Are Sea days on Trans-Atlantic cruises monotonous?

[pretzlaff]

The fyords of Greenland really are the highlight of this transatlantic. 

[RoperDK]

If your budget allows, there is always the casino. 

 

I've never done a TA, but have crossed the Pacific after 7 days cruising around Hawaii.  It was a welcome break from the non-stop Hawaii itinerary and we enjoyed relaxing on the sea days.  We love sea days, but even we have our limits.      

[Eddie Wilson]

Thanks for all the guidance.  Plus, I think you have helped me hit the trifecta, as that Copenhagen west bound sounds like a winner.  Looking into it now.

 

Eddie

[SbbquilterUT]

Love a TA - travel to Europe for just a bit more than plane fare and enjoy the sea days.  We also evaluate the port stops - this year Anthem let us experience Ponte Delgada, Paris and Utah Beach.  Then land travel for a week and on to another cruise.  A very fun month of travel.

[Another_Critic]

1 hour ago, SbbquilterUT said:

Love a TA - travel to Europe for just a bit more than plane fare and enjoy the sea days.  We also evaluate the port stops - this year Anthem let us experience Ponte Delgada, Paris and Utah Beach.  Then land travel for a week and on to another cruise.  A very fun month of travel.

I was on that one, both this year and last year.  Didn't do anything special at the ports this year, but did Sainte Mere Eglise, Utah Beach, Mont Saint-Michel, Caen, and Bayeux last year.  Spent 7 nights post-cruise in Wales this year and 5-nights in Southeast England last year.

[crzndeb]

3 hours ago, Eddie Wilson said:

Thanks for all the guidance.  Plus, I think you have helped me hit the trifecta, as that Copenhagen west bound sounds like a winner.  Looking into it now.

 

Eddie

That’s a fabulous cruise. I did it on the Serenade in 2018. Iceland is spectacular.

[Virtopia]

I've done a TA before and had 5 sea days in a row. I absolutely loved it, which surprised me. I slept in and skipped breakfast, woke up for lunch and sat by the pool with my book, napped on my balcony, got ready for dinner and then enjoyed the night life the ship has to offer. It definitely allowed me to relax and come back home refreshed. My upcoming cruise is a 8 night sailing but only has 3 port stops including 2 sea days prior to disembarking. I cannot wait.

[njkruzer]

9 hours ago, crzndeb said:

That’s a fabulous cruise. I did it on the Serenade in 2018. Iceland is spectacular.

Us too!

[PhillyFan33579]

I think it is pretty simple. If you like sea days on a “regular” cruise you will like sea days on a TA. If you don’t like sea days on a regular cruise, you won’t like them on a TA. 

[crusnbee]

Do they ever do crossings back to back? I would love to go round trip!

CG

[Badatz2]

10 minutes ago, crusnbee said:

Do they ever do crossings back to back? I would love to go round trip!

CG

You would probably never see it on the same ship as the whole purpose of the TA is to get the ship to the other side of the world for the next season.

I have however seen some TAs from smaller companies that go in the opposite direction of the rest of the ships and maybe you could find something like that with a little wait time in-between.

[vwlmember]

Have done one TA with six straight sea days. It was the most fun and relaxing vacation that we have ever been on. 

[Giantfan13]

On 9/5/2023 at 1:42 PM, Another_Critic said:

 

I was on the same cruise.  👍👍👍👍👍

Us too

 

Cheers

Len

[HappyTexan44]

21 hours ago, crusnbee said:

Do they ever do crossings back to back? I would love to go round trip!

CG

 

I find flying so stressful now days that I'd need a vacation just to recover from an International flight.  Or spending extra money on the flight, business class international is lovely but too much $$$.  

 

When DH was young he went round-trip to Europe on one of those giant freight ships.   I saw a Youtube of someone doing that recently, so it is still an option.  He was treated basically like crew that wasn't ever on the clock.  Cabin was a minimalist crew quarters.  He slept, ate, read books and watched the ocean.  He would have done it for the price.  He had to pass a security clearance ahead of time. 
   
ETA:  He didn't go for vacation.   He was trying out for Chelsea.

 

Edited September 7, 2023 by HappyTexan44

[moposh]

I have six sea days on an upcoming cruise, but they are split into 3 at the beginning and 3 at the end.  I'm still not totally sure they'll be a lot to do.

 

I did do a transatlantic from NY to England on QE2, where I'm sure there were not any activities to speak of.  Don't remember, but do have stories from my mother.  There was a car showroom on board in case you wanted to buy a car 🚗 during the sailing.  Not calling it a cruise because it wasn't. 🙂

Edited September 7, 2023 by moposh

[Mum2Mercury]

You say monotonous, I say relaxing.  Personal opinions.  

We prefer a nice mix of sea days and island stops.  

[Eddie Wilson]

9 hours ago, Mum2Mercury said:

You say monotonous, I say relaxing.  Personal opinions.  

We prefer a nice mix of sea days and island stops.  

 

I posted the question and would like to clarify a bit. 

I have been on several cruises with two consecutive Sea days and found the very relaxing. 

Im more worried about .....does one get fidgety by say day 3?

Or perhaps humdrum by day 4?

Or irksome by day 5?

Or mind-numbingly monotonous eventually. 

 

Sounds like the answer is......definitely maybe......, depending on the mind set of the individual.  

So if we book a Trans Atlantic I promise I will go in with a bright mind set.

 

Eddie

[Badatz2]

9 hours ago, Eddie Wilson said:

 

ISounds like the answer is......definitely maybe......, depending on the mind set of the individual.  

So if we book a Trans Atlantic I promise I will go in with a bright mind set.

 

Eddie

That's the right way to go on any cruise.  Enjoy

[Prometheus1]

On 9/6/2023 at 1:18 PM, crusnbee said:

Do they ever do crossings back to back? I would love to go round trip!

CG

Occasionally Cunard will do a round trip Transatlantic from NY to Southampton and back to NY

[Prometheus1]

Adventure of the Seas is heading to Lisbon next Oct for dry dock- several options for returning ships within a few days

[UKWLDCruise]

It is not tedium that worried me on transatlantic cruises, my problem is the drip drip of changing an hour every few days rather doing it in one lump.

[Carlos A.]

6 hours ago, Prometheus1 said:

Adventure of the Seas is heading to Lisbon next Oct for dry dock- several options for returning ships within a few days

This October? I thought It was going to be on Oct 2024

[njkruzer]

3 hours ago, UKWLDCruise said:

It is not tedium that worried me on transatlantic cruises, my problem is the drip drip of changing an hour every few days rather doing it in one lump.

It works great when it's done overnight not during the day.  Losing 5 hrs in one night would give you a lot of sleepy people.

[Prometheus1]

12 minutes ago, Carlos A. said:

This October? I thought It was going to be on Oct 2024

Yes Oct of 2024

[Giantfan13]

We always prefer a West Bound TA, losing the hours on flying and gaining them a bit at a time, coming back.

 

Cheers

Len