Transatlantic cruise; the best and the worst of it

The idea doesn't appeal to me. There are so many places I want to see that I don't want to "waste" time on a vacation doing nothing.

I'd love it. The big advantages are low price and only one way flights to/from Europe. But I'd choose a large ship with lots of activities to fill the sea days.

Will let you know when we return. We're going on a 14-night cruise Ft. Lauderdale - Barcelona on RCI's Navigator of the Seas next month. We're also looking forward to down time with just 5 ports.

This is our 4th trans-atlantic.. our third from Barcelona.. In Sept. we aredoing 14 days from Barcelona to Bayonne, N.J. with stops inMalaga (love it), Casablanca, Lisbon overnight, Cadiz, Porta Delado..and 5 days at sea..I agree with "clarasong" rare opportunity for inner reflection--to get to know yourself.,,,The opportunity at our age to get a tase of various counries and ports.and we do things usually independently...and for me.. the days at sea.. calm.. reading watching the world go by..Oh yes, being taken care of, no cleaning, no birds, no dogs, entertained, cooked for...and just generally being pampered.. And in case you say we don't have enough time at the ports.. we are returning to Malaga a hidden jewel...and Barcelona an exciing vibrant city. Best of all it's affordable...and the best buy..shhh don't share tht with everybody else..then cabins are hard to get..

Did one Transatlantic cruise. 1969. France to New York. Hurricane Camille coming up the Atlantic. 'Nuff said....

I'm not the world's biggest cruise fan to begin with but the idea of being stuck on a ship, big or small, for several days just doesn't sound appealing at all. But then again, I'm not one who goes on vacation and never "leaves the resort" either.

Guess there are many of us who are just trans-atlantic crazies..Just booked another trans-atlantic for November 2009..sea days are our favorite.. Have never had a bad day cruising trans-atlantic

We are also going on the 14-night RCI Navigator of the Seas, Ft. Lauderdale to Barcelona, in mid-April. The "at-sea" days were the decider for us. All that extra time to just relax, but, if we desire, lots of activities too!

My first transAtlantic was in the early 60s aboard SS Americe from New York to England. Of course, was a GI at the time and was December. Not a pleasant experience - very rough seas. Since, we have done one from Spain to Tampa, FL and really enjoyed it. Now are booked for the Carnival Freedom in mid April from Miami to Rome. This will be the largest ship so far and think it may be just too big (too many people). Will have to rethink our next one but 'sea days' are GREAT!

I've done several and love them. Relaxing but still lots of day time activities during the day if you so choose. I prefer the smaller ships (700 passengers or less). Good value, really great!

I am getting ready to go on my 3rd TA,this one from FLL to Barcelona, in April. !6 days: 7 days at sea and 9 days in ports/sea.

My othere two were the QM@, NYC to Southampton which we really enjoyed and in November 2007 we did the Regent Grand crossing on Voyager, MonteCarlo to FLL.
I prefer the east-west crossing as you gain 1 hr almost everynight. I loved that!

It's also so relaxing to ahve those days at sea. And they go very fast!

I'm on my 26th year in the US Navy and, as such, have had many "at sea days" (at a rock bottom price, I might add!). Therefore, I am all about the ports, and I choose my cruises based on itinerary.

We've only done one - last year from NYC to England on the Queen Mary 2. It was top notch in all regards - the cabin was large and comfortable, the food superb, facilities and entertainment great.
And we are not 'cruise people' - we don't like to be cooped up on a ship nor to lounge around a pool all day, so our praise of the QM2 is surprising!

Until cruise ships stop dumping their waste directly into the ocean, I will not take a cruise. I know only one person will not make a differentce, and that we produce waste which must be dealt with here on land as well, but to foul the ocean, just for recreational reasons seems wrong to me, when scientists tell us that the pristine waters of the world are a thing of the past. I wonder why more tourists do not think of the impact of dumping the waste of small floating cities directly and repeatedly into the ocean, no matter how far out. I know this is a complex issue, and I hope that more tourists will at least do their own research on this before booking a cruise.

We are anticipating our 5th TA cruise in September. We have gone twice eastbound and twice westbound. Even though the seas have been slightly rougher in fall, we still prefer the eastbound. We have booked theses cruises after an extended European cruise with lots of ports and use the TA as a way to unwind on the way home. And the deals are usually so good on a TA that it sometimes works out as a bargain, especially if you book early enough to get a good rate on the one way flight to Europe. (Kayak has helped a lot with this).
As to waste dumped in the ocean, the lines I have been on all have promoted their "Green Programs" where all waste is contained. They don't even want you to drop a paper napkin overboard.

We took the QM2 from New York to Southampton in September. Cunard assigns its meals by class of service, which some might consider a good thing--others might not think so. We went Brittania Club class which meant we had our own assigned table for two at each meal. We are both well-traveled professionals who have left the work force and don't find the idea of being with hoards of people charging off the boat into every port of call for a sip of the local culture particularly attractive. Also, we like the idea of dining when we want at our own pace instead of being at a table with strangers with various ideas of what and how to eat and with what beverage, if any, to accompany each course. Being interviewed throughout each meal answering questions of where we were from, what we do/did, number of children, and destination does not make for fine dining, in our opinion. We enjoyed the spa, the lectures, and the other entertainment and found five days at sea totally relaxing. We would, as another commenter said, prefer the Europe to US route as you really never catch up to the hour lost each night. Would do it again in a moment. Hope this helps.

What is an inexpensive transatlantic line for people who just don't want to fly?

This is a question for parrotmom, how was the weather on the De. crossing, we are thinking of doing this in 08. We like the itinerary and think this is a good way to see Morocco, could you post your experience.

Thanks

I like transatlantic cruises, been on three. It is the FLIGHT(s) to or from I don't like.

regards - tom

My daughter and I did Barcelona to Boston on the NCL Gem last Dec. I had been on a cruise before but my daughter had the "jitters" about a cruise and she is a world traveler and has lived overseas. We both had a wonderful time and the weather cooperated until we were closer to Boston. If you wanted to keep occupied, activities were scheduled from early AM to late night. One of the highlights for me was seeing the Rock of Gibralter (silhouetted in the dark) from one side of the ship and the lights from the north coast of Africa off the other side. I have spent lots of hours trying to decide on the next transatlantic. I would like to have Morocco on the itinerary. Can anyone tell me about the ship Century of Celebrity Cruise Line? Thanks

I made many transatlantic trips -- for transportation --in the 40's and fifties. Things were simpler. Much more relaxed than nowadays. I always gained a lot of weight.
Now I get as large a stateroom as possible, to avoid stir-craziness.
rjf

We did Oceania Insignia last year from Barbados to France with one stop in Funchal. We loved the days at sea and you can't beat the repositioning cruises for price. We had 2 for 1 price with free airfare.

We had 175 people on a ship that holds +650. They closed two decks and upgraded everybody. We went to a penthouse with our own butler.

I guess it just depends on what you are interested in. We sail to relax so six days at sea was great for us.

I think the worse cruise we ever did was a 12 day Med where we had a port almost every day. Having not been there before we felt it necessary to do something at every stop. I needed a vacation to rest up from my vacation.

Anyone done an Atlantic crossing on Windsurf?

TPAYIT: Yep, we have done that (Lisbon to Barbados, Barb. to Lisbon) several times and love it!!!But it's not for everybody...we went once with friends and they hated it...nothing to do/see.
For us, it is a chance to kick back, enjoy quiet hours, the surrounding sea, get to know each other better, and make new friends.

The Windsurf is an amazing ship...was a little tired last time we sailed but they were in the process of refurbishing it...Just know before you go.

We usually fly to Portugal, rent car, run all over that amazing country, and then drift on back home, easy, easy.

Hope you enjoy it, if you go. Anything else I can help you with, send your e mail.

SPITZ..except for an hour of rain crossing.. we had hot, hot weather crossing toSanJuan..and this was as N.E. was having three blizzards.As for Morroco we were cancelled because of political reasons in december but the Constellation we are going on in Sept. is stopping there and we have just this week booke a trip to Marrakesh.

Now I'm curious. My 79 year old parent no longer fly. I've wondered if a TA might be the way to get them to Europe.

Are there any trips that are quick,only for tranporation and no ports?

DAYLE..as the saying goes.. y ou cant get there from here1! They can take a trans/atlantic from Europe or the US...but you have to find a way to get home.. If they find getting through the airports is difficult there is one answer...ask for a wheel chair..Parrot Pop has a veyr bad ankle and there is no way he can walk the airports. and we ask for a wheel chair. We find going FROM Europe to the US is the best way to do it with the days at sea at the end.

ParrotMom

Thanks for answering. Making it through the airports really isn't the problem. It's the actual flying, pressurization, confined space, restrooms.....

I'm formulating plans for a x country train, then ship, then trains.....

I've been on 12 cruises and my favorite by far has been the Trans-Atalantic one. We went from Rotterdam to NYC via the North Atlantic. The weather was wonderful and I saw places I will likely never go to again like the Faroe Islands, Iceland and Greenland. Sun shining in all of them. The only set back was a freak thing. As we were heading into Manhattan at 5:30 in the morning I noticed the lights of the city were not on....at all. Someone actually suggested it was because people hadn't woken up yet! In fact we didn't know it but we were arriving the morning after the huge East Coast Summer black out in 2004. The trip was wonderful, but it took two days to get home because of the black out.

To Abram:
You can always tell the "type As." Taking a TA cruise to those of us who love being on the ocean and truly having the opportunity to do what we want to do and when we want to do it is heaven. There is nothing more beautiful than being on the ocean and being able to realize its enormity. To those of us who want peace and tranquility jumping on and of the ship, taking shore excursions and being in port for very short periods of time is not our desire. I respect those who like seeing new places and would never describe that as a waste of time.

Cruzman: Well, we just booked for another TA cruise, in Nov...which we will take after a couple weeks touring in Portugal....every day is a sea day, I sleep like a dead man, and love it, love it. Getting in touch with ones soul, I say...I can think, write, dream, rest, love better afterward.

Clarasong,

Which cruise line did you book with and what is the intinerary?
I am booked on the CCL Splendor leaving Rome on the 29th of October. Lots of sea days. I won't even get off the ship in Baecelona, been there done that, or Funchal.
Just being on the ocean opens up inner channels which many people do not know exist within themselves.

windstar

Just returned from a 20 day Transatlantic on the Grand Princess.
It was a fabulous itinerary with plenty of sea days but ports such as Dominica, Devil's Island, Fortaleza (Brazil), Dakar (Senegal) Casablanca, Cannes, Gibraltar and Livorno. We had fabulous weather (although humid) for the first couple of weeks. In Europe we still had wonderful weather in port although at sea it was certainly cooler.
Check your ports as we had to have a Brazilian visa and yellow fever shots. Many of the passengers were very upset about this, but if you don't want to visit these ports then other itineraries are available.
I would do it again in an instant.
If you travel on the QM2 go from Southampton to New York where you gain an hour each night instead of putting the clock forward if you sail over FROM New York!!!

My husband and I are doing the RCCL Voyager Barcelona to Galveston Nov 29th. Really looking forward to the time! Any hints for a Nov/Dec crossing weather-wise & smooth-seas wise?

like I said,we are taking the Windstar back from Portugal in Nov. We have done it before, and except for one windy day, seas were very calm, although one friend has "poo pooed" that, practically accusing me of 'fibbing' and finally said "you have heard of the Titantic, haven't you?"

Anyway, the best part, for me, is that it is a real adventure. One is 'captured', so to speak, on a very lovely boat, with just the folks and crew that comes with it. And you can make it what you will. Most assuredly, you will find folks that you might just as well advoid, some that want to be left alone, some that you will bond with, and you will find activities, maybe some you invent, that you can enjoy.

Best of all, you are miles and miles from anywhere, so you must accept it, get into the mood, or you will hate it. Seems like one finds another side to yourself, your soul, and what is in your quiet mind. So we go, just to be away from the 'hurley burley' of the cities and all the commotion that we humans make. A grand experience, that we can't wait to re-experience.