Questions about transatlantic/pacific cruises

[txflood33]

So my wife and I pulled the trigger today and used the FCC from our Covid cancelled cruise and booked Vancouver to Hawaii Sept '22. AQ class in 1639 on the Eclipse.

 I really haven’t been on these boards since our cruise was cancelled so out of the loop on where ships went, if drydocks were cancelled due to loss of revenue, etc. I do follow Capt Kate in Instagram and she is awesome.

 

We have never been on the Eclipse, so that is a plus there...new boat. Does anyone know if the Eclipse made it to drydock or are they(X) discussing future reschedules?

 

I have never done a transpacific cruise and know I am going to get bored with 5 consecutive days at sea, What is different on the boat with that many consecutive sea days? I would assume some people would start getting cabin fever, no pun intended. Are there different activities planned...or just more time slots? 

 

Any info on the cabin? 

 

Thanks in advance. I look forward to start dipping my toes back in, so to speak

[HskrCrsr]

For information on the cabin, check the pinned thread on Solstice-class ships:

The first page has a link to a spreadsheet that collects information on cabins. It is sorted by cabin number, so scroll down to yours. Then you can look up your cabin on Eclipse (it may not have an entry), the same cabin on similar ships (note Silhouette and Reflection have an extra deck and are slightly larger, so comparisons may not work), or nearby cabins.

 

Your selection appears to be A2. If you are already a Captain's Club member, you qualify for an upgrade to A1. Some prefer aft, so your selection may be perfect for you.

 

I know nothing about transanything cruises or I would drone on and on. Again.

 

Happy sailing!

[cookiersmom]

We've been on several TransAtlantics.   We don't get bored on sea days.  We wake a bit late, get breakfast, look at the activities - we like trivia and bingo. Also, spend some time lying by the pool reading. Usually grab food out there. A bit of time in the casino playing blackjack. Other games and such the cruise staff put on. On Eclipse, glass blowing demonstrations. Etc.  

 

[Covepointcruiser]

We took one Japan to Vancouver transpacific.   We found the North Pacific to be much colder than our North Atlantic crossings.    We did the crossing in May.   We had snow in two ports in northern Japan and had no outside days on the crossing.   Fortunately, Seabourn provided our Alaska jackets in Japan as we definitely needed them.   I hope sailing the other direction gives you better weather.

[Denny01]

Along with the items mentioned earlier on what to do on sea days, there are a number of special lectures, usually 1 or 2 a day at least. Some general interest on actors and movies and such, and on either your destination or about the ocean you are crossing. 
 

the lectures are by extremely knowledgeable speakers. We went to a lot of them. 
 

also, if you have an active Roll Call, we joined in on games, wine tastings, cards and general socials. Fun. 
 

den

[TeaBag]

I think your questions have been well answered.  I would just like to tell you that you chose the right side of the ship as Vancouver is a lovely city to sail from...no bias here!  September is usually a nice month here but you are near the end of it so you could get some rain, hopefully not.

As Hskr Crsr pointed out, you can upgrade to A1 for the price of A2.  In fact I just did that a few hours ago (not on your cruise) and saved $550 each.  I don't know why it was so much but who am I to complain?  One thing to keep in mind is that the A1 cabins are under the pool and there can be some chair noise.  I chose 1573 as it seems to be under a white space.  I would have preferred a cabin on the slant but there were none available on the port side.

[Tritiea]

I sailed with Celebrity Millennium from Vancouver to Japan in September 2019. It was, I think, 14 or 15 days, with only four stops -- Sitka, Hakodate (Sapporo), Hokkaido, and Yokohama (Tokyo). We skirted a cold sea typhoon for much of it, so that was exciting -- a few plates crashing in the buffet, and the floors moving like I'd had five martinis instead of just one. We had lots of lectures to attend, on subjects from crossing the arctic on foot to Marylin Monroe. There was also a few separate lecture series -- Buddhism, marine life, and exploration. It was a great time for me to catch up on reading, write a little, have some great coffee and great martinis, and get rocked to sleep each night by the storm. It gave me a chance to reset, slow down, and discover how big this world truly is. I hope you enjoy your cruise.

 

[jelayne]

To answer your question about the Eclipse the revolutionizing was put on hold for all the ships when cruising was shut down.  At this point no dates have been announced for beginning the updating.  The Eclipse is much like the Solstice and Equinox.  Different art or entry to the Ensemble Lounge & the Equinox has a craft beer venue in place of Cellar Masters  but not big differences.

 

TP & TA have more speakers and on the many sea days also have a matinee show.  

[lobsternight]

We did that cruise in 2019 on the Eclipse, wonderful trip.  I was concerned about the sea days too, but always plenty to do.  Around day 3 it started to get warmer, so pleasant.  We were lucky in that we got an overnight in Hilo as well as Lahaina. Great Ship, but aren't they all.

[txflood33]

Lots of great info...I greatly appreciate it. Our overnight will be in Maui so we are both very excited. Neither of us have been to Vancouver or HI.

[iancal]

We did one westbound TA.  It was in the middle of an extended land trip.

 

The cruise was perfect.   Solstice class ship, great crew, everything perfect.  So warm that we sometimes found it too warm to sit on our balcony for an extended period.  Ocean like glass.

 

We would never do another TA again. Not for us.  After three days we wanted to jump ship.

[Travelexpert35]

We sailed on the Solstice from Honolulu - Vancouver twice, in May. Loved it. You will find leaving Vancouver will be cooler for the first 3 days then it warms up the closer you get to Hawaii. I know some passengers thought it would be hot and sunny the whole crossing. Lots of things to do onboard for those 5 days. We also did the Millie from Vancouver - Japan in Sept 2019 and the weather was hot leaving but we did hit some rough weather enroute. We really enjoyed the sea days and wouldn’t hesitate to do this route again.

[Poconolady]

Celebrity does a great job with onboard lecturers and ports of call talks. They tend to add extra things like kitchen tours, chefs demonstrations, cocktail mixing classes, computer classes, pool parties, bridge viewing, Many times your roll call participants  will organize  card games, cabin crawls, meet and greets, mah jong and knitters groups, slot tournaments,  etc. Yes, cabin fever can be a real possibility, thats where a nice long afternoon nap by the pool comes in handy. Transpacific and transatlantic  are wonderful cruises to relax on. Of course, no one knows what really  will be available once sailing resumes.

[KWW88]

While I have not done a TA/TP yet (upcoming TA in April 2022 YAY), closest I’ve come was a 14 day Mexican Riviera out of San Diego.  Had the first 3 consecutive days at sea and on the return had 1 full day at sea.  Absolutely loved every single one of those days, I think you will find lots to do, lectures, shows, movies, grab a chair with a good book and beverage, people watching, or do nothing but sit on your balcony and peacefully watch the world float by, with a good beverage or 3 in hand of course.

[rvlandandsea]

We sailed Honolulu to Vancouver April 20th to May 1 in 2015.  As far as I can remember we had good weather. Examples of diversions on the ship. Hula lessons, lei making, sea shell bracelets, sarong tying. Seminars such as The unification of Hawaii, Hearts and minds of the early Hawaiian people. Many movies and dance classes, various food and wine seminars. Never a dull moment.   
I must say that the next time we do the crossing I would select yours as the anticipation to arrive in Hawaii is more fun. If you like beer, I would suggest the Steamworks brewing company in Vancouver. Nice patio by the waterfront. 

[Jazzbo]

We did a TA from Southampton to Miami on the Eclipse in November 2014. There was a very active roll call and we found plenty to do on sea days — slot pull, cabin crawl, several hilarious games of Cards Against Humanity. We still keep in touch on Facebook with some of the people we met. The Captain changed the itinerary due to 2 horrendous storms in the North Atlantic. We sailed south to Madeira instead of directly to NYC. We still encountered 14-foot waves for a couple of days. The itinerary change meant we were a couple of days late to our overnight in NYC, and we missed Bermuda. It was still one of our favorite cruises, so much so that we’re booked on an October TA from Rome this year on the Reflection (after cancellation of a 2020 TA and a different 2021 TA).

[ipeeinthepool]

Five consecutive sea days sounds great to me.  As others have suggested it's a great time for a lot of pool time in the afternoons.  I can't think of a better way to spend the afternoon.

[rvlandandsea]

Our experience with Transatlantic cruises:

Barcelona to Miami end of October met with hurricane Thomas 

San Juan to Barcelona mid April lake like calm seas sunny days

I would not cross again in the fall but then again the captain said it varies greatly from week to week 

[lobsternight]

Txflood33, really enjoying this thread as I am reminded of ours and really one of our top cruises.  Now remember all the fun times on sea days, including doing an afternoon wine tasting, at the stern of the ship, watching about a dozen dolphins follow us.  My DW did a dance class and they did a flash mob one night, so proud of her.  Lots of Brits on our sailing, we would hang with them and so many fun characters and stories.  They egged me on to try mushy peas in the buffet, and I liked them.

 

Keep this in mind though, chances are good that you will be out at sea and probably sail down to about San Fran before heading across, it means beam seas for the first few days. Generally the bridge will decide on the best all round route. 

 

I hope you have the chance to add time on before and after your cruise.  Vancouver has so much to offer, and will cater to whatever fits your lifestyle in trips and adventures.  Do try and spend a few days in Oahu as well, yes Waikiki is sort of the Vegas of Hawaii, but fun for a few days.  Sundown at the beach a winner. Also Pearl Harbor is a must do, even for non Americans like us.

 

My suggestions for port days, definitely consider a helicopter tour in Hilo, especially now that lava is flowing again.  We did our own booking with Safari Helicopters, what a flight.  Kona, if nothing else go ashore and get some Hawaiian Shave Ice, also the tender dock has a small beach perfect for a swim.  Need some adventure? Take the submarine trip there.  Lahaina is just like Kona, very quaint tourist spot.  Just getting off the ship and strolling about is nice.  We rented a car there, went to our favorite beaches.  Good to hang out under the huge banyon tree, proposed to my DW there back in 93.

 

Sorry went on a bit, nothing but great memories.  On sea day 4 I relaxed in the sun and decided to retire, another happy moment.  We have been considering taking this cruise again in 22, so perhaps will see you onboard.

[HskrCrsr]

Oh! Lobsternight has some excellent ideas. DW and I love Maui. With the overnight, you'll have a lot of time there. The Road to Hana / Adventure to Hana excursion is a great experience. There's a hilarious magic show (Warren & Annabelle's) on Front Street that is lots of fun but does put you in close quarters with others - but it's not Hawaiian, so best to see only if you've already been to Hawaii. If you've never been to Hawaii, I also recommend the Polynesian Cultural Center on Oahu. A full day there is not quite enough.

[OldBoot]

20 hours ago, Tritiea said:

I sailed with Celebrity Millennium from Vancouver to Japan in September 2019. It was, I think, 14 or 15 days, with only four stops -- Sitka, Hakodate (Sapporo), Hokkaido, and Yokohama (Tokyo). We skirted a cold sea typhoon for much of it, so that was exciting -- a few plates crashing in the buffet, and the floors moving like I'd had five martinis instead of just one. We had lots of lectures to attend, on subjects from crossing the arctic on foot to Marylin Monroe. There was also a few separate lecture series -- Buddhism, marine life, and exploration. It was a great time for me to catch up on reading, write a little, have some great coffee and great martinis, and get rocked to sleep each night by the storm. It gave me a chance to reset, slow down, and discover how big this world truly is. I hope you enjoy your cruise.

 

txflood33, If you enjoy cruising you will enjoy your transpacific crossing. The sea days are leisurely and it offers a chance to enjoy the company of your fellow passengers, if that is something you would be apt to do. Like Tritiea, I too crossed the Pacific from Vancouver to Japan in September 2019 but with Holland America. (*Were you on the ship that lost power just out of the port in Vancouver?) It was our first crossing and I was excited just to have crossed that off my bucket list.  Best wishes to you for a wonderful adventure this September!

[TeaBag]

I can't remember if anyone has mentioned it, but travelling westbound, you get some 25 hour days.  We have done the Honolulu to Vancouver 3 or 4 times and we love it except for the 23 hour days!!!  We like to stay in our timeshare in Kauai and then sail home.  This makes leaving Kauai easier!  I really do wish Celebrity would come back to Kauai as it is truly beautiful.

As for the amount of sea days, we have never been bored.  Celebrity doesn't want a pile of bored passengers so they do a great job of providing things to do.  Our record now, because of COVID, is 17 days at sea when no one would let Eclipse dock last March.  I can truthfully say we were not bored as Celebrity did a great job of keeping us entertained.

Pack a jacket for Vancouver and the first few days sailing.  Hopefully it will still be warm enough not to need it.  I'm sure you'll have a great time.

[mhbtravel]

I have done a Transpacific from Honolulu to Australia, and it was one of my favorite journeys.  Plenty to do on sea days.

 

[downsmead]

4 hours ago, Jazzbo said:

We did a TA from Southampton to Miami on the Eclipse in November 2014. There was a very active roll call and we found plenty to do on sea days — slot pull, cabin crawl, several hilarious games of Cards Against Humanity. We still keep in touch on Facebook with some of the people we met. The Captain changed the itinerary due to 2 horrendous storms in the North Atlantic. We sailed south to Madeira instead of directly to NYC. We still encountered 14-foot waves for a couple of days. The itinerary change meant we were a couple of days late to our overnight in NYC, and we missed Bermuda. It was still one of our favorite cruises, so much so that we’re booked on an October TA from Rome this year on the Reflection (after cancellation of a 2020 TA and a different 2021 TA).

I remember that one well, we were also on that cruise. We certainly made the best of it 👍😂

[ClaudiaB]

We've taken two transatlantic cruises and loved them both.  We tend to sleep in a bit and have late breakfast or just some yogurt and then wait until lunch.  We often skip a meal on a cruise or just have a little bowl of greens with some grilled chicken or salmon on it for lunch.   I understand the need for no self-service now but I will kind of miss taking my salad greens around to different stations to put on exactly what I want.  

 

I'm a singer and on both of those cruises there was a passenger choir which was a whole lot of fun, and we rehearsed a couple current upbeat songs with the vocal staff.  Performed on the stage in the big theatre the last day in a kind of talent show.  Another time we did a couple of impromptu songs in the atrium during the evening kind of like a flash mob.  

 

I am NOT an artist; however I did a morning art class and met the nicest group of ladies.  The teacher was very good and showed us some techniques.  The five of us met and sat at the same table for the 7 days we had the class.   One lady was particularly good - I think I was more of "what not to do" but we had a great time.   Most days our table stayed late and painted more and had a beverage and just chatted.  It was up in the Sky Lounge so just beautiful.  

 

I do needlework - cross stitching - and always bring something when I travel.   There was a little group of people who got together to knit, stitch, English paper piece some quilts, and that was fun too.   I didn't go every day but when I did it was a lively group.  

 

We always enjoyed at least one of the lecture series and often both were interesting.  We're not real big on participating in the trivia but sometimes we sit nearby and just listen.   It's amazing how competitive some of the groups get!  

 

We attend the matinee performances most times, and often there is a current movie in the theatre.  I think one cruise we saw a movie almost every sea day.  

 

We were kind of leery about our first transatlantic, thinking we'd be bored.  We do NOT sit out by the pool, maybe one hour on one cruise out of 16 cruises have we spent time at the pool.   Only thing we do is walk the track around the pool deck.   However we WILL sit by the indoor pool and read.   

 

We work out sometimes, my husband plays a bit of blackjack, we read on the balcony and enjoy meeting other people.   Many times we find some people we like to hang around with the entire cruise which is fun - as we travel just the two of us.   

 

On ships with the hot glass show (I loved loved that) I'd go to one a day.   Won a few pieces in the raffles too!   Hand-carried them back on the plane - I love my beautiful glass.  

 

The days seem to go by pretty fast when you schedule a few things to attend every day.   Before you know it it's World Class Bar or Martini Bar or Michael's Club time and dinner and show.