A transatlantic cruise sounds wonderfully romantic. Endless ocean views, peaceful sea days and time to properly switch off.
But when I booked one with nine sea days and two kids in tow, I started to wonder if it would actually be everything we hoped for.
Would the sea be rough? Would we get bored? And what do you even do on a cruise with almost no ports?
After crossing the Atlantic on Holland America Line’s Nieuw Statendam, I can honestly say the experience surprised me in ways I didn’t expect.
Why I Booked A Transatlantic Cruise
I’d wanted to cruise with Holland America Line again for a while, but as it’s a premium cruise line, I needed to find something that worked with our budget.
That’s when I noticed something interesting. The transatlantic sailing was significantly cheaper than many of their other cruises.
The timing also lined up perfectly with the kids’ school holidays. Then I spotted a Kids Sail Free offer too, which made the deal even more tempting. Holland America Line kindly offered me an extra discount in exchange for posting content during the cruise and that sealed it.
We opted for Holland America’s Have It All package, which includes drinks, WiFi, speciality dining and shore excursions. This made the trip even better value for money.
Still, I couldn’t help wondering if this bargain cruise was too good to be true.
The Big Question: Would Nine Sea Days Be Too Much?
Most cruises stop somewhere almost every day. This one didn’t.
Aside from a single port stop in Bermuda, the itinerary was essentially nine straight days at sea while crossing the Atlantic.
The kids naturally had questions about sailing through the Bermuda Triangle. They imagined a mysterious triangle-shaped hole in the ocean where ships disappear forever.
We watched a few YouTube videos together about what the Bermuda Triangle actually is and how cruises pass through it safely all the time. That quickly put their minds at ease.
Mine took a little longer.
Would the Atlantic be rough? Would the weather be miserable? Would we run out of things to do? Would the kids get cabin fever?
Nine sea days felt very different from our usual port-heavy cruises.
First Impressions
Stepping onto Nieuw Statendam felt like coming home.
I had such fond memories from my solo cruise to Iceland on this ship last year and I was genuinely excited to be back onboard.
The atmosphere immediately felt warm and welcoming. I quickly remembered how much I loved the food, the friendly crew and all the little touches that make Holland America cruises feel so special.
The Weather Wasn’t Exactly On Our Side
The first couple of days were exactly what I dreamed of. Bright sunshine. Calm seas. Plenty of time spent out on deck enjoying the ocean views while sipping cocktails.
Then the weather changed.
Not dramatically. It just became a bit grey.
For much of the crossing it hovered around 15 to 20°C, with cloudy skies and occasional rain. It felt more like British spring weather than a tropical cruise.
What surprised me most, though, was how calm the Atlantic actually was.
I’d imagined huge waves and dramatic storms, but most of the time the ship simply had a gentle sway. The crossing felt far more peaceful than I expected.
Cruising With Kids On Holland America
One thing I was particularly curious about was how this cruise would work with children.
Holland America isn’t typically known as a family-focused cruise line, and on this sailing there were very few children onboard.
In the kids club there were just five children, including my two. We also saw a couple of toddlers and a couple of teens, and that was it for kids on the whole ship!
Because there were so few children, the kids club operated slightly differently. You needed to book a slot the day before to secure a place. But once they were in there, my kids absolutely loved it.
Another funny thing about sailing west across time zones is that the days become 23 hours long. Every other day, the clocks go forward an hour.
That meant the kids found it harder and harder to wake up in the morning, and some days they slept much later than usual. But once they were awake, there was always something to do..
What Do You Actually Do On Nine Sea Days?
This was the question everyone asked before the cruise. And the surprising thing is that the days somehow went incredibly fast.
The daily schedule wasn’t packed with activities like on some cruise lines, but there was always enough to fill the day.
We spent our time:
- Swimming in the indoor pool
- Going to the gym
- Playing board games
- Playing deck games like suffboard and cornhole
- Watching movies in the cabin or by the pool
- Reading books from the library
The kids also loved High Score, the ship’s free arcade. It’s technically the teen club, but during certain hours it opens to all ages. We spent quite a bit of time there playing pinball, air hockey, table football and video games.
I also relaxed the rules on screen time slightly during this cruise.
Normally the kids barely touch their iPads onboard, but with WiFi included they occasionally watched videos or played games in the cabin. And honestly, after so many sea days, I didn’t feel too guilty about it.
The Atmosphere Onboard
The atmosphere on this cruise was incredibly relaxed.
Most passengers were American or Dutch and many were retired. Everyone seemed friendly and in no rush to be anywhere.
When you spend that many consecutive days at sea, something interesting happens.
You start recognising people around the ship.
You see the same faces at breakfast. You bump into the same people at trivia quizzes and in the lifts. It creates a calm, sociable atmosphere that feels very different from busy cruises where everyone disappears into ports each day.
Food, Drinks And Life Onboard
I’d been slightly worried about how fresh everything would stay after so many days without restocking supplies, but somehow the salads stayed perfectly crisp the entire time. They must have some kind of magical cruise ship refrigeration system.
The Have It All package also made a huge difference to the overall experience.
Having drinks included means you can order cocktails, wine or speciality coffees without constantly thinking about the cost. Over nine sea days, that definitely adds up.
We also loved the speciality dining restaurants, especially Tamarind, which serves incredible Asian fusion food.
Did We Get Cabin Fever?
Before the cruise, this was my biggest concern. But surprisingly… It never happened.
Between the gym, kids club, restaurants, games, movies and simply wandering around the ship, the days always felt comfortably full without feeling exhausting.
And before we knew it, we were already approaching the UK.
Who Would Enjoy A Transatlantic Cruise?
A transatlantic cruise isn’t for everyone, and that’s part of its appeal. It’s perfect for people who genuinely enjoy sea days, slow mornings and simply watching the ocean drift by. If you love reading, relaxing and having nowhere particular to be, it can feel wonderfully peaceful.
However, if you mainly cruise for the ports or prefer constant high-energy entertainment, this style of sailing may feel a little too quiet.
I also think choosing the right ship makes a huge difference. Features like the indoor pool, gym and family spaces helped keep the experience enjoyable for all of us.
My Final Verdict
So was the transatlantic cruise a mistake?
Not at all. In fact, we absolutely loved it.
The slower pace, calm atmosphere and feeling of completely disconnecting from normal life made this cruise feel very different from any other itinerary we’ve done.
And while nine sea days sounded daunting at first…
It ended up being one of the most relaxing cruises I’ve ever taken.
I also have a video of this cruise, take a look here…
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