Transatlantic Crossing Weather (QM2 Repositioning)

[tangodancer8]

We would like to know what weather is like in April for the QM2 transatlantic crossing. We were thinking that August probably would be best weather-wise but someone had said that it does not matter because it is still cool weather in August. It's hard to pass up the April rate (almost half-price). Any comments? For that matter since the view for most of the time is the ocean, is there any argument for an outside cabin vs. inside?

[RetiredMustang]

tangodancer8,

 

This is just one data point, and others may have input, but here is our experience. We took the QM2 from Southampton to New York the last week of May/first week of June 2006.

 

We had a sheltered balcony cabin, grade B2 I think. The weather on the crossing was not very kind -- windy and somewhat chilly, with some rocking but not really stormy weather. The very top outside (weather) decks usually were closed and sunbathing was not an option, at least for this middle-aged couple. The weather in April is likely to be similar or even colder/windier. August could be splendid, or awful, you never know.

 

We prefer outside to inside cabins because it just doesn't seem right not to know whether it is light or dark outside, but that is just us. However, we found that the price differential inside/outside or even up to balcony is not as great as other lines, and we enjoyed our cabin's balcony, at least out of the wind, so I would say to go for outside or even balcony if you can afford it. It will not be a Caribbean experience, but we found the balcony at least added the appearance of more roominess to the cabin.

 

All that said, the QM2 is quite grand, and there is plenty to do, so the 6 days (5 full days) seemed to go by quickly, and we enjoyed our crossing. If the price difference is that great and my schedule was flexible, I would take the April trip and plan on spending most of the trip inside; even in June or even August, you may find yourself doing that, anyway, as we did. Of course, you might find glassy calm seas in August, but you can't guarantee it -- the North Atlantic is changeable day to day.

 

Dave