Transatlantic - enough to do onboard?

[scdreamer]

We are considering a transatlantic on Celebrity Equinox in October 2016 - Barcelona to Ft. Lauderdale. When we board the ship we will have been traveling on our own in Spain for about a month - seems like a nice way to get back to the US without the usual associated jet lag.

 

We are fairly active - enjoy walking, etc. and I'm wondering what there is to do on the ship for the six-in-a-row sea days. I know there is a gym, so that would help with exercise, but what about other activities and/or things to do? We like to read, so that would be something we would enjoy - also anything educational - are there any lectures on a transatlantic?

 

I guess I would hate to find myself living from meal to meal :o

 

How do you like to pass the time on a transatlantic? Or has anyone done it once and thought "never again?"

[hancock]

Our last TA had 8 straight days at sea. I wished we had a couple of more.

[ClaudiaB]

We took that exact same TA last year. There are more lectures, there are art classes, a passenger choir maybe, flash mob rehearsals, and more demos of different kinds. They had lots of the usual trivia and quite a few Texas Hold 'Em poker tournaments. Some of the performers had afternoon concerts/programs.

 

Lots of people (like me) bring things to work on. I brought some cross stitch and I noticed lots of knitters. Sometimes taking that to the Sky Lounge or another area to work on, with a glass of something yummy, is a great way to spend a morning or an afternoon.

We could have had more sea days! We wouldn't want to do a TA every year because there are still so many places we want to see in the world, but every three years or so they're really fun. We prefer the westbound where you get your long flight over with on the front end and have 25 hour days on the way back.

[2theship]

Celebrity does an exceptional job of onboard lectures on a variety of subjects. If you're a trivia fan, there will probably be a "cruise long" trivia where points accumulate over all the sea days. If you join your roll call, there may be other activities like a slot pull or other get-togethers.

[OCruisers]

Any sort of musical entertainment in the afternoons?

Edited October 28, 2015 by OCruisers

[bottomfeeder]

Hopefully they still have the artsy-crafty type stuff? I had a jewelry making class on one TA, and on another they had watercolor classes though I didn't participate (I did on my Azamara TA though). I'm looking forward to those on my April TA and will be disappointed if X has cut them out of the their program since the last TA I did with them.

[upwarduk]

There are plenty of activities, often culminating in a passenger concert.

On a Hawaii - San Diego cruise (6 days at sea) my husband took Ukulele lessons and was also in the passenger choir.

We usually attend the ' Beyond the Podium ' lectures and also the iLounge sessions.

In fact there is so much to do we have to make considered choices.

[gold1953]

While we enjoy our land vacations and love the ports on cruises there is something special on a TA. I love being busy on the voyage but what makes it so wonderful is that you are totally relaxed mentally. ..just being looked after. Just living life spontaneously. No worries about getting lost, where to eat, getting to bed early. Etc., etc.

I can't believe that I turned into a card player on our last trip..loved it

[cheriooo]

We are considering a transatlantic on Celebrity Equinox in October 2016 - Barcelona to Ft. Lauderdale. When we board the ship we will have been traveling on our own in Spain for about a month - seems like a nice way to get back to the US without the usual associated jet lag.

 

We are fairly active - enjoy walking, etc. and I'm wondering what there is to do on the ship for the six-in-a-row sea days. I know there is a gym, so that would help with exercise, but what about other activities and/or things to do? We like to read, so that would be something we would enjoy - also anything educational - are there any lectures on a transatlantic?

 

I guess I would hate to find myself living from meal to meal :o

 

How do you like to pass the time on a transatlantic? Or has anyone done it once and thought "never again?"

 

We likewise took the same cruise last year and it was wonderful. We were skeptical of taking our first transatlantic for the same reason as you and have done 3 others since and are basically planning to make it a yearly event. (we are leaving next week for our 4th crossing) There are various activities on the ship to keep most people occupied plus if you are doing a southern crossing it is typically warm and calm seas. If you take advantage of what the ship has to offer and the time to relax and not be running from port to port than a crossing is a great experience.

[Eddie's Girl]

I connected with some mahjongg players on our Roll Call and every afternoon we would play for a couple of hours. I saw lots of card and dominoes players. The Beyond the Podium presentations were good and although I can't sing we did attend the performance by the passenger choir. They were excellent. You will find so much to do that you won't be able to fit everything in. Have fun [emoji3]

[Dick in Falls Church]

Some of us who have been on a number of transAtlantics do our best to discourage folks from trying one. Seems that most who try one return for another (or more)--as a result, prices which were dirt-cheap are now only very good.

 

As stated, there are quite a few activities, lectures, etc. Often, the problem is not in finding something to do, but in figuring out which of the conflicts you will choose.

[Rob the Cruiser]

Our first cruise was a transpacific San Diego-Hawaii-San Diego. We were very concerned about being bored. We were also concerned that we would freak out after losing sight of land.

 

By the second day we were seriously addicted to cruising. Since then we have done 2 transatlantic itineraries and will book another one for 2017 when available.

 

Unless you are super-duper hyperactive, chances are you will not be bored.

[teecee60]

Boarding Constellation in 7 days for my 8th transatlantic in 4 years...

 

...just be forewarned that they CAN become thoroughly addicting! :)

 

After an additional 23 night transpacific last fall, I am hoping I can "get by" on "only" 15 nights this time. :p

 

You CAN be as busy as you want, as there is almost ALWAYS something on the schedule... OR...

 

... you can be as RELAXED as you want, and just enjoy the downtime with a good book and an incredibly soothing view of the ocean. :cool:

 

Don't worry...ENJOY! ;)

Edited October 28, 2015 by teecee60

[TeaBag]

Boarding Eclipse in 4 days for our 5th TA. We find there is so much to do that sometimes we have to decide between two things that are concurrent

[scdreamer]

Thank you to everyone for the positive responses - it sounds unanimous that there is plenty to do on a TA.

 

One more question - are there formal nights on a TA? If yes, how many?

 

We will be traveling by train and rental car throughout southern Spain for about a month prior to this cruise, and I'm wondering about lugging along formal attire, especially for my husband. I realize we can opt for a more casual setting on formal nights if we wish ... but just curious.

[cb at sea]

I would go insane with 8 straight sea days......

[ScarlettMLB]

Thank you to everyone for the positive responses - it sounds unanimous that there is plenty to do on a TA.

 

One more question - are there formal nights on a TA? If yes, how many?

 

We will be traveling by train and rental car throughout southern Spain for about a month prior to this cruise, and I'm wondering about lugging along formal attire, especially for my husband. I realize we can opt for a more casual setting on formal nights if we wish ... but just curious.

 

Length Casual Formal

4 Night 3 1

5 Night 4 1

6 Night 5 1

7 Night 5 2

8 Night 6 2

9 Night 7 2

10 Night 8 2

11 Night 9 2

12 Night 9 3

13 Night 10 3

14 Night 11 3

15 Night 12 3

16 Night 12 4

 

Edit: that table didn't paste as well as it looked. In short: 1-6 nights: 1 formal night, 2-11 nights, 2 formal nights, 12-15 nights: 3 formal nights, 16+ nights: 4 formal nights.

 

Our upcoming TA is 14 nights, so it will have 3 formal nights. Chances are that's what yours would have.

Edited October 29, 2015 by ScarlettMLB

[upwarduk]

We did a 16 night Mediterranean cruise on Eclipse in her inaugural year and only had 3 formal nights.

We did have repeat menus though, apparently they are on a 14 night 'plan' so the first 2 nights of menus were repeated.

Edited October 29, 2015 by upwarduk

[cindy1957]

We are doing a TA in April. Our first as well. We will be traveling at the back end for about a month before heading home so I also don't want to lug around heavy formal wear. How is this solution? Black clingy top and long skirt (Chicos) with sparkly jewelry and sequined shawl. Will that offend my table mates?

[Bestbubba]

We are doing a TA in April. Our first as well. We will be traveling at the back end for about a month before heading home so I also don't want to lug around heavy formal wear. How is this solution? Black clingy top and long skirt (Chicos) with sparkly jewelry and sequined shawl. Will that offend my table mates?

It might offend them because they don't look as good[emoji6]

 

Sent from my Hudl 2 using Tapatalk

[2theship]

It might offend them because they don't look as good[emoji6]

 

Sent from my Hudl 2 using Tapatalk

 

 

I'm with Sue'n'Steve!

[twin123185]

Just got off my Silhouette TA. There was plenty to do but most of it didn't interest me. Depends on age and interest. Lots of shoes though. I love the seas days though and love transoceanic cruising. Next up is a Constellation TA in April. Biggest complaint? Main dining room food was really BAD! Lunch and dinner.

[twin123185]

Of course I meant lots of SHOWS

[Smallfamily]

We are very active and enjoyed our transatlantic. However we really enjoy just being alone together and reading, watching movies, playing cards etc. We went to the gym a lot and walked miles around the ship. I think as long as you really enjoy your companions company and don't need a lot of entertainment they are a great value. We found very little ship entertainment unless you enjoy trivia type stuff. However we have friends that would have lost their minds with that many seas days. Happy cruising :)

[gordylad]

I think it really depends on what interests you and I would say that if you think you will be bored at sea for 5/6 straight days then just don't do it.

 

For us we can be at the pool area from 8 am until after 4 pm chatting to one another, people watching, reading, listening to music, swimming.

 

We normally have our celebrity today with us and decide if we are going to a lecture in the morning if not coffee in cafe al bacio. Lunch at 12 in either MDR or buffet, listen to the band at the pool around 1 pm decide on an afternoon lecture if not a couple of wines at the pool and then coffee in cafe al bacio at 3 pm finished by the tea/coffee/cakes service at the buffet 4 pm.

 

6pm its a drink at the martini bar with the MDR booked for 6.30. After that its casino or Ensemble and show at 9 pm or this year we decided to go to the sky lounge at 8 until 9 as there was karaoke going on [occasionally].

 

Amazing how your day goes in....my wife got through 4 books on this years TA.

 

We call it our "recharge the batteries cruise"............