Travel Tuesday: A Week At Sea

A week at sea, crossing the Atlantic is either heaven or hell.  I have done it three times, and I truly enjoy it. Quiet days, that develop a rhythm of their own. For others the idle time is boring and frustrating. Despite a million square feet to explore, they feel confined. 

I have done the three major routes, the southern route from Florida to the coast of Africa, the northern route - the route of the Titanic, and the middle shipping lanes. If your idea of a cruise is spending endless days in the hot sun, the closest to that will be the southern route to the Canary Islands and even that is not tropical. The northern route is the fastest, and also the most likely to be overcast and cool. Perfect weather for an afternoon of reading and napping.  

The days are quiet. Leisurely - with nothing demanding your time or attention. There are things to do, shows, movies, lectures, time by the pool, time to walk or go to the gym. And certainly plenty of food options. While you may have a fixed dining room time, you can always skip that and go to the buffet that is open for hours everyday. 

In the three crossings there have been a couple of lifetime memorable moments for me. 

We have passed through the straits of Gibraltar twice. The first time was in the dark, in high winds, and foul weather, I slept through it. The second time was in the late afternoon early evening, in good weather. I could see Spain on one side, and north Africa on the other side, and dolphins running along the side of the ship escorting us into the Mediterranean. The experience moved me in a way I didn't expect. 

The other was passing over the wreck site of the Titanic, on the anniversary of the sinking. The ship had planned to stop to lay a wreath, but the weather was foggy and rainy, and in the interest of safety we kept moving. This was on a Holland America Line ship. Something I didn't know before that trip, a son of one of the founders of the line, was a passenger on the Titanic and went down with the ship. 

A transAtlantic passage is not for you, if you fear time. Time alone. Time that is unscheduled. If you have a strong fear of missing out, the quiet schedule may not be for you. If you savor quiet days to do whatever you want to do, time to explore, time to think, time to not have to think, a transAtlantic passage may be the perfect trip. 

A dolphin escort through the straits of Gibraltar 

 

Passing over the wreck of the Titanic