Not just the name of a classic Rod Stewart album, but an historic journey that many passengers and guests just love to enjoy. Forget the port stops, the Atlantic Crossing is the highlight. Many ships only ever see Southampton, maybe the Azores, or Bermuda and then an Island or maybe New York.

The purists may claim that a crossing just to a Caribbean Island is not a true Transatlantic, but you have crossed so we think you have the badge. But they have a point, the crossing was from UK (or Europe) to East Coast USA. Initially ships were sent to steel rape and milage and spread the Christian word, at the proclamation of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain. Then the founding fathers went at took the USA with ports from Canada down to Baltimore or Charleston, stopping at the Azores or Bermuda to refuel. Then during the war, there was a blockade, and ships waited in Bermuda to run guns in. Another huge transatlantic history revolves around what really helped build the Commonwealth which was the laying (and mending) of cables. Britain excelled at ship building and cable running and laid the major part of all communications all over the globe. Even today most communications go by cable not satellite as you may think.

The Queen Mary 2 claims to be the only true ocean liner in the world to make regular crossings between Southampton and New York. Additional routes include New England, Canada and some island hopping in the Caribbean.

NEW YORK LIBRARY GRAND CENTRAL STATION NEW YORK BIG BUS TOUR – RED  NEW YORK BIG BUS TOUR – BLUE NEW YORK BIG BUS TOUR – PURPLE   NEW YORK ELLIS ISLAND   NEW YORK CENTRAL PARK    STATUE OF LIBERTY TOUR NEW YORK – JUMPING OFF THE STATUE OF LIBERTY  BROOKLYN CRUISE TERMINAL ACCESS ROCKEFELLER CENTER SAIL UNDER UP RIVER & UNDER HUDSON BRIDGE EMPIRE STATE BLGD @ NIGHT

This journey is full of classic stories, like those who hated flying including David Bowie, who always took a suite on a Cunard ship, normally the QM2. That tale and other stories told by his old friend Marty Kristain a favourite on the Fred Olson ships as a Celebrity speaker. Marty shared a flat with Bowie before they were famous, and Marty became one of the New Seekers who taught the world to sing and met world leaders. The transatlantic crossing is the result of a trade route established after 1566 with the Spanish West Indies fleets, following the Voyages of Christopher Columbus. It is a journey we have done many times and thoroughly enjoy because without the port stops you can just relax, through the time table away and just enjoy the ship. Only dinner and entertainment set the tent poles in the day.

CRUISE INSURANCE  CAR PARKING DEALS ONBOARD ENTERTAINMENT

Prior to the 19th century, transatlantic crossings were undertaken in sailing ships, then steamships. The Titanic failed on that very journey but life was so different then. The survivors and bodies were rescued and taken to Halifax by cable-laying ships. The coal-fired power ships used was claimed to be the problem in the Titanic. A fire in coal bunker 6 raged from the time it left Ireland and was never managed. That cracked and separated the steel sections that were supposed to stop water moving from section to section and make it unsinkable. Nowadays, the new ships are eco regulated and even diesel is on the way out. The motors are electric and the research and technology that goes into propellor shape is all about limiting silence and vibration. But the ships known as liners, and the journey between the UK and the New Found Land is a classic. The Queen Mary 2 and the Aurora are two of the very few ships to use the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, which you will need to get a ferry to in order to cross to Manhattan. Our film shows you the other options including all the main hop on and hop off bus routes that are an excellent way to see New York. But arriving and sailing up the Hudson River is quite something special.on of these journeys came a day early for the Aurora avoiding storm Irma, and Jean Heard our main presenter, was doing her one-woman show when it arrived in New York. So technically, that has meant that Jean became a Broadway star with her one-woman show, because the technical definition of a Broadway Theatre is a theatre in New York with more than 500 seats. The Aurora has 690! Jean thanks P&O for that story she can tell at parties and the crossing is all about stories. She is a classically trained actress, star of London’s West End and appeared in our movies Freight, Bula Quo and Scarlet Tunic.

The Blue Riband is awarded for the record fastest crossing by transatlantic liner. The current eastbound record was set by the American ocean liner United States in July 1952: the ship made the crossing in 3 days, 10 hours, 40 minutes. Guinness Book of World Records has awarded world records to various classes such as luxury liners, sailboats, and rowing boats. It is something special.

Essentials – cruise travel labels and our cruise crime novels – oh, and the seasickness bands.

The Port guides here on Doris Visits are a great way to remember your cruise and share with your friends. The mystery thrillers are a whole new way to experience cruising. You may not have been to the ports in the novels, you certainly won’t have been to the parts of the ship they use. All the cruise crime novels will make you feel like you are in the adventure and on the ship – dodge the bullets and stay out of the romance. Ship and cruise accurate, the novels are a great way for new cruisers to discover a ship too. Please share the Amazon link. .CRUISE SHIP HEIST https://amzn.to/2GKQBIp

Enjoy your cruise