Transatlantic to The French Riviera

If you have the time and are planning a European holiday try to coordinate it so that you can either sail to Europe from the States, or better yet sail back to the States.  I prefer sailing back (west) because of the time zone changes giving you 6 or 7 additional hours, as opposed to losing them.  Either way there is no jet lag and you will have an amazing time meeting sojourners from all over our planet.  Another good reason for opting for sailing as opposed to flying is that these sailings are what are known as “repositionings.”  Basically moving the ship from one part of the world to another, with only a limited number of ports.  On this voyage I’ll be spending time in Funchal, Madiera as well as Gibraltar and Malaga, Spain before arriving at Monte Carlo, my point of disembarkation.  Consequently, these sailings are relatively cheep in comparison to those stopping at many ports.  So, if you like sea days (and there is a lot to like), this slow mode of transportation (18 MPH) might be for you.

I had a trip planned in January where I was sailing from Los Angeles to Auckland New Zealand.  Unfortunately, one day in I received an email about a death in the family.  The first opportunity to abort the trip and fly back would not occur for another 12 days when the ship arrived in Tahiti.  At that point I bailed and returned back to the states.  So the transatlantic voyage was in essence a “redo,” if you will.

I’m sailing (or cruising) on a small high-end ship known as the Seabourn Quest.  I use the term “sailing” interchangeably with cruising as it is a term which is a part of a rich nautical history and lexicon.  This ship has only 450 passengers but is not significantly smaller than a ship carrying 1,600 passengers.  It is equipped with all modern stabilizer equipment and is very comfortable.

I meet people from all over the world on board.  Most have a great appetite for exploration and more importantly, fun.  The crowd is for the most part very interesting to engage with.  I rarely get to my cabin before 1 AM, after drinking, dining, more drinking, and of course dancing.  It is a pretty good workout both physically and socially.  Because the first 10 days out of Fort Lauderdale are sea days, early awakenings are not necessary.  This allows for burning the candle at both ends.

Daily life is pretty relaxing.  Eating, reading, the gym, daily trivia,and usually some day drinking.  This cruise line is all inclusive, and high end as well.  So as you might imagine the scene around any bar on board is very friendly.  One can be as busy or as useless during these days at sea.  Therein lies the beauty of this experience.  On sea days there is no place to go and all day to do it.   After being at sea for some 6 days, we will not arrive in Madiera for 4 more.  Please login into the blog for that experience.  Meantime, I must return to the pool deck for some afternoon beverages.