Trans-Ocean Voyages... A few questions...

[Snit13]

I'd like to know also. The more I read about the TA's, I think we would enjoy it. I would definitely want to sail on a ship that has plenty of activities. As much as we love Azamara, I think it would be quite boring since there is not a lot to do. After all, you can't spend your free time at the bars. ;) :p Casinos do not interest us.

 

As someone posted it depends if cabin location is important to you. I have 2 cruises booked for 2016 and 1 for 2017. We sail AQUA class 99% of the time so it is very important to book well in advance to get cabin we enjoy. If you book while on board you usually get great deals which is why I booked 2 while on The Connie in Feb. In past I have upgraded to suites when prices dropped after fianl pay. Each has to decide what he/she can afford and what suits personal preferances. TA was one of my all time favorite cruises. Relax and enjoy.

[ghstudio]

Curious when the best time to book a Trans cruise for the best rate/deal? When the itinerary first because available, 6 months out, 3 months out, 2, months, 1 month, the week before?

 

 

Not sure there is a best time...you just have to follow the prices and perks offered. If you want a specific cabin, book early.

 

The only way to really know if you like TA's is to take one...it will, at a minimum, be a good 12-15 days on a cruise. You will either want to take another TA or decide you tried it and you'd rather take port intensive cruises.

 

If you don't care about the cabin, then perhaps the best time to book is after final payment is due for the cruise when they often put cabins on sale....but the most important word there is "often"....and if you plan to fly to or from the cruise on air miles, then you may find it impossible to get flights if you wait that long.

[midwestchick]

Solve the banana problem by storing them in my cabin for use when they run out. Hope the charge for room service is a nasty rumor as we have breakfast in cabin every day, including departure. Just order day before and enjoy before fighting the crowd to sadly head home.

 

WHAT?????????? I hadn't heard that rumor. :eek: I hope they don't start charging for room service. Most mornings, we eat in our cabin on port intensive cruises.

[carlandlyn]

The one item that has run out on both the cruises out of Oz is good old Tea Bags, I have to say the ones provided in the free areas are tragic (Café al Bacio are great). We have taken our own tea bags on every trip just because of this.

But we just got off an 18 day cruise, with only 6 ports, and we were never bored. We planned ahead and had brought books (on a tablets), our own music, movies etc., and planned to relax the majority of the time. That said though there was plenty of entertainment during the day, with times clashing because of the number of activities. There was live music somewhere around the ship from lunchtime onwards, and there were several excellent matinee shows. (Thanks Ben and Pete or should we say Beno and Peteski)

So don't expect to be overwhelmed for choices, but there was plenty to do, but it was great to relax around the pools (or on the balcony) with a good book, and some new friends.

[happy cruzer]

Seven days of food is not a problem, ships routinely bring on all the food in their home ports for their 7 night cruises. The extra days can be depending on what ports are visited and if they have provisioning for ships. On 4 transatlantics and one 20 day in the pacific, only the 20 day had a problem with fresh fruit.

 

If you are worried about being bored, pick an activity to learn or participate in. We did team trivia, met wonderful people even our opponents. Talked to them all over the ship. We did bridge lessons on a different line than celebrity, but you could try the game room. Dance lessons. Ping pong and putting contests. You'll only be bored if you want to be, which is ok too.

[TomBeckCruise]

We did a TA from Barcelona to FLL in 2013 on HAL. My DH got bored after about four continuous days at sea and I got vertigo, probably due to the motion of the ocean. We probably won't do a transatlantic cruise again, for those reasons. It was a very reasonable cost and we also took the seven day cruise just prior to the transatlantic on the same ship, so got to see some of Spain and Italy.

 

Similar situation for us last October/November on the Equinox TA. We spent several days in Paris and some time in Barcelona. The cruise(part of the TA) along the Southern coast of Spain was fantastic. The Canary Islands were also nice. Lanzarote was a surprise(wow). The seven day crossing got old after about four days.

 

We met a few people who flew from Tenerife (last port) to their home in North America because they did not want to be at sea for seven consecutive days.

 

I am glad many people like them, but they are not for everyone.

[Iamthesea]

Not sure there is a best time...you just have to follow the prices and perks offered. If you want a specific cabin, book early.

 

The only way to really know if you like TA's is to take one...it will, at a minimum, be a good 12-15 days on a cruise. You will either want to take another TA or decide you tried it and you'd rather take port intensive cruises.

 

If you don't care about the cabin, then perhaps the best time to book is after final payment is due for the cruise when they often put cabins on sale....but the most important word there is "often"....and if you plan to fly to or from the cruise on air miles, then you may find it impossible to get flights if you wait that long.

 

We would probably go ahead and book air ahead of time and then watch pricing. ;)

 

Tom - I'll have to write to you and ask about recommendations for the Canary Islands. ;) We leave from London this fall on a Spain, Canary Island, and Portugal cruise. Our Roll Call is practically dead and no one is talking about sharing tours except me! :eek:

 

So would you do another transatlantic?

Edited April 26, 2015 by Iamthesea

[TomBeckCruise]

We would probably go ahead and book air ahead of time and then watch pricing. ;)

 

Tom - I'll have to write to you and ask about recommendations for the Canary Islands. ;) We leave from London this fall on a Spain, Canary Island, and Portugal cruise. Our Roll Call is practically dead and no one is talking about sharing tours except me! :eek:

 

So would you do another transatlantic?

 

Never say Never.

 

I think it was "cabin fever" on a ship, although we did not stay in our cabin.

[ghstudio]

We would probably go ahead and book air ahead of time and then watch pricing. ;)

 

 

Actually a good idea, especially if you are flying on air miles where, should you decide to cancel the flights, it costs you just $175 total (for 2 on AA). That's worth the gamble. If you pay for the flights, the penalty can be much higher.

[Iamthesea]

Never say Never.

 

I think it was "cabin fever" on a ship, although we did not stay in our cabin.

 

Come go with us this October! :) It's not a transatlantic. 4 nights in London, with some day trips to elsewhere. Then leaving out of Southampton for the 11 Night cruise. Flying straight home after the cruise.

http://www.icruise.com/11-night-spain-and-canary-islands-cruise_celebrity-eclipse_10-21-2015.html

 

Actually a good idea, especially if you are flying on air miles where, should you decide to cancel the flights, it costs you just $175 total (for 2 on AA). That's worth the gamble. If you pay for the flights, the penalty can be much higher.

 

Yes, we would book with AA miles. ;)

[TomBeckCruise]

bbb

Edited April 27, 2015 by TomBeckCruise

[TomBeckCruise]

Come go with us this October! :) It's not a transatlantic. 4 nights in London, with some day trips to elsewhere. Then leaving out of Southampton for the 11 Night cruise. Flying straight home after the cruise.

http://www.icruise.com/11-night-spain-and-canary-islands-cruise_celebrity-eclipse_10-21-2015.html

 

looks like a great cruise, but we will be spending time in England in September.

Dang. i'll email tomorrow.

 

Yes, we would book with AA miles. ;)

 

bbb

[Deeliteful]

Transatlantics are my favourite way of relaxing. 7 days at sea perfect.

Hope to do another next year but have my first Alaskan cruise this year.

[anandaindonesia]

I was hesitant to do our first TA but the adventurer inside me always wants to brave a new experience. Besides, I hate to fly all the way half the globe Jakarta to FFL just to try the Allure, so a cruise Miami to Barcelona immediately after looks good.

 

Turns out we LOVE the sea days! True, it was not exactly 7x24 hours long as we keep losing one hour each day. We don't drink, we don't gamble, but we find enough activities to enjoy. We did pay extra for Spa Pass so we can relax EVERYDAY on the heated ceramic lounge and plunge in the thalasso theraphy pool, it is money well spent. My DW doesn't speak English so we do very little "social" things. Mostly we just keep to ourselves. We were on NCL Epic for this TA but I think any other ship will be just as great.

 

Balcony is a must! We took some fruit from the buffet, order room service for cheese or sandwhich, and snacks by the sea and the stars.

 

Enjoy your TA. Bon voyage!

Edited April 28, 2015 by anandaindonesia

[d4m]

Can't answer the question about where they might put all the food, but in the five TA's we have taken, they surely haven't run out of anything!

 

TA's are my favorite. Plenty of time to relax but, seriously, there are enough activities planned so that often we can't do all we want to do.

 

Although TA's are usually a bargain, we found that the price of the TA this year increased by $250-$300 over last year's cruise. Last two I have taken have basically been sold out.

 

Air fare one-way is quite a bargain via Choice Air. This year our flight to Florence from JFK is less than $500. (We then take the fast train to Rome and the port four days later.) To me, this is a perfect opportunity to tour one or several places in Europe prior to the cruise. Double the bargain with the air fare.