Transatlantic Cruises - Lots Of Open Water

Transatlantic cruises involve an epic journey that many of our ancestors took; from Europe, across the Atlantic Ocean and to America. The short itineraries usually focus on Caribbean cruise adventures at the end of the journey and spend a lot of time in open waters, where plenty of entertainment options are included in your cruise price. Some longer itineraries involve stops in European ports. People primarily choose a Transatlantic cruise because they love the comfort and endless amusement options aboard their prepaid vessels and they enjoy a little more time at sea, without the aggravation of an overabundance of port stops.

There are several different Atlantic cruises' routes you may take. The first, the Northern Route, traverses from Southampton, England to New York, passing along Southern Greenland. This short voyage, similar to the one the Titanic took, can be accomplished in just seven days. The Middle Route begins in Madeira, in the Portuguese archipelago, at the Spanish Island of Tenerife or in the Grand Canary Islands and ending in the Caribbean or South America. This route is much like Christopher Columbus's fated 1492 voyage, which was guided by trade winds. The transatlantic Southern Route cruise starts in South Africa's Cape of Good Hope and takes you to Chile's Cape Horn.

There are almost endless itinerary options when it comes to Transatlantic cruises. For instance, Transocean Tours' "Astor" takes passengers on a 10-day cruise from Bremerhaven, Germany to Ellis Island, New York, following the pathway of numerous immigrants and focusing on historical enrichment. Aida Cruises' "Aidaaura" features some of the Mediterranean cruise stops since it originates in Mallorca, Spain and passes to the Dominican Republic. Hapag Lloyd's "Hanseatic" begins in the West African waters of Dakar, Senegal in the autumn months and passes to Bridgetown, Barbados. MSC Cruises goes from Genoa, Italy to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Sea Cloud Cruises will take guests from Las Palmas, Mexico to Bridgetown, Barbados in the spring.

The long days at sea involved in Transatlantic cruises are ideal for passengers who want to get some rest and relaxation on their voyage, without the burden of constant port stop bombardment. They're also perfect for passengers who like the predictability of all-inclusive food, drinks, entertainment and accommodations, without having to penny pinch for too many land excursions. Travelers can get that real feeling of "being at sea" if they step out on the decks, or they can go below and do some gambling at the casino, take a ballroom dancing class, watch a movie, play a game of shuffleboard or take a language course. The food aboard voyages that spend most days at sea are usually much better than those on shorter Greek Islands cruises or the port-heavy Western Mediterranean cruise. These journeys may not be for everyone, but they're the most like what you'd imagine a cruise to be; adventurous, serene and loaded with amenities.

More about transatlantic cruises

South America Cruises

A common complaint of people who've just finished their first South American, Alaskan, Caribbean or Mediterranean cruise ship experience is that the port stops were "generic" and full of other tourists. Nothing shatters the illusion that you're a Christopher Columbus or Vasco de Gama out in the wilderness more than people with Hawaiian shirts and cameras.