How warm will it be on a Spring TA crossing?

[cruisevirgin24]

We are about to book a Caribbean cruise for March 2025 (Grandeur Mar 5th). However, we have noticed the present offer on the March TA crossings, which makes them hard to resist. Specifically we are interested in the Splendor Rio to Lisbon (Mar 13th). 

As my DH is an airline pilot, we usually fly across the Atlantic and have no experience of TA crossings below several thousand feet. Does it remain warm during the Atlantic sea days? Will it tend to be too cold and windy to wear swimsuits on deck? If we are expecting to defrost after the chilly UK Winter, would we be wiser to stick to the Caribbean?

Thank you very much for your assistance.

[GOARMY]

cruise---

 

Hope Springs eternal.  But, weather prognostication in the South to mid-Atlantic while on a TA in either direction during the very-early Spring? 

 

We have done Barcelona, via Lisbon, to Rio; and Rio to Lisbon segments during timeframe late March to early May.  The one weather constant was day-to-day changes. 

 

These were pre-Pandemic aboard either Regent or Cunard.  Memory has faded a bit.  Overall: chilly and windy conditions.  Cannot recall many opportunities for swim suites. 

 

But, as always, YMMV>

 

GOARMY!

    

 

[minotaur]

We did Rio to Lisbon March 19th to April 6th on Voyager this year.

 

Temperatures 30C plus in Rio and up the coast of Brazil, then gradually decreased as we went across the Atlantic. About 23C by the time we reached Lisbon.

 

Definitely warm enough for swimsuits and lounging on deck. Wind wasn't a problem.

 

Don't know if this is typical! We had great time. Thought we might get a bit bored with all the sea days, but they went in a flash!

 

 

[GMIAC]

We did NYC-Barcelona on Grandeur this past April, and in addition to having rough-ish seas, it was also cool and windy. There were only a handful of people around the pool on the warmest of the days, and those were probably Brits who thought it was balmy.  😜

 

I loved the TA cruise, including the many sea days. The only negative was the multiple clock changes for days in a row. I think we had six total. But this was far down on even the First World Problems list. 

[hamasgirl]

We were on Splendor Miami to Lisbon last March/ April (2023).  We, unfortunately, encountered wind and storms from the day we left Miami.  The first day (at sea) the crew began putting up the wood panels that protect the windows in the Compass Rose and they stayed there until the last day of the cruise before docking in Lisbon.  I don't know if the pool was even filled since we didn't venture on deck during the storms.

 

Weatherwise, it was low to mid 70's when we docked in Bermuda on the 3rd day.  Then because the weather was so bad the Captain decided to avoid our ports in the Azores and took a more southerly route to Madeira to try to lessen the impact of the storms.  Even with that more southerly track the temps outside were mainly in the 60s until we got to Madeira where we were back in the 70's. 

 

So, our experience did not lend itself to poolside activities...but your experience could be totally different.

[GMIAC]

16 minutes ago, hamasgirl said:

We were on Splendor Miami to Lisbon last March/ April (2023).  We, unfortunately, encountered wind and storms from the day we left Miami.  The first day (at sea) the crew began putting up the wood panels that protect the windows in the Compass Rose and they stayed there until the last day of the cruise before docking in Lisbon.  I don't know if the pool was even filled since we didn't venture on deck during the storms.

 

Weatherwise, it was low to mid 70's when we docked in Bermuda on the 3rd day.  Then because the weather was so bad the Captain decided to avoid our ports in the Azores and took a more southerly route to Madeira to try to lessen the impact of the storms.  Even with that more southerly track the temps outside were mainly in the 60s until we got to Madeira where we were back in the 70's. 

 

So, our experience did not lend itself to poolside activities...but your experience could be totally different.

Our crossing wasn't nearly as bad, but now that you mention it, I do remember the crew putting the panels up on Deck 4 (CR, Grandeur Lounge, Casino) for several days. The seas and weather got better as we approached Azores (we didn't skip any ports), though the temps were still too chilly for the pool. This was Mid-April 2024.

[GOARMY]

GMIAC:

 

Your Post brought-back one of our South or Mid-Atlantic crossings from, I think Rio or Miami, to London. This was on either Voyager or Mariner.  Rough weather.  We left a Compass Rose dinner.  Made it back to our Suite.  Then, a really-significant wave hit the ship.  

 

Next morning at Compass Rose for breakfast.  We stayed low and centered for that meal, as it was still rough.  Noted wood panels across several window segments.  Staff advised that, shortly after our departure, a wave hit the ship resulting in breaking several windows.  What a mess!

 

Those panels remained up until our next landfall.  

 

Again, only anecdotal.  

 

GOARMY!

 

[GMIAC]

2 hours ago, GOARMY said:

GMIAC:

 

Your Post brought-back one of our South or Mid-Atlantic crossings from, I think Rio or Miami, to London. This was on either Voyager or Mariner.  Rough weather.  We left a Compass Rose dinner.  Made it back to our Suite.  Then, a really-significant wave hit the ship.  

 

Next morning at Compass Rose for breakfast.  We stayed low and centered for that meal, as it was still rough.  Noted wood panels across several window segments.  Staff advised that, shortly after our departure, a wave hit the ship resulting in breaking several windows.  What a mess!

 

Those panels remained up until our next landfall.  

 

Again, only anecdotal.  

 

GOARMY!

 

 

It's good that they put them up now when there's even a chance. 

[Hambagahle]

We have done many TA crossings but never from Rio.  Mostly from Florida and once from NY:

On the "southern Atlantic route" - by which people usually mean Miami to Florida - we have had very good weather.  Not hot, but good.  We have been lucky and in probably 10+ crossings on both Regent and Oceania we have not had rough seas.   Once on the Navigator it was very hot, all the way to Spain.  (There were some British on board who looked like lobsters!).   Daily temperatures were in the low 20s, c.  

Note though this is my experience.  Others have had different ones and you really can't predict what will come your way.  But you are in the Gulf Stream for a lot of the journey and that makes a difference.  (We once sailed through the Sargasso sea which was quite something for the bird life). 

I love crossings and Regent does them best of all!

[minotaur]

4 hours ago, Hambagahle said:

(There were some British on board who looked like lobsters!).

 

Oh - racial stereotyping! That could open a can of worms!!

[GMIAC]

6 hours ago, Hambagahle said:

(There were some British on board who looked like lobsters!).

 

1 hour ago, minotaur said:

 

Oh - racial stereotyping! That could open a can of worms!!

Now hold on. Those beautiful new lights in Grandeur's Compass Rose are pretty bright. 

[flossie009]

On a TA Rio to Lisbon you should have a better chance of good weather for much of the route compared to a TA from New York or Miami.

As we found some years ago the middle of the South Atlantic can be very pleasant:

[ysolde]

We were on the Rio to Lisbon TA in March that others have written about and the weather was, indeed, quite warm, for the most part.  We had a lovely time.

[edgee]

We crossed Miami to Barcelona on Splendor this past Spring. Our cruise started March 31, so a little later, but we had warm gorgeous weather with zero rain and calm seas the entire trio. Loved it so much we are booked on the March 13 Rio to Lisbon trio in 2025.

[Hambagahle]

On 8/20/2024 at 2:52 PM, minotaur said:

 

Oh - racial stereotyping! That could open a can of worms!!

Not racial stereotyping at all!  The couple were red as lobsters AND were British.   (And at that point in my life I was travelling on a British passport too... but I wasn't red!!)

[cruisevirgin24]

Thank you for all your helpful information and for sharing past experiences. 

Whilst DH and I are happy to take a chance on the TA, my parents (in their 80s) would rather opt for the less risky Caribbean, Grandeur Mar 5th, so that is now booked for us all. 

In the future we will definitely try a TA.