Taking the Kids: On a transatlantic cruise without the kids

Boredom is not an option. Not on this Regent Seven Seas two-week transatlantic cruise from New York to Barcelona. Not even with seven days at sea, more than we have ever experienced without a port stop.

We are on the luxury cruise line’s newest ship, Grandeur, with just under 750 guests and 548 crew from around the world. Besides Bermuda, we stop in the Azores and Madeira, both part of Portugal, and Malaga, Cartagena and Valencia, Spain.

Some passengers extend the trip by a week or longer to cruise from Barcelona to Rome to Venice. Carolyn and Don Rodman would be onboard for 21 days and had booked another transatlantic cruise later this fall.“ I love the sea days when I can just relax,” Carolyn Rodman said. “I never get bored.”

Major cruise lines offer transatlantic cruises typically in spring when they are positioning ships to sail in Europe and the Mediterranean and again in the fall when they return to cruise the Caribbean. Celebrity, for example, will have five ships repositioning from Europe this fall ranging from 12 to 14 nights There are also cruises across the Pacific Ocean. Cunard maintains scheduled transatlantic sailings between Southampton and New York from April to December, taking seven nights on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2. Bring your pooch as there is a kennel at sea!

“We often hear from guests that they wish they had more time to explore our ships because there is so much to see and do,” said a Holland America spokesman, noting that besides retirees, such transatlantic cruises attract empty-nesters and those with flexible jobs who work from the ship thanks to high-speed internet. (Holland America guests might book segments of their Grand Voyages, including the 20-Day Grand World Voyage.)

Many on board Grandeur are longtime Regent fans. Cindy Baglietto, a real estate agent from Dallas, has been on 40 Regent cruises. And while shorter cruises, like those in Alaska and in the Caribbean over the holidays, popular with multi-generational families, this one skews to older adults, though we meet adult children and grandchildren traveling with parents and grandparents. “I’m having a ball,” said Lynne Lewis, traveling with her elderly parents. “I don’t know how much more time we have to make family memories.”

Regent cruisers appreciate that the cruise line is mostly all inclusive with tips, liquor Wi-Fi, specialty restaurants, specialty coffees and many shore excursions included. There are upcharges for some activities, like cooking classes with the chef or whiskey tasting and excursions (learning to make paella at a farm in Valencia, Spain).

Cruisers often complain that a “bargain” cruise ends up costing three times as much as they expected once they pay for shore excursions, specialty restaurants and drinks, not to mention the casino and spa.

We can do as much or as little as we like on board. There are bridge lessons and Bingo, a cha-cha dance class, needlepoint, and crafting, pickleball and paddle tennis, giant jigsaw puzzles and board games, movies and special speakers – 15 different options just in the afternoon. Let’s not forget the well-equipped fitness center and spa.

I like the efforts to be green, including the complimentary water bottles and water stations (still and sparkling) everywhere. I also like that portions aren’t huge, so there is less waste, though you certainly can ask for seconds.

When we boarded in New York, there was a bountiful buffet with everything from salads to roast beef, Indian chicken, pesto pasta, shrimp, and smoked trout, pan fried fish, butternut squash (soup, sandwiches, a tomato mozzarella ciabatta, perhaps, cheeses, ice cream … the list goes on and on with plenty of desserts.

One of the three specialty restaurants, Prime, known for their steaks, is busy for lunch on sea days. For those who prefer to serve themselves, there is the Veranda buffet and tea (with cheesecake) in the afternoon. And, of course, there is room service. You won’t go hungry or get bored with the food offerings.

There aren’t any kids on this trip. While Regent Seven Seas caters to upscale multi-generational families on shorter sailings, particularly in summer and the holidays, this ship is packed with well-traveled seniors, many, it seems, in their 80s.

“I’m 62 and I wonder if there is anyone younger than me,” said Lani Oprescu, sailing with her dad, who is in his mid-80s, stepmom and sister. Her dad, she notes, has logged more than 200 nights on Regent. He especially likes the transatlantic sailings, she said, explaining that the family is spread out from Connecticut to Honolulu and doesn’t get to spend much unfettered time together, whether chatting, playing games or sharing a meal.

Oprescu and her sister, Michelle Nicholson, see the appeal. They made friends at bingo and trivia. “You aren’t rushing on board and off. … You make more friends.”

One woman said she was using the time to practice her Spanish. Others were working out in the fitness center, browsing in the well-equipped library, playing bridge, working a giant jigsaw or indulging in the spa. Though the ship is full – just under 750 passengers – it doesn’t seem crowded.

Passengers are checking their feeds as they relax on the Pool Deck, or in the Observation Lounge. Others are opting for a specialty coffee and a cookie or two at the Coffee Connection.

There are special speakers. Nigel Cox, a former British diplomat, for example, discusses Bermuda history before we dock there. Adam Tanner, a former journalist, talks about international politics.

Some passengers get together with newfound friends or those they met on past cruisers. To encourage that, Regent offers “sharing” tables at meals, as well as gatherings for LGBTQ and solo travelers.

Every day at 4:30 p.m. (ship’s time) is time for trivia aboard the Regent Seven Seas Grandeur, drawing it seems at least a few hundred passengers to the Observation Lounge on Deck 11. “Trivia is a blood sport here,” joked one of the ship’s top executives. Albeit one with plenty of drinks being served.

“We’re having fun with activities we would never do at home. Summer camp for grown-ups,” said Michelle Nicholson.

Especially those whose camp days are long, long behind them.

========

(For more Taking the Kids, visit www.takingthekids.com and also follow TakingTheKids on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram where Eileen Ogintz welcomes your questions and comments. The fourth edition of The Kid’s Guide to New York City and the third edition of The Kid’s Guide to Washington D.C. are the latest in a series of 14 books for kid travelers published by Eileen.)