Scott’s Bucket List: Transatlantic Cruise

Well, maybe a cruise wasn’t exactly on his bucket list but he did end up loving it. When looking at flights from Lisbon back to the USA I remembered hearing that transatlantic cruises are inexpensive. For just a little more than the cost of a flight, and 12 days of food, drinks and entertainment, we couldn’t resist the cruise. It was like pushing the “easy” button for travel. I do not enjoy long flights and what’s not to like about relaxing on a boat? We also knew that we just don’t have it in us to take Unforgettable across the ocean so why not let a captain worry about the weather?

Our thoughts about the weather returned on Nov. 3 when we boarded. We were scheduled to leave at 9:00 p.m. but left an hour early due to the big waves…oh, boy! That night at the “show” the stage curtains were swaying from side to side. I did not feel well that night nor the entire next day at sea. Thankfully, the next morning we arrived at the Portuguese island of Madeira and it had calmed. Madeira was a much more populated island than we had anticipated. We docked in Funchal, the capital, where we saw the volcanic mountains with lush, green, rugged cliffs. The cable car ride and HOHO were great ways to see the lovely town and get a feel for the area. On our walk through the downtown area near the marina we saw beautiful gardens and unusual plants.

Next up was to be a day at sea then two days in the Azores, the place we were most excited to see. Unfortunately, the weather was so bad we had to turn due west and miss the Azores. On one hand we were super disappointed but on the other hand I really did not want to be sick. In the video above you can see the effect of the waves creating empty pools and splashy walks on the deck. It was on the chilly side so we saw people sitting in the lounge chairs in their winter coats!

Our six consecutive days at sea were very pleasant even though we didn’t spend much time outside. Our next port was Bermuda for two days but the first day was extremely windy and rainy so we weren’t on shore for very long. The 2nd days we visited the Crystal Cave which was small but beautiful.

There was always an activity on board like daily dance classes, and the evening entertainment was outstanding. We had paid a little extra to have a room with a view which was so nice. We visited the gym every day and the food was delicious. Surprisingly, we actually lost weight on the cruises because we could return to eating salads, vegetables and plant based dishes. The staff was exceptional and extremely friendly.

Lady Liberty, one of my favorite sites, greeted us just before dawn. Disembarking was a breeze without even a stop in customs. We grabbed a taxi and went to two tapings of the Live with Kelly and Mark show! Scott’s son is a producer on the show. That afternoon we rented a car and drove to Solomons, MD to check on the boat. We finally arrived back in St. Louis November 23. Whew…what a trip! This was Scott’s Bucket List but a dream come true for me.

Would I take another transatlantic cruise? A resounding yes! Timing of these cruises occurs during shoulder season so you might not have ideal weather and we were aware that it was hurricane season. As boaters we were aware that one doesn’t really have a schedule in boating so we were totally expecting an itinerary change. Typically, land time is not the focus on a cruise, it’s the fun that one has on the ship. We certainly had 13 days of fun and much needed relaxation!