It's been brought home to me recently just how long a crossing takes. I've been watching the P&O webcams, and Aurora is currently en-route to Wilmington, Delaware. She seems to have been en-route for an awfully long time already, but she won't actually get there until Saturday morning! It's been a struggle, I tell you, and I haven't even been on board....

There are also many re-positioning cruises which take longer, and meander along various stops en route. I've only done of couple of these, and frankly have been disappointed--these were simply long cruises, with the same activities, many of the same people, etc. that you might find on a Caribbean cruise. However, for someone more active, and afraid of boredom, these cruises would be more suitable than the classic Cunard transatlantics.

Perhaps most importantly, either type of crossing is best for people who really enjoy the days at sea. If you get cabin fever just by one or two occasion sea-days on a regular cruise, don't do a repositioning cruise. But if you enjoy the long, lazy restful periods of just being in the middle of nowhere, yet still going somewhere, these are the best trips for you!

Rich

[ 09-13-2007: Message edited by: Linerrich ]

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Originally posted by Linerrich:
I don't think a crossing is for everybody, but there are also different types of crossings. An express crossing on QE2 or QM2 takes only 6 days, and Cunard offers an abundance of on-board lecturers and interesting programs. I love doing these trips because the focus is on-board, meeting and conversing with like-minded people who are there for the transatlantic experience. Whichever side of the pond you're from, it's interesting being with people from the other side, learning new things, sharing cultural tidbits, etc. I try to do one of these crossings every year or two.

There are also many re-positioning cruises which take longer, and meander along various stops en route. I've only done of couple of these,..................................

Rich

[ 09-13-2007: Message edited by: Linerrich ]

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Crossers and cruisers are different breeds. On a crossing it is rare to have a first time cruiser. There are many more solo travelers and fewer families. Most are serious travelers and the vacation is not an alternative to a week in Blackpool or the Jersey Shore. Many on a TA or repo want less stimulation, and happy to retire to a deck chair and read.

I have done 2 crossings: one on Lizzie 2, another on the Regatta. Both of those ships, the winter crossing has a cult following. Another advantage is that the ships are usually not full. I looked at the Shipmates for the upcoming November Regatta crossing and there are about a dozen people who were on my 2005 voyage. The QE2 Winter Crossing Club is quite a cast of characters.

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Originally posted by Tom Burke:
The question says it all, really.... how on earth do you manage to pass those long days?...

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Tom,

I would suggest bringing all those books you have not have had time to read. If they are maritime related even better.

I would also suggest trying to set up a routine to organize the day.

Here's an example:
- wake up
- exercise
- eat
- read/update your blog
- eat
- explore the ship or take advantage of scheduled lectures
- read
- nap
- begin getting ready to eat again
- happy hour with friends
- eat
- evening entertainment
- eat
- go to sleep

This has worked great for me in the past...

Here is my advice on how to cope with sea days onboard the QM2 (the best way to go);

1) Learn to relax

2) Enjoy the food. The meals become a real highlight and punctuate the days.

3) Enjoy the onboard entertainment and enrichment program. Cunard probably have the best.

4) Thoroughly explore the ship. The QM2 takes days.

5) Play some deck sports, weather permitting.

6) Visit the Planetarium. There are a number of different presentations on offer during the crossing.

7) Have a pint and a curry one lunch time in the Golden Lion pub.

8) Visit the Library/book Shop.

9) Visit the Bridge Window

10) Go to the Gym, laugh, then have a brisk walk around the deck instead

11) See a movie in Illuminations

12) Gamble a whole dollar in the Casino and watch those playing the tables.

13) Go to the Captain's Cocktail Party

14) Try the alternative dining (The Italian, Asian and British options are free)

15) Visit the shops, but hope that the wife does not spend too much

16) Tour the Grill dining rooms and lounge at night when they are not in use and most people are asleep. They are not normally locked.

17) Have afternoon tea in the Queens room, complete with string quartet

18) Send the wife on a Spa treatment and have a pint in the Commodore Club (observation bar) it's very nice.

19) Go to the disco one evening - don't worry older people than you will be there.

20) Tour the ‘Heritage Trail’ of maritime artefacts and paintings

21) Go to the art action, collect your free glass of champagne and be amazed that people really buy that stuff.

22) Hope that Bill Miller or John Maxtone Graham is the guest Lecturer

23) See RADA perform a play (or at least extracts).

26) Have a swim, try the hot tub

The only people likely to be bored on transats of any type are those who are incapable of making their own entertainment/own decisions and need their lives regulated by others. There is so much going on and if nothing appeals a few hours with a good book.

I have only crossed the pond 3 times by ship, and just wished the destination port was being towed away so we never got there! [not for a few more sea days anyhow].

We usually have a light breakfast in the cabin then a workout w/some spa treatment. The indoor Canyon Ranch pool on QM2 is wonderful

Visit the library to catch up on reading or attend a lecture.

Lunch time in the Grills are wonderful then a little more walking afterwards.

A movie or show in Illuminations followed by some nap time!

Cocktails in the cabin followed by dinner.

Bar hopping w/a quick trip to the casino or disco.

A little midnight snacking at the Kings Court. The soft serve ice cream is great.

By way of contrast, my first crossing was 18 days from New York to Cape Town with one 5-hour stop at St. Helena along the way. Never a boring moment on thatone either.

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Originally posted by PamM:
The only people likely to be bored on transats of any type are those who are incapable of making their own entertainment/own decisions and need their lives regulated by others.

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Pam, that's no way to talk about Tom!

On my firtst cruise I was not too comfortable with the two seas days. However I have since got 'into' them.

I've not done a crossing on a Cruise Ship, only on Ocean Liners. Cunard certainly know how to provide a full day of events and entertainment. I'm not sure that cruise lines who just do the occasional repositioning-crossing would do such a good job. Or am I wrong?

[ 09-14-2007: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

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Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:

I've not done a crossing on a Cruise Ship, only on Ocean Liners. Cunard certainly know how to provide a full day of events and entertainment. I'm not sure that cruise lines who just do the occasional repositioning-crossing would do such a good job. Or am I wrong?
]

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I've done the longer repositioning cruises on MILLENNIUM and BRILLIANCE OF THE SEAS--while they were nice trips, they were just basically long cruises, with the same usual activities taking place. Both of these trips were more southerly routes, from the Med. to Florida, so the days were warm and sunny with lots of outdoor activities. My personal disappointment, in comparing these trips to the northerly express crossings of Cunard, were because there were not really any special lectures or cultural programs offered. I guess I prefer the more traditional crossings just because of that ocean liner atmosphere, where the focus is more on the interesting people traveling and the interactions taking place inside the ship.

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Originally posted by Ernst:
There are of course many cruise ships offering lectures etc.

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To name a few: Cunard Olsen, NCL and Celebrity do, and RCI generally don't.

Cunard usually offer a number of lectures, including lecturers from Oxford University onboard the QM2. If you attend them all they give you some kind of Oxford University "Certificate" - how naff!

8:00am Wake up and go down to the spa for a sauna and shower.

9:00am head up to the breakfast buffet for some scrambled eggs and OJ

10:00am was our daily meeting in the Cruise Director's office to go over the day's events and activities.

11:00am was time to set-up for the Steiner's demonstration in the Grand Lounge...usually just make sure they have mics and lighting.

12:00 noon I would usually grab some lunch in the staff restaurant area just aft of the Mauretania Restaurant on the port side.

1:00pm there was an officer from the Bridge lecture about driving the QE2, then the Captain may come down and answer a few questions. Again I had to make sure he had a podium and microphone.

1:30pm there was a crafts lecture and demo in the card room that I had to set-up for.

2:00pm I might run a errand for the CD to acquire a case of champaign and some other give-away supplies...I loved this duty because I would take the industrial elevator way down to the bowels of the ship where the ship's stores are. Way down there in some places there is wooden decking that is really worn...probably there since the day she was first built.

2:30pm First I would set up for Bingo and roll out the big Bingo electronic game board...then I may have some free-time where I would walk the ship and maybe take a rest in my cabin on deck five until 4:00pm.

4:00pm I had to get the mics and band equipment set up in the Queen's Lounge for some pre-dinner dancing and music

4:30 I would make my way up to the Grand Lounge to get ready for the big show that night...usually I would set up the mics, get the props for the show ready and put up the banners used in the show.

5:00pm I would porobably go to my cabin and get dressed for the eveing.

5:30pm I might grab some dinner in the staff restaurant.

6:00pm was Show Time in the Grand Lounge (2nd sitting)

7:30 I would make sure the band had what they needed in the Queen' Lounge for more dancing to the big band and set the lighting for the room.

8:00 it was Show Time in the Grand Lounge again for first sitting.

9:30 immediately after the show I had to prep the Grand Lounge for the comedian

10:00pm back to the Queen's Lounge to make sure the lighting is ok and the band has everything they need for more dancing. ( I might be required to dance with the ladies a bit )

10:45pm up to the Lido area to get ready for the lip-sinc contest in the disco.

11:00PM I would often head up to the midnight buffet for a snack then go down to the crew Pig and hang out with some friends for a short time.

12 midnight I was usually in bed.

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Originally posted by LeBarryboat:
[...] I was much more busy as a passenger, [...]

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Originally posted by Linerrich:
Royal Olympia Cruises had wonderful on-board lecturers and programs. On one of my crossings aboard OLYMPIA EXPLORER, we had an ambassador, a scientist, a historian, a popular author, and an astronaut. And only 240 passengers!

Rich

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Originally posted by LeBarryboat:
Ok, ...this is what a typical schedule for me was like when I worked aboard the QE2 doing a trans-Atlantic crossing...

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Barry, he is not looking for a job on a ship he is looking for suggestions on how he can spend his time as a passenger. I don't think he wants to attend staff meetings or set up for bingo...