We are looking at planning a Transatlantic cruise and we need some help.

We have never been on any cruise where we have been at sea longer than a two day stretch. While I really enjoy sea days, do you absolutely go crazy wanting to get off the ship when you have 5 or 6 straight sea days with nothing but ocean to be seen?

What do you do on all those days at sea?

Is the pool even usable on a transatlatic cruise or is it just too cold?

Is it better going from east to west or from west to east?

What about motion onboard? All of our cruises so far to date have been Caribbean or Mediterranean.

Is a larger ship better like Voyager or Crystal than doing a smaller ship like the Navigator, Silversea, or Seabourn?

Which is the better itinerary. To do the southern crossing from Barcelona, Lisbon, or Funchal or the northern crossing from Dover or Southampton, etc.?

Thanks,

Don:

I have done 3 transatlantic cruises. All of them were along the southern route. One on Seabourn Legend, two on the Royal Viking Sun (about the size of the Voyager).

My experiences may be unique, but the weather was ideal for both of the east to west voyages. One evening dinner was served on the pool deck (we were in the middle of the Atlantic). We used the pool every day and the cruise staff planned may activities including enrichment lectures on a variety of topics.

We did have some rough weather traveling west to east on the third crossing, but it was in early October and I think we encountered a tail end of a tropical disturbance. We still enjoyed the cruise but had 3 very rough, cloudy days.

I have heard many bad weather stories about northern crossing, but have no personal experience.

We have always enjoyed "crossings".

I would love to do a crossing - especially if the weather allowed you to be around the pool! I would have no problem relaxing but Tony gets antsy after 3 sea days - I think that was the most we had on WC and by day 4 he was ready to get off - but we are all different right?? So, given his "antsiness" we probably will not do a crossing - darn!! Joanna

Don, on our world cruise the first 6 days were sea days cruising from Los Angeles to our first port, Nuku Hiva. I was concerned about the same things you are but I quickly learned it was great. It really gave us a chance to get to know each other (after all most of us were going to be spending the next 3 1/2 months together). We had very nice weather which helped as well.

Our next longest stretch of sea days was cruising from Funchal to Bermuda (5 days). By then we were all anticipating the end of the W.C. in site so there were lots of "good-bye" type parties etc. I have learned to really enjoy the sea days. We were very lucky that both of our "crossings" were wonderful weather. Even if you are an active person like me, there's always things to do and mischief to find!

My longest a sea was about 3 days on the Diamond when we were stuck in the Gulf stream. I think that might be my limit as well, I was ready to step foot on shore.
I wonder if I knew I was on the ship for the duration instead of expecting to visit ports, if that would make a difference.

We had seven sea days from Tenerife to FLL. FANTASTIC!!!!

We did have to scoot around a late season tropical storm, but never really bad seas. You want to go EAST to WEST. From Europe, you will get SIX 25 hour days. If you go the other way, you will have SIX 23 hour days. You do the math.

We were on Voyager; we loved the trip!

Marc...I'd forgotten about the time changes! East to West is the Best!

Oh yes, I think I would rather be home at the end of it instead of another transatlantic flight. One of these days I will do it, hopefully with the last cruise before the crossing in the med. Will definitely do the southern route as Margo suggests. This gal does not like rough seas!

We're doing a crossing on Voyager in Nov.05. First time too. (East to West) Any recommendations regarding enduring seasickness due to "rough seas" would be much appreciated!

Michele

Don,

We did a 3 day from Vancouver to Los Angeles this past Sept. (on Princess - Island Princess) with no port stops. I read so many posts before we booked that going from Los Angeles to Vancouver almost always had rough seas compared to the relatively calm reverse itinerary of Vancouver to Los Angeles. We found our seas to be quite calm, as everyone said it would be. Moral of this story - listen to as many opinions as you can find about East vs West and vice versa. Then take a consensus and make your decision. Based on the answers here so far from Margo, Marc & Michele it looks like East vs West is winning.

Sounds like fun!!!! Maybe you can organize a Mystery Dinner while on board. That will keep you busy!!!

Did a 10 day transcrossing on the Diamond. As we left Funchal a friend said, "Say goodbye to the sight of land for 10 day." And I thought, oh dear, what have I signed up for. It was fantastic & the Diamond wasn't able to offer as many activities as the larger ships do. Was "enriched" by lectures, great sunny days for the pool, the Cordon Bleu contests, etc. And all the past season's "stuff" on sale in the store. Some rough seas, but not enough to be a problem. My only fear was a late season hurricane popping up, but that probably has to do with where I live. And they rarely ever come in Nov.
But best of all was what Marcie referred to. Getting to know the other passengers really well. Like a family. Very sad the last night out. I would do it again in a heart beat.

We did a 10 day Fll-London on the Royal Princess, about 1200 passengers in size, no ports. It was a fairly nothern route, we could see Bermuda.

This was in June, and it was hot hot hot out of FLL,
but the last two days were much cooler, the last day was fairly foggy.

It was smooth as glass. We heard that the return trip just after Labor Day was quite rough. Remember, hurricanes are most likely in Aug, Sept, and early Oct. They caught the tail end of one.

Even though it wsa 10 days, we had to turn our clocks one hour earlier every other day -- I still say Princess owes me 10 hours of cruising -- the 5 hours I lost going over, and gaining the 5 hours the other direction.

We thought it was heavenly. I did a lot of reading, sleeping, and cross stitching. Bob went to a lot of movies.

I kind of have my eye on next Nov Funchal-FLL on RSSC. It gets back Nov 20, which is just before Thanksgiving, and that might be a bit iffy for employee standby, so we might just buy tickets. It's a Southern crossing, so should be reasonably warm.

We really love sea days. One of my complaints about Seabourn and Sea Dream are they are too port intensive. And another reason why I'm not ready for a Greek Isle cruise -- too many ports in such a short time. I would love to spend 2-4 days on some of the islands.

5,000 years of history can't be viewed in 8 hours.

Frances

Frances, hope you sign up for the Nov crossing. Alan and I are on it. So are Don and Michele. This will be our first crossing but Alan and I already know that we enjoy sea days. They can be just as exhausting as touring in ports. All those activities to choose from!

Lynn and I have done 3 Transatlantic runs(Mariner, Voyager, and Diamond) and one 26 day Pacific(SFO-SFO thru Marquesas, FP and Hawaii aboard Mariner) with 16 days at sea. The first Transatlantic aboard Mariner from Tenerife-Bermuda-FLL in Nov we had a couple of days with moderate seas due to a large storm @ 1000 miles north of us( couldn't dance very well, but nobody got seasick ). From mid Atlantic on it was calm with temps in the 70s and water temps in the 60s. Second was on Voyager in Apr/May FLL-Monte Carlo thru Funchal. Smooth as silk all the way with temps about the same. The pool got a lot of use. Third was aboard Diamond Rome-San Juan thru Funchal. Had a few days with moderate seas, but nothing bad. The Pacific cruise was in late Sep-mid Oct and it was idealic all the way with calm seas and temps primarily in the 80s. We were never bored on any of the cruises. There is always something going on. The way RSSC pampers you, you won't want to go home.

Great thread, great questions, Don. I wouldn't have thought about the east-west, west-east issue.

It's interesting to hear from so many who have done crossings. We've thought it wouldn't be for us, but actually it sounds pretty appealing based on the replies here.

My husband and I recently returned from the FLL to Funchal to Rome crossing. The weather was warm, the ocean was like glass and absolutely no one got sick.
There is so much to do, that there are times you feel the need to be in two or even three places at the same time. My husband, who is a poor sailor had absolutely no trouble with all the sea days.
M.

We sailed Transatlantic(Golden Princess) last month----New York to Southhampton. We were delayed 1 day sailing out of NYC due to the ship encountering a storm off the Carolina coast. Our crossing was extremely windy (gale force winds at times) and cool temps. Seas were slight but most outside activities-- deck walking , pool, lounging, etc. did not take place. We encountered damp, cool temps and rain in most ports---BUT we still had a GREAT time !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Captiva