Transatlantic - EB or WB?

[calmpets]

I had been looking at the possibility of doing one of the Transatlantic cruises, but can't decide which direction to go. Eastbound or westbound? September is much easier for me to arrange vacation time, and adds Tortola (never been) and St Maarten (been & liked) to the itinerary. Eastbound is more difficult to schedule, but would give me an extra European port (Cadiz), and put the jet lag at the end of my trip instead of the beginning. Any thoughts?

 

[kcashner]

Both?

 

[Kurby]

is this your vacation or are you planning on doing any site seeing before getting on the ship?

if you are looking at seeing more or europe i'd do the cruise at the end - i know it has stops but it's still relaxing to come back to the ship.

 

[slindamood]

One big advantage of westbound - 25 hour days! Because of the time change, 6 times during the cruise you have a 25 hour day. Makes it easy to stay up late, get up early.

The EB has the opposite - 6 days with 23 hour days.

 

[Buckeye Gal]

Here are some of the factors in my decision to take the westbound:

• If I'm going to be in the Caribbean, I enjoy cruising in September rather than April because the water will without question be warm.
• As you stated, OP, jet lag adjustment going from the States to Europe will be much easier.
• You GAIN 6 hours on the ship going westbound.
• Tortola will be new for me, too.
• Many of my DISer friends from the September 2008 Double Dip are on the WBTA.
• We'll be more relaxed going back to reality after being in the Caribbean than if we had just hit the European ports hard to get as much seen as possible.
• Castaway Cay is a much better way to end a vacation than to take a trans-Atlantic flight home.

 

[BearFan]

I agree wholeheartedly, I'd choose the WB, too. We did the WB TA last time (Hi slindamood!) and thought that we would've had a terrible time with the time changes. You lose an hour every night you're crossing the Atlantic. We met people who did both and they really complained about that. We're debating doing the WB repo again but haven't decided yet. It's going to be our 25th and we'd love to do a vow renewal at sea although none of our family would be able to go with and share it with us. If we do it, we may just have to invite Disboarders as our surrogate family. It would be a shame to not have anyone at all at it. We only had 3 people at our wedding before, not counting the J-O-P and our witnesses, this would be smaller yet. Just not sure.....

Lisa Marie

 

[MagicalPins]

If Sept is easier for you to arrange, go for the Westbound.

I did it last time and loved it. One of the top 3 cruises I have done. There is nothing better than 6 days stright of 25 hour days! That is a vacation!

I would go insane with 23 hour days one after another.

 

[trimix]

If I could choose anything, I would choose the westbound. I find the itinerary more interesting as it combines a bit of an European itinerary with the Eastern Caribbean, and I am much happier on a 25 hour day than on a 24 hour day.

Unfortunately, other schedules dictate. Before I decided to cancel my reservation I had booked the eastbound, because westbound happens right when my kids would be starting school, and we can't miss the beginning of the year - the meet the teacher things and all that...

 

[ibouncetoo]

Both?

That's what I did.

But if financial considerations become and issue, it's the Eastbound that I would give up (sorry Monica).

.

 

[tink too]

Even though we have the horrible long flight home (back to UK) at the end of our vacation, we still chose the WBTA.

The pros for us were:

better weather in Europe in September
finishing our cruise at Castaway Cay
visiting some new-to-us caribbean ports
having some time at WDW before we head home
being on the ship for DH/DD's birthdays and our anniversary

Of course, six sea days in a row, and 25 hour days are also a bonus!

 

[DVCconvert]

tink, too wrote:

...Of course, six sea days in a row,...

Just wanted to point out that there's really only 5 sea days in a row on the WB (not that that isn't great - just didn't want you disaapointed)


From the DCL website

Cruise Itinerary Day Port Ashore Onboard
Saturday Barcelona, Spain — 4:00 p.m.
Sunday At Sea — —
Monday Gibraltar, U.K. 7:30 a.m. 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday At Sea — —
Wednesday Madeira, Portugal 8:30 a.m. 9:30 p.m.
Thursday At Sea — —
Friday At Sea — —
Saturday At Sea — —
Sunday At Sea — —
Monday At Sea — —
Tuesday St. Maarten 7:15 a.m. 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday Tortola 7:30 a.m. 3:45 p.m.
Thursday At Sea — —
Friday Castaway Cay 11:15 a.m. 4:30 p.m.
Saturday Port Canaveral 7:30 a.m. —

 

[tink too]

Just wanted to point out that there's really only 5 sea days in a row on the WB (not that that isn't great - just didn't want you disaapointed)

I forgot about the stop at Madeira!

I won't be disappointed though - 5 days is still plenty of time to relax and enjoy the ship.

 

[SnowWhite2]

I am so waiting for this cruise, I just hope I can find someone to watch my kids for two weeks

I was sad when I realized this week that the CC time is really short - arrival is not until 11:15 and departure is still around 4.

BearFan - I was also thinking about a vowel renewal at CC since we are doing this cruise for our 25th wedding anniversary (although it will be our 26th - but this is what I really want and no TAs this year). Instead I was thinking about the REAS.