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Across Atlantic by cruise ship; you done it?
Topic Started: Dec 21 2010, 09:46 AM (343 Views)
heatseeker
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I would like to go across the pond by ship -- once -- to get some sort of idea of my ancestors' journey to the New World.

The cruise lines have some good deals on trans-Atlantuc crossings in spring, when they reposition to Europe for the summer. Most are about 12 or so days in duration, with a stop somewhere like the Azores and a couple of stops on the continent, with several days at sea.

If you have tried this, I would very much appreciate hearing about it. Thanks.
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diboja
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I have never done a transatlantic cruise but I have done a fair amount of cruising....

Whenever I wanted to check on a destination or a cruise I have used Cruise Critic and read reviews by members on their forum who post details about particular cruises.

This is a link where people have done transatlantic cruises and they post their experiences, name of the ship and destinations, dining experiences, ports of call experiences, etc, etc.......

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/regions/transatlantic-cruises/

It provides a good insight as to what to expect.
Edited by diboja, Dec 21 2010, 12:53 PM.
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ocali
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I haven't done this, but my daughter and her husband sailed on the Queen Elizabeth from New York city to Great Britain. They're seasoned cruise folk and I know she really loved it. They spent a couple of days in London and then flew directly back to San Diego.
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friendshipgal
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Guess everyone wants their own Trudashians
Never been on a cruise, always wanted to, although with the reports lately not too sure about it... not enough gravol ohmy 03
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eraser
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I'd be interested in hearing more about this as well. I'd love to go to Greece again but have no interest in flying. I could be talked into cruising across, spending a couple of months traveling on the continent and then finding a cruise back.

Thanks for the link diboja. That should prove helpful.
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heatseeker
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Thank you for the link, Diboja. Much appreciated. I was amazed to discover that some people spend all of their time cruising!
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Deleted User
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Been using cruisecritic.com for many years. We really do not like cruising, but as we age, it is such a convenient, easy and yes, cheap (when you consider that all your meals, entertainment, etc. are included in the price) way to travel.
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Tipacanoe
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Interesting note: many on CC recommend staying away from the new Cunard ship replacing the QE2. Among other things, white glove service has gone the way of the dodo.

We are looking at a couple of HA repositioning cruises out of Florida in the spring. My better half wants to visit Britain again and these look like a much more comfy way of getting there than flying - though I presume we would fly to Fla! Why don't these ships leave from NYC anymore? Guess they wouldn't be "repositioning"?

Anyway, sounds like others are interested and we better make up our minds soon!

(Think I'd rather fly to Portugal now!)

:WESnowball03.gif: :1807.gif:
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Tipacanoe
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To answer your question, Heat, as a vacationing teacher, my wife crossed the Atlantic by cruise ship several times in summer and always found it too cool and windy to go out on deck much. The wind made for some "movement" as a result of the waves, though nothing too upsetting.

On the other hand, a couple of our friends have done the repositioning thing in the spring and both times, the crossing was "smooth as glass".

Guess it all depends on the luck of the weather.

As for cruise lines, go with the ones with best reps I suggest. In our age group, I find most people favor Holland America. However, we have cruised with Princess, Celebrity and Carnival and all are good.

Currently, we are looking at the Holland America repo cruises in April and May ourselves. Friends have already booked the one around the UK but I rather favor the one from Tampa, visiting ports in Spain, Portugal, Belgium & France and ending in London.

There we will rent a car and visit with family & friends in Wales and Lancashire before returning, probably out of Manchester. Unless we overlap with a trip to Scotland my sister is planning, in which case we might return from the North instead.
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heatseeker
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Thanks for all the info, Tip.

As you note, these voyages all seem to begin in Florida. If all goes well, we will depart in 2012, and then spend some time in Europe. Even if the weather isn't perfect, it will be memorable, I'm sure.

Good luck with your travel plans.
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