Our European Adventure: Crossing the Atlantic

A fourteen day cruise to Rome from New Jersey was cheaper than a one-way flight from Detroit to Rome. When planning our European adventure this seemed like a great way to get to Europe. It would be my boys first time crossing the pond and since we are cruise lovers, I thought it would be the perfect way to sail into this new adventure. Having one son on the spectrum and one son who suffers from anxiety, a gentle progression towards Europe was a way to ease them in, acclimate them to such a drastic shift from their lives in the U.S.

I was right.

Many people might think crossing the Atlantic at an average of 17 knots per hour would be mindlessly boring. Seven days of nothing but ocean, but we enjoyed our week at sea. We sailed on Odyssey of the Seas, Royal Carribean’s newest Quantum Class ship. They provide more than enough activities and entertainment for the crossing. There is something for everyone from shows to musical acts, movie to trivia, lectures and even origami. Though we sailed at the end of April, there were enough young people on board for my youngest son to make some friends. My oldest was content to hang with mom and soak int he hot tub, watch the shows, and even participate in a round of Golden Girls Trivia.

Spain was not on my radar when planning this trip. Our main focus was Italy with a week of Paris thrown in. But, the cruise offered three stops in Spain: Malaga, Cartegena, and Barcelona. It was almost as if we bought two countries and had a third thrown in for free. Bonus, we also got to stop in the Azores, a wonderfully unique archipelago governed by Portugal that resides nearly in the middle of the Atlantic. I am glad for the cruise, because all three of us fell in love with Spain, especially the food.

If you can swing it, a transatlantic cruise is an affordable way to adventure across the pond with just the right mix of at sea and ports of call. Another perk is the slow acclimation to the time change. We gained an hour every night for six days instead of having to face them all at once.

There is something truly meditative about gazing out at the middle of the Atlantic, knowing there is only water in all directions for thousands of miles. While it may unnerve some, I find deep peace in that knowledge.