Help! Thinking about round trip TA, anyone done it?

[Cruizlovers]

Hello All, we're thinking of visiting a relative in Germany, but don't want to fly. Has any one done round trip transatlantic? I know it's tough to schedule because QM2 is the only ship that does regular voyages from NY to Southampton, where we could take a train to Germany. I could catch a repositioning on RCL in the Fall, 2013.

Any one done this and can you tell us what are the pros, cons and tips you could give?? We could take a month or so to do this so time isn't an issue. Thanks in advance for your help!

[Paulxyz2004]

Hello All, we're thinking of visiting a relative in Germany, but don't want to fly. Has any one done round trip transatlantic? I know it's tough to schedule because QM2 is the only ship that does regular voyages from NY to Southampton, where we could take a train to Germany. I could catch a repositioning on RCL in the Fall, 2013.

Any one done this and can you tell us what are the pros, cons and tips you could give?? We could take a month or so to do this so time isn't an issue. Thanks in advance for your help!

 

There is sailings on QM2 that go all the way into Hamburg, which I think would be easier to reach your relatives in Germany, than from Southampton.

 

Next year there´s even a TA from Hamburg on the Legend of the Seas, so you could combine that with QM2 and have round trip NY - HH - NY.

[Cigar King]

FWIW, we cruised a couple of times with a couple who did a round trip TA to Amsterdam. I don't recall all the details, but I do know they stayed a couple of months. So, it's possible. Good luck.

[PSCruiser]

We were on a TA a year or so ago, and probably complaining about having to fly the other direction, when I talked to someone who had made it a RT because one of the lines, I think it was HAL, had a ship going the "wrong direction", "out of season". Don't know why this happened, but I keep reminding myself to watch in case this rare event happens again.

[Tagsalong]

We were on a TA a year or so ago, and probably complaining about having to fly the other direction, when I talked to someone who had made it a RT because one of the lines, I think it was HAL, had a ship going the "wrong direction", "out of season". Don't know why this happened, but I keep reminding myself to watch in case this rare event happens again.

 

The Prinsendam did a Europe to Ft Lauderdale last month, or this month(?), as a part of a world cruise. It was possible to take an east bound repositioning ship to Europe and then return to FL on the Prinsendam. Can't remember the exact ports but it's a mute point now since it's in the past. Don't see her doing this route in 2014 and nothing else on the radar for 2014, except the queen.

[rafinmd]

Never with Royal, but I've done a couple of them:

 

Rotterdam Eastbound, Prinsendam 3 week Arctic cruise, QM2 return.

QM2 Eastbound, 1 night in UK, Crystal Symphony return.

 

I love TA's, the only drawback is setting the clock forward on the Eastbound crossings (still beats an overnight on the plane). I'm not sure how Royal handles this, but recently Cunard has been giving the extra hour overnight on the westbound crossings and moving it forward at noon on the eastbound. If you have a preference for one way or the other of handling the time changes, you should take that into consideration.

 

Oasis is doing a pair of TA's with a drydock in between next year (and probably the Allure the following year), would those work for you?

 

Roy

[Tagsalong]

Wait a minute, I missed something. Check out the HAL Maasdam leaving Ft Lauderdale on Oct. 25, 2013, going to Civitavecchia (Rome). You can get off in one of several ports in Spain (ie Barcelona) or Rome for your drive up to Germany. Then catch the X Equinox (Barcelona) or Constellation (Rome) for your trip back to Florida. They leave in late November.

 

The Maasdam is also doing this same run in October of 2014.

[Lady Hudson]

Hello All, we're thinking of visiting a relative in Germany, but don't want to fly. Has any one done round trip transatlantic? I know it's tough to schedule because QM2 is the only ship that does regular voyages from NY to Southampton, where we could take a train to Germany. I could catch a repositioning on RCL in the Fall, 2013.

Any one done this and can you tell us what are the pros, cons and tips you could give?? We could take a month or so to do this so time isn't an issue. Thanks in advance for your help!

 

There is a QM2 trip next year that might suit your needs. NY to Southampton to Hamburg. The ship leaves for Norway for a couple of days and then back to Hamburg to Southampton to NY. I have done this trip several times and it is great. How soon do you want to go to Germany? Katherine