Being a fan of shopping in New York, Simone Clark, Iglu's Managing Director, decided to try a Transatlantic cruise home as opposed to flying on her recent trip.
I enjoyed my first Transatlantic crossing onboard Queen Mary 2 at the beginning of July, though I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Would I get bored? What was there to do? Would it be claustrophobic? On previous cruises, I've always enjoyed port days over the sea days so this was a real test.
No Airport
I stayed in an extremely hot and humid New York City for five days of shopping, exploring and sight seeing (I also got to see the Independence Day fireworks). So it was a superb feeling to not have to waste a day transferring to the airport, then lugging cases around before flying overnight and coming back tired and jet lagged. Instead, I took a taxi from the hotel direct to Manhattan Pier in 55th street and was in my cabin within the hour sipping on champagne! (Note: Usually the ship sails from Brooklyn but we sailed from Manhattan as a Princess ship was in port).
Spectacular Sail Away
Queen Mary 2 felt like an oasis right next to the hubbub of the city. We sailed away in the sunshine at 5 o'clock after a relaxed lunch. I'll never forget it — the most spectacular sailaway ever. Passed the towering skyscrapers of midtown and lower Manhattan, then Brooklyn and New Jersey on the other shores and then right passed the Statue of Liberty before squeezing under the low Verrazano bridge out to sea. Then out on the open seas with no land to be seen until Southampton in a week's time.
What to do
There's so much to do on a Transatlantic cruise - depending on what you like.
For me it was a big learning exercise and I attended all the lectures in the Illuminations Theatre, approx two to three a day. I became an expert in espionage and counter-surveillance, cracking the Enigma Code, Beatrix Potter and the Solar System. I also found time to attend talks from the celebrity speaker and broadcaster Nicholas Owen — and attend two Planetarium shows. In my spare time I enjoyed two RADA productions of Hamlet and the Canterbury Tales and then exercised in the gym and on the Promenade deck (3 laps = 1 mile). We had some glorious sunshine on a couple of days, so we relaxed on deck and on our balcony and also had a very enjoyable afternoon tea one day.
There are also daily bridge classes and tournaments, dance classes, RADA workshops, computer classes, various gym classes and spa treatments for you to enjoy. I just didn't have the time to fit it all in!
Evenings are also packed with 3D films in the cinema, jazz bands, theatre productions and of course traditional ballroom dancing in the Queen's room. Wow! I came back relaxed and couldn't believe how quickly the time passed, if only I had the time I would always travel transatlantic this way, slower definitely is better in this case.