Why this route?

[babs135]

I'm looking at the Norwegian Dawn's transatlantic crossing in April which goes via Canada and Iceland.  Curious as to why more ships don't take this route which sounds like a very interesting itinerary.  Is there any navigational, etc reason as to why most ships seem to prefer a more direct route perhaps via Bermuda, Madeira or the Azores?

 

[Ine]

Probably because the weather in that time of the year in the south will be warmer.

[CruiserBruce]

Or because they are headed to the Med usually in the Spring, because as mentioned, it's cold in the north Atlantic then?

 

However, we sailed the reverse last Summer. Copenhagen, Alesund, 4 ports in Iceland, 2 ports and one sailing day in Greenland, 2 ports in Canada, ending in Boston. Fantastic cruise. But that was July/August. Much nicer conditions in Iceland/Greenland then, even tho some very impressive icebergs.

[Heidi13]

44 minutes ago, babs135 said:

I'm looking at the Norwegian Dawn's transatlantic crossing in April which goes via Canada and Iceland.  Curious as to why more ships don't take this route which sounds like a very interesting itinerary.  Is there any navigational, etc reason as to why most ships seem to prefer a more direct route perhaps via Bermuda, Madeira or the Azores?

 

 

From New York to Southampton, the shortest distance is a Great Circle, which in the N Hemisphere heads up to higher latitudes. Although on mercator (normal) charts or maps, it looks longer, it is actually the shortest distance. On normal charts, a straight line is known as a Rhumb Line, which maintains the same course, as it crosses all meridians at the same angle, but is longer in distance.

 

The Great Circle from New York passes the southern tip of Newfoundland and continues to increase latitude, before heading SW towards UK. This route has the added benefit of having the Gulf Stream and then North Atlantic Drift pushing the ship.

 

Therefore, this is the shortest and cheapest routing across the Atlantic, if the weather cooperates. Most cruise ships, except liners such as QM2,  don't use this routing because of weather and potential comfort issues. 

[GeezerCouple]

47 minutes ago, Heidi13 said:

 

From New York to Southampton, the shortest distance is a Great Circle, which in the N Hemisphere heads up to higher latitudes. Although on mercator (normal) charts or maps, it looks longer, it is actually the shortest distance. On normal charts, a straight line is known as a Rhumb Line, which maintains the same course, as it crosses all meridians at the same angle, but is longer in distance.

 

The Great Circle from New York passes the southern tip of Newfoundland and continues to increase latitude, before heading SW towards UK. This route has the added benefit of having the Gulf Stream and then North Atlantic Drift pushing the ship.

 

Therefore, this is the shortest and cheapest routing across the Atlantic, if the weather cooperates. Most cruise ships, except liners such as QM2,  don't use this routing because of weather and potential comfort issues. 

 

Very interesting.

About the "assist" from the Gulf Stream, etc.... on the west-bound journey, do the ships (thinking especially of the QM2, I guess, without assorted ports of call, etc.) sail any further south, or alter the route in any way, to avoid the "reverse"?

 

GC

[Heidi13]

18 minutes ago, GeezerCouple said:

 

Very interesting.

About the "assist" from the Gulf Stream, etc.... on the west-bound journey, do the ships (thinking especially of the QM2, I guess, without assorted ports of call, etc.) sail any further south, or alter the route in any way, to avoid the "reverse"?

 

GC

 

Affirmative, they can do a rhumb line or even further south. Although longer distance, it avoids the adverse current.

[LHT28]

We did the northern route  one year early April    not on NCL 

hit storms / snow & heavy rain 

NYC to SOU  via Canada   will not do that route again 

 

[TheOldBear]

7 hours ago, GeezerCouple said:

 

Very interesting.

About the "assist" from the Gulf Stream, etc.... on the west-bound journey, do the ships (thinking especially of the QM2, I guess, without assorted ports of call, etc.) sail any further south, or alter the route in any way, to avoid the "reverse"?

 

GC

Sometimes [like our M236 westbound crossing this November] the QM2 took a southerly course, including following a rhumb line for 2 days, to avoid storm systems that would have been on the great circle routing. The 7 day crossing is a bit of a loaf, but I think I saw 24 knots on more than one occasion.

[navybankerteacher]

8 hours ago, LHT28 said:

We did the northern route  one year early April    not on NCL 

hit storms / snow & heavy rain 

NYC to SOU  via Canada   will not do that route again 

 

Exactly -- the North Atlantic in April is pretty grim - and while ports in Canada and Iceland can be interesting, April is not the best time for them.  However, the great circle route is the most cost-efficient way to go from North America to Northern Europe (still recognizing that most folks cruise for enjoyment rather than cost efficiency).

 

Your route is the way QM2 regularly does it - no port calls, good service, no jet lag, and as cheap as business class flights.

Edited January 14, 2023 by navybankerteacher

[wcook]

8 hours ago, navybankerteacher said:

North Atlantic in April is pretty grim

It certainly was in 1912