Transatlantic Cruises
Transatlantic cruises offer a unique way to travel between Europe and North America, combining the timeless appeal of ocean travel with exceptional onboard experiences. With more time at sea, they provide the perfect opportunity to relax, explore your ship, and enjoy outstanding value.
What to Expect on a Transatlantic Cruise
Most transatlantic cruises last between 10 and 16 nights and typically feature several consecutive sea days as the ship crosses the Atlantic Ocean. Rather than focusing on daily port visits, these voyages are designed around the onboard experience, with entertainment, guest speakers, fitness classes, speciality dining and enrichment activities filling the schedule. Many sailings also include a handful of ports of call, such as the Azores, Bermuda or Caribbean islands, depending on the route and season.
Transatlantic Cruise Highlights
One-Way Itineraries
Travel between Europe and North America without returning to your starting port, creating a unique journey that feels more like an adventure than a typical round-trip cruise.
Queen Mary 2 in New York
Historic Crossing
For generations, ocean liners and cruise ships have crossed the Atlantic. Today, these iconic voyages remain one of the most memorable and rewarding cruise experiences available.
Luggage
Sea Days
Unlike port-intensive itineraries, transatlantic cruises include several consecutive days at sea, giving you the opportunity to truly relax, switch off and enjoy a slower pace of travel.
Sea Day
Great Value
Many transatlantic cruises offer excellent value for money, often providing lower per-night fares than traditional itineraries while still including accommodation, dining and entertainment.
Lady on ship deck
Onboard Experiences
With more time onboard, you can fully enjoy the ship's restaurants, theatres, lounges, enrichment programmes, fitness facilities and entertainment without feeling rushed.
Onboard Bar
Fascinating Ports
Depending on the itinerary, your voyage may include calls to destinations such as Bermuda, the Azores, Madeira or Caribbean islands, adding extra variety to your journey.
Bermuda Hamilton Yachts
Popular Transatlantic Cruise Routes
Transatlantic cruises operate on a variety of routes between Europe, North America and the Caribbean. While itineraries vary by cruise line and season, these are some of the most popular options.
Southampton to New York
Perhaps the most famous transatlantic route, this iconic crossing offers a classic ocean voyage between the UK and the United States, with several relaxing days spent at sea.
Europe to the Caribbean
Popular during the autumn months, these sailings allow ships to reposition for the winter season while visiting destinations such as Spain, Portugal, Madeira and the Caribbean.
Caribbean to Europe
In spring, many ships make the return journey to Europe, combining warm-weather destinations with the unique experience of an Atlantic crossing.
Mediterranean to Florida
These longer itineraries often blend Mediterranean ports with a transatlantic voyage before arriving in destinations such as Miami or Fort Lauderdale.
Best Time To Take A Transatlantic Cruise
The best time to take a transatlantic cruise is typically during the spring and autumn repositioning seasons. Between March and May, many ships sail from the Caribbean and North America to Europe for the summer cruise season, while September to November sees vessels make the return journey ahead of winter. These periods usually offer the widest choice of itineraries, cruise lines and departure ports, making them the most popular times to experience an Atlantic crossing.
Is A Transatlantic Cruise Right For You?
A transatlantic cruise can be a fantastic choice for travellers who enjoy sea days, value a relaxed pace and want to make the most of everything their ship has to offer. These voyages are particularly popular with experienced cruisers, retired travellers and anyone looking for a unique way to travel between continents. However, if you prefer exploring a new destination every day, a port-intensive itinerary may be a better fit. For those who enjoy life at sea, few cruise experiences are quite as rewarding as crossing the Atlantic.
Transatlantic Cruises FAQs
Yes. Cunard's Queen Mary 2 is the most famous ship to operate regular crossings between Southampton and New York, continuing a tradition that dates back over a century.
Sea conditions vary throughout the year, but modern cruise ships are designed to handle ocean crossings comfortably. While some movement is possible, stabilisers help minimise the effects of rough seas.
A transatlantic crossing typically refers to a direct voyage between Europe and North America, while a transatlantic cruise may include additional ports of call along the way.
Many transatlantic cruises are repositioning voyages, where ships move between Europe, North America and the Caribbean to take advantage of changing seasonal demand.
Browse Transatlantic Cruises
If a transatlantic cruise sounds like your kind of holiday, take a look at our latest sailings. From iconic ocean crossings to one-way voyages between continents, you'll find a variety of itineraries available throughout the year.