Theresa RussellTransatlantic cruises are one of the best ways to fully enjoy the cruising experience. With plenty of time spent at sea and opportunities to enjoy the amenities and activities your ship has to offer, you’ll find that taking a transatlantic cruise is a special experience that can make a cruise ship feel like home.
If you’re considering taking a transatlantic cruise, we’ve got you covered with this complete guide. Here you’ll find a brief history of transatlantic crossings, an overview of how long these sailings are and how much they cost, considerations to help with planning, and more.
A Brief History of Transatlantic Cruising
The first ship credited with making a transatlantic voyage with passengers was a far cry from modern cruise ships. Some consider the Great Western to be the first passenger ship to cross the Atlantic in 1838. Made of wood and using paddlewheels and sails, it took 15 days to make the crossing. This ship, carrying fewer than 200 passengers, would fit into today’s small ship category.
When shipbuilders began using steel, it was possible to make larger and faster vessels. During much of the 20th century, ships played an important role in the immigration of many from Europe to North America. Cruising back then was a form of transportation, rather than the vacation that we now associate with cruising and cruise ships.
With the advent of transatlantic flights, the use of ships for transportation diminished. The cruise industry shifted to become a leisure product, rather than a transportation product.
What is a transatlantic cruise?
For the purposes of this article, we will consider a transatlantic cruise as any that travels between Europe and North or South America. Obviously, the cruise ship will sail across the Atlantic Ocean, in either direction. However, there are several variations on such cruises. Departure and arrival points include cities in the U.S., Caribbean, Canada, Mediterranean, and northern Europe.
How long are transatlantic cruises?
The shortest and most basic transatlantic cruises are those that simply leave from one port and cross the Atlantic to another port with no stops along the way. These types of voyages are ideal for those who have some time and don’t want to fly.
The best known provider of this type of crossing is Cunard’s ship Queen Mary 2. This sleek, fast ocean liner takes a week to cross the Atlantic between New York City and Southampton. A unique benefit to sailing this ship is that guests can bring their pets onboard with them. In fact, Queen Mary 2 is the only cruise ship in the world that has dedicated kennels for dogs and cats.
The more interesting transatlantic cruises are typically repositioning cruises, which occur when cruise seasons change. Ships in the Caribbean move to Europe for the summer season. When winter approaches Europe, ships return to warmer climates. This type of cruise might have a few ports of call along the way. Popular ports on these cruises include the Canary Islands, the Azores, and Madeira. Expect a cruise length of at least 14 days.
Some ships that cross the Atlantic offer very interesting itineraries and take over three weeks to sail between the European and American continents. Many ports may be included on such itineraries.
Which cruise lines offer transatlantic cruises?
While Cunard is synonymous with transatlantic cruises between Southampton and New York City, most cruise lines move their ships across the Atlantic Ocean.
Most popular cruise lines seasonally sail the transatlantic route between the Americas. Watch for Caribbean based ships to start traveling to Europe in April and May. October and November are the most common months for ships to sail back to the Americas.
However, there can be some transatlantic cruises that occur on either side of the typical months. For example, when a new ship is launching and will be spending its inaugural season sailing out of Florida, it will need to sail from the shipyard in Europe across the ocean to the U.S. New ships launch all throughout the year, so that type of transatlantic cruise can happen at any time.
How much does a transatlantic cruise cost?
When comparing the cost of transatlantic cruises, the two biggest determinants of the final price will be the length of the cruise and the cruise cabin category.
For the most part, the cruise fare will be less expensive for inside and oceanview cabins when compared to other staterooms, like a balcony or suite accommodations. Likewise, the overall costs tends to be less expensive for shorter itineraries.
However, the per-day costs are actually cheaper on longer transatlantic cruises. For instance, Cunard is famous for its classic 7-night transatlantic crossings. Many of these iconic sailings between New York and Southampton, England start at around $1,200 per person for an inside cabin and at about $1,800 to $2,500+ for a balcony cabin.
Regardless of the time of year, Cunard cruises heading eastbound are routinely cheaper than those starting in England. This might partially be due to the time zone changes. Westbound cruises tend to be a few hundred dollars more per passenger for similar accommodations.
On the other hand, Royal Caribbean offers select transatlantic cruises across several ships. For the most part, these cruises are 13 to 15 days in length sailing between Florida and either Barcelona or Civitavecchia (Rome).
Starting prices for inside cabins on these Royal Caribbean trips range from around $800 to $1,500 per person. Balcony cabins on these sailings range from about $1,300 to $2,000+.
Holland America Line has a variety of transatlantic crossings ranging from 13 to 20+ nights. These cruises mainly sail between Florida and the Netherlands or Spain. The starting price for these cruises is usually around $1,000 a person, with the longer 20+ night cruises starting at around $2,800 per person.
Planning Your Transatlantic Cruise
There are several factors involved in planning your transatlantic cruise.
Budget
Transatlantic cruises are usually more gentle on the wallet than other voyages in places like the Caribbean or Mediterranean. You’ll find that the per-night cost is often significantly cheaper, making these voyages perfect for those who want more bang for their buck and are fine with lots of sea days to relax and enjoy the ship.
Origin
Do you prefer to sail in one direction? Think of the jet lag you avoid when heading toward Europe. You are ready to go from day one. Returning from Europe you gradually adjust to gaining time. Flights are another consideration. Is it less expensive to fly in one direction and sail in the other? Do you have time to return on another transatlantic in lieu of flying home? Do you want to extend your stay at either the start or end of your trip?
Ship
Do you have a favorite cruise line or ship that will make you feel at home for multiple sea days? Have you considered trying a different ship in your favorite fleet? Maybe this is the time to try out a mega ship since you’ll have plenty of time to explore all of its offerings , or maybe you want to try a new-to-you cruise line.
Stateroom
Do you have a favorite type of cabin? Will you feel comfortable in that cabin if you spend lots of time there? Or, are you happy to use it just as a sleeping space and take advantage of the public areas of the ship? With lower prices, a transatlantic cruise might offer you the opportunity to move to a higher stateroom category. And with all of that time at sea, you’ll have plenty of time to truly take advantage of it.
Itinerary
Be sure to check if there are any ports of call on the itinerary. Choice of itinerary is purely a personal preference. Before you make your selection, you might want to see what kind of activities happen on the ship during a transatlantic cruise — and what excursions are available in your port calls.
Intentions
Do you have personal plans for your transatlantic cruise? Maybe you want to catch up on reading, sleep or relaxation. Maybe listening to the waves or watching the wake appeals to you. On a transatlantic cruise, you can do it all or do absolutely nothing!
Pets
Cunard offers kennels on Queen Mary 2. These popular pet accommodations fill up quickly, so be sure to book far in advance.
Health
With many days at sea and land not easily accessible for several of them, it’s prudent to consider your health needs. Onboard medical facilities are basic, so be sure that you are aware of the potential difficulties of experiencing a serious medical event. If you are prone to seasickness, be sure to take precautions and as with other medical conditions, get the advice of your doctor prior to booking a transatlantic cruise.
What’s the best time of year for a transatlantic cruise, and what will the weather be like?
When determining the best time of year for a transatlantic cruise, you will need to take the weather conditions into consideration. According to Cunard, Atlantic storms occur more frequently between early June and late November. The seas between December and May are calmer.
The weather can be unpredictable, and temperatures can vary quite a bit as you make your way across the Atlantic Ocean. Of course, the first few days of the voyage will largely reflect the temperatures of the homeport where your cruise starts. Beyond that, it may get warmer or colder depending on the direction you’re going and the time of year.
What should you pack for a transatlantic cruise?
If this is your first time taking a transatlantic cruise, you are probably wondering what you should pack. Especially if you are on a longer transatlantic cruise, you should consider what you will need during your extended time away from home.
To reduce your luggage, make your outfits do double duty with pieces you can mix and match. Change up your look with simple, easy-to-pack accessories. And don’t forget that ships offer laundry services. Some even have self-service laundry rooms. Doing laundry halfway through your trip is a great way to reduce what you need to bring with you.
When it comes to packing for the weather, bring clothes for both warm and chilly weather. As mentioned, temperatures can vary quite a bit during the ship’s crossing. Bring some casual and evening pants, sweaters, and sweatshirts. But also pack some shorts and t-shirts, too. Also, don’t forget your swimsuit. During your many days at sea, you will probably want to make use of the pools or your cruise ship’s spa.
And of course, don’t forget to bring closed-toed shoes for potential activities on the ship that require them, as well as for active shore excursions while in port.
For a more complete look at things you might want to pack that go beyond just clothing, check out our Caribbean cruise packing list and our Alaska cruise packing list.
What to Do While Cruising the Atlantic
With so many sea days on a transatlantic sailing, the daily newsletter is a valuable companion for planning your days and evenings. It will list out the day’s activities and entertainment, what times various restaurants and bars are open, and other pertinent information.
The newsletter will be available either on paper which will be delivered to your cabin or can be found at guest services. It should also be available to view on your cruise line’s smartphone app.
Common sea day activities during a transatlantic cruise include:
- Trivia
- Mixology classes and alcohol tastings
- Arts and crafts
- Educational lectures and workshops
- Dance and fitness classes
- Pickleball sessions
- Ship tours
- Spa treatments and the thermal suite
- Game shows
- Karaoke
- Kids’ and family programming such as themed parties, scavenger hunts, etc.
As you can see, many opportunities abound. Of course, there are self-directed activities as well. Think about what you would like to do during your downtime and pack accordingly. People play board games, do puzzles, enjoy the pools and hot tubs, knit, crochet, read, etc. There really is no limit to what you can do.
Maybe your goal is to walk 10,000 steps per day. A ship with a full promenade or jogging/walking track is ideal for such an activity.
What are the advantages of a transatlantic cruise?
There are so many advantages to taking a transatlantic cruise. The price per night is often significantly less than a traditional weekend or week-long cruise. Reduced single supplements, airfare promotions, and other money-saving offerings may be available.
Additionally, on a cruise with more sea days than usual, many guests find that they can relax more. There are many days in a row where you don’t have to get off the ship and “be” somewhere. You can enjoy what the ship has to offer or simply bask in the sun.
How do time zone changes work on a transatlantic cruise?
Changing time zones as you cross the Atlantic work similarly to if you were taking a long road trip that crosses multiple time zones. You gradually change times as the ship makes its way across the ocean. This can actually be a nice benefit, as you won’t experience the severity of traditional jet lag that you would if you flew to Europe or the U.S. Instead, you gradually lose (or gain) one hour at a time over the course of several days.
Sometimes, the time your ship changes to might not actually match up perfectly with the time zone you’re currently sailing in. This is for convenience, as the ship will always change times overnight while most guests are sleeping. The ship will also likely change times in a way that ensures once you reach a port, the ship’s time will match the local time. The staff coordinates when to change the ship’s time as you make the crossing accordingly.
Is a transatlantic cruise right for you?
While there are definite advantages to a transatlantic cruise, be sure to thoroughly consider some of the differences from this type of cruise and a more traditional sailing.
If you are new to cruising or love to cruise more for the ports than time spent aboard the ship, you might get restless with so many sea days. Those who love long days at sea and the ability to relax and enjoy the cruise might find a transatlantic cruise an ideal itinerary.
It’s also important to consider the time spent away from home. Do you have enough vacation time to comfortably take a transatlantic cruise, or maybe you plan to use the ship’s wifi to keep up with work remotely? Is your health such that you feel comfortable spending several days in a row at sea away from shoreside healthcare facilities? These are important questions to ask yourself before booking a transatlantic cruise.
Final Thoughts on Taking a Transatlantic Cruise
My first transatlantic started in Copenhagen and ended in New York City. With many days of ports, I enjoyed places that I consider exotic, like the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, and Atlantic Canada. The transatlantic cruise was like several cruises in one with a very reasonable cost.
I went back for more and enjoyed another northern route transatlantic as well as a southern route.
If you enjoy the ship as its own destination and love spending time at sea, chances are you’ll love transatlantic cruising. And once you do one crossing, it’ll be hard to resist booking more.
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