My husband and I have been on over twenty cruises. One thing we have discovered is that your cruise adventure will be unique to you. When visiting a city or country by land, people choose various activities depending on their interests. The same holds true for cruise vacations.
In this post, I’ll highlight what we did on our first Transatlantic cruise to Europe on the Regal Princess. I’ll also highlight some of the notable attractions in each port, so you can decide if a Transatlantic cruise is for you.
All Aboard
We boarded the Regal Princess in Fort Lauderdale, FL. There are several reasonable hotels in the airport and cruise port area that offer free shuttles from the airport.
We always take a shuttle to the cruise port on the day of embarkation. The price runs about $15 per person. Of course, Taxis and Ubers are also available, as well as ship transfers.
The embarkation process for this cruise was slower than usual. We waited for over an hour, despite arriving at our appointed time. There were new visa requirements for people traveling to the UK, which required an extra step during check-in. That could have been the reason for the slowdown.
Tip: Always fly into your port destination the day before your sailing. This is especially important on a Transatlantic or similar cruise, where the first part consists of several sea days. On this cruise, our flight was actually canceled due to a storm. I contacted the airline immediately and was able to get on another flight. If this had happened on the day of our sailing, we would have missed the ship.
Seven Relaxing Sea Days
Despite the slow embarkation, the ship sailed on time. We spent seven days at sea before reaching our first port. I was pleasantly surprised by how calm the Atlantic was during the crossing. The only unpleasant part was setting our clocks ahead one hour almost every day. We had an inside room with no outside light, so we tended to sleep longer each day. But by the time we arrived in Europe, we had pretty well adjusted to the new time zone.
We took advantage of the warm weather upon leaving Florida and spent the first two days relaxing on the sun deck. Once the weather began to cool down, we enjoyed long, leisurely lunches in the dining room. Each night, we stayed up late to attend the 9:30 shows, which were all amazing. In the mornings, we hit the gym for a workout or a walk around the track.
The ship offers a variety of entertainment options throughout the day on sea days, including music, dancing, and games. There’s no reason to be bored, regardless of your interests.
Tip: Just because there are multiple activities to do on a ship, that doesn’t mean you should do them all. Pick out what you enjoy most and pace yourself. A cruise should be fun, relaxing, and tailored to you.
What about emergencies?
Unfortunately, on our second day at sea, we received a surprise text message. It said that one of our best friends had suddenly passed away. He was a member of our small group Bible study and a lifelong friend. We were shocked and grieved. We also felt terrible that we wouldn’t be there for the funeral, nor to support his wife and family. Being five days away from our first port, it would be impossible to get home for the funeral.
This scenario is certainly something to consider during long cruises. When emergencies occur, either on the ship or at home, you may not have the best opportunity to handle them.
Tip: Always make sure a friend or family member knows the Cruise line and ship you are on in case an emergency arises, and you cannot be reached on your mobile phone. We were fortunate in that somehow the text about our friend’s passing came through, even though we had not purchased any internet service on the ship. I’ll just call that a God event.
Nine adventurous ports
Repositioning cruises are some of the best value in cruising. We added a British Isles cruise to this crossing for a twenty-day itinerary.
Before we left, I researched the best things to do in each port. Also, Luka, a travel specialist on board, gave a port talk about each port while we were at sea. His information was most valuable and informative.
Tip: The more you learn about the port’s offerings before arrival, the better your time will be spent there.
Weather wise
The weather is cool crossing the Atlantic and in Europe in the spring. Most days were 50 or 60 degrees with a damp chill in the air and an ocean breeze. I would have loved sunny, seventy-degree weather; however, that was not going to be the case that time of year. We were prepared with sweaters, coats, hats, and gloves on our excursions, so we stayed comfortable.
Tip: Always check the weather for the area for the dates you will be visiting. Keep in mind that the temps often feel cooler than they actually are on or near the ocean.
The beautiful Azores
Ah, land!
The Azores are a group of nine volcanic islands in the North Atlantic Ocean. This is the first stop for many ships crossing the Atlantic. They are beautiful and green and great for outdoor hiking and activities. One of the most popular spots are the crater lakes, Sete Cadides volcano and Furnas volcano.
My research said that these were the most visible on sunny days. The day of our visit was overcast. It was also our first time visiting there. Therefore, we chose to explore the port city of Ponta Delgada instead. We’re always happy just to explore the cruise town and the surrounding area when it’s our first trip to a port.
Ponta Delgada is an ancient city rich in history, with cobblestone roads and lovely architecture. We visited a magnificent cathedral and explored a museum featuring antique art from the 1600s. We also enjoyed some great local pizza and sipped coffee and a pastry at a local coffee shop. All of this was within walking distance of the port.
The stunning beauty of the cathedrals in Europe is absolutely amazing. Visiting them is one of my favorite things to do. I never cease to marvel at the intricate detail and the labor of love that the architects poured into them.
Brest, France
After a couple more sea days, we arrived in Brest, France. Brest is an important harbor and military port.
The architecture of the city was totally different from the city of Ponta Delgada. We loved walking the streets and window shopping, admiring the French fashions.
A top attraction there is the Maritime Museum. It is located inside the Chateau de Brest. This chateau is the oldest building in the city. We headed over there just as it was starting to rain. The admission was modest, and we found it very interesting and spent a couple of hours looking at the maritime exhibits.
When in France, speak French
In keeping with our tradition of checking out some of the local food, we wandered upon a quaint little cafe. We walked in and the man behind the counter pointed us to a table in the corner.
Understandably, the French expect us to speak French when in their country. A man approached our table, as if he wanted to take our order. I asked to see a menu, and he pointed at the wall. The menu was written on a blackboard, all in French, and the only word I could make out was baguette. We sat there for a moment and decided we didn’t want to take a chance on ordering something we didn’t like. So, we decided to leave. I smiled and thanked him on our way out.
We then came upon a French pastry shop and decided to go in. At least here we can point to what we want, my husband said. The young lady greeted us in French, and I greeted her back, “Bonjour.” She could obviously tell from my accent that I wasn’t French. Then, she started speaking to us in both English and French.
We joyfully picked out our lovely French pastries and took them with us to enjoy back on the ship. They were beautiful and tasted amazing!
I’ve since learned that you can simply point your phone at the printed language, and it will translate it! Who knew?!
Rotterdam, Netherlands
Here we debated between going to Amsterdam, a short train ride away, or exploring Rotterdam. Both are exciting places. After some online research, we decided to stay in Rotterdam and explore the town.
Rotterdam is a new city, mostly built in the past thirty years. It’s known for its unique architecture. We enjoyed looking at all the quirky high-rise buildings and even toured the famous cube house. The cube house was cool to visit, but I’m too claustrophobic to live in one.
When we returned to the cruise terminal, protesters greeted us. They scolded us for what they saw as contributing to the destruction of the planet through our cruising. One lady asked me how I could sleep at night, and I said, “Because Jesus loves me!” I told her Jesus loved her, too, and she walked away. What else should I say? It’s my faith alone that keeps me at peace in this chaotic world.
Note: The cruise lines actually do a phenomenal job of protecting the oceans.
Magnificent Sail Away
The sail away from Rotterdam at night was beautiful. We skipped dinner in the dining room so we could witness it. As we sailed through the inside passage, the lights from the buildings were stunning for miles.
Next time, I’ll definitely check out Amsterdam as I’ve always wanted to visit there.
Depending on the time of the year, of course, the tulip gardens are a must-see in the Netherlands also.
Zeebrugge, Belgium
At this port, we splurged and took a ship excursion to Brussels. Since it was two hours away, we didn’t want to take a chance with an independent excursion. It cost about $200 per person, but it was worth it.
We started at 7:00 am and enjoyed the beautiful Belgian countryside on our drive to Brussels. Afterward, we took a quick tour of the modern city that concluded at the Grand Place. We stood in the center of the stunning, historic buildings and admired them before spending a couple of hours on our own.
We hit a Belgian waffle restaurant first thing and then a chocolate store. The waffle was incredible. I left the chocolate store with a shopping bag full of goodies for my family and friends back home. The chocolates were even better than I imagined.
Another city, Bruges, is only 12 miles from the port. It’s lovely and many passengers choose to visit there. You can easily get there by train or taxi.
Southampton, England
The Transatlantic cruise ended in Southampton. We, along with about 900 guests, remained on the ship and continued our voyage of the British Isles. Some passengers took an excursion to Windsor or Stonehenge that day. We had been to Windsor before and loved it. We weren’t sure if seeing Stonehenge was worth the price since it would be a quick trip. Since we’d be hitting ports every day for the next four days, we took a chill day instead.
The demographics of the ship changed as many of the Transatlantic cruisers disembarked and new passengers arrived. Many European families were coming onboard, taking advantage of the reasonably priced British Isles cruise for the Easter break. A different couple sat next to us each evening at dinner, and we loved chatting with each of them. Some said they lived in the United Kingdom. Yet, they had never visited some of the places on the itinerary.
Cornwall, England
My husband is a big fan of Doc Martin, a TV show filmed in Cornwall. He had longed to visit there for quite a while. We didn’t get to visit Port Isaac, where the show was filmed, but Falmouth was very similar. The coast was beautiful, the town charming, and the people very welcoming. I came back with a lovely spring dress and a beautiful handmade piece of art. It made for an enjoyable and successful shopping day along the beautiful coast. As expected, the fish and chips were delicious!
Easter Sunday celebration
We arrived in Cobh, Ireland, on Easter Sunday. One thing I love about Princess Cruises is that they allow for church services on Sundays! I don’t know of any other cruise line that does this. It was a wonderful experience to worship our Lord’s resurrection with other Christians before getting off the ship that day.
About those church services
We had an opportunity to attend a church service each Sunday on this cruise. (There was also a Bible study each morning on the way over. But with the time change, unfortunately, we didn’t make those.) These events are usually led by passenger volunteers. Princess is very accommodating by supplying a room and even Bibles!
We were on a thirty-two-day Pacific cruise last year and attended a Bible study each morning. This is one reason I’m faithful to Princess Cruise Lines. I appreciate that they honor God by allowing these services.
Cobh (Cork),Ireland
It was pouring down rain when we got off the ship in Cobh (pronounced Cove). Fortunately, there was a Heritage museum there at the port that I wanted to visit.
Cobh was the last port for the Titanic before it headed out across the Atlantic. Here, it picked up 123 passengers, seventy-nine of whom perished when the ship sank.
This was also the port all the Irish immigrants went through on their way to America. Since my ancestors came from Ireland, I found it interesting learning about the Irish immigration. I was even able to pull up the signatures of some possible ancestors from the travel logs.
Fortunately, the rain had subsided when we were finished at the museum. We then climbed to the top of the hill to visit another amazing cathedral. After a bowl of incredible seafood chowder at a little café, we sat by the coast at a park, listened to live music, and enjoyed the now beautiful, sunny day.
There was a train going into Cork City, which was another option, but we had a full, enjoyable day right there in Cobh.
Dublin
There is so much to see and do in Dublin. I highly recommend you visit this city if you are on a cruise with a stop in Dun Laoghaire.
Trinity College, St. Patrick’s, and the Guinness Storehouse are among the top attractions. I’ve not been to the Guinness Storehouse, but I hear it’s an interesting tour, even if you aren’t a beer drinker. We had visited Dublin a few years ago, and Trinity College and St. Patrick’s were both wonderful sites to visit.
If you do choose to go to Dublin, you can pick up the train at the station, which is located a short walk from the pier. Trains run regularly, and the ride time is 25 minutes to Dublin.
Dublin has a great hop-on-hop-off bus, which allows you to explore much of the city in one day.
Since we prefer to visit places we have never been, we chose to stay in Dun Laoghaire. It proved to be a great decision.
Exploring Dun Laoghaire
We walked past the train station on our short walk into town. The first thing we spotted was a Starbucks, which meant coffee and free Wifi! We promptly parked ourselves there to use the Wifi to map out some things we wanted to do in town. I had recently changed my cell phone carrier and didn’t have the international service I was expecting. Therefore, I had to rely on Wifi most of our trip. Now, I’ve learned that you can purchase e-SIMs for the region you are visiting when traveling internationally.
We were near the shopping district. Some of the stores were closed because it was Easter Monday. However, we found one that had some nice things.
After the successful shopping spree, we began looking for some fish and chips restaurants that had been recommended. When we found the first highly recommended one, it was closed. We came upon another, and it was closed also. I’m not sure if they always close on Mondays or because it was Easter Monday.
Eventually, we came upon a restaurant that looked really nice. We walked in and checked to see if they had fish and chips on the menu. They did, and they were delicious!
Dun Laoghaire has a really nice paved walkway that runs along the coast. We spent the remainder of the day strolling and enjoying the beautiful oceanfront views.
Belfast, Northern Ireland
We booked an excursion on this stop through Viator to visit the Giant’s Causeway.
One thing I love about Viator is its fantastic communication. You don’t have to look hard for a phone number, and a live person will actually answer. Their e-mail communication is great, too. With Viator, you can reserve your tour, and you won’t be charged until 2 days before your tour. You can also cancel within 24 hours of your tour.
Once paid, they email you the tickets. You can save them in the wallet on your phone so that they are accessible with or without an internet connection.
The tour picked us up right at the port with exact instructions on where the bus was located outside the ship.
Amazing Ireland
This was an all-day tour, and it did not disappoint. Driving through the Ireland countryside was incredible, with green fields and rolling hills everywhere, dotted with grazing white sheep. We also stopped at some castles on the way to the causeway. The causeway was magnificent, as expected. We only wish we had more time there than the 1 1/2 hours allotted. It was a little chilly there, though, even though it was a beautiful, sunny day.
Afterward, we drove along the stunning coast and picturesque countryside. They arranged lunch for us at a local hotel situated on top of a mountain, overlooking the beautiful landscape and sea.
The tour concluded with a drive through Belfast and an insightful history lesson on the struggles between Catholics and Protestants. They took us to the wall that divided the two communities, and I was surprised to learn that even though the unrest had settled, the gates still closed each evening at 9:15.
Before we headed back to our ship, we drove through a section of the shipyard where the Titanic was built.
An interesting attraction in Belfast, which many passengers enjoyed was the Titanic Museum.
Winding down
There was one last sea day to enjoy before returning to Southampton for our disembarkation. We had booked our transfer and direct flight through Princess, and everything went smoothly.
Let’s go again!
This was one of our favorite cruises because each port was quite distinctive. We found it both enjoyable and educational. We’ll definitely take another Transatlantic cruise and connect with other voyages to the Mediterranean, the Greek Isles, or Italy.
In my opinion, cruising is the most economical, easiest, and most enjoyable way to see the world!
If you would like to see my review of our South Pacific cruise, click here.
I’d love to hear your particular Transatlantic cruise experience. What stands out to you, and what tips would you like to pass on to other potential cruisers?
Other random cruise tips.
Eat in the dining room as much as you can, because the food is significantly better and it’s more relaxing. The downside is that it takes a lot longer to eat, so you don’t always have time for this luxury. The exception is that if you want a salad bar. Salads in the dining room are usually small.
If you want to save money so you can cruise more often, book an inside room. Sometimes, for the difference in what you pay for a balcony, you can book another cruise.
Bon Voyage!
The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters. Psalm 29:3
