Transatlantic Crossing

[lk4xits]

My wife and I are considering the Brilliance of the Sea transatlantic crossing on April 29th from Miami. I have never been at sea for six days in a row. Any thoughts re keeping busy. We are retired and have cruised about 10 times.

 

The cruise line three night post cruise package, in Barcelona, is about $365 a night including transfers and room at the Majestic hotel. Given the value of the dollar to the euro is this a good deal ?

 

Thanks for your help in advance and Happy New Year to all.;)

 

Marty

[glgolfer]

Don't worry, there will be plenty to do. Wehave done back to back to hawaii with 6 days going to and 5 days coming back. We also did a transatlantic last November with 6 days at sea. Make sure you ask about the Academy at Sea. 1 hour a day for 4 days for 5 or 6 different things. Photography (about digital photography. very elementary for the one we went to), spa (I think they teach you some massage techniques), there's one on bartending where you learn how to mix different drinks (and, yes, you get to drink them), and our favorite, the theater. 1st day is back stage stuff - scenery, costumes, the whole back stage area. 2nd day is lighting and sound. They show how they can create all the light and sound settings in a very short time for acts coming on the ship. 3rd day is talking to the dancers. 4th day is talking to the singers. We've been twice and each one was a little different. On the transatlantic, they performed part of one of the shows and allowed us backstage to see how the cast managed to do costume changes.

[sue.young]

Hi Marty,

 

We love the TA crossings, the sea days are the best . The most relaxing cruise. As always you can do as much or as little as you want. The Brilliance is a great ship, some of the best staff we have ever had.

 

Check out the roll call for this cruise at

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=52136&goto=newpost

 

There are some real travel experts on this sailing, Gary, Bob and Mexico to name a few.

 

We sailed on the Jewel TA this fall with Ken and Pene(Mexico), some of the best shipmates. They have been to Bacelona and offered good suggestions for hotels.

Gary and Bob have done multiple crossings and are a wealth of info.

 

Also look at the Ports of call section under Europe for Barcelona hotels. Barcelona is a wounderful city, we hope to go back for another visit. We also liked the ports of Lisbon and Maderia.

 

Know you will have a wonderful time.

[bob278]

Marty,

 

Sue is way too kind. Garry and I are not experts. We are very enthusiastic about the cruises we have taken and are eager to share what we do know. And, as is typical, I learned something on this post. I will be right there at the beginning trying to sign up for the Academy at Sea for the theater thing.

 

We'd love to have you join us and will be happy to try to answer your questions.

 

First, as to keeping busy. We like sea days because they offer the option to really relax or find interesting things to do. There are all the things Paul mentioned plus activities like triva, bridge, lectures, movies, the casino, shops, and on and on. Not to mention that it always seems that we meet nice people on cruises (must have something to do with folks who have common interests). We like sea days so much that we actively seek out trips that have at least a third of the days at sea (or cruising through the Panama Canal or glaciers, etc.).

 

As to your question on the post-cruise package, $365 per night seems pretty high to me. From what I understand, all that includes is pier-to-hotel transfers and 3 nights lodging. Unless it includes some meals and tours, I think you can do better. And I am guessing that is the per person price.

 

We are staying at a small hotel that was recommended to us for 2 nights for 100 Euros/night (the people who recommended it are staying there with us and that's the best recommendation I can think of). Even with $25 to get to the hotel, another $40 or so to the airport, I don't think we will spend much more than $500-600 or so on hotel, transportation, a tour and meals for 2 people, 2 nights. The hotel we are using is the Continental (there is also a sister hotel, the Continental Palacete nearby) and it is on Las Ramblas, which we have been told is "the" place to be. The web link for the hotel is: http://www.hotelcontinental.com . I've seen other posts that convince me you can get a nice room for under $200. As Sue suggested, you should try going to the Ports of Call forum and checking it out.

 

[lk4xits]

Dear friends,

 

My thanks to all you kind people . I will be checking out all your suggestions and if we go will gladly look you guys up. Meanwhile a happy and healthy New Year to all of you and families.

 

Marty:p

[Mexico]

Sue - You are too kind! Didn't we have fun on the Jewel's Transatlantic in September? We did save you a walk around Victoria Station didn't we?

 

lk4xits - Don't worry about the number of at sea days! The only complaint that you will have is that there weren't more.

 

We are staying three nights at the Continental Palacete where the rate is between 130 and 150 Euros a night. We have stayed there before and enjoyed it. We particularly like the area that it is in versus that of the Continental. We felt a little bit safer. As Bob suggested, you might check out their web page.

 

Should you have any questions do not hesitate to ask!

 

Madeira Tour - Now that the holidays are almost over I will get busy and get a posting out. I just want to check with the tour company before I put anything in writing so that I do not make any misrepresentations.

 

Ken and Pene

[gkm]

We're waiting, Ken...... Can't wait to sail with you, and Happy New Year!

 

lk4xits, a transatlantics is a wonderful cruise. I'm Bob's other half:D and I can tell you, it's over too soon. We've only done one, which was this past fall on the Galaxy, but have also been on a transpacific from Hawaii to Vancouver. The cruise is always over too early. I'm looking forward to going this direction, even though we will be losing hours at the beginning. With the sea days on the front end, we will be able to get to know our fellow passengers better. I have found that there are never enough hours in the day on the sea days because of all of the different things to do. If you're worried about being bored, don't. You can be as lazy or active as you feel like being each day.

 

I hope you will join us.

 

Garry

[mabinbklyn]

I've never done the transatlantic from Barcelona, though I asprire to, but have done transatlantic twice. I love sea days so it has always been great for me--so much to do! And I love being on the ocean.

 

Price for the hotel does seem high. However, I stayed in the Majestic in September on a business trip and it was fabulous--a beautiful hotel and very well located. But I do know you can stay at very nice places, if not as "fancy", for much less money. Don't think I would have stayed there if the company wasn't picking up the bill--though I did stay for 2 extra nights on my own dime and loved it.

 

Envy you this trip! Would love to do it myself sometime.

[sue.young]

Marty,

 

See what did I tell you these folks are great! Makes me wish we could go with you all but we are on the Jewel leaving May 1st.

 

Mexico, you suggestions for London were perfect. It was our first time there and really helped to have you as our "tour guide". We are looking for a new hotel in London as the old Holiday Inn is now out of our price range. Say hi to Jean amd Doug for us.

 

Happy New to all.

[bubbachief]

From what I've been able to read, on the 13 night transatlantic cruise there are 2 formal nights and 3 nights where a coat and tie are required. The formal nights I enjoy, but are people following the coat and tie rule or are they dressing in "smart casual", collared shirt and dockers or slacks? If need be, I just wear my dark suit for the 5 nights.

[bhughey]

Transatlantic cruises are the BEST -- in my own opinion! We have only done one which was this past April on the Brilliance... and we are booked on the Jewel for May 1st. This is actually our honeymoon and we have vowed to do a transatlantic cruise every year!

 

Sue... we used Priceline for our post cruise hotel in London and got a GREAT price! We are staying at the Thistle Charing Cross. The lowest available rate on their site for our dates is 176GBP a night which translates into $339 -- we got it for $100!!

 

Bubbachief... on the 11-night Brilliance, we had three formal nights, but I am sure it could vary from cruise to cruise.

 

Happy New Year to all!

[lk4xits]

We made the reservation today on the Brilliance. I like the idea of cruising in warm water so a Florida to Funchal crossing seems a bit easier then NY to Amsterdam. Some of the rates on the Brilliance have changed. Some ship levels are offering senior citizen rates. It might be a good idea to check with your TA to see if your rate is the same. Looking forward to cruising with experienced cruisers. I am assuming that transatlantic passengers are more experienced then most. I also have a celebrity Captains Club membership which may or may not be useful on this cruise. Hope we have e mail package, drink package is nice but I do not drink $50 bucks a day, not even close!

 

Bottom line is we chose the ship for our crossing, we havent heard a bad word about it. We did take the RCCL air and post stay hotel package. So its a 17 day package for us going home to NYC 5/15/05. I have posted on meet and mingle and my e mail is

lk4xits (look for exits)lk4xits@aol.com

 

Marty and Greta proud grandparents of 5