Cheap Trans-Atlantic Cruising

Travel Tip #2

I just completed my second Trans-Atlantic cruise. This time, my mom Sam and I sailed together for 14 days from Miami to Barcelona, Spain.

Many times the cost of a Trans-Atlantic cruise is on par with the price of a plane ticket between Europe & North America and can be much more enjoyable.

Here are 5 reasons why Trans-Atlantic cruising is a bargain:

• All-Inclusive: Factoring the combined cost of travel, accommodation, and food – it can be incredibly affordable. Often gratuities for the wait staff and room stewards are included too.

• Few Port Calls: Most people don’t want to go without port stops and dislike the idea of spending up to 3-4 days (in our case, 8) at a time on the ocean.

• Fleet Repositioning: Nearly all ships are repositioned twice a year. In the spring, cruise lines “reposition” most of their fleet from the Caribbean to the Mediterranean and back again in the fall months. So a lot of supply.

• Unpredictable Weather: The weather can be rocky on the edges of the primary sailing seasons. For us, we missed 3 of our scheduled stops after Bermuda to avoid storms with 20-foot waves.

• Shipboard Credits: If you book directly with the cruise, you can try negotiating with the reservationists. Ask for general shipboard credits, or specify a boosted wifi package (for streaming) or drinks packages (for booze). Spa credits are usually on hand.

✴️ Bonus Tip: If you’re worried about seasickness get a cabin in the middle of the ship and on a lower level. Don’t book the forward-most cabins in the bow.

Here’s Mom and I at Horseshoe Bay in Bermuda. I was tickled to be able to see the famous pink sand beaches.

Have you ever been on a cruise? What prompted you to go? Did you enjoy it?

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Christened “Wander Woman” by National Geographic, Erin Michelson is a professional speaker and author of the Nomad Life™ series of travel books and guides, including the #1-ranked “Explore the World with Nomads.”