Transatlantic - Pros & Cons

[Blazerboy]

Gee, went to high school in Southborough! Had lots of friends from Marlboro...what Mall? :eek: (It's been a few years....was all farm land when I was there.;) )

 

Wendy, you'll be fine...no Jet Lag on the East Bound TA, and you'll enjoy your time in London after...the only problem I have with Eastbounds is the awful flight all the way to the West Coast afterwards...takes 24 hours to get home if you don't fly non-stop...:(

 

If, by chance, you meant you'll be taking a Westbound crossing with two days in London before, you should be fine...just remember to sleep on the plane as much as possible, and then STAY UP ALL DAY the first day in London...it's the only way to survive. We walk our feet off every time just to keep moving and avoiding the temptation of a nap....

[Denny01]

This is my first entery on this Board (or any Board!). My wife and I took a TA in Apr-May 05 on the Constillation. Loved it! We left San Juan and hit a few islands before crossing and then to Madera-Lisbon-Havre-Dover. The reason I mention the specific ports is that is one of the neat parts of a TA - you see the Carribean and then Europe.

 

I found the 5 day at-sea great. They brought on a number of lecturers you normally don't get - we had Fitwater and a Diplomat who was in the USSR. Excellent talks.

 

 

I liked going Eastbound good because the Wx was nice in the Spring and was a southern voyage, and we were ready to spend a few days in London relaxed and a great time. I crossed a number of times on Navy ships in my past life and they could get colorful, especially in the Fall and further north. But it's a bet on wx sometimes. This was like a glass lake for us.

 

You'll need a balcony for sure. Saw dolphin, whales and passing ships. Perfect weather and I drove my wife nuts by figuring out when we'd cross over the Mid-Atlantic Ridge!

 

The trouble with a Baloncy (they had a discount so we jumped on it), is that you never go back! At least we don't. It's perfect for the guys. I know this is a bit sexist, but it takes my wife a few more minutes (yeah, right) to get ready and in other cabins, I'd get edgy. In a balcony, I just sat and enjoyed!

 

Didn't go to Paris - decided the bus to/fm took too long so we took a taxi to Honfour (Sp?). I took photos of EVERY building there. Fantasic. Favorite was Madera.

 

Highly recommend TA's. They are discounted and well worth it unless you hate sending any time with your loved one and have to find other things to do.

 

Den

[Blazerboy]

Den,

 

Glad you've become a convert to both TA's and balconies! We also went to Honfleur from Le Havre, and enjoyed it so much! So charming, and great shops and food.

 

Andrew

[Host Anne]

We took Brilliance of the Seas from Barcelona to Miami in December and loved every minute of it. I could do it all the time. Very relaxing, enough ports to make it interesting, absolutely wonderful people.

 

I think many people are leary of doing transatlantics so it's a bit tougher to fill inventory; hence the better deals. But as long as you enjoy sea days, transatlantics can't be beat in our opinion.

 

Word on our cruise was that it was one of the smoothest crossings ever. Figures....I like a little movement now and then !:)

 

Good luck with your decision. We did the Baltic several summers ago and it, too, was wonderful.

 

Happy Anniversary, too!

[powelweb]

Blazerboy-

 

Small world!

 

The Solomon Pond Mall is off Rte 290, right on the Marlboro-Berlin line. It was built sometime after 1988 (when I graduated high school), and has some decent anchor stores- Sears, JC Penney and now Macy's (was Filene's).

 

So no more having to go to Framingham to shop- but that has all changed, too. Shopper's World- the outdoor mall that had a Jordan March at one end, has been torn down, and now it's 2 strip malls. The Natick Mall actually just opened a brand new wing where the Hostess bakery used to be.

 

Back to cruising- we're doing the eastbound TA on the Summit with 2 days in london and a flight home on virgin atlantic.

 

I'm so excited but really bummed that X hasn't opened up the shore excursions yet- we sail in less than 3 months!

 

I'm dying to take my aunt to the Normandy beaches, but since we're only in Cherbourg from noon-6, I'm not sure if there will be time.

 

Anyone else recall the guest lecturers from other TAs? I was going to plan to do some self study courses for work, but some of these sound so interesting...

 

happy sailings

Wendy

[Parrot Mom]

Hi Parrot Mom,

 

We also live in Marlboro- over by the mall.

 

I'm looking forward to my first TA this spring, which will be an eastbound.

 

We're staying 2 days in london, so hopefully no jet lag effects.

 

happy sailings,

wendy

 

We are near the 99 Restaurant in Marlboro.. Hope your going to the Travel Show in Boston in February.. hope to book ANOTHER trans/atlantic directly dealing with Celebrity

 

Blazer Boy.. you must of gone to St. Marks...there is a huge mall at the 290 -495 area.. You wouldn't believe the changes.. They are even talking about building a CASINO complex

 

if your going to London for two days.. be prepared for sticker shock.. that is all I'll say

 

 

parrotmom@verizon.net

[bobbyleduck]

We are near the 99 Restaurant in Marlboro.. Hope your going to the Travel Show in Boston in February.. hope to book ANOTHER trans/atlantic directly dealing with Celebrity

 

Blazer Boy.. you must of gone to St. Marks...there is a huge mall at the 290 -495 area.. You wouldn't believe the changes.. They are even talking about building a CASINO complex

 

if your going to London for two days.. be prepared for sticker shock.. that is all I'll say

 

 

parrotmom@verizon.net

 

Be prepared for sticker shock anywhere you visit in Europe. I couldn't believe that a 20 ounce Coke cost 2.5 euros (After exchange that would have been $4.00) from a vending machine in Madrid. It was no cheaper in Barcelona, Malaga or Cadiz. If you know me at all, you know that I didn't pay that price. I just went without. Same as I do aboard ship.

 

Happy cruising to all!

 

Bob

[Parrot Mom]

For the first time...we were inthe Canary Islands along the waterfront and wanted to buy some trinkets and they wouldn't accept $$.. We treked to the bank and for $100.00 got 65 euros.. I thought I'd pass out right then and there..We do have a credit card that doesn't charge exchange rate. Barbara Walters was talking on tv the other a.m. about ordering an omelet and coffee in London and having a bill of over $100.00.. probably for two..lol.. Did manage to find a few bargains.. you just have to know Parrot Mom...and haggling skills have been sharpened over the years..pretty proud of myself.. especially at a tourist trap in Touradant in Agadir..

[sealover155]

We've done the T/A both ways and the Baltics cruise all within the last 4 years, all on M class X ships. I'd have to vote for the Baltics cruise over an eastbound T/A, given the choice. It was simply an extraordinary experience. We'd never been to that part of the world and it was an adventure spending several months researching and planning. It's the one cruise I'd like to repeat exactly, same ports, same ship (Constellation), same time of year (May). We did have 3 or 4 sea days and they were a welcomed respite from all of the touring.

 

We certainly enjoyed the T/A's though, especially the westbound. Losing 5-6 hours, 1 per night is a little tough even though you do arrive in Europe on their time. This is only important, of course, if you plan to stay and tour around.

 

For good value, you might also consider a late season Med trip. We found a tremendous bargain last November. Not nearly as many tourists and very relaxing, though port intensive. Good luck and congratulations!

 

Mary Anne

[powelweb]

ParrotMom- I grew up on Conrad Road, so I think you're talking about the new 99 at the lights on rt 20, right?

 

Yeah, I'm prepared for sticker shock. At first we weren't going to stay at all, but as we talked about it, I realized that my 73 year old aunt that I'm traveling with has never been to London, so it's one of those "who knows if we'll ever be back here again..." things.

 

as for the proposed casino, foxwoods is close enough for me.

 

We've already got a 7 night disney cruise booked for nov, so I won't be hitting the travel show this year. Hope you find a great deal though!

Wendy

[Parrot Mom]

ParrotMom- I grew up on Conrad Road, so I think you're talking about the new 99 at the lights on rt 20, right?

 

Yeah, I'm prepared for sticker shock. At first we weren't going to stay at all, but as we talked about it, I realized that my 73 year old aunt that I'm traveling with has never been to London, so it's one of those "who knows if we'll ever be back here again..." things.

 

as for the proposed casino, foxwoods is close enough for me.

 

We've already got a 7 night disney cruise booked for nov, so I won't be hitting the travel show this year. Hope you find a great deal though!

Wendy

 

Are you serious.. we are on Ripley.. and if you went to the Richer you know my sons..and I probably knew your family.. WHO ARE YOU!! parrotmom@verizon.net

[powelweb]

Parrotmom- just sent you an email :)

[Parrot Mom]

Hi Parrot Mom,

 

We also live in Marlboro- over by the mall.

 

I'm looking forward to my first TA this spring, which will be an eastbound.

 

We're staying 2 days in london, so hopefully no jet lag effects.

 

happy sailings,

wendy

 

forgot how to reach you privately....send me a note at parrotmom@verizon.net--- You probably went to the Richer...

[Blazerboy]

Shopper's World? Gone? :( Gee, spent many an afternoon escaping from school (yes, St. Mark's) and going there for shopping/movies...Just missed my 25th a few years ago, so I guess it'll be a while before I go back...

 

We're taking another TA this Fall, and plan on B&B's in the countryside, pub lunches, etc. We won't actually go into London this time. Makes it a little more affordable, and I love the English countryside...We did the same in Spain this past Fall, using Tapas Bars for dinners, and saved quite a bit- and had wonderful food! But if you haven't been to London, you'll want to see the sights. Last time there...2005...we stayed at the Crowne Plaza St James, and got a much better rate through their website than through other sites...made it almost reasonable to stay in town...

[Parrot Mom]

All the old stores that you remember are gone.. the Natick Mall just reopened as the Natick Collection with Nordstroms Neiman Marcus and very upscale shops inbetween with a Macys (no more Filenes or Jordan Marsh) and Penny's.. Lechmere is gone...it's a whole bustling area.. Oh yes.. Southboro.. on Route 9..lots of office buildings and inbetween $$$ homes..what we call McMansions..but St. Marks is still there holding the fort down and expanding as i Fay School.. Not the lovely countryside you remember.. oh yes.. the Buffalo Farm is gone as is Capassos finally sold

[Blazerboy]

oh yes.. the Buffalo Farm is gone

O.k., now you're just depresssing me!:( (of course, I remember going to the Buffalo farm and, while buying the $.02 candy in the 70's, lamenting that it used to be 2 for a penny in the 60's! Gosh, am I getting old...) And I used to walk between the main campus and the "Southborough School" over on Sears Rd....all fields, with horses and cows...we even went cow tipping there...

 

Is there some small irony that I now work for a shopping center developer? (don't throw stones yet- we do urban infill!)

 

Gee, I think I'll have to go book myself another TA to recover from the shock!

[Parrot Mom]

O.k., now you're just depresssing me!:( (of course, I remember going to the Buffalo farm and, while buying the $.02 candy in the 70's, lamenting that it used to be 2 for a penny in the 60's! Gosh, am I getting old...) And I used to walk between the main campus and the "Southborough School" over on Sears Rd....all fields, with horses and cows...we even went cow tipping there...

 

Is there some small irony that I now work for a shopping center developer? (don't throw stones yet- we do urban infill!)

 

Gee, I think I'll have to go book myself another TA to recover from the shock!

 

Sadly, Sears Road now is the home of McMansions..one bigger than the other.Now you can fly in to Boston (you won't recognize wonderful Boston now) and cruise from Boston up the Canadian Coast..Portland, Halifax, St John, Sydney, etc. and if you really want to feel old... there is in the works....a cruise stop dock in Gloucester, MA.. We cruise from Boston to Bermuda directly.. What is more ironic is that we were considering a cruise from L.A. to Ft. Lauderdale with stops to visit relatives outside of S.F.

[hybrn8]

before you sign up for any type of cruise, whether it's port intensive or sea days intensive. Some people like to go from city to city and find a ship is the best way to do so. Others, like us, cruise for the sake of being on a ship. My favorite repositioning cruise was on WindSurf - 14 days without a single stop.

Why are repositioning trips so cheap? Well, the ship has to get from one part of the world to another for the upcoming cruise season, wherever that might be. Passengers are extras and once upon a time, there was little to fill your days. Now, however, people are realizing that with the price so low and the relaxation factor so high that they might just love a long sea cruise and the cruise lines are making these trips more activity filled than I like! Sit down and relax, folks!

Last spring we did a transatlantic on the Century (great) from Miami to Amsterdam. Then in July friend and I did a coastal voyage in Norway on one of the SAGA ships. The cruises were apples and oranges - both great but in their own special way.

Europe is so expensive now that cruises are one of the best ways to travel. The Baltic trip would be great fun.

But, know yourselves.