Transatlantic Cruises

[Exvalley]

I agree on the formal nights. As someone who travels for business, the last thing that I want to do is tote around a suit (or even a jacket) on vacation. To do it right, I need to bring my garment bag. Adding an extra bag is not worth it for a dinner or two.

 

[Asher]

Formal vs casual, it’s different strokes for different folks. Seasickness is a whole different animal. It can completely ruin any type situation.

 

[WWW]

We are not "cruisers," but on the one cruise we took we both got seasick. This was before the mega-ship days, but I was still surprised at how much our 70,000 ton cruise ship could be tossed around in a storm. To add insult to injury, we had to miss a port day because of the storminess.

My first encounter with Mal de Mer was on the car ferry from Manitowoc WI to Ludington MI -
Looked out that port hole window and saw the horizon - looked again and water - a couple more of those flashbacks and that was it.
And the weather was just so so.
An old salt fixed me up with cure - just keep your stomach full - nothing to roll with the punch even in the sheltered great lakes.

That car ferry was interesting - transporting rail cars and automobiles the 4 hour or so crossing saving 300 or so miles down thru the
Chicago yards - think of it as a short cut from Wisconsin to Michigan. Not a cruise ship by any means closer to an Alaskan Maritine Ferry.

Reading along further here - the Queen is a speedster at sea compared to the leisure putt-putt of the 18 deck floating amusement park ships.
My dream would be the Queen and a subsequent shore excursion on the Orient Express - but alas will take any excursion railway trip and
anything skipping the TSA security gauntlet - wearing seat belts - and a fabulous meal choice selection - with unlimited booze !
A Suite dream on a steamship !

About those formal things - Yes the Queen is a dress up ship - I much prefer the Norwegian line with its Free-Style smart casual dress code.

 

[Razz44]

I already informed my wife that I'm not dragging formal wear (including black shoes) along for one night. I'll take dinner in the buffet that evening. Since I've been retired, it's Sperry Topsiders and no socks for me almost every day. I will bring a blue blazer and tie for the other evenings. I no longer own a suit, besides my "tux" (which probably no longer fits ).
All the Viking river and sea cruises we've been on were " informal luxury".

I have used one of these for years on various cruise lines with no problem.

 

[Dakota 400]

An old salt fixed me up with cure - just keep your stomach full -

That is what I have recommended to people for many years. What do most people do soon after boarding a cruise ship? And, why does the cruise line encourages people to do? Go to the buffet and have lunch! Having a full tummy does discourage Mal de Mer.

Although, part of seasickness is psychological, I believe. I have observed a few people become ill as the ship is pulling away from the dock and the water is perfectly calm.

That car ferry was interesting - transporting rail cars and automobiles the 4 hour or so crossing saving 300 or so miles down thru the
Chicago yards - think of it as a short cut from Wisconsin to Michigan. Not a cruise ship by any means closer to an Alaskan Maritine Ferry.

S. S. Badger? I have done a round trip from Michigan to Michigan and enjoyed the experience. Some onboard cruise-type activities are available. I learned one thing that I had not considered during that trip: don't sit aft of the funnel. My white sport shirt became "white with black specks" because of soot coming from the funnel.

 

[Dakota 400]

We love the ambiance, the Art Deco, the British courtesy and formality, the food, the high tea, the library, the sophisticated programs,

Agree with your thoughts, except, the formality can become a "bit too much" if one has a Dining Room Assistant Maitre d' who becomes obnoxious to the point that this guest (with the urging of my tablemates) had a "face-to-face" discussion with the gentleman following one evening's dinner. That solved the "issue" for the rest of the cruise. But, none of us "rewarded" him for his "wonderful service" on the last night when we did our Stewards.

 

[me_little_me]

I already informed my wife that I'm not dragging formal wear (including black shoes) along for one night. I'll take dinner in the buffet that evening. Since I've been retired, it's Sperry Topsiders and no socks for me almost every day. I will bring a blue blazer and tie for the other evenings. I no longer own a suit, besides my "tux" (which probably no longer fits ).
All the Viking river and sea cruises we've been on were " informal luxury".

I used to have a Tee Shirt that fully represented my feeling on the issue:

This is as dressed up as I get​

 

[trainman74]

I had the opportunity to take a transatlantic cruise on the QE2 in the summer of 1984, when I was 9½ years old, with my grandmother and sister. I remember it being mostly fun, but I did get seasick about a day into the voyage and got a shot in my rear end. (I haven't had any particular desire to take another cruise in the decades since, not necessarily due to the seasickness situation.)

 

[MARC Rider]

That is what I have recommended to people for many years. What do most people do soon after boarding a cruise ship? And, why does the cruise line encourages people to do? Go to the buffet and have lunch! Having a full tummy does discourage Mal de Mer.

I don't know. Years ago, I took the Nova Scotia ferry from Portland to Yarmouth. After we boarded, we headed for the dining room where they had an authentic smorgasbord (the ship was of Norwegian registry). We chowed down quite well while the ship cast off and we sailed through the sheltered waters of Casco Bay. However, by the time we got up to pay, we were out to sea, and I noticed a pen that was sitting around next to the cashier rolling back and forth. The we walked around the ship, went up on the deck, and what do you know we started to get queasy. We couldn't see the horizon, because it was dark. We went back to our cabin, where my companion got violently sick, and I was rolling around pretty uncomfortable in my berth. The sea wasn't even very rough. We woke the next morning and had no interest in the breakfast offerings, but after we landed, we noticed a diner type restaurant in Yarmouth right next to where all the cars were exiting customs, and what do you know, we were really hungry!

 

[AmtrakBlue]

That is what I have recommended to people for many years. What do most people do soon after boarding a cruise ship? And, why does the cruise line encourages people to do? Go to the buffet and have lunch! Having a full tummy does discourage Mal de Mer.

What food does is prevent the dry heaves. It doesn't necessarily stop queasiness or outright vomiting.
Having experienced the dry heaves a few times after carnival rides, I always make sure I have something in my stomach - but try to time it so that it stays down.

 

[Dakota 400]

we were out to sea, and I noticed a pen that was sitting around next to the cashier rolling back and forth.

My brother initially had motion sickness issues when he was young. He seemed to focus on "something" that was moving. Then, he would begin to get queasy. During a train trip, he began to focus on the ground racing by the window of our seat; my Mother told him, start to look elsewhere. During a cruise on the Great Lakes, in the dining room, he started to stare at the water sloshing around in a glass on our dining room table. He was reminded to start to look elsewhere. Both situations resulted in him not getting sick. And, it was something that he outgrew. When we cruised, he had no issues.

 

[MARC Rider]

I already informed my wife that I'm not dragging formal wear (including black shoes) along for one night. I'll take dinner in the buffet that evening.

I'm surprised they don't rent out formalwear for the evening. They're supposed to sell everything else on board.

 

[MARC Rider]

I agree on the formal nights. As someone who travels for business, the last thing that I want to do is tote around a suit (or even a jacket) on vacation. To do it right, I need to bring my garment bag. Adding an extra bag is not worth it for a dinner or two.

Oh, I don't know. I used to have to schlep around a suit for business trips. I stopped using a garment bag when I got my first rollerbag. You can certainly fit a suit and a white dress shirt into one with plenty of room to spare, as I did many times. Though I will admit that schlepping the extra pair of dress shoes was a bit of a pain.

 

[WWW]

My brother initially had motion sickness issues when he was young. He seemed to focus on "something" that was moving. Then, he would begin to get queasy. During a train trip, he began to focus on the ground racing by the window of our seat; my Mother told him, start to look elsewhere. During a cruise on the Great Lakes, in the dining room, he started to stare at the water sloshing around in a glass on our dining room table. He was reminded to start to look elsewhere. Both situations resulted in him not getting sick. And, it was something that he outgrew. When we cruised, he had no issues.

Something about something in motion tending to stay in motion and something at rest staying at rest -
Now what is this thing about arresting motion ? LOL !
It works direct your attention to something else - concentrate on a different direction - a fixed object.

 

[WWW]

Oh, I don't know. I used to have to schlep around a suit for business trips. I stopped using a garment bag when I got my first rollerbag. You can certainly fit a suit and a white dress shirt into one with plenty of room to spare, as I did many times. Though I will admit that schlepping the extra pair of dress shoes was a bit of a pain.

Some of the cruise lines i.e. Princess has a formal tux outfit to rent for the photo opt with your SO or the Captain officers and crew.
In my early days of cruising I used to pack a full dress Kilt with Prince Charlie dress jack tux shirt bow tie socks flashes and suitable loafers -
Overkill for all the formal aspects of cruising - always liked to buck the system !
Now my main fare is still the kilt but with a peasant (pirate) shirt calf sox and loafers - works fine for all the NCL dress code restaurants.
Curious my avatar is the Anderson tartan

 

[cirdan]

Oh, I don't know. I used to have to schlep around a suit for business trips. I stopped using a garment bag when I got my first rollerbag. You can certainly fit a suit and a white dress shirt into one with plenty of room to spare, as I did many times. Though I will admit that schlepping the extra pair of dress shoes was a bit of a pain.

In my view business suits are quite different from real formal wear and whereas i wouldn't like to have to wear that often, I do once in a while enjoy the opportunity to dress up a bit. After all, typically it's just the ladies who get to dress up as their fancy takes them and us gents have a much narrower range of options in a business setting, so I love to be able to put on a black tie or whatever once in a while.

 

[jis]

In my view business suits are quite different from real formal wear and whereas i wouldn't like to have to wear that often, I do once in a while enjoy the opportunity to dress up a bit. After all, typically it's just the ladies who get to dress up as their fancy takes them and us gents have a much narrower range of options in a business setting, so I love to be able to put on a black tie or whatever once in a while.

Indeed! If you don't have to worry about whether it is black tie or white tie, and whether you need to wear tails or dinner jacket, you are not really talking about real formal wear. Business Suite in those environments are derisively referred to as Prudential Salesman outfit I slowly but thoroughly learned about these niceties during my competitive Ballroom Dancing days, and came to own some of the expensive formal wear stuff. They pretty much did not have much use as business wear.

 

[Ryan]

On my first transatlantic "cruise", I travelled from Spain to Newport, RI. The crossing was made more entertaining by this guy:


As the storm approached us, we diverted south to pass through the less-dangerous side of the storm, then the storm hung a right and bounced us around pretty good. Hull was painted grey and they made me work the entire time. Would not recommend. Only positive was no formal wear required:



I'm the poor soul on the left. I have no recollection what I did to make my chief and department head unsatisfied with my performance.

 

[BlackDiamond]

Besides Cunard there are other cruise lines that offer TA's, such as Princess. Sometimes these are spring or fall positioning moves to move ships to / from the summer routes in Europe to winter Caribbean routes. Back in 2020 my wife and I planned a fall cruise from Barcelona to Ft. Lauderdale. It was $3938 for 2 not a bad price for 14 days in a mini-suite (balcony cabin with extra seating area in cabin). Would have included stops at Malaga, Casablanca, Tenerife, and Azores. Unfortunately COVID derailed that trip

 

[caravanman]

I travelled from Southampton to New York on the QM2 a few years back. I was lucky to get a very good price. Paid £850 for solo use of an inside cabin. That included my flight back which I took after spending 10 weeks travelling around the US, and attending the San Francisco gathering, where Mr Bob Dylan passed on his stinking cold to me .
One was expected to dress for dinner, but folk could eat in a less formal setting in reasonable attire.
The chap who mentioned visiting York should be aware that at the moment you need to reserve a time slot to visit the rail museum, it is free to enter. Booking train tickets tends to be cheaper if you book online in advance. Try trainline.com

My trip report is on AU under Southampton all aboard, but I can't post a link, as I am on holiday myself and struggling with my phone...

 

[Bob Dylan]

On my first transatlantic "cruise", I travelled from Spain to Newport, RI. The crossing was made more entertaining by this guy:
View attachment 27004

As the storm approached us, we diverted south to pass through the less-dangerous side of the storm, then the storm hung a right and bounced us around pretty good. Hull was painted grey and they made me work the entire time. Would not recommend. Only positive was no formal wear required:

View attachment 27005

I'm the poor soul on the left. I have no recollection what I did to make my chief and department head unsatisfied with my performance.

Brings back memories from my WestPac "Cruises!"

 

[Winecliff Station]

I’ve done crossings on the QE2, QM2 and Queen Victoria. I’ve seen balcony cabins for as little as $999 pp in January and $2500 in June. If you are celebrating a special occasion and you want to spring for Princess Grill or Queens Grill which offer suites and exclusive dining, it can go much higher. In 2007 when we found out the QE2 was being sold the following year, we booked an eastbound sailing for our anniversary, spend 4 nights in Paris and took the QM2 westbound back home. Our agent got us a free upgrade to Princess Grill and while I enjoyed it I don’t think I’d have sprung for it with our own pocket.

Crossings have more formal nights than cruises because there are no port days. The attire standard is after 6pm everywhere on the ship, not just at dinner, although obviously not the pool deck, gym, spa and buffet.

As for seasickness, I’ve been lucky in that regard. My father and grandfather had the good sense to take me on a fishing boat when I was three. I hurled my guts out the whole time and have never been seasick since, as this experience gave me my sea legs.

Also, don’t assume that if you suffer from other forms of motion sickness that you can’t handle the ocean. To this day I still have a hard time riding in the back seat of a car without getting nauseous but I’m fine on a ship in rough seas. Funny example, one time on a QM2 crossing, we had a retired Concorde pilot on board to give a lecture and he was having such a rough time with seasickness that he had to cancel one of the lectures. Think about that… the man flew supersonic jets and got queasy on the ocean. Everyone is different.

If you really have a hard time, they sell all kinds of remedies, and there’s a shot that prevents seasickness but I’m told it can make you very drowsy.

 

[Palmland]

Since the business of freight transportation has always interested me I miss the days of the smaller passenger carrying freighters. While they are still a few around, the transatlantic ones have decks stacked with containers. More interesting are the islands traders. While not transatlantic it is so interesting to see the cargo being handled. Alaska Marine Highway and Hurtigruten for coastal Norway are a couple examples.

As for transatlantic, my one experience was on the Santa Maria, a Portuguese flagged ship from Port Everglades to Lisbon. It was great fun to watch the freight activity as it called at ports that had strong Portuguese populations including Venezuela, Canary Islands, and Maderia. The ship was great and, as a college student, I especially remember the small bar with lots of Portuguese tile!

 

[me_little_me]

Crossings have more formal nights than cruises because there are no port days. The attire standard is after 6pm everywhere on the ship, not just at dinner, although obviously not the pool deck, gym, spa and buffet.

That's worse than awful.

Isn't such punishment banned by the Geneva Convention?

I have pictures of my grandfather in the 1920s going to the beach in his three piece suit.

 

[Ziv]

I spent a couple days in the old replica ship The Golden Hinde sailing south through the Dogger Bank to London. We were motoring along at around 4 knots in a Force 7, borderline Force 8 gale out of the NE and the seas were rolling along at around 5 knots so the waves picked up the stern, lifted it a bit and then the Hinde kind of pig rolled over to the side as we slid backwards up the wave and then reversed it when we slid down the back side of the roller. We didn't have the speed needed to keep her on course so we just took it. Talk about a sickening motion! LOL! Half the crew was so sick they couldn't leave their hammocks.
The captain was peeved that some of the sick crew members were leaving the ship at London so he refused to increase speed when we reached Southend at ebb tide so we just sat there, rolling and pitching, 5 or 6 miles out, our speed matching the ebb flow for a couple hours, half our crew sick as dogs. I was pretty new to the job and didn't realize what he was doing til later. Funny now. Not so much then.

Nothing wrong with a balcony cabin - just that too high you feel more motion - too low and perhaps ocean mist splashed on your balcony
moving the deck furniture around - Forward - more up and down motion - midship best ride - aft can be tricky up and down and perhaps
a sideways studder.
Sailed to Europe on a military troop steamer July 1961 - ocean was like a sheet of glass - we were making ripples in the surface.
Returned in February 1964 and the rug was pulled out from underneath the surface - 650 foot cork in a bath tub !
In 2018 sailed the Gulf of St. Lawrence NCL DAWN rouge wave hit us knocking out windows 6 decks from the waterline closed the casino
and interrupted the dinner service in one of the restaurants
Yes the North Atlantic can get nasty in the winter and tailgating a hurricane or other noteworthy event.
The big ships tend to do better than the small ones - makes a big difference if tacking into the storm wind or tailing it and you definitely
don't want to be cross winded rolling with the punch.
With the stabilizers and speed about 25 knots the exposure is perhaps not all that long - mostly coastal weather - a few hours - half a day
of bump and grind weather then out into the open sea for better sailing. Still yet the open ocean is not a lark either.

And what was this thing about Global Warming - messing with Mother Nature !