This is a follow-up to my column, Ports and Bows, appearing in Post Media papers across Canada this weekend with some Transatlantic offerings. What follows is more of them.
These cruises — all coming up this year — are based on per-person, double occupancy and do not include fees or taxes. Prices are correct as of writing. Unless noted, the cost of these cruises are in Canadian dollars.
I’ll add the full column on to the bottom of this Blog.
August 12
Dover (London) to New York: 29 days
Holland America: Eurodam
Ports: Copenhagen, Denmark; Warnemunde (Berlin) Germany; Tallinn, Estonia; St. Petersburg, Russia; Helsinki, Finland; Nynashamn, Sweden; Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Zeebrugge (Brussels) Belgium; Dublin, Ireland; Torshavn, Faroe Islands; Reykjavik, Iceland; Cruising Prince Christian Sund; Nanortalik, Greenland; St. John’s, Newfoundland; Halifax, Nova Scotia
Starting price: $4,459 (hollandamerica.com)
October 14
Lisbon to San Juan: 10 nights
Azamara Club Cruises: Journey
Ports: Non-stop
Starting price: $1,499 (azamaraclubcruises.com)
Note: On Azamara wine at lunch and dinner is complimentary and gratuities are prepaid. Suites are available.
October 22
Rome to Bayonne (New Jersey): 11 nights
Celebrity: Silhouette
Ports: Cagliari, Sardinia (Italy); Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Lisbon, Portugal
Starting price: $979 (celebritycruises.com)
Note: New ship making her first crossing.
October 25
Athens to Fort Lauderdale: 27 days
Holland America: Rotterdam
Ports: Piraeus Alexandria (Cairo), Egypt; Haifa, Israel; Ashdod (Jerusalem), Israel; Rhodes, Greece; Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey; Gythion, Greece; Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy; Ajaccio, Corsica; Barcelona, Spain; Cartagena, Spain; Malaga, Spain; Tangier, Morocco; Funchal (Madeira), Portugal
Starting price: $2,335 (hollandamerica.com)
Note: Holland America more Transatlantic crossings listed on the website.
October 26
Rome (Civitavecchia) to Galveston (Texas): 16 nights
Royal Caribbean: Mariner of the Seas
Ports: Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Cartagena, Spain; Funchal (Madeira), Portugal; La Palma, Canary Islands; Nassau, Bahamas
Starting price: $599 (royalcaribbean.com)
October 28
Barcelona to Galveston: 16 days
Carnival: Magic
Ports: Palma de Mallorca, Malaga, Las Palmas, Grand Turk
Starting price: $749 (carnival.com)
Note: Less than $50 a night. Balconies $1,549. New ship making its first Transatlantic crossing.
October 30
Southampton to Miami: 13 nights
Celebrity: Eclipse
Ports: Paris (Le Havre); Cherbourg, France; Vigo, Spain; Ponta Delgada, Azores
Starting price: $1,118 (celebritycruises.com)
November 4
Southampton to Fort Lauderdale: 15 days
Princess: Grand Princess
Ports: Brussels/Bruges, Belgium; Paris/Normandy (Le Havre); Vigo, Spain; Lisbon, Portugal; Bermuda
Starting price: $1,573 (princess.com)
Note: Princess has many ships on Transatlantic crossings, listed on the website
November 20
Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale: 13 nights
Celebrity: Constellation
Ports: Alicante, Spain; Malaga, Spain; Madeira (Funchal), Portugal; Tenerife, Canary Islands
Starting price: $699 (celebritycruises.com)
November 24
Rome to Miami: 16 days
Oceania: Marina
Ports: Barcelona; Tangier, Madeira; Hamilton, Bermuda (overnight)
Starting price: $2,299 (oceaniacruises.com)
Note: Ship was christened this year by Mary Hart.
On Saturday (today), my column on Transatlantic cruising appears in the Post Media newspapers across Canada. Following is a copy of the column which contains additional trips across the Atlantic:
The flotilla of cruise ships from North America that’s in the process of conquering Europe with holds full of euros will cross the Atlantic back to North America this fall.
Home ports for these ships will be cities like San Juan, Boston, New York, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, New Orleans and Galveston. They sail west from London, Barcelona, Venice, Rome, Copenhagen and many others.
There is a large choice of Transatlantic re-positioning cruises, complete with pricing and ports, including some very low 2012 pricing.
Part of the fleet will make a quick crossing of 12 to 14 days with stops in traditional Transatlantic ports such as Funchal (Madeira), which is north of the Canary Islands, Cadiz (Seville) Malaga, Cartagena…regular ports on those quick routes back home. These days of fewer ports and more sea day cruises offer great value and the opportunity to tour some of Europe’s historic cities before departing.
Other ships will take slower, more interesting routes, all offering cruising’s best values while still others will provide unique itineraries.
What do you expect to see when crossing the Atlantic?
Seagulls, a few freighters, a few cruise ships, maybe a dolphin from time to time. At that time of year, depending on your luck, the seas can be a bit choppy — it’s a good idea to be prepared with a supply of your pharmaceutical cures as well as home remedies for motion sickness. Be picky about the ship you select. There’s a lot of sea days so you want to make sure the ship has lots to offer in entertainment, speakers and possibly classes of interest. Or maybe your aim is to just lay back and let the world go by while reading a good book or six. In that case, ignore what I just wrote.
Are you in a hurry to cross?
The Norwegian Epic leaves Barcelona on October 21 and, stopping only at Ponta Delgada in the Azores and St. Thomas in the Caribbean, arrives in Miami 13 days later. Prices start at $899 with 10 days at sea (ncl.com).
Royal Caribbean’s Voyageur of the Seas sails from Barcelona to New Orleans on October 30. This is a 13-night trip with three ports and pricing that starts at just $499 — that works out to about $40 a day for your cabin, food and entertainment (royalcaribbean.com).
Looking for an opportunity to spend an extra day in one of the most beautiful and expensive cities in the world?
That would be Venice, and a cruise that begins with an overnight stay on the ship, in this case the Ruby Princess. Classic cities like Rome (Civitavecchia), Florence (Livorno), Barcelona, Lisbon and Cannes, as well as the Azores, are ports of call on your way to Fort Lauderdale aboard Princess Cruises’ latest ship.
It’s an 18-day journey that departs on October 19. The quality of cruise is evident in the starting price of $2,614 (princess.com).
How about a “last time” experience?
Disney is making its final crossing of the Atlantic (except for delivery of a new ship) on September 10. After this season, Disney will not go back to Europe. The Magic will leave Barcelona making calls at Gibraltar, Madeira, St. Maarten, Tortola and Castaway Cay before arriving two weeks later at her home base of Port Canaveral (Orlando). The price is $1,736 for two, including taxes and fees (disneycruise.disney.go.com).
Looking to tie in two continents?
Royal Caribbean has a real bargain from Europe to Panama. Sail Grandeur of the Seas and you can cross the Atlantic on a 14-night cruise with stops in Canary Islands, St. Maarten, Antigua and Barbados. Starting price is $520 — that’s $37 per night per person (royalcaribbean.com).
All for now…isn’t that enough!?
