transatlantic jewel, port or starboard

[gmadvm]

Looking into booking the September 2006 Jewel transatlantic cruise from Harwich to Boston. Would get a balcony, is there any advantage between getting a cabin on the port side or starboard side? I'm thinking of view when coming into and leaving ports.

Also for anyone who has done this trip, how is the weather mid september for an atlantic crossing?

 

Thanks

[Druke I]

Personally, I don't think it makes much difference, port or starboard, on a trans-Atlantic (or trans-Pacific). Never sailed from Harwich, so don't know which side might be better, and don't think it makes much difference in Boston.

 

Reference weather (and sea state) - it is always a crapshoot in the Atlantic.

 

Our last trans-Atlantic, on Golden Princess, 8-02, Venice to NYC, was smooth in the Med and to the Azores. Very rough West of the Azores, where we hit two Atlantic storms (dying-out hurricanes). We had bow-slap spray raining down on our balcony on Caribe deck (deck 10), and several windows along Prom deck shattered, while the ship was fighting for seaway.

Heavy seas caused us to be six hours late into NYC. Pretty bumpy ride!

[billsgal]

Have done two transatlantics, Harwich to Boston, one on Brilliance in September 02 and one on Jewel this past August/September. I don't think it makes a difference which side of the ship you are on. We were in JS 1578 and were facing the pier in Paris, Ireland, Halifax, and facing away from the pier in Portland. We tendered in Plymouth England, but during the sailing you can't see anything from either side of the ship, as you are too far out to sea.

 

Like the previous poster said, weather is a crapshoot. In 02 we went on a northerly heading, as Hurricane Gustav was to the south of us, and was causing rough seas and high waves. Capt. MacDonald managed to avoid the worst of it, but we still had very high seas for about a day and a half.

This past sailing was much calmer, but still not warm enough to use the outdoor pool. However, many folks who have done this same sailing on other years will tell you they had great sunny and warm weather. We spent four days before the cruise in London this year, and the weather was hot and sunny - temps in the mid to high 80's - and that was unusual for England. Weather in Paris was hot and humid, but overcast...luckily it only rained on the drive from the port to the city (which, by the way takes about 2 1/2 hours each way), weather in Plymouth England was cool and sunny, and weather in Ireland was cool and drizzly. Weather in Portland Maine was beautiful, and weather in Halifax was cool and rainy.

 

I would do a transatlantic sailing again in a heartbeat. One of the best things about the transatlantic sailing is that you have 5 twenty five hour days, as you turn the clock back one hour for five nights!

 

I think the above poster was sailing in 02 the same time we were. We heard a Princess ship had suffered some damage on its way to NY, but we were lucky as our Capt. decided to go north of the storm.

 

Hope this helps.

[Ohestu]

If you are traveling east to west( England to Boston ) then select the Port side. This will give you the most sun on your balcony. If traveling west to east( Boston to England ) then you would want a starbord side cabin for the same reason.

[mcca2]

I have not done the Transatlantic, but am sailing on Jewel of the Seas next year and am pleased to know she can handle a pretty bumpy ride. Saw this on a post yesterday. Have a great cruise.

 

http://home.carolina.rr.com/jralaw/

 

click on Transatlantic wmv.