Why You Should Cruise To Europe

O n a transatlantic cruise,        The model Trans-Atlantic crossing  time slows and you feel         is characterized by four or five   like a traveller half a         consecutive days at sea. However,  century ago before the                newer, and longer versions of      introduction of jet travel made       this basic itinerary will usually  crossing the Atlantic a hurried,      offer stops at places such as      mundane experience. Besides the       Bermuda, the Azores or the Canary  standard repositioning cruise, a      Islands. Some Caribbean islands    transatlantic trip can be part of     or European cities may also be     a world cruise, and these cruise      included near the beginning or     trip itineraries offer a truly        the end of the itinerary. Longer   epic adventure.                       routes can travel down the coast                                         of Latin America before crossing   For people who love to cruise, a      over. Or else choose a northern    transatlantic cruise brings to        route via Newfoundland and         mind classic cruising at its          Iceland and see the unspoiled      heyday, with a leisurely pace of      Scottish Isles and the Norwegian   activity. Lounge on deck all day      fjords. But the unique character   and spend the evening with fine       of the traditional Trans-Atlantic  dining and dancing.                   cruise makes these ports short                                           diversions from the main purpose   Once the mainstay of travel           of the voyage: the transit across  across the Atlantic, the              the vast expanse of the Atlantic.  Trans-Atlantic crossing has                                              evolved from a necessity to a                                            luxury voyage, an opportunity to      Cunard lines, in keeping with its  recapture the golden age of           165-year-old tradition, offers     cruising from the early 20th          more regular Trans-Atlantic        century.                              sailings than any other cruise                                           line. Cunard is known for          providing classic luxury cruises.                                        These cruises leave approximately                                        every month and customarily take      For most cruise lines,             6 nights to travel between New        Trans-Atlantic cruises are only    York City and Southampton,            offered as a seasonal              England.                              repositioning between the                                                Caribbean and Europe. Commonly at  When it was first launched by         the end of April or in early May,  Cunard in 1969, the Queen             ships finish the winter season in  Elizabeth 2 was the world's           the Caribbean make an eastbound    largest passenger ship. With the      crossing to begin a series of      2004 debut of the Queen Mary 2,       European cruises during the        which is twice the size of the        summer. At the end of the          Queen Elizabeth 2, Cunard once        European summer season, in         again holds this record. The          September or October, the ships    Queen Mary 2 is the longest,          return westbound to the warm       tallest, largest and most             waters of the Caribbean for the    expensive passenger ship built to     winter. Most major cruise lines    date. The QM2 provides                such as Celebrity, Holland         unprecedented luxury in amenities     America, Princess Cruises, and     and accommodations. The Queen         Royal Caribbean International      Elizabeth 2 continues to display      have biannual 10-16 night          the high standard of British          trans-Atlantic itineraries.        elegance associated with these                                           classic ships. In 2007, the Queen     Eastbound Trans-Atlantic           Victoria, the second largest ship     crossings often sail from Boston,  in the world, will join the           New York, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale    fleet. Carnival Corporation           and a few Caribbean ports.         acquired Cunard Line from the         Westbound ships often depart from  Norwegian Kvaerner group in 1998.     Dover or Southampton, Barcelona,   Lisbon, Rome and other major          chef or celebrity for additional   European ports. The ship can then     appeal. Educational programs such  travel through different ports on     as art classes or computer         its way to America.                   learning may be provided, and                                            dances and dinners on the ship     There is plenty to keep               will be organized to provide       travellers busy on the                guests with plenty of              trans-Atlantic passage. In            opportunities for socializing.     response to passengers' desire        The extra time to relax is can     for activity many cruise lines        also be used to take full          take advantage of the opportunity     advantage of the shipboard spa.    to offer special interest cruises     And of course, the trans-Atlantic  such as Swing Dance, Big Band         crossing is always the perfect     music, or wine and culinary           time to catch up on the latest     themes. These events may be           novel.                             hosted by a well-known author,         About the Author: J Schipper loves Cruising Royal Caribbean Living on a Cruise Ship Celebrity Cruises Read more articles by: J Schipper This article is distributed by: www.iSnare.com