How do we cruise to France for Air Show

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Dec 29th, 2002, 08:05 AM

Babs

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How do we cruise to France for Air Show

My husband and I (fun,50ish,folks,no kids, Ohio residents)are planning to attend the June 15-22 air show in Paris, France. We would like to travel by ship instead of cramped air plane. We've never taken a cruise nor been overseas. And while we are not ready to see the world on this trip we do have a week or so extra to play. Suggestions? Don't make fun, but as anyone tried a freight ship?

Jan 1st, 2003, 07:15 AM

John

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Yes, freighter travel is a fun option, but may take longer than you have available. Check out these sites: http://www.freighterworld.com/ http://freightercruises.com/

Jan 1st, 2003, 10:06 AM

Anthony

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If you nev er cruised before, nor have you been overseas, a transatlantic cruise, wheher by regular cruiseship or freighter, would not be the best choice. Don't know whay you have against flying to Europe; you will most likely need to fly to a port if you were cruising, so wha'ts the differnece. If you are planning to attend a specific event in Paris, you should make the trip geared toward that. You can Spend a week in Paris, then another week touring the French countryside, chateaus, etc. Or you can take the chunnel train to London, and spend a week there. Baes on your your requests, flying is your best option. You will need alot more time by ship/frieghter.

Jan 1st, 2003, 11:47 AM

Lew

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QE2 leaves NY on June 1, arriving Southhampton June 6. Although the North Atlantic can be rough at times, it is usually during the winter. The QE2 is an ocean liner, not a floating resort hotel, and is very stable. With only "a week or so extra to play" you will end up in a plane one way or another.

Jan 1st, 2003, 12:06 PM

Enough

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If you had ever been crammed into a seat with absolutely no pitch of a cross-pond flight, you would not have written "Don't know whay you have against flying to Europe; you will most likely need to fly to a port if you were cruising, so wha'ts the differnece." Or put it this way, business class fare JFK-CDG runs about $8K per person, the only comfortable way to do the pond. For $8K per person, you can go 1st class on the QE2 and maybe come back Concord, or for $800 you can be squeezed into a seat. An experience vs missery...that is the question.

Jan 1st, 2003, 01:29 PM

Anthony

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Enough: I coach class ticket to Europe is nothing; I 've done that many,many times. That doesn't compare to the flight to China or Australia, which I've done also. If you want to go places, ythat's what you have to do. Like I would spend 8k per person for QE2 or 1st class. Stupid suggestion. Spent 2k for 2 wks in Australia, 1st class hotels.

Jan 1st, 2003, 01:49 PM

Enough

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Anthony, I never said coach class was $8K, I said business. I said coach was $800. And not all of us are cheap cheap cheap. Some of us like the experience. When you reply to a post, read carefully so you can do so accurately. Did I ask you what you would do? Did I show any curiosity about your experiences?

Jan 1st, 2003, 04:21 PM

Babs

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Thanks for the input. What I've heard so far is that going to Paris for the air show via boat is not such a good idea, especially since we've not cruised before. John, we're checking out those 2 web sites for future adventures. And Lew, I wonder what cruising would be like on the Q E? It sounds like and adult atmosphere where I can read and relax. Anthony, I get bloodclots in my legs if I sit in one position too long. In the past, I've flown and tried to "exercise" my legs in the isle. So have many other folks. As the flight continued, others filled the isles until we were all just standing in one position and there was no way to "exercise" the legs. It wasn't very pleasant. In thinking about flying to Paris, I figure seats will be at least 5 deep in the middle and the plane will be full. It doesn't sound like fun to me. We are not frequent flyers so don't have miles to trade up to first class, so first class is costly. I've not checked business class. Soooo,it looks like we probably won't be going to the Paris airshow this year. I don't know why we have to happily travel smashed together for long hours. I'm still open to suggestions but it seems you've listed them for me.

Jan 1st, 2003, 07:17 PM

John

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Just a note re cramped airline seating, blood clots etc... Generally, business class costs roughly 5-7 times the cost of an advance-purchase coach seat (first class often 10x). If you're that concerned about personal space, consider the following: first, fly on American Airlines, which has reconfigured all its aircraft to offer more legroom in coach (usually an extra 2-4 inches in "seat pitch&quot

than other carriers provide. Big difference on a 6-9 hour transatlantic flight. Second, buy three seats for the two of you, raise the armrests, and presto, more seat space than business class, but at a 50% cost hike rather than 500%. Ask the airline if you can pay a child's fare or other deep discount price for the "unused" seat. We've done this on a number of occasions and believe me it makes a huge difference in your attitude on arrival.

Jan 1st, 2003, 07:38 PM

#10

Lew

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The QE2 is the last of the class-divided ships sailing [until the QM2, which will continue the tradition.] The summer of 2003 is the last year that the QE2 will do the North Atlantic route. The ship was designed for this route, and therefore has a lower center of gravity, allowing it to ride more comfortably in heavy seas. I was told by one of the officers that when it was hit by a 90-foot wave [that’s 10 stories tall], it hardly shuddered. You have four classes of accommodations. Queens Grill, Princess Grill, Caronia and Mauritania. Mauritania is like tourist class on an airplane, Coronia like business class, and the Grills like first class. Most people dress for dinner, 2 informal nights and 4 formal nights. The QE2 enforces a dress code. A tux is required in all classes except Mauritania. Some passengers in Mauritania wear dark suits instead. There is also a cafeteria style restaurant open to all classes with open seating, which is always casual, for those that do not want to dress. You are assigned to a dinner table no matter what level you are in. You eat in the restaurant that matches your accommodations i.e. you can't eat in the Queens Grill if you are a Mauritania passenger. In the Grill class restaurant there are many 2-tops and open seating. In Coronia class, it is open seating at larger tables. Only in Mauritania class is there assigned dining times and large tables. The Grill class wait staff is trained to provide impeccable fine dining, leading one poster to say she was uncomfortable, feeling the "waiters looked down on her." There really isn't any other major distinction between classes. Everyone has complete run of the ship, One exception is the Queens Grill lounge is a bar and lounge set aside for the Grill class passengers. The QE2 transatlantic sailing is a traditional "transportation" sailing, ie. designed to get from NY to UK. Each sailing has a theme, ie "big bands". "theater", etc. It is not for the "fun" crowd who wants a busy schedule of contests, artificial excitement, and constant amusement.

Jan 1st, 2003, 09:51 PM

#11

Paul Therault

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Hi Babs, I would sail the QE2 to England and then rent a car and go to France. Then book the QE2 again for the return to the U.S. a couple of weeks later. It will be more expensive and will require a couple of weeks in Europe plus the cruise time, but if you really do not wish to fly it is an alternative. Paul

Jan 2nd, 2003, 06:15 AM

#12

Babs

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John, Great, that's a "do-able" suggestion!I'll put my husband on it right away. I'm just kidding, but now it looks like the Paris air show has not disappeared from our travel horizon. Paul, your suggestion is something to look into too. I like the idea of driving around the countryside. And Lew, thanks for the description of travel on the QE2. It sounds a bit like an Agatha Christe place...and that's good...real wood, nice people. I'm glad it was designed for that kind of crossing. Hot Dog!

Jan 2nd, 2003, 09:31 AM

#13

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For once, I agree with Paul. After a while we got sick of having to endure an overnight flight to Europe, only to feel tired the first couple of days after we arrived. We have gone to Europe by ship 3 of the last 4 times we've gone, and it makes all the difference. We usually take spring repositioning cruises instead of regular crossings (since they're often cheaper for a much longer voyage), but you should try the QE2 once while you're still able to; it's her final year on the Atlantic.

Jan 4th, 2003, 05:09 AM

#14

Babs

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What is a spring repositioning cruise, how do they work?

Jan 4th, 2003, 06:16 AM

#15

Lew

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A repositioning cruise is moving the ship from one market to another as ships are too big for FedEx. Simply put, there are summer markets and winter markets. Summer are Alaska, the Baltic and Mediterrean. Winter are Caribbean and South America. To get the ship from one place to another, ie Fort Lauderdale to Lisbon, they have to sail it. They can either sail it empty, or sell cabins at a highly discounted rate. They choose the latter. In April, many ships go from the Caribbean to either European waters or Alaska. Repositioning tend to be longer cruises with an older crowd.

Jan 4th, 2003, 07:03 AM

#16

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The deal that's tempting me for this spring is the 15 night Galveston to Barcelona voyage on Splendour of the Seas, from $699 including port taxes. It arrives May 24th, leaving plenty of time to wander up to Paris (lots of good places to see along the way) by June 15th. You'd better have lots of vacation time available though, and it sounds like you weren't planning to take that much time.