Transatlantics--anyone love them but Us?
 

We have cruised back and forth to/from Lisbon on one of the Windstar boats for many times and are considering the one in Nov, from Lisbon. We spend a week or two in Lisbon,or tour POrtugal, and then a long restful ride accross the ocean..It's like a dream, sit back, discover yourself, make new friends, eat gormet food ever night, watch the stars come out,be rocked to sleep each night by a gentle motion, meet the crew, spend a dollar or two in the casino, dance under the moon at night, a toddy or two with good friends, peruse the library and huge array of CD's DVD's, etc....and arrive a bit different that you started.

Anyone else feel this way.?

I adored both my Transatlantic and Transpacific. Also look for cruises w/ lots of sea days. I think its a perfect way to relax and enjoy the ship. I am never bored....read lots of books.....spend time alone and at peace.

If I could afford it I would never fly across an ocean again but always take a ship....like the good ole days!!

Me too, LEANNA. Late April, a couple of years ago on Crown Princess was our only one, but boy, what a way to go. Once in Europe, it made several wonderful ports. We were lucky, I guess, perfect weather every day. Actually, if I could have my cats with me, I would love to spend about half my time on a ship - not going anywhere in particular.

Although I've never done a TA, sea days don't appeal (they seem like a waste of vacation days) to me much, so it hasn't been tempting.

I don't think TA's are for us. We like few days at sea and frequent port stops to check out new places. This is the kind of cruise we prefer.

DW and I love the TA cruies, did 2 from Barcelona nd one transpacicfic.
DW really likes all the sea days becaause it is enforced relaxation. Internet and phone time is too expensive for regular use, so she reads, she walks, she naps. All the things she doesn't have time to do at home. Port calls are wonderful, but sometimes you just need to kick back and do nothing but watch the ocean go by your balcony for a few days.

I also I am not keen on Transaltalntic cruises.

In fact I did not go on a Mediterranean Cruise ,when the others in our group wanted to go Transatlantic at the end.

Instead I rebooked the Mediterranean Cruise and at the end flew back from Barcelona.

Two days at sea is maximum for me.

For me, it was a surprise to learn that I love water and ships. On our first cruise I was actually worried that I would hate the one day at sea and feel trapped. I was also afraid of storms. Rather than feel trapped, I never felt so free in my whole life. Part of that was the ship. The bigger Princess ships have promenades that completely encircle the ship, and the funny thing was, they were often empty, so I was alone with all that vast sky and water. So far, (very lucky) no sea sickness, and quite enjoyed the movement of a couple of minor storms, even outside on deck with wind and rain. I was excited to do a TA after that. We booked it two weeks later.

Sometimes, I don't like port days because I feel an obligation to go and explore new places, but don't want to get off the ship. I don't gamble, play the games, use the gym, go to the spa or most of the other ship stuff. I just like being on the water.

The best part for me is the people we meet..As we are close confined, and unless you stay in your cabin, you must be in the presence of at least a few people on a small vessel. And we have met some fantastic folk who became fast friends. In touch to this day.

My DD and SIl are musicians on the Caribbean Princess which has just completed a transatlantic crossing from NYC to Southampton.
She posted this on her Facebook page about three days ago.

"Transatlantic crossing...have to travel a more southerly course to miss ice...trapped in force 7 winds. very rough few days at sea, hopefully out of the worst of it. Going to miss early tide in Dublin due to our slow travel because of weather :("

There is no way I could do this type of crossing I get sea-sick on a calm day!!.

Nelsonian,

Caribbean Princess is the first ship we were on, but in the Caribbean. It was a beautiful ship. Hope it is being kept up.
I can't imagine the wear and tear on furnishings on a ship.

Your DD's crossing doesn't sound like fun. Hope things improve for them. They've been doing that for awhile, haven't they? I seem to remember you posting about their first gigs on a ship. Would love to know how they are liking it now and what ships they have been on.

Sassfrass yes they have been on quite a few trips, I think it is going to be their main source of income for the next few years.

There first trip was on the Grand Princess another transatlantic crossing then 5 months around Europe. This was a tough one especially for DD as she got very sea-sick. This has improved thankfully as she has got more and more used to this type of travel. The gig on the Carribbean Princess is for 4 months mostly around UK and Europe with a couple of trips up to Greenland and the Norwegian Fjords.

They have now been on the Island Princess around the Panama (two seperate gigs), the Sun Princess around Australia, and New Zealand, they will be doing a short gig on the Emerald Princess in October from NYC to Quebec and return, and then in Dec will be doing the Australia/New Zealand circuit again on the Sea Princess.

The thing they dislike the most is the tiny cabin and sleeping in bunks!!!!!

Wow! They're still with it and have done even more than I thought. Has all their work been on Princess? As a couple, bunks would get old pretty quickly. We've had only the smallest inside cabins and it was OK, but their's is even smaller. Is all of their time spent practising and playing or do they have to do other tasks on board? Do they get any free time in ports so they can do a little sight seeing? I think some people would just love that life and others would hate it. While they are working with other creative people, that can be good or bad. Interesting to hear about their life at sea.

Sassfrass they play about three hours a night, on sea days they sometimes play two hours at lunch-time as well . They have no other duties except in port manning which means they get rostered on to stay on the ship when it's in port, this only happens once or twice a cruise.
They are playing as a duo now instead of a group, which they find much better. Most days in port they go off and wander around, have a meal. They are vegans and don't get a very good variety of food on the ship. They look for Indian, or Thai places when they are in port.
My DD has done a few of the organised tours, they can get on them for free if they help organise the other passengers taking the tour.

I don't like sea days - we had 2 days going to Alaska out of San Francisco, 2 days coming back - I thought of it as 4 vacation days lost.

My friend enjoyed her Hawaii cruise out of San Francisco - 5 days at sea each way.

Sorry, I can read at home for free, other than that, I get bored at sea days.

I enjoy days at sea and look forward to them but would not take the chance on having rough seas on a TA crossing that is a long way if it is rough!!! some cruises have too many ports of call in my opinion. I don't feel like I am relaxing at all when every day you get off the ship. Did a Windstar trip where we had a couple of days at sea and they were the best but also enjoyed then getting off and exploring. Time at sea gives you the opportunity to get a massage, read, play games and enjoy doing nothing for a few days but a few days is enough for me thank you....

BTW how's the Atlantic waters? Do they get rough?

We did the TA from Florida to Southern Spain, Provence France and Italy in early May and weather and water was perfect. I've heard it is rougher doing the Northern routes and at other times of year.

I would like to do that someday when I'm not counting vacation days too closely.

Well maybe someday.