Cruise Talk: Transatlantic Help

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Topic: Transatlantic Help

Ceefa's Mate
First Class Passenger
Member # 1857

posted 04-26-2001 06:51 AM

Well, its just one week to go to our first ‘crossing’ and we seem to be getting a bit excited!

We are doing the 'southern' crossing, leaving Barbados, and arriving in Madeira five days later. As we have never crossed the Atlantic before, can I ask the experienced members of this board the following:-

What sort of weather/temperatures would you expect mid Atlantic at this time of year? -Can it change very quickly as you move through various weather fronts?

Are we likely to see (& feel!) any rough seas? What sort of swell would you expect?
(We have been lucky with our previous cruises’ & never experienced anything more
than a ripple!)

What normally happens re the ship time, do we ‘loose’ an hour a day or do we adjust
at the end of the crossing?

Any further info on this type of cruise would be great!

Thanks

Posts: 77 | From: Buckinghamshire, England | Registered: Mar 2001 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 04-26-2001 07:20 AM

Hi Ceefa - having never done this crossing in May - we did it from Ft. Lauderdale on the Westerdam in October way back when - can't help you on what the seas or weather will be like. In October, it was perfect - great weather and no rough seas, much to the dismay of my husband...he was looking for some nice large swells and rough seas, but I was quite content that way it was.
You will probably turn your clock back each day or every other day as we did on our trip, not at the end of the cruise..our cruise was 13 days so every other day for us. This makes it so much easier, not like flying where you do it at the end.
You have probably said which ship you are going on, but I can't remember. Refresh my mind.
Have a great time.

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

scorpio
First Class Passenger
Member # 1245

posted 04-26-2001 07:23 AM

Hi,
We did the crossing at this time last year. We were lucky with the weather except for the wind - it was against us most of the way, making it difficult to walk on the front decks. We put our clocks forward one hour each day. The sea wasn't particularly rough, though we experienced pitching on a couple of nights, but no major outbreaks of sea-sickness. Plenty of sunshine, but best to find a sheltered area. Have a great crossing.

[ 04-27-2001: Message edited by: scorpio ]

Posts: 92 | From: UK | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

Ceefa's Mate
First Class Passenger
Member # 1857

posted 04-26-2001 07:53 AM

Thanks for the very swift replies, Sympatico & Scorpio! We will be on the Mistral, Sympatico - watch out for the review on our return!

Posts: 77 | From: Buckinghamshire, England | Registered: Mar 2001 | IP: Logged

Green
First Class Passenger
Member # 171

posted 04-26-2001 03:43 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Ceefa's Mate:
Well, its just one week to go to our first ‘crossing’ and we seem to be getting a bit excited! We are doing the 'southern' crossing, leaving Barbados, and arriving in Madeira five days later. As we have never crossed the Atlantic before, can I ask the experienced members of this board the following:-
What sort of weather/temperatures would you expect mid Atlantic at this time of year? -Can it change very quickly as you move through various weather fronts?
Are we likely to see (& feel!) any rough seas? What sort of swell would you expect?
(We have been lucky with our previous cruises’ & never experienced anything more than a ripple!)
What normally happens re the ship time, do we ‘loose’ an hour a day or do we adjust
at the end of the crossing?
Any further info on this type of cruise would be great!
Thanks

For starters, you'll LOSE at least five hours one way or another - it's spaced out during the trip to catch up to GMT - remember you picked up hours on your trip to join the ship.

It's almost impossible to say what the weather will be like - could be smooth as glass or a bit of rock and roll - Mother Nature rules the waves! If it does become choppy, wrap up well and spend as much time as you can in the fresh air and don't overdo the rich food!

Clothing wise I'd dress in layers - a good windbreaker with a hood is a great investment - rubber soled deck shoes of course. I wouldn't expect shorts and swimsuit weather every day but the way things are going this year, who can tell.

Happy cruisin' you'll have a great time.

Cheers

Posts: 2913 | From: Markham, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

JP
First Class Passenger
Member # 1373

posted 04-26-2001 06:37 PM

Our eastbound spring crossings in '91, '96 and '00 ranged from calm to very calm.

Posts: 280 | From: Minnesota, USA | Registered: Jun 2000 | IP: Logged

Frank X. Prudent
First Class Passenger
Member # 1723

posted 04-26-2001 11:56 PM

I have never been on the southern route across the Atlantic, but I have been on the northern route of the Cunarders. That route tends to be brisk with a healthy dose of fog much of the way, even during the summer months. Now the southern route, from what I understand, is more conducive towards outdoor activities; afterall the lido pool/deck was pioneered aboard the Italian Liners which took the southern course on the North Atlantic and American Export ships had outdoor pools aboard too. I am very interested to find out how the crossing goes; bon voyage.

Posts: 577 | From: Covington, Kentucky, U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 2000 | IP: Logged

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