Saturday, April 13, 2024

Transatlantic Cruises: Award-Winning Cruises Across the Atlantic

what is a transatlantic cruise

Each itinerary features at least one to two “formal” nights that we call Evening Chic. Evening Chic means you dress to impress, glamorous and sophisticated in your own way, with a cocktail dress, skirt, slacks, or designer jeans, an elegant dress top, or blazer—some guests even pack a tuxedo or gown for onboard photos. The shortest cruise is from Southampton to Fort Lauderdale, an 11-night journey with stops in the volcanic Azores, Bermuda, and Nassau in The Bahamas.

Cruises

This is especially true if the ship's route is a southerly one between Florida and the Mediterranean rather than between northern Europe and New York. Generally speaking, May, June and July are recommended for warmer weather and gentler seas — before the Atlantic hurricane season peaks in August, September and October — although storms can arise any time of the year. At the same time, some people feel uneasy about being at sea for such a long period without the opportunity to access land.

Best transatlantic cruises for 2024 and 2025, plus tips and what to expect

Sail on a transatlantic voyage from Barcelona, Rome, Lisbon, or Southampton to Florida. En route, you’ll stop at sub-tropical Bermuda, filled with pretty villages and palm-fringed beaches. In Ponta Delgada in the volcanic Azores, you can explore blue-green crater lakes, admire colorful Portuguese colonial architecture, and experience some of the world’s most exciting whale watching. For longer cruises like a transatlantic sailing, there are usually few children so you won’t have to worry about noise or other interruptions that can disturb the peace and tranquil atmosphere.

Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Ascent and Celebrity Apex

Certain Disney fans — namely childless adult couples and empty nesters — love the brand's storytelling and Imagineering but prefer not to share a two-week cruise with hundreds of kids and teens. These 13-night eastbound and westbound crossings from Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona and from Southampton to Fort Lauderdale aboard 2,500-passenger Disney Dream offer a solution to that dilemma. A typical day might include time in the library perusing the largest book collection at sea, getting an illuminating astronomy lesson in the onboard planetarium and enjoying traditional afternoon tea. These eight-night eastbound and six-night westbound voyages are all about the sea. There are interludes of culinary enjoyment and evening entertainment designed for travelers who appreciate formality and glamour. It honestly doesn't make much difference whether you book a cabin on the port (left) or starboard (right) side of the ship since most daytime views will be of the ocean.

The classic nonstop transatlantic itinerary aboard Queen Mary 2 is a seven-night voyage between New York and Southampton (and vice versa). On the other hand, transatlantic repositioning cruises generally range in length from 11 to 21 nights, with an average of 14 nights (seven or eight of them typically sea days). You’ll need clothing appropriate to the season for the ports of call you’ll visit on your transatlantic cruise. For example, pack swimwear and beach outfits for Nassau and Bermuda, and comfortable day wear for sightseeing in Europe in the spring or fall, when the weather is pleasant but not overly hot. Pack walking shoes if you want to explore the Azores, which is a great place for hiking. Binoculars are a good idea for spotting marine life from the ship; the Azores in particular has abundant whales and dolphins.

For a U.S.-to-Europe eastward crossing, you'd want the opposite — a port-side cabin. Here's everything you need to know about cruising the Atlantic — plus a selection of the best transatlantic cruises you can book in 2024 and 2025. During a Transatlantic Crossing you’ll encounter sights you’ll never forget. From the sparkling sea that awaits with every sunrise to dappled skies at dusk, and everything in between. When it comes to wildlife, you could spot whales or dolphins across the horizon, or soaring sea birds up above. Just as remarkable on approach as it is to bid farewell to on an eastbound sailing.

The most well-known route is Southampton to New York or New York to Southampton. On a Transatlantic Crossing with Cunard, you’ll have seven days to explore your Cunard Queen, enjoying everything she has to offer, sailing this iconic route in ultimate comfort and style. However, for the most favorable weather conditions, a sailing between December and May is considered optimal. A repositioning cruise is an exciting journey full of relaxing days at sea and stops in exotic destinations along the way.

I Spent 7 Days on My First Adults-Only Virgin Voyages Cruise

On eastbound cruises, you'll set it ahead an hour and lose an hour of leisure time or sleep. However, if you're even slightly prone to seasickness, don't throw caution to the wind. You'll be better off on a larger ship (pick a midship cabin on a lower deck); also, be sure to pack medication, patches, bands or whatever works best for you. While it might seem counterintuitive, having a window or balcony actually helps offset seasickness since it offers fresh air and a horizon view. If you're concerned, opt for an ocean-view or balcony cabin over an inside one. Captains can generally maneuver around storms — and try to do so whenever possible for the comfort of all onboard.

Find Holland America Rotterdam Cruises to Transatlantic (with Prices) - Cruise Critic

Find Holland America Rotterdam Cruises to Transatlantic (with Prices).

Posted: Fri, 19 Apr 2024 02:49:48 GMT [source]

Featured Transatlantic Cruises

what is a transatlantic cruise

Take in the endless ocean views from the Magic Carpet on Edge-series ships, and on Solstice-series ships, lie back on the soft grass of the Lawn Club or challenge friends to a game of croquet. Because they generally feature fewer ports of call, transatlantic cruises can be a chance to enjoy a longer cruise for a great price. Or choose The Retreat for accommodation in a beautiful suite and access to exclusive dining and lounge spaces. Transatlantic cruises with Celebrity take place as the seasons change, so you can either sail eastbound in the spring, or westbound in October and November as the European season winds down. Either is a great time to cruise and enjoy relaxing days on board as your ship sails across the Atlantic. Cross the vast expanse of the Atlantic in a journey from 11 to 16 days at a pace to suit your own style.

If you are cruising into New York Harbor just before dawn and want to see the Statue of Liberty from your cabin, book on the port side. Yet unpredictable wind and water current patterns can create rough seas seemingly out of nowhere any time of year. These generally occur in the spring (late March to early May) and fall (September to November). In the spring, ships are repositioned from the Caribbean to Europe, and in the fall, vessels sail from Europe to the U.S. to begin Canada-New England and Caribbean itineraries.

The chance to spot all kinds of wildlife on a transatlantic cruise, including whales, dolphins, and beautiful birdlife overhead, is another advantage of choosing such a travel experience. Whales are known to live in oceans the world over, so it is possible that you could be treated to a sighting of these elusive creatures. Since you’ll be on the ship for so long, a transatlantic cruise is an excellent opportunity to splurge on a more luxurious cruise, such as Cunard.

what is a transatlantic cruise

Before your cruise, familiarize yourself with the required travel documents you will be asked to provide prior to boarding the ship. Our longest cruises—those with itineraries of 15 nights and more—offer a wonderful opportunity to experience a variety of destinations in one memorable vacation. With a limited number potential cruisers, if you don't care about the destinations or the longer duration, you’re likely to get a great bargain for this kind of sailing.

Yes, on a Transatlantic Crossing on Queen Mary 2, dogs – and cats – are welcome. There are 24 kennels on board as well as a dedicated kennel manager, whose sole job is to take care of these special guests. Dogs and cats can enjoy lots of space to play, access to an owner’s lounge, and a few additions to remind them of home. British dogs will appreciate a familiar lamppost, brought on board from Liverpool, and American dogs will love the New York City fire hydrant. While the weather on a Transatlantic Crossing can always be mixed, many prefer the months of April and May to sail. This is after the cold winter months, and before the start of the stormy seasons.

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