Trans Atlantic - Windsurf

[Delta Queen]

We have just signed up for the trans Atlantic trip on Windsurf leaving 9 Apr 2005. We are wondering what the climate will be like at that time of year. Do we need just summer clothes or something warmer as well? Any comments from anyone who has made this trip would be welcome.

[mousemeat]

We were on that trip this year. The first three or four days were tropical and warm. After that it cooled a bit every day down to sweater and windbreaker time if we were outside, and the wind came up a few days. I bought a windbreaker on board. We're going again this year, and I'm going to pack for a range of weather. Check the website weather dot com to get the average temperature for Lisbon for April. That's what it was like for the last five or six days. Of course the weather's not exactly the same every year. BTW, we had a wonderful time.

[Delta Queen]

Would you mind telling us more about the cruise? How dressy did you (or others) get for dinner? Is it warm enough to swim in the pool? What kind of age group is there?

 

Thanks

[mousemeat]

The "pool" is about ten feet square, not much bigger than the hot tubs, and the water's not heated. The first few days were warm enough to go in. Nobody dressed up for dinner, wearing nice but casual dresses for women, slacks and shirts for men, especially if they were dancing after dinner. The age group probably had a majority in the forties to sixties, with some thirties and some older. We saw no children. The ship had about 190 passengers, so it wasn't full. It was easy to be solitary, but there were places people gathered, like in the aft bar open to the pool deck.There was an organized craft type activity every day in the aft bar, and afternoon tea. The host/hostess organized an ongoing (miniature) golf tournament that ran every afternoon. They got certificates at the end that said "I golfed the Atlantic." Those were the only organized activities that I remember, besides the casino games. The passengers were friendly and easy-going. The crew were accessible and easy to talk to. I was nervous about the possibility of rough seas, but we only had two days of high winds and medium swells.

[Delta Queen]

Thanks for all the info. I notice you said the pool was small - on the stats for Windsurf it mentions 2 pools. :confused:

 

Sorry if I'm being a pest but this is our first cruise ;)

[mousemeat]

You're right about the second pool. There was never any water in it, if I remember correctly. It's a bit larger than the aft one. You could splash around in it, but you couldn't really swim very far, and it too would be filled with sea water and unheated.

[West Coast]

We have just signed up for the trans Atlantic trip on Windsurf leaving 9 Apr 2005. We are wondering what the climate will be like at that time of year. Do we need just summer clothes or something warmer as well? Any comments from anyone who has made this trip would be welcome.

Best advise is to take clothes you can 'layer' - long sleve tees, sweaters, wind breaker, etc...

 

We did the crossing two years ago - the only downside of going over is it always seemed like we were losing an hour due to the time zone changes (about every other day - I love my sleep!).

 

The weather on each crossing is different. On ours, we had stormy seas for the first 2-3 days, and then it was warm and sunny the rest of the way - many an afternnoon were spent poolside, face down on a lounger taking in the bright warm rays of the sun.

 

On board, the dress is very casual - think country club. Of course, with prices as low as they are, you do get those travelling on Windstar who would normally feel at home on one of the "Fun Ships" - but each to their own. Wear what you feel comfortable in - but def. no sequins for the lady's and no suits for the men - now, pearls from tbe Barbara Bush collection and jackets/ties for the men, that's a whole different chapter!

[budddawn]

Hi Delta Queen & Mousemeat;

My wife and I just booked today and we're happy to have found fellow passengers.

 

Mousemeat : on last years cruise did the motion of the ship cause any sea sickness ???

 

To All : Have a happy and healthy New Year

[mousemeat]

I don't recall hearing about anybody's being seasick, but there may have been.

[janred]

My husband and I are thinking about the crossing. Are you planning on staying over in Lisbon? What about air back?

[Delta Queen]

We have booked the sailing & flight through Windstar. we did enquire about staying in Lisbon for 2 nights but the package Windstar was offering was too expensive. I haven't asked whether we can "do our own thing" and book a hotel on our own.

[budddawn]

Hi Janred;

We are going to spend 5 days in Lisbon, leaving Saturday 4/30 @ 11:40 a/m on British Airways flight 501. connecting to flight 115 in London, and arriving JFK @ 4:20 p/m. We booked this on travelocity for $ 412.45 p/p.

We do not have a hotel booked yet, but right now we are leaning to the VIP Eden Hotel, or the VIP Hotel Lisbon. Hope that this helps, see you onboard.

[kruzkeen]

For those who have done this cruise: What about the 14 days at sea?

 

We would love to do a trans-Atlantic, but think that we would like to have a few ports of call. We do not have to be amused or have a lot of ship board activities but wonder if some of the 14 days might be a little long.