Trans-Atlantic Questions for you seasoned experts!

[Soprrrano]

:o Who has taken the trans-Atlantic cruise?

 

Did anyone get bored being at sea for 5 days before you landed anywhere?

 

Other than the cool fact that you are crossing the Atlantic, is there anything special about doing this cruise than a regular cruise?

 

Does anyone recommend a trans-Atlantic OVER a regular cruise that is at port almost every other day?

 

Thanks!

[Seenie]

Who has taken the trans-Atlantic cruise?

Me! Me! (hand up) :D We did QMII Eastbound in April last year.

 

Did anyone get bored being at sea for 5 days before you landed anywhere?

 

LOL! The pool, the spa, the steam room, the concerts, afternoon tea, the library, movies, shows, books to read! BORED? It was a total and complete treat, a great way to start or finish an overseas trip.

 

Other than the cool fact that you are crossing the Atlantic, is there anything special about doing this cruise than a regular cruise?

 

For me, it was seeing the vastness of the Atlantic. Day after day on the big grey disk of water. And thinking about what it must have been like in centuries gone by. You imagine what it must have been like being an immigrant on a wooden ship, sleeping on a plank, eating hard tack, sailing for weeks and weeks. *shudder*

 

Does anyone recommend a trans-Atlantic OVER a regular cruise that is at port almost every other day?

 

It's a totally different experience from a port-intensive cruise. Very relaxing. All you have to do all day is whatever you want to do. The ultimate getaway! The absolute best way to cross the Atlantic ... no jet lag, no hassle, no 31 inch pitch seating with someone else's seatback in your face. The only way to cross, if you have the time. And compared with the price of a first or business class airline ticket, a steal of a deal!

 

I don't know if I would recommend it instead of a regular cruise, but I certainly would recommend it instead of an airplane!

 

Thanks!

 

Welcome! :o

[Soprrrano]

Great Answer, thanks!

[PennyAgain]

We did and my husband was bored to tears and refuses to do it again.

 

It was very nice not having to deal with jet lag, but he was bored and a little sea sick.

 

It is not for everyone.

[lannp]

Me too!!

I've done 5 transatlantics on the QM2, and I can't believe how fast the time goes. I LOVE sea days.

There is so much to see and do or you can do absolutely nothing.:) :D

[Shorex]

The Queens tend to do the "pure" trans-Atlantic -- point to point. Other lines will offer trans-Atlantic itineraries when they reposition ships, often these are bargain fares. My personal preference is for the trans-Atlantic cruise with port stops.

 

One of my all time favorite cruises was Dover-Edinburgh-Faeroe Islands-Reykjavik, Iceland-Nuuk, Greenland-Newfoundland-Nova Scotia-Newport-New York. Best of both worlds, lots of sea days and fascinating ports!

 

In March we're doing Rio to Barcelona -- just a couple of stops in Brazil and in Cape Verde, but essentially a crossing. IMO, the best crossings are on ships that provide the leisure activities that interest you, whether it's informative speakers, casinos, spas, whatever. If you're bored on a ship it's because you didn't pick the right ship for you.

[cruiseidaho]

Our Transatlantic on Princess had 8 ports of call, sailing from Copenhagen with stops in Dover,England; Dublin, Ireland; Belfast, Northern Ireland; Reykjavik, Iceland; Qaqortoq, Greenland; St.John's, Newfoundland; ending in New York City, sixteen days with the longest stretch at sea being 2 days between Greenland and Newfoundland and between Newfoundland and New York. Eight of the sixteen days were at sea, but the eight ports broke up the voyage nicely.

[pris993]

We have done two, will do more in the future. First one, was on the Grand Princess from Southampton to New York, with a few ports in Europe before proceeding across the Atlantic, going west you get an extra hours sleep each night. The second on the HALs Westerdam, from Ft Lauderdale to Rome, with a few ports out of Florida and a few ports on the other end, for a total of 16 days. Going east we lost a hour each night.

 

Best way to beat jet lag and a very relaxing experience. My husband was concerned about being bored, he wasn't and is willing to go again. The price is a big factor, a very good deal. Be sure to pick a ship that you will really enjoy though, which we did in both cases.

[glgolfer]

One suggestion is to do east to west from Europe to the USA.

And, fly over a day or 2 early to help with the time change and jet lag.

 

You will have 25 hour days instead of 23 hour. You end up almost home instead if facing a minimum 9 hour flight.

 

Look at a few itineraries and pick the one with ports you would like to see.

Just remember weather can cause any port to be missed and others substituted.

A southern crossing is generally smoother and warmer than a northern one.

[Soprrrano]

One suggestion is to do east to west from Europe to the USA.

And, fly over a day or 2 early to help with the time change and jet lag.

 

You will have 25 hour days instead of 23 hour. You end up almost home instead if facing a minimum 9 hour flight.

 

Look at a few itineraries and pick the one with ports you would like to see.

Just remember weather can cause any port to be missed and others substituted.

A southern crossing is generally smoother and warmer than a northern one.

 

I looked at the cruises that go east to west, but they go to countries that I've already been to, so I was more interested in being at sea for 5 days with no land in sight, which would be from Florida to Portugal.

 

It's good to know that the southern crossing will be smoother than the northern one! Thanks!:o

[jwlnroe]

OK a stupid question.. how do you know if it is a northern or southern route? and what are the best months to do a translantic?

[glgolfer]

Northern would be from England to Canada/New England.

 

Southern from Portugal/Spain to Florida.

 

They go east in the spring and west in the fall & winter. So, there's no "best" time to go, just whenever they do the transatlantics.

Thsy are always before or after hurricane season.

[AFuncruiser]

Just off a Hawaiian cruise with 8 sea days.

March 15, Ft Lauderdale to Rome.

December 1st Barcelona to Miami.

Many activities on sea days and I love to play bridge.

 

Dennis

 

An afternoon on the Norway 1981 / Christmas cruise 7 night1984 / Sky Princess 10 night / Russian Cruise Line 4 night / Crown Monarch 7 night / Festival Carnival 7 night / Norway 7 night September 1989 /

Regent Sea 15 night Panama Canal 1993 / Commodore Caribe 7 night / Regal Princess 7 night 1998

Star Princess 7 night 1999 / Zuiderdam Holland America 14 night 2000 ( Dec) / Tropical Carnival 5 night 2001

Norway August 7 night 2002 / Rydam Holland America 19 night South America 2003 /

Westerdam Holland America 7 night 2004 / Zenith Celebrity 14 night March 2005 /

Celebration Carnival 5 night September 2005 / MSV Lucia Central America 21 night Christmas 2005

Celebration Carnival 4 nights August 2006 / Celebration Carnival 5 nights September 2006

Seven Seas Mariner 18 night TP November 2006 / Celebration Carnival 5 nights March 2007

Celebrity Century Trans Atlantic April 26th 2007 / Celebration Carnival 5 nights Oct.15th 2007 /

/ Holland America Zaandam 15 nights Dec 2007 / Holland American Zuiderdam TA March 15th 2008 18 nights / Celebrity Century 14 nights T?A Dec 1, 2008

[momofmeg]

We took a transatlantic thsi past Sept-we had 3 days at sea because our last port was in Ireland and our next port after crossin the Atlantic was in Canada.

 

We took a TA fro several reasons- 1) only 1 long flight to europe no long flight both ways, 2) the great price repositioning cruises have and 3) I liked the idea of doing what my ancestore did-although I am sure my "crossing" was much more comfortable and much quicker!

 

We enjoyed it so much we hope to do it again.

[kitty9]

The only negative is the horrible price for a one-way airline ticket. Those one-ways can be more than the cost of a round trip

[glgolfer]

kity9 - That's why we get the filghts thru the cruise line for either one way or open jaw flights. You can't beat their price for those.

They can get group rates for those flights that we can't.

[momofmeg]

The only negative is the horrible price for a one-way airline ticket. Those one-ways can be more than the cost of a round trip

 

Kitty Delta will offer great one way specials-you just have to book it when it is on sale. For example, not long ago we could have flown to Nice, France for $499 a person- and the special was ONLY one way!

 

Since next time we go-we want to spend a few days in Paris precruise and we plan to use the train system to both get to Paris and to the port leaving. we may use the ferry system also-depending which port we book the TA from.

 

Yes it is pricy when factoring in the trains and ferrys-but we would much rather do that then just fly into Europe, take a cruise and then fly back from Europe. To us this is more fun.