Transatlantic anxiety

[OceanCruise]

Do you have anxiety regarding 8 consecutive sea days in the middle of the ocean? The prices and length are tempting and spouse would like to do a TA. While I would not be bored, I can't get over the thought of possible illness/evacuation or losing power midway across. Also, do you find you are antsy to get back on land?

[rkacruiser]

I have been fortunate enough to sail a few trans-Atlantic crossings, although none on Celebrity. All have been delightful. Additional entertainment is added in comparison to a standard short cruise. Usually, enrichment-type speakers are on board whose presentations are interesting and related to the destination where the ship is going. Medical facilities aboard are good (I have had the need to use a couple) and the loss of power does not happen often. (My goodness, one can loose power at one's home. Stuff happens!)

 

Bring some good books and plan on spending some time watching the ever fascinating changes in sky and sea from a deck chair!

[4774Papa]

We did a 12 day from Ft. Lauderdale to Harwich, UK. It was almost free, since the price was just a little more than one-way airfare.

We stopped in three ports during the cruise, which were good. All the sea days were not boring.

I visited the gym every sea day. We did wine tasting classes about 5 times. I read five books and went to some planned events. We had no anxiety about being in the middle of the ocean.

[billyelliot]

We have done one with Cunard, and one with Royal Caribbean.... I was worried before our 1st one, but it was fab! It's one of the most relaxing holidays.... Lots to do as well.

[JanineM]

We had 7 straight sea days on our TA last spring. I admit that I had some trepidations about being in the middle of the ocean and losing power - especially as this wasn't too ling after the fateful Costa cruise & other Carnival problems. Once we were out there I was fine. And we did constantly see cargo ships in the distance, so I knew there was still life out there :).

 

I will say that I was really happy to see birds once we were off the coast of France.

[wolfpackmom]

We are taking our first transatlantic this April, and I remembered that the Titanic went down on the April 15, so yea, the idea crossed my mind.

 

However, now I am wondering if I'll get the chance to see an iceberg, and I would be so excited if I did!

[ozark74]

Do you have anxiety regarding 8 consecutive sea days in the middle of the ocean? The prices and length are tempting and spouse would like to do a TA. While I would not be bored, I can't get over the thought of possible illness/evacuation or losing power midway across. Also, do you find you are antsy to get back on land?

 

We did a transpacific and a transatlantic last year and they were great. You cannot worry about getting sick. As one of the other poster said medical care is good. I had to use them in Bermuda. I would do another transoceanic no hesitation. Very relaxing. Bring a good book.

[hulamoon]

I love ocean travel. But I admit when I went with a fractured shoulder I wondered how on earth I would evacuate myself if needed.

 

No boredom ever set in, there are lots of activities and time to do what you wouldn't do at home. Classes, reading, napping, meeting new friends, listening to the ocean, all of these things were refreshing.

[BearsAhoy]

We did a 13-night transatlantic on RCI last November. We all loved it! The sea days were so relaxing, I took naps and read and enjoyed my family. One ting that surprised me was that we did see other ships out there - we were definitely not alone! I'd love to do it again.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk, please excuse wonky autocorrects.

[jelayne]

We have done 5 TA's; on the first one a day before we reach land I saw a bird that was when I realized how far away from land we had been and how peaceful it was.

Love TA's have made some great friends on these cruises. If you book join your roll call as there are usually some fun activities planned.

[Ex-Airbalancer]

I would be scared to death taking a transatlantic , ships turning round to meet helicopter , ships speeding up to drop passengers for medical assistants

Asking passengers for blood to treat medical condition

Please everyone do not take transatlantic it is to dangers :eek:

 

if people do not book TAs , then the prices will drop :p

[cruzzzinma]

We are doing are first transatlantic in April. We learned we loved sea days when we cruised through the Panama Canal.

 

We are cruising transpacific from Vancouver to Sydney in the Fall.

 

I get to order food off a menu, someone cleans up my cabin, someone does my laundry, we get to see beautiful places and gorgeous water...

 

What's not to like?

[upwarduk]

I would be scared to death taking a transatlantic -----

Please everyone do not take transatlantic it is to dangers :eek:

 

if people do not book TAs , then the prices will drop :p

 

Absolute rubbish!!!

How do you know if you're too scared to take one?

 

We had wonderful lectures, by the now retired head of Kennedy space centre, Jim Kennedy.

 

Free iLounge lectures(5 in total)

 

We had a Solar Eclipse on November 3rd 2013- how's that for a spectacular sight?

 

We also think a hawk made the ship it's home, we were too far from land for it to be following us.

Edited March 4, 2014 by upwarduk

[wolfpackmom]

Absolute rubbish!!!

How do you know if you're too scared to take one?

 

We had wonderful lectures, by the now retired head of Kennedy space centre, Jim Kennedy.

 

Free iLounge lectures(5 in total)

 

We had a Solar Eclipse on November 3rd 2013- how's that for a spectacular sight?

 

We also think a hawk made the ship it's home, we were too far from land for it to be following us.

 

I think Airbalancer was making a joke about being too scared.

[rebeccalouiseagain]

Life is full of risks. You could get killed in a car accident but you still get in the car. You have to just plug along.

 

I've done two TA's and they were great and no one needed to be airlifted off or anything like that. There is a doctor on board.

[ghstudio]

we have done 4 transatlantics. My DW loves the sea days, I go along for the ride, so to speak...but there's always something to do. The speakers are generally excellent, there are casino tournaments, officer/passenger events, the (dreaded) gym....time just passes. I joke that you only need to fill two hour gaps because that's the time between meals.

 

On a more serious note, yes, there is a medical risk, perhaps more serious than if you were at home. Helicopters can not reach the ship mid atlantic so if you have a serious medical problem, they will treat it as best they can with what they have available. Certainly they aren't going to do open heart surgery or even cardiac stents and so on. Personally, I live with the risk...but I have the same risk when driving any distance from a hospital at home on a lonely road. You get the drift...there is always a risk and you can sit at home or you can live life...that's a personal decision. On a very somber note, every modern cruise ship has a morgue and the last time I poked at numbers a few years ago, they average one lost soul a cruise. Please..this isn't meant to scare..it's just meant to level set that things happen.

[CathyCruises]

On our first TA we did not see one thing after we left Miami for one week--I loved it!! Never a minutes worry.

 

But I do book pretty good trip insurance just in case of a medical emergency. Not expecting anything but it would be a bad place to have something totally untoward happen. I use Insure My Trip.

[Blue Lagoon]

On our last TA in November on board Constellation, it was interesting to see Silhouette was close by as we sailed across the Atlantic. I mentioned this to one of the officers and was told this was done intentionally as a safety measure. Actually, I think it was those Kafetzis brothers (both captains) having fun at the helm and racing each other to port.:rolleyes:

[CathyCruises]

(Secret: Mark is hoping for prices to drop so he can upgrade;))

 

The idea of the captains racing each other is a bit scary, the Costa Concordia incident happened because the cap't was playing games:eek:

[BBsails]

Doing our fourth TA this spring with anticipation. Love the long, lazy (or not) days. In my experience (based on two separate events), the medical facilities aboard are more than adequate. Never antsy for a second.

 

Bon voyage1

Betsy

[ozark74]

On our last TA in November on board Constellation, it was interesting to see Silhouette was close by as we sailed across the Atlantic. I mentioned this to one of the officers and was told this was done intentionally as a safety measure. Actually, I think it was those Kafetzis brothers (both captains) having fun at the helm and racing each other to port.:rolleyes:

 

That was the Equinox.

[kitty9]

I did a 17 day trans-Pacific, Los Angeles to Hong Kong. No big deal.

[Ex-Airbalancer]

Nov 2012 , TA, Equinox , a day out of Madeira, ships turns around , so a helicopter can reach the ship

Nov 2013, TA, Equinox, captain does make a call for blood, and dock in FLL at midnight, to unload a passenger instead of 6 am

How do I know, I was on both crossing :D

Somepeople should check facts , before shot off there mouths :rolleyes:

[CathyCruises]

On the Eclipse a few years ago, we offloaded multiple bodies at our first port of call, Ponta Delgada. One died on the first night, one on the second, not sure about the others. So there IS some risk involved, but what a way to go!!!!

[jtravel777]

On our last TA in November on board Constellation, it was interesting to see Silhouette was close by as we sailed across the Atlantic. I mentioned this to one of the officers and was told this was done intentionally as a safety measure. Actually, I think it was those Kafetzis brothers (both captains) having fun at the helm and racing each other to port.:rolleyes:

 

The brothers weren't racing as the Constellation was about 6 days ahead of the Silhouette. The Silhouette did not leave Civitavecchia Port (Rome) until the morning of December 2, and then had stops in France, Spain and the Canaries before heading across the Atlantic.