Transatlantic Cruises

When you think about the cruises on the ocean liners of yesteryear – leisurely days at sea punctuated by elegant meals, lectures on popular subjects, afternoon tea, and everything else associated with cruising – chances are you are thinking about an ocean crossing, or Transatlantic cruises.

TransAtlantic cruises are done by just about every cruise line, and they are done for a very practical reason. Cruise ships need to be in different geographical areas at different parts of the year – dependent upon the weather. For example, most cruise ships spend their winters in the Caribbean. In the spring, some ships head to Alaska, but others need to relocate to Europe for the summer season. Come the autumn, they need to go back to the Caribbean. So, the cruise lines put together some amazing itineraries for Atlantic crossings and sell these cruises often at amazing discounts.

For example, a recent Spring TransAtlantic cruise on Holland America’s ms Veendam departed Tampa, Florida on April 1. After spending six glorious and relaxing days at sea, stops were made in the Azores; Barcelona and Cadiz, Spain; Monte Carlo; and Rome. A final stop was made in Venice, where the ship ported for the summer season to offer weekly 7-day cruises for the next several months. Passengers disembarked and had the opportunity to spend some time in the wonderful city of Venice, seeing the sights and enjoying some of that great Italian hospitality and food.

Some TransAtlantic cruises involve no ports at all. These usually take place when the cruise line is in a hurry to get a ship relocated to a warmer climate. These cruises will usually involve perhaps six days at sea so to get the ship to its final destination. Sometimes the cruise line will extend the length of the voyage slightly and throw in one or two ports just to keep things interesting for the passengers, and increase the saleability of the cruise. For example, a recent autumn sailing on Carnival Cruise Lines had the ship leaving Rome, crossing the Atlantic Ocean to the Caribbean, and then making stops in St. Thomas and Half Moon Cay, a private island retreat owned by the Carnival Corporation. The cruise ended in Miami where passengers could disembark and enjoy all of the big-name Florida attractions such as Disney World, Kennedy Space Center and the like.

Finally, there are cruise lines such as Cunard which run TransAtlantic “crossing” cruises as a part of their normal sailing schedule. These cruises, more aptly termed “ocean crossings” involve a regular sailing schedule going back and forth between New York City in the United States, to Southampton, England. There are no intermediate stops, and the sailing usually lasts for six days. These cruises are great for people who really aren’t interested in land touring, and just want the relaxation of several days at sea with stimulating activities to fill their time. They are also wonderful for those who simply need transport between these two regions and would prefer not to fly.

An added benefit of TransAtlantic cruises is simply that you get more cruise for your money. The cost of a TransAtlantic cruise will often be half that of a standard cruise that begins and ends in the same port. Of course, you do have the added cost of an often lengthy flight at one end, but to compensate for that you also have all the joys of a new region to explore before embarking on your flight home.

TransAtlantic cruises also provide one of the benefits we’ve lost with modern cruising, and that is the chance to enjoy the company of your fellow passengers during those long days spent at sea. While crossing the Atlantic toward your destination, the ship’s staff will organise many activities to keep you busy. You’ll enjoy afternoon tea on a daily basis, not to mention lots of great meals, will play games such as shuffleboard and miniature golf, attend lectures on a variety of stimulating subjects, partake in classes such as pottery, computers, and glass blowing, as well as have plenty of time to just sit on deck with a good book or some stimulating conversation. This gives passengers on a Transatlantic cruise the opportunity to get acquainted with each other, learn a bit about each other’s cultures and lifestyles, and often form some new life-long friendships.

Everyone should enjoy an ocean crossing at least once. There is no experience like it, and it is truly one of the most relaxing experiences you will ever have, and best of all, the price will be great!

See all the great destinations you can visit in Transatlantic