Transatlantic cruise

[rodi]

Very hard with kids' school schedule so it might be 15+ years out when we're "old". Maybe it'll be a "the kids are out of the house; it's time to partayyy!" present to ourselves.

That's the situation we're in, also. But in less than 6 years the youngest will be in college in our house.... Let the cheaper travel begin. I'm eyeing up a repositioning cruise from the west coast to Australia... Nice way to get there with no jet lag or deep vein thrombosis.

 

[FUEGO]

We enjoy playing trivia and board games...like I said we are easily amused. We have zero interest in the casino....probably on a deadbeat list of low spenders on cruise ships, ha, ha. We also enjoy the Broadway type shows, I was a fan of Glee. So I think we would have a good time.

That describes us well. The only thing we ever spend money on during a cruise is the alcohol we buy on board and take back home to drink. Otherwise, I can't recall spending anything ever (besides a few bucks in the casino on our honeymoon cruise 12 years ago). Definitely deadbeats here! I hope they don't blacklist us.

I was researching the cruise industry for a blog post on cruising, and after reading Carnival corp's annual report, noticed that they have about $600-700 per cabin in revenue from on board sales (spa, casino, drinks, on shore excursions, etc). And it's almost pure profit. Lose money on each room and make it up with upselling on board.

 

[Nemo2]

Definitely deadbeats here!

Here too! We spend nothing.......any onboard credits offered go towards offsetting the 'mandatory gratuity' charges.

We don't drink, frequent the casino/spa/specialty restaurants, etc.......oh, I lie..DW did purchase for herself, (as a safety precaution), those pressure wrist bands, to offset seasickness, when we encountered relatively heavy waves in the Norwegian Sea.

 

[Meadbh]

Definitely deadbeats here!

+1
I think of cruises as an all inclusive vacation.

 

[Alan]

+1
I think of cruises as an all inclusive vacation.

+2

When we finished our Alaska cruise last year we still had money left in our onboard credit that we'd received as part of the incentive to book the cruise.

 

[FUEGO]

+1
I think of cruises as an all inclusive vacation.

Next time I'm on the cruise and see all you fellow frugal millionaire folks not drinking $12 sugary cocktails by the pool I'll stop by and say hi!

 

[Meadbh]

Next time I'm on the cruise and see all you fellow frugal millionaire folks not drinking $12 sugary cocktails by the pool I'll stop by and say hi!

 

[sengsational]

Here too! We spend nothing.......any onboard credits offered go towards offsetting the 'mandatory gratuity' charges.

When I was trying to get something done with the purser on a Carnival or Princess cruise (can't recall which at the moment), I got a copy of a print-screen from their system. Prominently displayed on my record was "Average daily OBS" (on board spending). When you walk up to the desk, they know if you're a big spender or not!

 

[Nemo2]

Prominently displayed on my record was "Average daily OBS" (on board spending). When you walk up to the desk, they know if you're a big spender or not!

That would explain all the surreptitious nudges, and incredulous looks, between those behind the desk.

 

[FUEGO]

When I was trying to get something done with the purser on a Carnival or Princess cruise (can't recall which at the moment), I got a copy of a print-screen from their system. Prominently displayed on my record was "Average daily OBS" (on board spending). When you walk up to the desk, they know if you're a big spender or not!

No kidding? I'll have to ask them if I can see my near-zero OBS on their displays next time we're on a cruise. I guess my $50-100 purchases of 5-10 bottles of liquor help keep me from complete deadbeat territory. It's like they are the pit boss and they watch what you spend so they can know how much to comp you!

I wonder if the high avg OBSers get better targeted offers for future cruises? I never get jack from the Carnival Club. I've heard big casino spenders can get comped future cruises if they are playing a ton on board. If someone loses $1000+ on average during a cruise, of course you should give them a free $300-500 room.

 

[Debinnov a]

Some of this may have been touched on, as I have not read every post. In the fall of 2014, we did a TransAtlantic from New York to England on the Queen Mary 2. We stayed in England for 11 days and came back on Royal Caribbean's Oasis, a 12 night transatlantic I believe.

I loved the fact that we did not have to fly .

What's many people do not realize, is that you can get additional spending money while on the cruise (onboard credit), from large online travel agents.

In many cases, you can make the reservation yourself directly with the cruise line and within a certain timeframe transfer that reservation over to an online travel agent . You can call several and ask them what they are willing to give you in order for them to receive your booking. Depending on the size cabin and pricing, you can get anywhere from $100 to $600 or more extra spending money. These onboard credits can be used for buying alcoholic drinks, specialty dining, gifts or shopping on board or excursions. You may also get free paid gratuities and or specialty dining wall on board.

When we arrived in England, we found a luggage storage facility and dropped off a lot of our luggage and picked it up just before boarding the return cruise. This was great because it made traveling in England and Wales by train much easier, because the Queen Mary 2 required more formal evening dining, thus more clothing was required.

I hope this was helpful and let me know if there is any other information I can share.



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[mpeirce]

When we arrived in England, we found a luggage storage facility and dropped off a lot of our luggage and picked it up just before boarding the return cruise. This was great because it made traveling in England and Wales by train much easier, because the Queen Mary 2 required more formal evening dining, thus more clothing was required.

Great idea!

We've been contemplating getting to europe via ship rather than plane. Pricing seems good and heck, we have the time to burn. Still haven't done it though.

We're more interested taking an ocean liner (Cunard) than a repositioning cruise of a giant cruise ship. Has anyone done both and can you share your observations?

 

[6miths]

Definitely have this on my 'to do' list. Did our first cruise of the Baltic last summer and enjoyed it. Granted, trans-Atlantic would be different.

 

[brett]

When it comes to cruises we are definitely deadbeats. We spend very little on board. We bring along our own wine, do private tours etc. Always book late to get a good price and always use a TA who rebates some commission in the form of on board credits. Never buy the foo foo drinks, internet, etc.

Last cruise was in Australia. We had to get cash from the casino against our cruise account in order to use the money. Cost us three percent but we got 97 percent back. Otherwise we would have forfeited the cruise line provided on board credits!

 

[Nemo2]

We are looking at a transatlantic-repositioning cruise to Europe.

We're already booked elsewhere, but if we weren't we'd seriously consider this one from VTG:

Pullmantur's Monarch

https://www.pullmantur.es/en/barco/MONARCH/galeria.html

Cheapest Inside $159
55+ Rate $151
Cheapest Oceanview $239
55+ Rate $227

$$$ Book now and all passengers will receive a FREE beverage package, which includes select alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages onboard.

Fri May 27 Colon, Panama 4:00pm
Sat May 28 Cartagena, Colombia 11:00am 9:00pm
Sun May 29 At Sea
Mon May 30 At Sea
Tue May 31 St. Maarten 9:00am 4:00pm
Wed Jun 1 At Sea
Thu Jun 2 At Sea
Fri Jun 3 At Sea
Sat Jun 4 At Sea
Sun Jun 5 At Sea
Mon Jun 6 At Sea
Tue Jun 7 At Sea
Wed Jun 8 At Sea
Thu Jun 9 Lisbon, Portugal 7:00am

 

[FIYes]

Wow, that is a crazy price. I booked a different cruise....different line. Good price but not that good.


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[Nemo2]

Wow, that is a crazy price. I booked a different cruise....different line. Good price but not that good.

Looking at VTG's site, this trip starts in Caracas, goes to Aruba, then a sea day before Colon......they don't show inside cabins from Caracas, and the cheapest oceanview is $807, as opposed to $239 if you were to board 3 days later in Colon...quite a drop.

We've done a little checking....in order to get to Colon you have to fly into Panama City and catch a train/bus/cab from there, (Colon, and I've never been there, sounds like a dump from all the reports we've read).......it also appears that you cannot board in Aruba...if you could, and if the fares were closer to those from Colon, it would have been great for us, as the airfare alone from Toronto to Aruba is half what it is from Toronto to Panama City.

 

[HFWR]

(Colon...sounds like a dump from all the reports we've read).

 

[Nemo2]

Thank you, thank you very much...I'll be here all week...try the veal.

 

[AnIntentionalRoad]

I sailed from Antigua to Portugal in 2010. It took 19 days on a 46' foot yacht. That's probably not quite the type of cruise you were talking about.

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[Nemo2]

I sailed from Antigua to Portugal in 2010. It took 19 days on a 46' foot yacht. That's probably not quite the type of cruise you were talking about.

That reminded me of taking a sailing course in the Virgin Islands 32 years ago....a friend of our captain's, with his girlfriend, had delivered a sailboat across the Atlantic, (fairly rough weather all the way); when they finally arrived in port she jumped onto the dock to secure the lines.....landed on her hands & knees, and, because the dock wasn't moving, found she was unable to stand up.

 

[Danmar]

Did a Florida to Barcelona repositioning cruise in 2007. Was our best cruise ever. We took a cordon-bleu cooking course which was great. Days at sea no problem as we find port stops iffy in any event as we have been to most of them already. Never take cruise sponsored excursions since we don't like moving at the pace of the slowest person. Book privately if at all.

Got a little tired of cruising and haven't done one for 5-6 years. Lots of time for cruises when I slow down a bit.

 

[AnIntentionalRoad]

That reminded me of taking a sailing course in the Virgin Islands 32 years ago....a friend of our captain's, with his girlfriend, had delivered a sailboat across the Atlantic, (fairly rough weather all the way); when they finally arrived in port she jumped onto the dock to secure the lines.....landed on her hands & knees, and, because the dock wasn't moving, found she was unable to stand up.

Ha. Yea, my first night back on land I needed to brace myself in the hotel shower so I didn't go flying.

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[Nemo2]

Further to post #40, VTG now shows a day later, (same cruise), departing from Cartagena, Colombia:
A little more expensive for the cabins, but cheaper (for us) and more convenient airfare/connection wise than going to Panama City.
Cheapest Inside $289
55+ Rate $275
Cheapest Oceanview $319
55+ Rate $303

$$$ Book now and all passengers will receive a FREE beverage package, which includes select alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages onboard.
Promotions may not be combinable with all fares.


ITINERARY

DAY DATE PORT ARRIVE DEPART
Sat May 28 Cartagena, Colombia 9:00pm
Sun May 29 At Sea
Mon May 30 At Sea
Tue May 31 St. Maarten 9:00am 4:00pm
Wed Jun 1 At Sea
Thu Jun 2 At Sea
Fri Jun 3 At Sea
Sat Jun 4 At Sea
Sun Jun 5 At Sea
Mon Jun 6 At Sea
Tue Jun 7 At Sea
Wed Jun 8 At Sea
Thu Jun 9 Lisbon, Portugal 7:00am


Even though we'll have only been back from our CDF Horizon cruise, St. Maarten - Barcelona for a month, we are very tempted by this one....(and we like the look of the ship).

 

[kcowan]

Never take cruise sponsored excursions since we don't like moving at the pace of the slowest person. Book privately if at all.

and at every stop it take 20 minutes for everyone to get off the bus. Private tours for us too, maximum 8 people. We find those others on cruisecritic.com and the other 6 people remain specials friends for the duration of the cruise.

(We have also suspended cruising until we can appreciate elevators.)