Transatlantic
Introduction
Transatlantic crossings are unique because cruisers spend a significant amount
of time at sea. To enable criusor to visit a good number of ports, cruise
itineraries are often scheduled for 10 days or longer.
The prime advantage to a transatlantic crossing is the extraordinary number of
diverse regions you are able to visit. You can visit the foreboding Loch Ness in
Scotland, witness the hot springs and vast fields of cooled lava of Iceland,
enjoy a delectable lobster lunch in Nova Scotia and lay on the sun-drenched
beaches of Key West, Florida - all in a single cruise!
If you prefer long, relaxing days at sea and the freedom to set your own
schedule, a transatlantic sailing may be the perfect cruise for you.
Getting Around
Your dependency on a guide will depend on the amount of time you are spending at
a port, and where that port is. When you port in places like Europe, the wealth
of museums, churches and monuments will justify a guide. In regions with
challenging terrain, such as Iceland, a guide might also be necessary.
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Cruise Tip
You're never obligated to take an organized shore
excursion. To explore a city more in depth or see something not included on an
organized excursion, consider exploring on your own.
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Sun
and sand are the primary reasons people cruise to places like Bermuda, St. Croix
and Barbados, and if your transatlantic cruise stops in such balmy places, a
visit to the local beach or craft market won't require a guide.
Examples of shore excursion opportunities on
transatlantic cruises include:
Sports Excursions
- Swim in the invigorating waters of Iceland's
Blue Lagoon, whose therapeutic powers are legendary.
- Light tackle fish in Key West, FL for sailfish,
tarpon, snapper, king mackerel, sharks and blackfin tuna.
- Golf at one of the Caribbean's finest courses in
St. Croix, Virgin Islands.
Cultural Attractions
- Visit Qaqortoq, Greenland and view modern day
petroglyphs carved out of monoliths - one of the finest collections of stone art
in the world.
- Sample pineapple liquor at Ponta Delgada, Azore
while touring one of the island's largest pineapple plantations.
- Attend an award-winning musical on Broadway in
New York.
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Adventure Expeditions
- Sail to Cape Spear, the most northern point in
North America, and observe communities that steadfastly cling to the cliffs and
caves of the rock known as Newfoundland.
- Go off-road into Iceland's hinterland onto the
Langjokull Glacier past the Kaldidalur mountain pass.
- Come face-to-face with alligators during an
Everglades airboat tour in Fort Lauderdale.
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Shopping Districts
- Visit the famed antique shops of Nova Scotia.
- Experience Amsterdam's Aalsmeer Flower Auction,
the word's largest wholesale market for flowers and plants.
- Purchase the world-famous blue pottery of
Holland.
Nature Trips
- Journey to Reykjavik, Iceland and observe
post-glacial lava fields, geothermal springs, the 60-foot Stokkur Geyser, Lake
Thingvallavatn and Gullfoss, an exquisite waterfall.
- Submerge yourself in the El Yunque Rain Forest
in San Juan and marvel at giant hardwoods, bamboo groves, miniature orchids,
colossal tree snails and tropical ferns over 40 feet tall.
- Walk through Dublin's "Garden of Ireland", a
natural scenic wonderland composed of domed granite mountains, purple rolling
hills, silvery streams and lush bog land.
Wildlife Interaction
- Pet the shaggy coats and flowing manes of
Lerwick's Shetland ponies.
- Stroll through a tropical rainforest in Fort
Lauderdale while hundreds of butterflies flutter above you.
- Ride a camel up the slope of Timanfaya National
Park's Fire Mountain in Lanzarote, Canary Islands.
Historical Tours
- Sightsee in Lisbon Portugal and experience Black
Horse Square, the Jeronimos Monastery, the Christ the King statue and Vasco da
Gama Bridge - the third longest bridge on the planet.
- Explore the Torshavn, Faroe Islands, and see the
13th-century ruins of the St. Magnus Cathedral and the church of St. Olaf -
consecrated in A.D. 1111.
- Ride along the infamous Freedom Trail in
Massachusetts and witness the Boston Common, the site of the Boston Massacre,
Paul Revere's house, the State House and Old North Church.
| Enhance
your Transatlantic travel by reading about its culture, people and history in
these novels: |
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Home Truths, A Jaunt Around the Decaying Heart of England
- Bill Murphy
The Bermuda Triangle Mystery Solved - Larry Kusche
Carib Breeze - Dorothy Whitfield
Two Degrees West, An English Journey - Nicholas Crane
Wilderness Journeys - Ian & Sally Wilson
Don Quixote’s Delusions: Travels in Castilian Spain - Miranda France
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