Boredom on Transatlantic?

[pier]

We're thinking of taking the Infinity transatlantic cruise in October, but we're concerned about the 8 sea days. We like to read, but we don't want to spend 8 days just reading. Are there interesting activities during the day that we can participate in? I'd like to hear from anyone who has done transatlantic cruising and how they liked it. Also, I'd like to hear from anyone who has recently cruised on the Infinity.

 

Thank you!

[Ex-Airbalancer]

We're thinking of taking the Infinity transatlantic cruise in October, but we're concerned about the 8 sea days. We like to read, but we don't want to spend 8 days just reading. Are there interesting activities during the day that we can participate in? I'd like to hear from anyone who has done transatlantic cruising and how they liked it. Also, I'd like to hear from anyone who has recently cruised on the Infinity.

 

Thank you!

 

Have you tried a search ?

[Shake]

Check this current thread out. :cool:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1888121

[wallie5446]

We're thinking of taking the Infinity transatlantic cruise in October, but we're concerned about the 8 sea days. We like to read, but we don't want to spend 8 days just reading. Are there interesting activities during the day that we can participate in? I'd like to hear from anyone who has done transatlantic cruising and how they liked it. Also, I'd like to hear from anyone who has recently cruised on the Infinity.

 

Thank you!

Have you cruised before?

[Tucker in Texas]

Don't worry, they will have lots of things to do (or not do). We've done several and never been bored. Usually they have cultural lectures which are interesting among other things. Everything from Murders in Hollywood to WWII to whatever.

 

Tucker in Texas

[pier]

Have you cruised before?

 

We've cruised many times, but we've always gone on port intensive cruises.

[pier]

Check this current thread out. :cool:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1888121

 

Thanks, Shake! It was just what I needed to read.

[Project_gal]

We're thinking of taking the Infinity transatlantic cruise in October, but we're concerned about the 8 sea days. We like to read, but we don't want to spend 8 days just reading. Are there interesting activities during the day that we can participate in? I'd like to hear from anyone who has done transatlantic cruising and how they liked it. Also, I'd like to hear from anyone who has recently cruised on the Infinity.

 

Thank you!

 

In my experience, it is easier to get bored on a port intensive cruise. On a transatlantic the problem is more likely to be what you have to miss because there are too many things going on at the same time.

 

Sue

[Czech Precision Forge]

We were not bored on our Solstice class transatlantic, which we took during the European airspace shutdown due to the Icelandic volcano. Among things which made this an interesting trip were the last minute mix up of passengers because about half the ship was full of people replacing Europeans who could not reach the US. Eventually we found ourselves at a German speaking table with some real characters with whom we stay in regular contact. As well we met another German/Czech couple with whom we regularly meet until today. I think a TA is really about people and making new relationships. 9 days at sea, no ports and the same people engaging in the same routines. If you keep to yourself, then you may be really missing out.

 

Also, the entertainment and guest speakers seemed to be a notch above regular cruises. Shirley Jones was on board and her talks alluded to many of the salacious revelations of her recently released memoirs.

 

Finally, we ended up having our first son 9 months later.

[wallie5446]

We've cruised many times, but we've always gone on port intensive cruises.

 

Cool! Then you know all the things that will go on. Our bucket list includes a TA with lots of sea days, when there is no 'push' to be up and out of the cabin. Breakfast on the veranda with nothing but the soft swoosh of the ship moving thru the water, time to actually decompress from the day to day rat race at home. We can't wait till we get to go! Sit back, relax, it will be what you design it to be.

[4774Papa]

We did a TA on Infinity this May. It was 12 days, but we had three ports. There were a lot of sea days, but we were prepared.

 

I went to the fitness center every day, except two when our excursions were all day. Also, we did four wine tastings on the ship, which were fun. We were in Aqua and met some great folks in BLU, so we got together for drinks.

 

Also, I took several paperbacks to read and even found one in the library to switch. I think I read five books on the cruise.

The shows were good, food was great and it was a great experience. We have another TA planned from Copenhagen to Miami next October.

[MEcruzr]

I think you either love them... or couldn't be dragged back on one.

 

I've done two. One east bound and one west bound. NO WAY would I ever do another one. The east bound was the worst for me. All those sea days in the beginning drove me NUTS. I was wound up and wanted to DO something, not "read and relax on the verandah". By the time we hit Ireland I was DONE. The west bound TA was better. We had all those port days followed by sea days... so by the time we hit FL I was packed and ready to go home. I didn't feel like my vacation was just starting (like when we got to Ireland).

 

I put this out there not to discourage you, but to give you another perspective. Only you know what you want from a cruise. If you've been on many then you know what sea days are like. If you don't love sea days you should consider that when deciding on a TA.

[Turtles06]

If you've been on cruise ships and don't enjoy sea days, then please stay away from the TAs and leave them to those of us who do, because it's the sea days that make them so special. 'Kay? Thanks. :)

[Dunelm]

I've taken three transatlantics (both ways) and have never been bored. There are lectures, performances, movies, exercise--love walking the deck, the gym, the pools, eating, socializing, quizzes, the casino. I admit that on one crossing the captain announced the sighting of a large bird--that tells you that we did not see much for several days, and that it was exciting to finally see land. Even so, I think I enjoy a transatlantic crossing as much, if not more, than any other cruise.

[gacruisergal]

Try a Trans-Pacific from Japan to Vancouver with a one day stop in Hawaii. This was one of our most memorable cruises with fantastic passengers .............. all on a tiny ship, the original Royal Princess. In those days there were no Kindles or electronics of any type. Just a library full of books and a friendship that grew between the passengers. The last night in the ballroom everyone held hands and sang Auld Langsyne...sp?

The tears were plenty-full!

[Hlitner]

We have done many TA cruises (stopped counting after the first dozen) and love all those sea days. However, we have also met folks that said the sea days "were making them crazy." But to DW and moi those sea days are like heaven... Our main activity is reading, but there are also many scheduled activities and lectures for those that want to be active. We do think that some kind of "insanity" does set in on long TA cruises. When on the Prinsendam (a Holland America ship) a very popular daily activity was "Animal Toss" where the passengers (most of us were seniors) tossed stuffed animals at various targets. When you see successful doctors, lawyers, etc....having fun (and being a bit too competitive) throwing stuffed animals...you start to understand part of the charm of real cruising (as opposed to a ferry boat that just shuttles you between ports).

 

Hank

[Blazerboy]

Great post, Hank!

 

I have often posted about the camaraderie that develops because if the shared adventure of "conquering" the Atlantic. And the sighting of another ship along the way as a special moment...and the vastness, wildness and power of both the ocean and nature, tamed by the thought of dressing up for dinner!

 

Andrew

 

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Forums mobile app

[TKS]

The first port intensive cruise we took had 1 sea day in a 12 day cruise. I was exhausted when I got home. My only complaint about the cruise was that I would have liked another couple days at sea to rest.

 

Our next cruise was a TA and we had a great time. As others have said, the demographic is different and the cruise is about people, not places.

 

Now I refuse to book a cruise unless we have at least a few sea days. I'd take another TA in a minute. No problems with boredom for me. After a couple days there is a real peace just watching the sky and the water and enjoying the world around you go by, knowing you don't HAVE to "do" anything if you don't want to, but if you do you can be as busy as you choose.

 

Everyone is different, but, for me, some of the obvious advantages of TA's are they are generally less expensive, the ships are often less crowded, and since we enjoy visiting we usually find many like minded people on board.

 

Only you can make up your mind. You can "make" your own cruise, or "be bored", whichever you choose. It's up to you.

[rnrcruzin]

 

Finally, we ended up having our first son 9 months later.

 

Gasp! Oh no they didn't!

[USVI-4-me]

Eight days at sea is heaven 4 me.

 

Try the Transatlantic: Lectures, passengers, pool, books, food, drinks, the sea.............. oh me, I'll have to book one soon as possible.

 

-Marisa

[dln929]

Some of these answers are so sweet that it makes me feel all nostalgic for our transatlantic! I want to be back on my ship...

 

I am firmly in the "love it" camp when it comes to TAs. And trust me, I too had my doubts about dealing with eight straight sea days. (I think all of us do. ;)) I hate being bored! It was a leap of faith to believe that NO, I would NOT be bored. And whaddya know, I wasn't.

 

The days flew by and this is without ever having attended any of the trivia sessions or lectures. Or sitting/sunning by the pool, either. (We did that only once because we're not really pool people though the weather was perfect for it). I tried reading my novel but had a hard time finishing it because there wasn't enough time in the day. We didn't go to the gymn as often as I thought we would, either. So what did we do for a week at sea? I hardly remember but somehow we were always busy when we wanted to be and relaxed when we wanted to be. I know that's not much help to you, sorry! But it was a marvelous experience all around and we are looking forward to repeating it.

 

In parting. One thing I especially loved (and this surprised me no end) was how beautiful it was simply looking out upon the sea. I'm a big scenery kind of girl and I thought it would bother me not to have fantastic landscape to look at for so many days at a time. It turned out to be exactly the opposite. I loved watching it rain miles and miles away. I loved the rainbows. I loved all the cloud formations. When we saw land after eight days, I was actually kind of annoyed that it messed my view up. :eek:

[4774Papa]

It beats the heck out of flying.

[Chicago Boy]

We're thinking of taking the Infinity transatlantic cruise in October, but we're concerned about the 8 sea days. We like to read, but we don't want to spend 8 days just reading. Are there interesting activities during the day that we can participate in? I'd like to hear from anyone who has done transatlantic cruising and how they liked it. Also, I'd like to hear from anyone who has recently cruised on the Infinity.

 

Thank you!

 

 

We do a Trans Atlantic every fall either out of Rome or Barcelona on the Equinox to Fort Lauderdale and we never get bored. There are afternoon concerts, movies, demonstrations, dance lessons etc. We walk the ship,sit on our balcony and chat with people. Every evening at 7:00 we are in the Martin Bar for our Martinis then it's off to the 8:s0 seating for dinner. What could be better. In fact, this year we are sailing out of Barcelona the 25th of November for Fort Lauderdale. We can't wait and we hope you enjoy your cruise as much as we enjoy ours.:)

[stormynow]

I go nuts with 2 consecutive sea days in the Caribe. Not for me.

[Ex-Airbalancer]

We do a Trans Atlantic every fall either out of Rome or Barcelona on the Equinox to Fort Lauderdale and we never get bored. There are afternoon concerts, movies, demonstrations, dance lessons etc. We walk the ship,sit on our balcony and chat with people. Every evening at 7:00 we are in the Martin Bar for our Martinis then it's off to the 8:s0 seating for dinner. What could be better. In fact, this year we are sailing out of Barcelona the 25th of November for Fort Lauderdale. We can't wait and we hope you enjoy your cruise as much as we enjoy ours.:)

 

Have not seen you on the roll call for the Equinox TA