For some people,
sailing across a wide expanse of water, warmed by the sun and refreshed by a
cool breeze, is a thrill. If you love the “days at sea” that are part of most cruise
itineraries, consider an Atlantic crossing, also known as a transatlantic
cruise.
There are two
kinds of transatlantic cruises. One crosses the Atlantic Ocean simply for the
fun of it, which is a specialty of Cunard Line: the Queen Mary 2 regularly sails between Southampton, England, and New
York City. The second repositions a ship from one cruise region to another,
such as from the Caribbean to the Mediterranean or Baltic. Either type will
give you a string of relaxing days at sea.
Transatlantic cruises
are not entirely port-free – after all, there’s at least one on each end. The
western end might be Miami, Tampa or New York; the eastern end could be
Copenhagen, Southampton or Barcelona. Some itineraries visit Atlantic islands
like Madeira, the Canaries, the Azores or Bermuda.
It takes a cruise
ship some six to eight days to get across the Atlantic; when you add in a few island
calls, the length can be 11-14 days or more. These cruises often provide very
good value. But, don’t forget that you’ll need fly to Europe to begin the
cruise or fly home from Europe after the cruise. You can also purchase two
consecutive Atlantic crossings so that you’ll have a roundtrip cruise (with no
jet lag).
So, what can you
do on your days at sea?
There will be lots
of activities on board, such as games, spa treatments, classes, dance lessons, lectures
and behind-the scenes tours. You can curl up with a few good books or indulge
in hobbies like knitting or scrapbooking.
The cruise can
also be a time to increase your wellness. Visit the fitness center daily, walk
on deck in the fresh air, and make healthy and delicious choices in the ship’s
dining venues. Consciously relax: there’s really nowhere to rush off to. You just
might finish the cruise feeling better than when you started.
Finally, catch
the sunrise and sunset. With just the water, sky and sun in view, you’ll see some
spectacular sunrises and sunsets. On clear nights, far away from the ambient
light of populated areas, the sky will be breathtaking, too.
Ask Anita, your
Cruise Holidays personal cruise expert, to show you some itineraries for transatlantic
cruises.
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