Transatlantic Cruises

If you’ve ever taken a cruise to Italy and purchased one of those Mediterranean cruise deals, then you know how grueling these trips can be! Perhaps you imagined just relaxing in the sun, sipping a cold, fruity Bellini and catching some much-needed relaxation. Yet it seemed like the ship was docking several times a day, which always had you hustling on and off the boat or left you struggling to choose between pre-paid ship entertainment and the more expensive shore excursions. For those who wish to slow it down a bit and leisurely cruise across the Atlantic Ocean, Transatlantic cruises returning from Europe to the Caribbean are perfect during the summer months!

There are several different Atlantic cruises’ routes you may take. The first, the Northern Route, traverses from Southampton, England to New York, passing along Southern Greenland. This short voyage, similar to the one the Titanic took, can be accomplished in just seven days. The Middle Route begins in Madeira, in the Portuguese archipelago, at the Spanish Island of Tenerife or in the Grand Canary Islands and ending in the Caribbean or South America. This route is much like Christopher Columbus’s fated 1492 voyage, which was guided by trade winds. The transatlantic Southern Route cruise starts in South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope and takes you to Chile’s Cape Horn.

One of the most highly regarded Transatlantic cruises is aboard Cunard’s “Queen Mary 2,” which launched in 2004. Since then, she’s seen high profile passengers such as Queen Elizabeth II, Jacques Chirac, Tony Blair, George HW Bush, George Lucas, Rod Stewart, Katie Couric, John Cleese and Donald Trump. Aboard you’ll be treated to 15 restaurants and bars, 5 swimming pools, a casino, a ballroom, a theater, a planetarium, the Canyon Ranch Spa, a state-of-the-art fitness center, basketball courts, book stores and a movie theater. Three-quarters of the rooms offer private balcony views, as well as cozy apartment-like accommodations. Enrichment programs also help to make this voyage an informative, unforgettable and never dull experience, as you see what Atlantic cruises have to offer.

The long days at sea involved in Transatlantic cruises are ideal for passengers who want to get some rest and relaxation on their voyage, without the burden of constant port stop bombardment. They’re also perfect for passengers who like the predictability of all-inclusive food, drinks, entertainment and accommodations, without having to penny pinch for too many land excursions. Travelers can get that real feeling of “being at sea” if they step out on the decks, or they can go below and do some gambling at the casino, take a ballroom dancing class, watch a movie, play a game of shuffleboard or take a language course. The food aboard voyages that spend most days at sea are usually much better than those on shorter Greek Islands cruises or the port-heavy Western Mediterranean cruise. These journeys may not be for everyone, but they’re the most like what you’d imagine a cruise to be; adventurous, serene and loaded with amenities.