European Cruise Newbie

[80sGal]

We have the one way repo cruise on the Pride from Dover to Rome on hold with Carnival for September 2022, while I try to research more about European cruising.  This would be our first cruise of Europe, and while we originally looked at the cruise the following week on a Rome circuit, I thought this one might be better for us as Europe newbies since it would give us a chance to see some of the classic European areas, staying in Dover and Rome for an extra day or two on each end.    (We've never been by land either, so ...)    Can you more seasoned travelers tell me if you think this is a good first choice for a Europe itinerary?   (Stops in France, Spain, Portugal).  What is the Atlantic cruising like weather-wise compared to what we could expect if we were only around Italy and the Greek Isles?  For example, when we've cruised from FL or NOLA, the Atlantic is always a bit choppier than the Gulf side.   Just wondering about weather and breezes and comfort on the ship.   My research tells me this time of the year should be a comfortable mid70s to mid80s.   Any other comments or ideas?   Anyone else done this itinerary with Carnival, or something similar with another line?  Many thanks!

[Will&Hel]

We have cruised this route many times from UK- the  day out of Le Havre across the Bay of Biscay could be a little rough it get the big Atlantic swell- having said that we have also had it like a mill pond. When you get south of the bay then the temperature will rise and the sea tends to be calm. Your first stop Le Havre I would recommend the trip to Paris or perhaps the Normandy Landing beaches. Porto is excellent visit sampling port wine, Lisbon you can do on your own and is stunning - I would recommend a Tut Tut tour or the tram (google them), Seville is also easy on your own, Cartagena is an easy walk in to town- excellent roman amphitheatre and traditional tapas bar but go off the tourist track to the back streets.  In Dover we would recommend the Best Western Hotel- it books up quickly!! easy transfer to cruise port, nice bar and food. Be careful of your transfer from Heathrow its takes a good 3 hours to get to Dover. You will need Pounds sterling in UK and Euros in France, Span and Portugal Credit Cards are widely taken and safe. When in Rome use the Metro it is very easy and cheap but watch for pickpockets- any other questions come back to me.

Edited March 8, 2021 by Will&Hel

[80sGal]

6 minutes ago, Will&Hel said:

We have cruised this route many times from UK- the  day out of Le Havre across the Bay of Biscay could be a little rough it get the big Atlantic swell- having said that we have also had it like a mill pond. When you get south of the bay then the temperature will rise and the sea tends to be calm. Your first stop Le Havre I would recommend the trip to Paris or perhaps the Normandy Landing beaches. Porto is excellent visit sampling port wine, Lisbon you can do on your own and is stunning - I would recommend a Tut Tut tour or the tram (google them), Seville is also easy on your own, Cartagena is an easy walk in to town- excellent roman amphitheatre and traditional tapas bar but go off the tourist track to the back streets.  In Dover we would recommend the Best Western Hotel- it books up quickly!! easy transfer to cruise port, nice bar and food. Be careful of your transfer from Heathrow its takes a good 3 hours to get to Dover. You will need Pounds sterling in UK and Euros in France, Span and Portugal Credit Cards are widely taken and safe. When in Rome use the Metro it is very easy and cheap but watch for pickpockets- any other questions come back to me.

Awesome!!  I knew CruiseCritic was the place to ask!   Thank you so very much!!   As we get into 2022 planning post-pandemic, I will definitely ask more questions!!  🙂

[Will&Hel]

We have also sailed Carnival from Dover to the Baltic - boarding is very quick. 

[hallasm]

Just for information as you are planning your cruise in late 2022.
The European Union has created a ETIAS visa waiver program to protect and strengthen its borders. 
The ETIAS visa waiver program will be needed to enter a Schengen member country. By the end of 2022, all visitors that currently do not need a visa to enter The Schengen area will be expected to apply for an ETIAS travel authorization.
You will not need an ETIAS authorization to enter UK but it is expected to be required for your planned cruise by end 2022.
 

[Zach1213]

I have done one of those freighter/cargo vessel "cruises" across the Atlantic, in addition to some cruises that hit the Atlantic on the east side of the US/Caribbean, and you're right, it's often (though not always) choppier than more protected (though still large and volatile) areas like the Gulf and Med. So do expect that, and perhaps you'll get lucky and have quiet days.

 

As far as locations go, I love Portugal, so any stop there would be a good choice in my book! 

[jocap]

As mentioned, Lisbon is easy on your own, but there's also a HoHo bus which will give a good oversight.

Cartagena- one passenger called at the tourist booth at the dock, who suggested a local taxi firm which play an English commentary as you tour the sites, including the Roman remains. The passenger was very pleased with this. 

[ldubs]

80sGal, we took a Repo cruise several years ago that was very similar, except it was Southampton to Rome.  Not surprising that the itinerary sounds very similar.   I think you will enjoy the cruise.  We sure did.  

[capriccio]

Check out the European Ports of Call boards for additional port specific information:  https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/472-mediterranean-eastern-amp-western/ and the British Isles Ports of Call board:  https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/148-british-isleswestern-europe/

[Markanddonna]

Sounds like a nice cruise. We took the train from Dover to Canterbury. That was an easy trip and very nice day.

 

In Rome, don't use the metro unless you are very savvy about avoiding pickpockets. Walk or take a taxi. 

So many wonderful sites in Rome for the fist timer. 

[cruisemom42]

On 3/8/2021 at 11:09 AM, 80sGal said:

I thought this one might be better for us as Europe newbies since it would give us a chance to see some of the classic European areas, staying in Dover and Rome for an extra day or two on each end. 

 

If you can, plan for at least 2-3 days on each end, otherwise you are short-changing yourself. I assume you would spend your time in London pre-cruise and Rome after?  Rome in particular really needs 3 days: one for the Vatican museum and sites, one for the "ancient Rome" sites and one for the other classic well-known landmarks and places like Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, etc. and for just wandering.

[clo]

11 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

If you can, plan for at least 2-3 days on each end, otherwise you are short-changing yourself. I assume you would spend your time in London pre-cruise and Rome after?  Rome in particular really needs 3 days: one for the Vatican museum and sites, one for the "ancient Rome" sites and one for the other classic well-known landmarks and places like Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, etc. and for just wandering.

I agree with you and will tack on the fact the first day, for me anyway, is lost due to jet lag. So add a couple of days to that one day. At least.

[Zach1213]

10 hours ago, clo said:

I agree with you and will tack on the fact the first day, for me anyway, is lost due to jet lag. So add a couple of days to that one day. At least.

 

For me it's actually the second day...or at least the morning of the second day. If I take an overnight flight to Europe, even if I don't get much or any sleep, I am usually good to go go go until about 8pm or so. Have a good dinner, a few drinks, and pass out. Sleep in until 10am or so the next morning, and I am perfectly adjusted. Works like a charm every time, for me at least. 

[ldubs]

4 hours ago, Zach1213 said:

 

For me it's actually the second day...or at least the morning of the second day. If I take an overnight flight to Europe, even if I don't get much or any sleep, I am usually good to go go go until about 8pm or so. Have a good dinner, a few drinks, and pass out. Sleep in until 10am or so the next morning, and I am perfectly adjusted. Works like a charm every time, for me at least. 

 

Not sure of your location.  We can't take a flight to Europe that isn't a red-eye.  Sleep on the plane is a good thing.  

[Zach1213]

14 minutes ago, ldubs said:

 

Not sure of your location.  We can't take a flight to Europe that isn't a red-eye.  Sleep on the plane is a good thing.  

 

From California, true, you wouldn't be able to. In normal times, there are/were flights from Chicago, NYC, Boston, and Toronto to London that would leave in the morning and get there in the evening. I would do the ORD-LHR flight a few times each year, and I could basically leave my house on Kansas City in the 6am flight to Chicago, leave Chicago at 9am, get in to London at 10pm. Flights from NY and Boston could get in to London as early as 7pm - I once did the Boston to London flight and was able to meet a friend of mine for dinner in South Kensington at 8pm after flying across the ocean. It's nice. 

 

I even do it sometimes when London isn't my destination. It can allow me to get to London at 10pm, get to sleep by about 1am after all is said and done, wake up at 9am at my Heathrow hotel, hop on an 11am flight, and be in Hamburg/Zurich/Munich/Amsterdam by 2pm local time with zero jet lag or exhaustion. 

Edited March 11, 2021 by Zach1213

[ldubs]

9 minutes ago, Zach1213 said:

 

From California, true, you wouldn't be able to. In normal times, there are/were flights from Chicago, NYC, Boston, and Toronto to London that would leave in the morning and get there in the evening. I would do the ORD-LHR flight a few times each year, and I could basically leave my house on Kansas City in the 6am flight to Chicago, leave Chicago at 9am, get in to London at 10pm. Flights from NY and Boston could get in to London as early as 7pm - I once did the Boston to London flight and was able to meet a friend of mine for dinner in South Kensington at 8pm after flying across the ocean. It's nice. 

 

I even do it sometimes when London isn't my destination. It can allow me to get to London at 10pm, get to sleep by about 1am after all is said and done, wake up at 9am at my Heathrow hotel, hop on an 11am flight, and be in Hamburg/Zurich/Munich/Amsterdam by 2pm local time with zero jet lag or exhaustion. 

 

That is a nice option.   Leave during your normal morning and get there for what would be a normal bedtime.  I'm glad I'm able to sleep pretty well on the flight. 

[clo]

2 hours ago, ldubs said:

 

Not sure of your location.  We can't take a flight to Europe that isn't a red-eye.  Sleep on the plane is a good thing.  

With some pharmaceutical assistance I am now able to sleep on those red-eyes. Far prefer that to making a connection midway.

[aungrl]

5 hours ago, Zach1213 said:

 

From California, true, you wouldn't be able to. In normal times, there are/were flights from Chicago, NYC, Boston, and Toronto to London that would leave in the morning and get there in the evening. I would do the ORD-LHR flight a few times each year, and I could basically leave my house on Kansas City in the 6am flight to Chicago, leave Chicago at 9am, get in to London at 10pm. Flights from NY and Boston could get in to London as early as 7pm - I once did the Boston to London flight and was able to meet a friend of mine for dinner in South Kensington at 8pm after flying across the ocean. It's nice. 

 

I even do it sometimes when London isn't my destination. It can allow me to get to London at 10pm, get to sleep by about 1am after all is said and done, wake up at 9am at my Heathrow hotel, hop on an 11am flight, and be in Hamburg/Zurich/Munich/Amsterdam by 2pm local time with zero jet lag or exhaustion. 

 

I always do exactly this on business trips, and we do it whenever possible for personal travel.  We're on the east coast, which makes it really easy.   We typically get into LHR at 10 p.m., stay up until about midnight London time, easily fall asleep since we're tired from a long day's travel anyway, and then get up around 9 a.m. the next morning completely oriented to the time and good to go.  

 

As Zach123 notes, we typically do this even when London isn't the final destination, sleeping in and getting an afternoon flight to the final destination, which is really easy and cheap to do from London to almost anywhere in continental Europe.  I've also done it that way for flying on to Delhi.

 

When I've mentioned this to people over the year, some have pointed out that they don't want to "lose a day" to flying during the day, preferring the overnight flights.  For us, at least, we pretty much lose that first day on the ground anyway, to jet lag and generally not felling 100% normal.  Flying across the water during the day eliminates that entirely, and we really do hit the ground running.  

[SelectSys]

3 hours ago, clo said:

With some pharmaceutical assistance I am now able to sleep on those red-eyes. Far prefer that to making a connection midway.

 

Long time ago I was on an overnight flight from Chicago to Brussels.  Seat mate started drinking coffee after drinking coke earlier.  I asked the person if they planned on sleeping.  The response was sure and they pulled out a red pill and asked if I wanted one too.  I declined and sure enough the person went to sleep almost immediately and was out cold until just before landing.

[navybankerteacher]

3 hours ago, clo said:

With some pharmaceutical assistance I am now able to sleep on those red-eyes. Far prefer that to making a connection midway.

I prefer a “natural” sleep aid.  Two of those little bottles of Drambuie have always kicked off a good night’s sleep on an overnight from JFK to LHR.

 

Earlier post made a lot of sense:  give yourself at least three days in both London and Rome.   Think about it:  how many times will you get to either?

[clo]

18 minutes ago, navybankerteacher said:

a good night’s sleep on an overnight from JFK to LHR.

But compared to what we do, that's a pretty short flight. Here to EU or here to Brazil is more like ten hours.  Two drinks (alone) won't do it for me.

[navybankerteacher]

52 minutes ago, clo said:

But compared to what we do, that's a pretty short flight. Here to EU or here to Brazil is more like ten hours.  Two drinks (alone) won't do it for me.

One more reason to not live on the wrong side of the Hudson River.

[clo]

6 minutes ago, navybankerteacher said:

One more reason to not live on the wrong side of the Hudson River.

LOL! I feel so sorry for you 🙂

 

I actually would rather have a ten hour flight than a six hour one.

[Zach1213]

12 hours ago, clo said:

But compared to what we do, that's a pretty short flight. Here to EU or here to Brazil is more like ten hours.  Two drinks (alone) won't do it for me.

 

I fly US to Asia/Australia/Africa several times each year, often including a 15 hour nonstop on top of connecting flights. My trick is to get up at a normal time, get exercise, act normal all day, have a couple of drinks at the airport lounge, have a couple more on the plane, and boom...I can pass out about two hours in to the flight and get a solid eight hours of sleep, sometimes more. I do usually fly business class, which helps, but I have done it in economy too. 

 

 

13 hours ago, aungrl said:

When I've mentioned this to people over the year, some have pointed out that they don't want to "lose a day" to flying during the day, preferring the overnight flights.  For us, at least, we pretty much lose that first day on the ground anyway, to jet lag and generally not felling 100% normal.  Flying across the water during the day eliminates that entirely, and we really do hit the ground running.  

 

You either lose a day at home or lose a day on the road. Taking the morning/day flight to Europe makes you lose your whole day at home, but (in my experience) gain the advantage of your destination. Because of my geography and destinations, I do still take more overnight flights than day flights, but I prefer the day ones...even if I am going to by flying overnight, most of that day at home is shot. Maybe I can do a few hours of work, maybe not, but I am not going to be super productive anyways so I might as well fly. 

[clo]

3 hours ago, Zach1213 said:

often including a 15 hour nonstop on top of connecting flights.

We did that for an escorted tour of SE Asia. Flew to LAX, spent the afternoon in the United lounge in intl terminal, then IIRC 15 hours to Taipei, a few hours there and a few hours to Bangkok. It was brutal but we got over it.