North Atlantic, Boston to Boston

[HAFAN]

Four of us are interested in the Maasdam, Boston to Boston 35-day trip, in the summer of 2006. We would like feed-back regarding sea conditions during that period from folks who have made the crossing. We will leave Boston go to Nova Scotia, Iceland, Greenland, Great Britain and Norway. Except for the Netherlands the return trip will be almost the same. Thanks!

[grannynurse]

We were on the Rotterdam for 2 transatlantics 2003 and 2004, one from Boston and once from NY. dates July 10-30, and June 5 to July 10.

Both times we were in fog eastbound. Fog horn blew continuously every 3 minutes night and day. It really was soothing after a while.
The fog would clear as he neared port. We had some nice sunny days in NF, St Pierre Miquelon, overcast in Greenland and Iceland, and very very chilly both times clear across.
The water was not especially rough until we got to Guersney first trip, and Amsterdam 2nd trip.
The cruise after ours in August experienced very rough seas in 2003, 45 foot swells and last year ran into the tail end of Hurricane Karl. You can access the thread on this board.

Too many people did not take enough warm clothes or rain gear. HAL shops sold out of sweatshirts early. As we were going to Norway in 2004 we were prepared with parkas, gloves etc.
The north Atlantic crossing is known for being rough but we were lucky on both trips, the trips following were not so fortunate. I've heard and read many stories.

Plan for rain and mist even in the British Isles. Scotland and Ireland were very rainy. We didn't take our outerwear off until London in 2003, and the Hebrides in 2004.
It's a great experience and a wonderful itinerary. Just be prepared for the chool damp weather. It didn't get hot for us at all. Highest temp was in the 60's. Coldest, Norway about 35 F.

Search the boards for threads about Rotterdam transatlantic and you'll get the picture. I have a lot of photos posted too.
GN

[ROZO'SBEAU]

It's the North Atlantic.....enough said.
The voyage/crossing, nevertheless, is something not to be missed. Very possibly your ancestors made this trip years ago in "ships" that were no way similar to a HAL liner. To share that experience across the years is worth the trip.
Beau

[TedC]

We're on this cruise July 16 to August 20 , 2005 - and the weather's going to be PERFECT!

(And in the unlikely chance that it isn't, my wife will be even more displeased with me than she is now, if you can imagine that.)

[LizB1]

Want to agree with TedC that our cruise this July will be PERFECT as far as the weather goes. However, IT IS the North Atlantic so hard to predict, IMO.

I have done this route several times in the past. Last time was on the 2003 cruise with RuthC and longtimecruiser when we had the 46' seas out of Nuuk, Greenland. Ruth had very good posts about our experiences on that cruise.

The 2006 cruise from Boston/Boston leaves July 1st so I would think the weather in July would be more a chance of fog than rough seas. Have found that when it is foggy the seas are very calm.

In any event I still think it is a great cruise and itinerary and one not to be missed...that's why we are doing it again this year.

[Druke I]

As noted above, the North Atlantic can be pretty rough.

The Maasdam, with its blunt prow and fairly flat bottom, does not ride well in gales (my opinion).

A ship with a finer hull form (length/breadth/draft ratio) will ride much better.

Case in point: Maasdam, Nov 95, out of Azores en route NYC in a gale, took water through the hawsepipe, and flooded some dozen cabins (including ours) on Main deck.

Royal Princess, Aug 98, out of Greenland/Iceland en route NYC encountered a gale, and hardly any motion at all, other than an occasional shudder, was felt.

Difference primarily was hull shape and form. One rides well, and one rather poorly.

Certainly not trying to scare you off - that Northern itinerary is a very interesting route.

[RuthC]

I'm planning the 35-day round-trip this summer, took it in '04 and '03, and did the west-bound in '01. My reports from '01 and '03 were lost when the CC boards were changed over, but my '04 journal (The Happy Wanderer, take two) should still be available if you do a search.
I plan to post The Happy Wanderer, reprise from the ship this year, so you can read all about it as the voyage progresses.

My previous crossings were on the Amsterdam and Rotterdam. There were rough storms on all but the '04 cruise (sorry, grannynurse; I remember last year as smooth. foggy, but smooth.), and certainly we felt the seas, but I felt the ships rode well.
That storm coming out of Nuuk in '03 was 38 hours of 45' seas, and water breeched into the Upper Promenade and down the staircase of the show lounge. :eek: It was one he** of a ride!
In '01 we passed the remnants of two hurricanes heading east. Both times was rough for several hours, but nothing you don't expect this far north.

If you are at all interested in the itinerary, and something truly different from the usual warm-weather ports this is a great cruise. It's worth the (maybe) few hours of being on a "water-park roller-coaster" to experience a grand voyage.

[esther e]

We just signed up this morning for the cruise. In 2003 we sailed from Edinburgh to New York on the Radisson Navigator, and we had calm seas. So......... we're hoping for the same in 2006. I went to Antarctica a couple of years ago, and sailing the Drake Passage was MEMORABLE. For 2 days we were thrown all over the ship. My husband doesn't fare well, but I guess I'm the sailor of the family. Looking forward to meeting all of you who are going. It will be a wonderful experience.
Esther

[RuthC]

Which year, esther? This year or next; I can't tell from your post.

If your coming this year please head on over to the Roll-Call board and join our thread (this morning it was on p.2). Jazzsea was keeping track of who's in our jolly little group, but we're not sure now if she'll make it. By default I'm standing in the wings to become the next cruise secretary; I'll add you to the list if you're planning the cruise in '05.

[esther e]

Ruth
Sorry for not being more clear. Summer of 2006.