact, I could even fly to a different European departure port from where the first ends.

 

Basically, I just detest flying anymore + won't even attempt the long flight back. Dates are flexible, but, I ain't gettin any younger. I've looked all over, not having any luck roundtrip. Maybe there's a TA around. TIA

I know this is an old post, but in case you’re still interested,  I’m looking at doing just what you wanted. There’s an NCL ship that leaves NYC April 20th, 2023 and arrives in Southampton on May 4th.  Then another NCL ship that leaves Barcelona on May 5 and heads back to NYC.  So basically a round trip NYC if you do both with just a short flight in between Southampton and Barcelona. 

[CGTNORMANDIE]

Hi CRocks,

 

I would think you would want to be sailing at a nice time of year...instead of the dead of winter.  The ships will leave the US for their annual repositioning in March and April.  An April crossing to the Med can be very pleasant.  Then you can return at your convenience on the QM2.

[40yearcruiser]

Unfortunately, some of the above suggested round-trips never happened due to COVID. Our last 2 transatlantics were in August 2019 on Cunard. We took a leisurely 19-day cruise on QE from Ft. Lauderdale up the East coast through Canada, Iceland, and the British Isles to Southampton. Spent 3 weeks in England and Scotland then cruised straight back from Southampton to New York in 7 days on the QM2. Cunard usually crosses either east or west every week so you can combine this with any other line's crossing to cruise both ways. I agree, it sure beats flying!

[RGEDad]

I was just looking at this yesterday for Spring 2022

From Florida to Rome and back (key in the spring is finding a cruise coming back - and a cruise over at the meeting point)

 

Going over Miami to Rome

16 nights departing March 19, 2022 (Gets there on the 4th of April)
Oceania Cruises ❘ Marina

OR

Fort Lauderdale to Rome

 

21 nights departing March 12, 2022 
Princess ❘ Regal Princess (Gets there on the 2nd of April)

 

The return (which is key)

Rome to Fort Lauderdale

23 nights departing April 4, 2022 

Princess ❘ Island Princess

 

In one case you jump off one ship onto the return ship, in the other you get effectively 1.5 days in rome

but Lots of stops on both legs which ever set you choose

 

 

[D & D from TN]

We, too are constantly searching for roundtrip cruises from the USA to Europe with little to choose from except for Cunard out of NYC.  We and many of our friends sincerely hope a 5 or 6 star cruiseline will someday offer roundtrip cruises from Florida or New Orleans to ports in the Mediterranean including the Holyland, Venice, etc.

 

We hate to fly since 911.  Security is a hassle, flights at constantly being cancelled, and seating is ridiculously cramped. 

[LHT28]

2 hours ago, D & D from TN said:

We, too are constantly searching for roundtrip cruises from the USA to Europe with little to choose from except for Cunard out of NYC.  We and many of our friends sincerely hope a 5 or 6 star cruiseline will someday offer roundtrip cruises from Florida or New Orleans to ports in the Mediterranean including the Holyland, Venice, etc.

 

 

There is  a cruise from FLL  to Rome  March 12  2022  21 nights   Regal Princess

 The  April 4th  2022   Rome to FLL    Island  Princess  23 nights 

 lots of sea days to relax

 

There  are some shorter cruises  8-13 nights  you could  work around to get you to Europe & back

just need to change ships

Timing is everything

 

[D & D from TN]

Thank you LHT28 and RGEDad. These line up well but most of the ports are on our "been there, done that list". 

We were hoping for ports in the Eastern Med, Holy Land, and Black Sea areas or Ireland and Northern Europe areas.  Certainly would be nice to cruise to those areas from the southern USA roundtrip.

 

Thanks again.  We wonder if there are lots of other folks who would book roundtrip cruises from the southern USA to Europe if they were available?

[LHT28]

10 minutes ago, D & D from TN said:

Thank you LHT28 and RGEDad. These line up well but most of the ports are on our "been there, done that list". 

We were hoping for ports in the Eastern Med, Holy Land, and Black Sea areas or Ireland and Northern Europe areas.  Certainly would be nice to cruise to those areas from the southern USA roundtrip.

 

Thanks again.  We wonder if there are lots of other folks who would book roundtrip cruises from the southern USA to Europe if they were available?

Have a look on the Find A cruise link above  you may find something  that would fit your bucket list

you will most likely have to change ships  to do the R/T

 

I saw a 71 day trip on HAL  out of FLL   Oct 2022 🙂

Happy hunting

[kjc852]

Like you, I too would much prefer sailing across the Atlantic rather than squeezing my oversized body into an undersized airline seat for 8-12 hours.  We are booked for a 13-night Eastbound TA on the Queen Elizabeth from Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona on 8/9/22 and a Westbound 13-n Arctic Circle crossing on Voyager of the Seas from Copenhagen to Boston sailing on 9/4/22.  In between these two Atlantic crossings we will spend several days in Paris & Copenhagen before sailing on a 7-n Best of Northern Europe cruise also on Voyager.  
 

Greatest challenge will be packing for such  diverse weather conditions as we will likely experience all 4 seasons during our 1.5 months of travel.  Hot and humid summer weather when we depart Ft. Lauderdale in early August and near winter like temperatures when visiting Iceland and Greenland in September.  And as the Queen Elizabeth has a significantly more formal evening dress code than our usual cruises, we have the necessity of packing formalwear as well.  I may be the only one touring our two ports in Greenland wearing a tuxedo jacket for warmth!

[LHT28]

15 minutes ago, kjc852 said:

Like you, I too would much prefer sailing across the Atlantic rather than squeezing my oversized body into an undersized airline seat for 8-12 hours.  We are booked for a 13-night Eastbound TA on the Queen Elizabeth from Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona on 8/9/22 and a Westbound 13-n Arctic Circle crossing on Voyager of the Seas from Copenhagen to Boston sailing on 9/4/22.  In between these two Atlantic crossings we will spend several days in Paris & Copenhagen before sailing on a 7-n Best of Northern Europe cruise also on Voyager.  
 

 

We have done  a similar cruise  with the weather 

we started off with 90F+  & down to -0 F  temps

 I packed layers  for the cooler weather 

don;t forget hats/mitts

There  are some nice lightweight warm winter jackets out there  ..worth shopping early for those

They pack small when not needed

 

 You could always ship home the formal wear after the cruise

Are Tuxes still required by Cunard ?

I know  a friend did a crossing  & he would never buy a TUX  & they managed  OK

 

Enjoy

 

[TheOldBear]

2 hours ago, LHT28 said:

We have done  a similar cruise  with the weather 

we started off with 90F+  & down to -0 F  temps

 I packed layers  for the cooler weather 

don;t forget hats/mitts

There  are some nice lightweight warm winter jackets out there  ..worth shopping early for those

They pack small when not needed

 

 You could always ship home the formal wear after the cruise

Are Tuxes still required by Cunard ?

I know  a friend did a crossing  & he would never buy a TUX  & they managed  OK

 

Enjoy

 

Minimal dress code for dinner is Jacket [optional tie] for non formal nights, dark suit [with tie] for 'gala' [formal] nights. There was some expansion of casual dress areas [on QM2 Carthenia, Golden Lion, Casino, G32 nightclub]. 

Our two most recent [and planned for 2022] are round trips, beginning and ending in Brooklyn. It's nice only needing to unpack once.

[Hlitner]

We have done several round trip TA cruises with varying land time between most of the cruises.  One exception was a HAL Grand Med cruise which was actually round trip from Ft Lauderdale (62 days).  My suggestion is find your favorite ship/itinerary doing a spring repositioning cruise from the USA to Europe.  You can find cruises that end if Spain or Italy.  For your return you can look at the Queen Mary 2 TAs and make your way to either Southampton or Hamburg (for some cruises) to catch that return voyage.  You also might be able to find a few other ships crossing back to the USA during the summer season although this will often involve a more Northern route.  For example, HAL usually has at least one west bound crossing (sometimes embarking from Rotterdam) and we have sometimes found other west bound crossings departing from Copenhagen on Princess.  

 

There are some online cruise data bases run by a few cruise agencies (I am not permitted to mention names here on CC) that make it easy to look at various options.

 

Hank

[RGEDad]

The Key I have found is to look through the long listings of TAs/TPs to find the very few ships that are going in the opposite direct - then try to match up the normal repositioning to align with that 

i.e. for 2023 (Yes - Looking out that far) the NCL Bliss is 16 nights From Barcelona to NYC on May 5

I could not find a really good match for the east bound TAs into Barcelona - BUT - there is an East bound NCL Gem NYC to Rome 15 nights starting April 15. And (here is the key) there is an overnight Ferry from Rome to Barcelona that I think runs daily....

I would have reserved that set of cruises - EXCEPT - My 2022 New Zealand/Australia/Hawaii/Seattle cruise - was just kicked over to 2023 in that very same time slot.