Eastbound Transatlantic Questions/Concerns

[Snyders22000]

We are currently booked for the 2018 EB Transatlantic from Miami to Barcelona. Our kids will be 9,8,5 at the time of sailing. The timing works out well with the end of their school year and our principal gave us the ok to miss the last few days. We've been on 4 DCL sailings and we love sea days so we thought this would be a great itinerary for us- plus we think Barcelona will be a great city to explore at the end of the cruise. Wish we could do the Westbound Version. It it won't work with their school schedule.

We did the DCL Iceland Norway itinerary this past summer and loved it. We found it took about 2 days to adjust to the time change, then we were all fine.

I'm having second thoughts about this cruise for 2 main reasons. Losing 1 hr each day (we would lose 7 hrs total from our hometown). In theory it seems like adjusting gradually would be nice, but I've heard some say this is very difficult as opposed to losing time all at once when flying over.

My second question would be if it will be warm enough during our sea days to swim? My kids adore the pools and with all of those sea days it would be nice to utilize the pools. Obviously it won't be hot but if it's over 65 degrees my kids would probably swim.

Our other option would be to do Alaska- either 7 or 9 night. Or the 10 day Mediterranean. These would both be more expensive and we'd need to downgrade our room category to make them work. If we do the Tranatlantic, we will have the opportunity for a nice concierge suite. If we do one of the others we will not sail concierge- which is fine, just something to consider.

I'd love advice from anyone who has done the EBTA with kids, especially the southerly route to Barcelona. How was the time adjustment? Were you able to swim? Would you choose it again over Alaska or the Med?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We are currently booked for the 2018 EB Transatlantic from Miami to Barcelona. Our kids will be 9,8,5 at the time of sailing. The timing works out well with the end of their school year and our principal gave us the ok to miss the last few days. We've been on 4 DCL sailings and we love sea days so we thought this would be a great itinerary for us- plus we think Barcelona will be a great city to explore at the end of the cruise. Wish we could do the Westbound Version. It it won't work with their school schedule.

We did the DCL Iceland Norway itinerary this past summer and loved it. We found it took about 2 days to adjust to the time change, then we were all fine.

I'm having second thoughts about this cruise for 2 main reasons. Losing 1 hr each day (we would lose 7 hrs total from our hometown). In theory it seems like adjusting gradually would be nice, but I've heard some say this is very difficult as opposed to losing time all at once when flying over.

My second question would be if it will be warm enough during our sea days to swim? My kids adore the pools and with all of those sea days it would be nice to utilize the pools. Obviously it won't be hot but if it's over 65 degrees my kids would probably swim.

Our other option would be to do Alaska- either 7 or 9 night. Or the 10 day Mediterranean. These would both be more expensive and we'd need to downgrade our room category to make them work. If we do the Tranatlantic, we will have the opportunity for a nice concierge suite. If we do one of the others we will not sail concierge- which is fine, just something to consider.

I'd love advice from anyone who has done the EBTA with kids, especially the southerly route to Barcelona. How was the time adjustment? Were you able to swim? Would you choose it again over Alaska or the Med?

I think losing the hours (regardless if it's all at once or a little at a time) is not fun.

As to whether it'll be warm enough - hard to say. Our EBTA last may had 6 days of typical north Atlantic weather (rain, cold, sleet, freezing temps) between our Canada stop and Dublin.

We did a more southerly route on our WBTA in 2008 Barcelona to Port Canaveral via Tortola/St Maarten. That was in Sep/Oct and we had beautiful sunny days the whole trip.

 

[KalamityJane]

I'm on this year's EBTA in about 5 weeks with similar age kids (mine are 8.5, 6 and 4). I'll be totally happy to let you know how it goes, or you can follow along with my trip report (link in siggy).

 

[cruiser21]

I love this itinerary, but I have the same concerns as you. If I could afford concierge I wouldn't hesitate.

 

[braysmommy]

We have done this itinerary twice and both times warm enough to swim while crossing. The time change can be rough but made a bit easier since you can sleep in and not worry.

 

[Hopels]

We are also booked on the 2018 EBTA, in concierge, and have similar concerns. But I think because those are sea days and you can just relax it should be fine. We will also be on the following Mediterranean cruise so I'm hoping we will have adjusted by then.

 

[Snyders22000]

Does anyone know if they change the clocks at night? I read that some cruise lines change at noon and others at 2 am.

Also, it's the first 6 days that the time changes right? I've heard day 3-4 are the toughest.

If you've been on the EBTA before what day did you feel mostly adjusted?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Does anyone know if they change the clocks at night? I read that some cruise lines change at noon and others at 2 am.

Also, it's the first 6 days that the time changes right? I've heard day 3-4 are the toughest.

If you've been on the EBTA before what day did you feel mostly adjusted?

Disney changes the time at midnight. Not necessarily the first 6 days. Depends on the itinerary. We had our time changes on nights 4, 6, 7, 8, and 9. 5 hours difference between Port Canaveral and England.

 

[coloradocutie]

We did last year's EBTA with a 3 and a 7 year old and I think that it was a wonderful way to adjust to the time changes. We lost an hour a night, but we kept waking up at the same clock time (7:30 am for example) so by the time we arrived in England we were completely adjusted. My little ones took naps, but so did we (on vacation! )but we did not have any problem at all. It was great that once we arrived in Ireland we were right on target. The jet lag afterwards from the plane ride back to Denver... ouch. That was rough and lasted a week for the 3 year old (Mickey Mouse Clubhouse plays at 2 in the morning FWIW). But in regards to losing the hour nightly on the way over- it worked out great for us. It was a wonderful cruise- ours was cold (northern route) and had 30 foot swells and we still loved it. The pace was wonderful and there were tons of activities to enjoy on the ship. We were in concierge and found it was worth it for the longer sailing.

Enjoy your cruise!!

 

[gismo1554]

I'm having second thoughts about this cruise for 2 main reasons. Losing 1 hr each day (we would lose 7 hrs total from our hometown). In theory it seems like adjusting gradually would be nice, but I've heard some say this is very difficult as opposed to losing time all at once when flying over.

I'm usually fairly good with jet lag but I found the EBTA too much. Every day I was getting less and less sleep and more and more irritable. That's why now I just do WBTA's as it is a lot harder coming this way. Its a bit like doing a flight every day I felt even though its less hours.

My second question would be if it will be warm enough during our sea days to swim? My kids adore the pools and with all of those sea days it would be nice to utilize the pools. Obviously it won't be hot but if it's over 65 degrees my kids would probably swim.

It wont be Caribbean warm but it should be a nice temperature to swim. We have been in the pool on all our TA's.

 

[GoofyNewfie]

In 2013, Galveston to Barcelona, the temperature was great. I don't recall a day we needed more then shorts.

The time shifting is a bit of a struggle, but it is what it is. However, we did oversleep our character breakfast around day 6. Each time you're going to time shift, they laid out a "please be aware we're time shifting" note on the bed. However, you're on vacation, take a nap if it starts to add up.

You'll love Barcelona.

 

[clten]

I am not a fan of adjusting time an hour at a time each day (either eastbound losing an hour or westbound gaining an hour), I'd rather just do it all at once and then get on with it. With that said, we have done about 6 TA crossings and wouldn't hesitate to do it again. My advice is if you have the opportunity to do it, go for it - especially if you are able to do it as concierge. You'll eventually get caught up with the sleep!! The sea days are great!

Seriously, it starts out okay and you can adjust. My problem is that I am not a great napper -- if I fall asleep, I can't sleep for just 15-30 minutes and wake up refreshed. I wake up more tired than if I never napped at all. Or I have to nap for 2+ hours, which on vacation to me just keeps me from doing activities I would enjoy. So if you nap better than I do, when the time adjustments start getting to you after about the 3rd or 4th adjustment, sleep in a bit longer, take a nap and you'll be fine.

You'll see that most of the people are doing the same. It's funny because we don't consider ourselves early morning people. So in the beginning of the EBTA when we arrive at Cabanas at 9 am (having gotten up at 8 and taken a bit longer than I'd like to get moving and ready) we are part of the middle to late crowd. As the cruise goes on, we keep those same hours or close to it, maybe making it to Cabanas by 9:30 and by time we are 1/2 or 3/4 across the Atlantic, we have become the earlier crowd!

(The ones I actually feel sorry for are the crew. They lose the hour each night too. But their hours don't always adjust to allow them to make up that hour's sleep. For them alone I think there should be a normal day then that night lose all the hours for the crossing and then everyone goes to bed and there be no services until mid day the next day -- close everything up at 11pm, reset the clocks the 6 hours so it is 5 am, then have a big time change deck party starting at noon! Then you have a series of real 24 hour days to get adjusted to the time before hitting land.

As for swimming on the southern routes to Barcelona, as long as the weather cooperates, you should have good weather to allow pool use. Of course on a few EBTA that were northern crossings, there were plenty of kids enjoying the pools even though the air temperature was cool to cold!

And we absolutely loved Barcelona but keep an eye out for pick-pockets especially in crowded tourist area like La Sagrada Familia.

Who better to give you advice on your vacation plans than a complete stranger . I say go for it and book the TA. Alaska and Med are summer staples but you don't know that the timing of the next TA will work out for your schedule.

 

[DisneyConvert]

To be honest, I really don't recall the time change(s) as being that onerous. 6 hrs difference from Florida over 12 days . . . Just got used to it. Loved the sea days and meeting the Officers. We had a great vacation.

 

[mmouse37]

We did not travel with kids but as adults we had absolutely no issues with the time change at all. I get up at 7:00 am automatically no matter what so I kept doing that and had no problems.

I absolutely love either the EBTA or the WBTA. Love those relaxing sea days.

MJ

 

[gilsan]

We did the EBTA in 2014 with our at that time 8 year old daughter. She did have a hard time with the time change, we found it very difficult to get her up in the morning for the last couple of time changes. We are on Atlantic time at home so the time change was only 5 hours for us. The weather was perfect warm and sunny. We did a similar route to the one in 2018. I agree with the PP about the staff I think it would be hard losing the time and getting up to work everyday. We are debating about doing the 2018 EBTA, we love TA but might do the British Isles or the Norwegian Fjord and Iceland cruise.