Porthole....

CHOOSE TO CRUISE
A First-Timer’s Guide to trans-Atlantics

Maybe it's the historic notion of a traditional trans-Atlantic crossing once experienced by our forebears. Or maybe its just the romantic ideal of days and days at sea in the middle of the vast Atlantic Ocean. Whatever the fascination, a trans-Atlantic crossing is a cruise everyone should choose to do at least once (or as often as possible).

A Little History

Ever since the days of Columbus, people have been crossing the Atlantic in search of adventure--or a new life. For centuries, the Old World and New World were linked by ships sailing trans-Atlantic voyages carrying varied cargo and people. The rise of air travel might have made trans-Atlantic cruise travel a thing of the past, but the sheer pleasure of sea travel has kept the trans-Atlantic cruise something many choose to pursue.

Cunard Line has been synonymous with trans-Atlantic cruising since Sir Samuel Cunard’s first paddle-wheeled steamer, Britannia, crossed the Atlantic in 1840. His vision of maritime exploration and excellence on the high seas would eventually make trans-Atlantic travel much more than a way to get from Point A to Point B.

During the last half of the 19th century, huge migrations from Europe to North America meant Cunard and other lines carried millions to Canada and the United States. Rough estimates calculate that during this period and into the 20th century, one in five immigrants arrived in North America on a Cunard ocean liner.

World War I saw many ocean liners activated for military service, with Cunard ships carrying more than a million troops to and from Europe. In the 1920s and 30s, Cunard’s slogan of “Getting There is Half the Fun” led to royalty, celebrities, and others to experience Cunard’s famed White Star Service on the Atlantic. From Dorothy Lamour refusing to sail unless her favorite Promenade stateroom was available to Elizabeth Taylor pampering her pets on the high seas, a trans-Atlantic sailing became fashionable. World War II veterans may not agree, however; Cunard ships carried more than 1.5 million soldiers . Winston Churchill would credit cruise lines with shortening the war by at least a year.

Famed Cunard ships have made a regular crossing for decades, with the beloved Queen Elizabeth 2 setting the record for number of trans-Atlantic voyages. Today, Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 is the only ship offering regularly scheduled trans-Atlantic passages (generally between New York and Southampton).

The Queen Mary 2 and Much More

Making a crossing on Queen Mary 2 is considered by most to be the classic trans-Atlantic experience of today. From spring to late-fall, the beautiful ship typically offers 20 to 25 sailings between New York and Southampton. The crossings are typically six days in length, but they’re sometimes a bit longer when more distant embarkation and debarkation points in Hamburg, Germany, or Cherbourg, France, are offered.

While the sea days are a romantic draw, varied dining (like the only Todd English restaurant afloat), the largest cruise ship library, and the only planetarium or Canyon Ranch spa at sea all elicit rave reviews from first-timers and veterans alike. The line’s ever-changing enrichment program (called Cunard Insights) especially shines on trans-Atlantic crossings. With a wide variety of speakers, panelists, presenters, and performers from the worlds of art, literature, pop culture, science, gardening, politics, world events, and ocean liner history, there’s never a dull moment onboard Queen Mary 2.

But there are more ways to cross the “pond” than the traditional crossing with Cunard. Many large and small lines and ships offer trans-Atlantic crossing possibilities during the repositioning of ships between Europe and the Americas or as part of a longer world cruise or segment.

While not offering regular trans-Atlantic service today, Holland America Line has an equally rich history of crossings. The company’s first ocean liner was the Rotterdam, with its maiden voyage between the Netherlands and Manhattan taking place in the fall of 1872 (the one-way voyage took 15 days). Like Cunard, Holland America carried many immigrants to the New World (estimated at more than 850,000). The line didn’t stop regular crossings until 1971 and the line still offers many itineraries that include a trans-Atlantic cruise. The crossings typically have history-evoking names like “Voyage of the Vikings,” “Journey to the New World,” and “Path of the Seafarers.”

Costa Cruises' Anna C was the first of the line’s ships dedicated entirely to passenger transport. In 1948, it set sail from Genoa to South America (a popular trans-Atlantic route run by Costa for several decades). More than 60 years later, several Costa ships make trans-Atlantic voyages as part of seasonal ship repositioning.

In spring of 2010, Costa Atlantica will offer a new spring repositioning route from New York to Europe, with stops in Newport, Boston, Bar Harbor, Halifax, Nova Scotia, LeHavre, Dover, and Bremerhaven before arriving in Copenhagen (with a reverse itinerary in the fall). Other Costa ships feature 18- and 19-night repositioning cruises between Europe and South America, with unique port calls like Casablanca, Tenerife, Buenos Aires, and more as possibilities.

For something really unique that harkens back to the days of Columbus (with much better cabin space and food), Windstar Cruises traditionally offers a number of crossings during spring and fall repositioning of the Wind Surf and Wind Spirit. The 14-day South Atlantic cruises typically run between Bridgetown, Barbados (Wind Surf) or St. Martin (Wind Star) and Lisbon, Portugal. Barbados (see “Best Barbados Bets“) is often included on other trans-Atlantic cruises that pass through the Caribbean.

Of course, world cruises feature some sort of trans-Atlantic voyage (typically more of a leisurely crossing than a quick cruise across the ocean). For instance, Fred. Olsen Cruise Line Balmoral leaves on a 106-night world cruise out of Dover, heading south to the Canary Islands and making several stops in the Caribbean and South America.

Did You Know

*Queen Mary 2 offers onboard kennels, which are a Cunard crossing tradition. There are 12 kennels available and they run $300 for smaller animals and $500 for larger dogs. Visiting hours for pet owners are quite liberal and there’s a dedicated Kennel Master who looks after the animals.

*Along with passengers, Holland America once carried tons of cargo on trans-Atlantic voyages--typically flower bulbs, herring, and gin.

*Many new ships are built in Europe and then head to North America. Carnival Cruise Lines and many other lines traditionally bring their new ships to the New World with trans-Atlantic itineraries.

*Greenland is now often on the itinerary during North Atlantic cruises with lines like Hurtigruten Cruise Lines, Crystal Cruises, and others.

Best Barbados Bets

Along with Windstar’s sailing into and out of Barbados during seasonal trans-Atlantic repositioning cruises, several other lines call on Barbados during crossings that include the Caribbean. Here are our five best bets in Barbados.

1. Mount Gay Rum Tour
Enjoy one or more cocktails with expert shakers at the Mount Gay Rum Barbados distillery and discover the colorful history of Mount Gay Rum.

2. The Nidhe Israel Synagogue
This 350-year-old synagogue in Bridgetown was built in the 17th century (1654), but destroyed by a hurricane in 1831 before being rebuilt. The now-restored synagogue is a Barbados National Trust protected building and an active place of worship that is open year round.

3. St. Nicholas Abbey
The Abbey was built in 1660 and is one of only three genuine Jacobean houses in the Western Hemisphere.

4. Fore!
For those who want to play golf while visiting the Island, Barbados has some of the Caribbean’s most breathtaking courses.

5. George Washington House
Visit the only house that young George Washington lived in outside of the United States. George Washington and his sick half-brother Lawrence resided in this historic plantation house, also known as Bush Hill House, for two months in 1751.

For more ideas, visit www.visitbarbados.org.