transatlantic cruise weather in january

ULTIMATE Transatlantic Cruise Packing List

Are you looking for the best transatlantic cruise packing list? Well look no further! In this guide we well you what to wear on a transatlantic cruise for formal nights, days at sea and more as well detail dress codes alongside other transatlantic cruise essentials!

Table of Contents

What is a Transatlantic Cruise?

A transatlantic cruise is as the name suggests a cruise that crosses the Atlantic. It typically departs from North America i.e. New York or Florida and terminates in Europe in ports such as Dover, Barcelona or Rome , or vice versa.

Transatlantic cruises are usually one way, and are also sometimes known as repositioning cruises and have few to no ports of call, and will typically take anywhere between 7 – 16 days. Though Cunard are the line that specialises most in Transatlantic voyages and is really the only line where you can get back to back Transatlantic cruises.

Typically transatlantic cruises will have few stops given the vast ocean you are crossing. But some will stop at the Atlantic Portuguese island of the Azores in Ponta Delgada or Funchal Madeira. However this does mean that you will be spending most of your time aboard which obviously affects your packing list greatly.

Both the length of a transatlantic cruise and the lack of stops to refill or purchase essentials or forgotten items means it is even more important than your usual cruise packing lists to get your packing list right.

What to Pack on a Transatlantic Cruise Tips

But before we get onto specific items that should be on your Transatlantic Cruise Packing list, we wanted to point out some key factors that will affect your cruise packing list:

Does you Cruise Ship have laundry?

Whether or not your cruise ship has laundry will greatly affect the amount of things you need to pack for your cruise.

Cunard, one of the most popular transatlantic cruise lines, has laundry facilities on board all of its ships. And on top of ship laundrettes, will have dry cleaning and other paid for laundry. Therefore you can pack a cruise capsule wardrobe and reduce how much luggage you need to take.

However some lines, which offer repositioning cruises rather than being specialists in transatlantic cruises i.e. Royal Caribbean or Norwegian for instance, do not offer self service laundries. Therefore if you do not want to pay for laundry, you will need to pack more.

How Many Nights?

As I mentioned above, the length of a transatlantic cruise varies greatly depending in the itinerary and line. You will need to calculate how many nights you have, and how many outfits you will need but I will always advise packing as lightly as you can for a cruise.

Formal Nights

Formal Nights are on most cruise lines (with Norwegian being a notable exception). On these nights the Main dining room enforces a smart dress code (the formality changes by line).

You need to decide if you want to join in and add an outfit that is appropriate for the line you are traveling on. As transatlantic cruises have few to no stops, I always recommend getting involved in things like formal nights.

However you are likely to have 2-3 formal nights on a transatlantic cruise. But so you don’t overpack I recommend taking one dress or suit for men, that can be accessorised differently i.e. different bag and pashmina or different tie, so you can wear the same outfit but style it differently.

Destination

Remember to consider the destination and length of your post cruise trip. This can greatly affect the outfits you need even if you won’t wear them onboard the ship.

Embarkation

ALso we always recommend packing your cruise embarkation bag carefully so you keep your essentials that you can’t live without on your cruise i.e. medications, documents, swimwear etc with you.

For a full guide on packing your embarkation day bag check out this post.

Transatlantic Cruise Packing List

Now we have looked at the things that will affect your transatlantic cruise packing list we will give you an overview of the number and types of cruise outfits we pack for transatlantic cruises.  

What to wear on a Transatlantic Cruise

Formal Outfits (2 outfits)

As you won’t have many shore days in your itinerary we recommend participating in the formal night. I personally find it t too bulky to pack 3 formal night outfits so instead I recommend 1-2 outfits that can be styled differently.

But my favorite cruise formal night outfit has to be a black cocktail dress as this is easiest to dress up and style differently.

While my husband will usually just take one suit, or tuxedo on more formal lines, with different ties or bow ties so it looks different.

Smart Casual Outfits (3 outfits)

I think 3 smart casual cruise outfits max is perfect for a transatlantic cruise. It all the items can be done using our sudoku packing method this is even better for reducing the amount of items you need to take.

Casual Outfits (3-4 outfits)

For daytimes on a transatlantic cruise you can wear whatever you feel comfortable in. It is worth having one outfit that can deal with slightly cooler weather even in summer it can get quite breezy on a transtlantic cruise in the middle of the ocean.

As I mentioned above, it can be quite chilly sailing the Atlantic. For this reason we recommend having a couple of light layers such as cardigans or sweaters that can be used in both casual and smart casual outfits.

The Dining rooms and air conditioning on ships is notorious for being strong. Protect yourself with a pashmina that can be used with outfits both formal and casual.

Swimwear is an essential even on a cold weather transatlantic cruise becayse even if you don’t want to swim (though many cruise lines will have an indoor solarium) there are usually hot tubs on board to use.

I recommend packing at least 2 swimsuits with you so you can wear one and dry one.

Beach cover

Great for in port and on deck. I would pack 2 if you are in hot weather destinations. 

I don’t always out my gym wear on my cruise packing lists especially on shorter length cruises (i.e. anything between 3 to 5 days ) but on a transatlantic cruise I think it is a good idea. you will be spending around 2 weeks on your cruise so you will likely want to do some exercise while onboard.

PJs and underwear

Sunglasses .

Useful for in ports but also on sea days when the sun can be dazzling.

Shoes (3 Pairs) 

For a transatlantic cruise I recommend packing 2-3 pairs of shoes depending on weight in your case. These are: 

• Sneakers  – best for walking in.
• Sandals or Boots –  I like a pair that can be good for walking and that can also be used in the main dining room depending on whether you are expecting warm or cold weather
• Heels / Smart Shoes – for use as part of your formal night outfits.

You may also want to pack flip flops or slippers for use on the pool deck too.

I don’t like to pack too much jewelry. But I do like to have some with me as it is a great way to style a formal night outfit differently without having to take up too much room in your case. 

If you decide to wear real rather than costume jewellery we recommend putting it in your room safe when you are not wearing it.

Transatlantic Cruise Essentials

So now you know roughly how many outfits to pack for a transatlantic cruise we turn our attention to other cruise essentials to put on your packing list. Bear in mind, you won’t have many opportunities to refill in ports so it is important to have everything you need with you.

Passport   and identification

A Passport and identification is always required regardless of the length of cruise and destination. As Transatlantic cruises are not loop cruises a passport is an essential.

Documentation including Covid 19 related paperwork

This includes visas and any vaccination documentation that you may need for your cruise and destination. Again this needs to be in your  cruise carry on .

Also remember to have adequate insurance which covers you for cruise travel.

Many people find a lanyard is the best way to keep their cabin key safe and on them at all times on a cruise. You should keep your cruise card with you at all time as this acts as identification on board the ship and also as your payment method.

When looking for a cruise lanyard we think that the best ones are waterproof so you can use them in the pool and hot tubs too!

Click here to shop the best lanyards for cruise travel.

Pack any meds you need in your carry on instead of checked bag and be sure to have prescriptions with you. 

As well as prescription medication some other medications you may like to travel with include:

• pain medications such as Advil, paracetamol, Tylenol and Ibuprofen 
• Reflux Meds such as Gaviscon, Tums etc. 
• Birth Control

And of course:

Sea sickness medication or bands

I personally have never gotten sea sick on a cruise ship. But transatlantic crossings can be rough and it is more likely to happen out in open water.

Just in case you get rough seas we recommend packing some anti- motion sickness meds and some sea sickness wristbands.

Click here to shop sea sickness medication .

Cruise ships do provide toiletries but I find the quality differs from line to line. If I have space or I am not traveling carry on only and going on a plane at the start of my trip, I will usually pack some of my favorite toiletries and bring them with me.

This usually includes good quality shampoo and conditioner, toothbrush and toothpaste, sunscreen, lip balm and moisturiser.

On top of this I will usually have my travel makeup bag with me.

Travel Adaptor

Depending on where you are from, who you are sailing with and where you may need to take a travel adaptor with you to ensure that all your electronics will work. 

I personally never travel anywhere without my trusty Universal travel adaptor that works in pretty much all locations. 

Click here to shop universal travel adaptors.

Most new ships will have USB charging ports next to the bed however this is by no means on all ships. Don’t get caught out and take a charger with you and a spare cable. 

Depending on the line you are on, you will be permitted to Bring on board a small amount of alcohol – usually just champagne or wine. 

If you are allowed to bring alcohol on board we recommend using your allowance as this will be cheaper than drinks on the ship. But be sure to check your cruise ship rules before travel so it meets current requirements. 

Note  – wondering if you  can bring a corkscrew on a cruise ship  – check out this post for more information.

There you have it, everything we think you should add to your transatlantic cruise packing list. But if you have any questions feel free to drop them in the comments below and we will do our best to answer!

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Plan Your Transatlantic Cruise to Get the Most Out of It

Check it out this useful information about the best time to cruise Transatlantic.

Book Transatlantic Cruises

If you are planning a Transatlantic Cruise, remember that you will be at sea for four or five consecutive days. So, you'll need to plan your time for cruise according to the weather. Summer months are considered ideal as the weather is best at this time. However, hurricanes and tropical storms can impact the sailing. If you are a seasoned cruise traveler and love a stormy weather, you might also enjoy a cruise to Transatlantic in winter months!

During your Transatlantic cruise, the ship will drop anchor at some popular ports of call, like the Canary Island, Bermuda , and the Azores. These destinations can be at the beginning or end of your cruise. It is prudent to remember that usually these ports of calls are not visited very often by cruise ships . Hence, you should make the most of your Transatlantic Cruise to explore the lesser known cruise destinations .

Best Time to Take a Cruise to the Transatlantic

Why a transatlantic cruise.

It can be an overwhelming experience to cross the massive Atlantic Ocean. You will learn about the olden shipping routes and marvel at how the seafarers of yesteryears cross the ocean with minimal technology.

Also, going on a Transatlantic Cruise allow you to relax and unwind without any interference from the chaotic outside world. You can use the time at sea to catch up on your reading, drink champagne at the deck, try your luck at the on-board casino, indulge your taste buds to a gastronomic adventure, and even pick up a hobby, like dancing or cooking.

Some cruise lines have dedicated Transatlantic cruises throughout the year while others offer it when they reposition their ships from Europe to the Caribbean or from the Caribbean to Alaska.

Types of Transatlantic Cruises and the Best Time to Board Them

The cruise lines that offer Transatlantic cruises offer either eastbound or westbound cruises. The Eastbound Transatlantic cruises begin after the Caribbean cruise season gets completed, and they are available in the spring season, usually from March through May. These cruises depart from major cities like New York, Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Boston , and few other ports in the Caribbean.

On the other hand, the westbound Transatlantic cruises are offered from the end of the summer season in Europe , when cruise lines begin bringing back their ships for other itineraries. During this period, Transatlantic cruises are available from September through November, and most depart from European ports, like Dover in England, Barcelona in Spain , and Lisbon in Portugal .

Best Time for a Transatlantic Cruise

If you are wondering which is the best time to board a Transatlantic cruise, you will be surprised to learn that it depends on you. Since cruise lines offer eastbound and westbound Transatlantic cruises, you should decide which direction you want to sail to. This will enable you to choose a port that is closer to home at the start or end of the cruise.

It is essential to remember that the hurricane season in the Atlantic is from June through November. Hence, during this season the sea condition and weather may not be what you expect.

Another point to note is that during spring and fall, night temperatures will be cool. So, you will need a cardigan or sweater if you are opting for a southern crossing. On the other hand, if you choose a northern crossing, you will need a warm coat.

Regardless of which time you choose to go on a Transatlantic cruise, you can rest assured that you will enjoy an affordable, relaxing, and entertaining cruise. This is because most cruises have minimal ports of call and this make Transatlantic cruises quite economical.

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Don’t Fly to Europe – 10 Best Tips For Your First Transatlantic Cruise

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“It’s not really the middle of nowhere.”  That’s what I find myself saying whenever someone declares, “I’d never go on a transatlantic cruise.”

A transatlantic crossing is an entirely different cruise.

I have to admit, while not exactly in the middle of nowhere, on a transatlantic cruise there’s not much activity except for an occasional whale or dolphin sighting. You can feel like you are out there all alone. Kind of a personal litmus test for latent agoraphobia.

Remember that old expression, “the shoemaker’s children go barefoot”? Whenever I prepare for a transatlantic crossing, I still remind myself of what I’ll expect during the crossing experience. After 22 transatlantic crossings (it’s always an even number if you never fly), I’ve learned to love the endless expansive of sea and sky. 

10 cruise tips and advice for a transatlantic cruise

1. know before you go – prepare.

With a minimum of seven or more consecutive sea days , even the most entertaining of the mega ships will have a lull in the activities that most interests you. Some ships still have some sort of library.

For the best book selection, get there when the library first opens. By the second or third day, the choice for best sellers has dwindled. Note that Queen Mary 2 has a library on all ships. Chances are you can find a book or two that for the cruise.

Not a reader? Bring your home craft project providing it fits into your checked luggage. You’ll find knitting, needle-point, and scrapbook meetings each day in some public space.

Wine tasting events have expanded into single-malt scotch, craft beer and tequila tastings, too. There is a fee but what else do you have to do?

2. Stop to smell the roses

If you find yourself on the verge of activity-overload, scout out a quiet spot to watch the sea. I usually search for both an indoor viewing area as well as an outdoor, wind-blocked vantage point. Sunny days with millpond seas do exist on the Atlantic Ocean.

On foggy or rough seas days, curl up in a comfy chair near a picture window. Yes, you will want to look out and see what’s going on. Mid-ship on a low deck and you’ll hardly feel those famous December thirty-foot seas and gale force winds!

3. Keep moving

There are some ships that you can almost walk your way across the Atlantic. On Queen Mary’s wraparound outdoor walking track/promenade, a mere three times around is 1.1 miles. Other ships, you can walk in circles ten or eleven times to finish one mile.

If a good fitness center is important, head on over to the cruise line’s website for photos of their workout facility. Almost every cruise line plying the Atlantic offers aerobics, yoga, pilates in addition to spinning and a fitness center.

4. The legendary weight gain

With at least a week of sea days, one of the biggest concerns is weight gain. I’ve come to realize over time that it isn’t the actual over-eating that is the cause but the amount of salt in the food that is the culprit. Also, I hear a lot of people complaining about swollen feet and ankles. Again, it’s the overload of sodium in the food.

Solution? Tell your dining room waiter that you would like to be on a sodium-free diet for the cruise.

Here’s how it works:  every night at the end of your dinner, the waiter (or head waiter) will present to you the menu for the next evening. You choose your entire dinner and the order is brought to the kitchen where there are other special diets orders (gluten-free, allergy requests etc.).

By eliminating the “built-in” salt, you will avoid retaining water and thus not blow up like a puffer fish. But be forewarned:  if you order salt-free, your dinner will be salt-free. This means that the gorgeous bowl of steamy French onion soup will arrive sans toasted French bread and cheese. You can always do a modified salt-free when something sounds too good to pass up.

5. A transatlantic cruise is a great time to do nothing

This isn’t a “If It’s Tuesday, It Must Be Belgium” experience. Transatlantic cruises are generally not “port intensive.” But if there is a port you would like to visit, chances are you can find a cruise that stops there en route to where you will disembark.

So, with careful planning and a lot of vacation days, you can choose an itinerary which visits four and five ports along the way. Some cruise lines include a couple of Caribbean ports, too.

6. Hop on the bus, Gus

The luxe bus across the ocean, Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 is the ONLY cruise line offering regularly scheduled non-stop transatlantic crossings nearly year round. The Queen Mary 2 is also the ONLY purpose-built true ocean liner, not cruise ship, in service today. She’s built for transatlantic voyages in the North Atlantic and sails them beautifully.

7. Make the transatlantic cruise into a back-to-back voyage

Once you’ve decided on which transatlantic voyage to take, book yourself into back-to-back cruises so that you stay onboard for either the first cruise once you arrive in Europe or the last cruise before the westbound crossing. You not only feel “special” in saying that you are “continuing on…”, but you get to spend time in many wonderful ports throughout Europe.

8. Does Anybody Really Know What Time it is?

One of the best advantages of a transatlantic crossing is the elimination of jet lag. Yes, you arrive at your destination either in Europe or the U.S. without needing two or three days to catch up to the local time zone.

Which direction is better? Personally, l prefer a westbound crossing because it results in 25-hour days. Here’s how it works.

You are booked on a crossing with seven sea days before you get to New York. Starting on the first or second night after departure from Europe, clocks are set back one hour at bedtime or even at noon. It’s the captain’s choice. My last Cunard and Holland America crossings, we set our clocks back at 1pm every day. It was weird at first, but then we all liked it. You continue to do this for maybe two consecutive days, take a break to adjust and set the clocks back again until you reach your debarkation port. I find that I wake up a bit earlier than usual towards the end of the voyage, but I’m well-rested and ready to go.

Eastbound with shorter, 23-hour days, you might find yourself at the buffet at 2am because your body is telling you it’s only 9PM! If you are sensitive to time changes, be sure to check that the ship you are on will have a 24 hour food option, even if it’s only room service. Otherwise, you might find yourself, like I have many times, 2AM at the 24 hour coffee and tea location, getting a flavored tea to bring back to my room to have with cookies that I saved from lunch.

9. Helloooo…is anyone out there? You’re not really alone at sea.

For a little peace of mind along your journey, remember that your ship travels in shipping lanes. You are never too far from another ship, even though it may not be visible.

There is a portion on the north Atlantic where you may find yourself in “no-man’s-land” for a day or so depending upon the route that your captain decides to follow. Be prepared for a brief blip in satellite communications which affects the internet and television. It rarely happens but it’s always possible. 

On my recent Cunard voyage, we never lost a second of communication via wifi or TV. Ships’ satellite technology (meaning the company that they contract with for access) vastly improves every year.

10. Round-tripping

Finally, if you have the time, why not do like I do and make the transatlantic crossing in both directions? This does take a bit of skillful planning and occasional maneuvering but it is quite frankly, the best way to visit Europe. Here’s an idea:

Book a cruise from Ft. Lauderdale to Barcelona. Stay on the same ship for a Mediterranean cruise, round-trip from Barcelona. Afterwards, spend a couple of days in Barcelona. Catch the luxury overnight train from Barcelona to Paris and maybe spend a night or two in the City of Light.

In the morning at 9:00AM, take a taxi to the Gare du Nord to board the Eurostar to London. Two and one-half hours later, with twenty-one minutes of that spent zooming under the English Channel, you arrive rested and relaxed at St. Pancras train station in London. Walk a few yards from your train to the departure hall, find the Cunard representative and board their motor coach to Southampton. In another two hours you’ll board the Queen Mary 2 for your voyage home. Easy-peasy.

Bonus recommendation

Once you’ve experienced the exhilaration and excitement of crossing an ocean, you will be hooked. For the most memorable experience, sail into New York City.

Cruise ships arrive into New York harbor at dawn, pass under the colorfully lit Verrazano Bridge and quietly sail past the illuminated Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

Nearly everyone, passengers and crew, is on deck at 5:00am to view this amazing sight. Some cruise lines set up a special coffee and danish pastries buffet for the occasion. As we sailed past the Statue of Liberty, I’ve seen grown men cry and overheard people speaking English with foreign accents in hushed voices. Others blankly stare at Ellis Island. It’s a very moving experience.

The next time you plan a European holiday, factor in a transatlantic crossing, either a 7- to 9-night voyage on the Queen Mary 2 or a repositioning two-week adventure to or from America. Whether eastbound or west, it’s an amazing experience that you’ll remember forever.

Read next:  How to go by train from Amsterdam to Southampton for Queen Mary 2

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35 comments.

Hi Ashley. Thank you for reading my article and asking your question. Because your ship will be on a south-southwesterly course, I’d venture a guess that port side, the left side, might have a little more sun in the morning. The sun will be a little lower in the sky by then too. If you’re lucky, the weather might hold out for your crossing and not have to divert to avoid any hurricanes.

It’s strange to imagine, but because of the curvature of the earth and its rotation, your ship won’t follow a straight line from Southampton to Barbados like you’d imagine on a map. Nevertheless, if I was hoping for more sun, I’d pick the port side of the ship, though the sun will be more directly overhead than beaming straight into one side or the other. But again, that will depend on the actual route. Either side would be nice…it sounds like a very interesting crossing. Happy sails and thank you again for writing.

Hello, I am planning my first Trans-Atlantic crossing from Southampton – Barbados in Oct 2024. I am open minded about what the weather may be lie but I have heard the there might be a better side cabin to choose to get the most of sunshine on the balcony. can anyone help?

Hi Aaron, Thank you for reading my article! Westbound transatlantic crossings in March are usually non-existent. The only westbound transatlantic that I found was April 23, 2023 aboard Queen Mary 2. If you can remain in Europe til then, great! There are a few odd sailings from very remote locations heading to the US, but they are all aboard Queen Mary 2 on the same voyage to NYC. As the April 23, 2023 is the tail-end of the ship’s world cruise, and if this is a possibility for you, then I would suggest looking into a reservation. Otherwise, as you mentioned, there are no other cruise lines crossing from Europe to the US in March.

Sorry I can’t offer more suggestions but maybe you can stay in Europe and catch the April Queen Mary 2.

Thanks again for reading my article and taking the time for your comment.

Great article! Starting research as we’ll be relocating from Europe back to the US in March. Having trouble finding westbound journeys in March, are those just “not a thing”? I know many cruise lines reposition their ships to Europe in the spring, so they travel east bound, but would still hope to find some type of ship we can relax on as we journey back.

Hi Mary Ann,

Thank you for reading the article and taking the time to write! I really appreciate it. I have to be honest and say that on my first transatlantic, I was a little nervous. But after the second day, it was wonderful. Just being out there, feeling like a “real” mariner of long ago, was such a neat experience. Celebrity Edge will have tons of things to do to keep busy, plus a couple of ports along the way. If you’re really lucky, Capt. Kate McCue will still be on Edge, so to speak! What I would recommend is downloading movies or tv shows to whatever device you bring along. For me, that really comes in handy. Going eastbound, you have 23-hour days, too, so less time to be bored! Also, I would suggest requesting the largest possible table in the dining room but I think that’s one of my suggestions in the article! I’ve completed 22 transatlantic crossings and hope to go again in 2020. I miss it. Thank you again! Sherry

I’m considering a TA cruise in Oct from Rome to Ft Lauderdale. I do love cruising but have never been at sea for so many days. Thinking of Celebrity Edge. Can you give me some positive words of wisdom to help. Thanks

Hi Kathy, Wow…what a nice dilemma. If your cruise is for August, keep in mind that summer storms can influence the weather in the North Atlantic. A Canada/New England cruise to Halifax can be really nice in the late summer. If it were me, I’d probably take the transatlantic in August and save a Canada/New England cruise for late September in hopes of a fall foliage experience. Either choice, have a wonderful cruise. Sherry

Hi Sjherry we are looking at a transatlantic crossing in August or Halifax trip in July of 2020 do you recommend one over the other? thank you Kathy

Hi Suzanne, I’m so sorry for my late reply. I’ve been traveling and fell behind in answering comments. By this time you’re outward bound and I hope you have the best clothes for the weather. It’s so unpredictable it’s tough to be perfectly packed. Have a wonderful cruise! Sherry

I’m cruising Norwegian end of April To Portugal and Spain Wonder about weather What to expect and what to pack

Hi Susan, Yay that you’re heading out on a transatlantic crossing! For November, my best advice would be to expect the unexpected. For your morning walks I’d pack a hat, gloves and a scarf. One side of the ship may be windless but when you walk to the other side, it can be blustery. I’d guess that temps might be in the 40s-50s in the morning…but you never know. Whatever the weather, you’re in for a wonderful time. I’m guessing that you’re on Queen Mary 2 since you’re going eastbound. That ship is incredible for crossings, no matter what the weather. Have a wonderful time! Thank you for your question. Sherry

My husband and I will be going from NY to South Hampton in mid November. What should be expect for temperatures on the deck of the ship? We like to walk in the morning.

Hi Barbara,

I apologize for my late reply…you’ve already completed your transatlantic voyage. I hope it was a smooth crossing. I’m so sorry I couldn’t get back to you sooner but I’ll bet that you both enjoyed the week, especially the sailaway from NYC (if it wasn’t raining.). If you have a chance, please let me know your thoughts on your first transatlantic crossing and QM2. Thank you.

Hello Sherry, I figured I’d ask you a few questions since you’ve done these cruises many times. My husband and I are taking our first transatlantic this September on the QM 2 from NY to GB. We are up on deck 12, forward on starboard side. Wondering whether we will feel the rough seas should we encounter them? I’m also thinking we may get wind blasted out on our balcony, not that there aren’t many other protected places to sit and view the sea, including inside the room! We are excited and looking forward to the whole experience. Any other tips you can share are welcome to assist in our planning and enjoyment. Many Thanks

Hi Kathryn, In my opinion, there is no better ship on which to cross the Atlantic than Queen Mary 2. It is built for the North Atlantic and is an amazing ship. Good question about calm seas. You never know. I’ve crossed the Atlantic and it was like a millpond the entire way. Other times, in November and December, we had 30′ seas and hurricane force winds, not to mention a few blizzards. While storms can appear anytime of the year, generally speaking May, June and July tend to have calmer seas…but again you never know. Yes, chances are you will pay double. Even the studio/solo staterooms seem priced higher than a good sale on an inside double-occupancy. It’s all a price game. Just keep watching. Thank you for your question and if you try a transatlantic, congratulations! Sherry

Never been on a TA cruise…thinking about calm seas, which is the best month to travel in. I will also be traveling single, how are prices, do you pay double as on other cruises, or is there Cruise lines with a better singles policy. I will have a t least a window or balcony cabin, not somewhere low down int he ship. Are the Cunardships the best for tTA cruises.

Hi Susan, Good question! I’d expect that your ship will follow the southern route for the crossing…probably picking up the Gulf Stream as you continue southbound. Barcelona should be fairly temperate at that time (mid-60s) and of course the Caribbean will be hot. On deck and especially at night I’d suggest something warm…like a thin puffy jacket with a light scarf to tuck in and a hat. Days could also be cooler (50s and 60s), especially if you encounter any fog. The Air Con on the ship could also be cranked up too far so I’d suggest a wrap or cardigan for the dining room, just in case. All in all, November crossings (not the North Atlantic which would be very chilly by then) the temps should be pleasant. But you never know. I’d rather be prepared to stay warm than have to buy an expensive logo jacket onboard! And who knows…the way our weather has been, it could end up being in the 70s and 80s! Have a wonderful crossing! Sherry

What is the average temperatures in November for a transatlantic cruise? We are leaving from Barcelona to the Caribbean. Thanks

Thanks, Kelly. Have a terrific cruise! Enjoy the “remastered” QM2.

Awesome -thanks so much. I certainly feel better about my cabin choice after reading your comments. I got my recommendation from a great travel agent but always willing to hear more opinions! I have traveled mostly on Disney Cruise Line (which I love) -this is going to be a whole new experience and I love reading about your travels sans air flights! Thanks

Hi Kelly, Thank you so much! Lucky you to come back to USA on the QM2. There’s not too much more exciting than daybreak and to see the Statue of Liberty and the Verranzano Bridge still aglow. Yes, I have stayed in every category of stateroom aboard the QM2, except the Grills! My favorite for any transatlantic crossing season except maybe mid-summer would be the sheltered balcony. It’s larger than the standard balcony and it is protected from the wind (except Force 11 can be tough to open the door if you’re on the windward side!). I’ve completed 16 transatlantic crossings, most of which have been in September. Weather of course is unpredictable, but at least it will be a lot warmer than my 2015 Dec. crossing. Good for you to take a port side on the westbound – the natural daylight is great and if it’s nice enough outside, you can sit out and relax and not get battered by the breeze. And being on deck 5 is good too. If you and your group like to walk, it’s easy to get up to King’s Court on Deck 7. On the morning that you arrive in NYC, be sure to be out on deck at 5:30am (ugh!) because it’s an amazing sight. The ship will have continental breakfast ready early so that you can take your tea or coffee outside with you. ALSO…being on the port side coming in to NY harbor, the Statue of Liberty will be on YOUR side of the ship. But at least take a peek at the early-morning crowd on deck…it’s really a moving experience. I’m so jealous! Thank you for reading my newsletter, have a wonderful cruise and Happy Travels! Sherry

Hi Sherry, First of all, I love your newsletter! We are taking the QM2 in September, west to NYC. I saw in the article that you have taken 10 transatlantic on the QM2-soon to be 11. I also know that I read a review you wrote on taking an inside stateroom at one time. Have you stayed in different staterooms? We have a sheltered balcony on deck 5, port side, aft. Was wondering if you had any experience with this type of cabin? My advice has been to be on the port side for more sun on a western transatlantic and we have 3 adults- so we had some limitations on staterooms. Overall though, I am really excited to see the newly refurbished ship and to stay in this stateroom! Any tips on possible September weather? thanks!!

Hi Rose! Your ship will be taking the southerly route out of Lisbon, maybe stopping in the Canaries or Azores? It’s so hard to guess on fall weather in the Atlantic. Of course the Captain can steer away or around any tropical events. Generally speaking, since you will closely follow the Gulf Stream, it could be a very smooth crossing. Have a wonderful voyage! Sherry

Looking at an transatlantic cruise in Sept from Lisbon, Portugal to Panama Panama and stopping in St. Maarten. What should I expect the transatlantic weather will be like?

You’re welcome! Thanks for reading it.

Thanks for the article ! Nice!

Hi Catherine,

Thank you for your question. As you’ll most likely be taking the southern route following the Gulf Stream, you may have fairly warm weather maybe in the 60s or so. As it’s always quite windy on deck, you should pack a windbreaker or warm jacket that you can layer underneath so you can be comfortable walking outside in the fresh air. Most likely the outdoor pools will be filled…but a tad too cold to use. But you never know! Have a wonderful crossing.

Hello, I booked a transantlantic cruise from Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale at the end of October. Could you give me some advice about the kind of clothes we should bring? Is the crossing of the Atlantic ocean usually cold? Thank you for your help!

It’s nice to just have the time and space to work on a handicraft and not worry about doorbells and phones ringing! Thanks for reading and leaving comment.

You’re so right about the wisdom (and peacefulness) of taking along one’s latest craft project. On our last cruise we brought my latest rug hooking project and spent many happy hours watching the ocean outside our cabin window as I worked on the rug.

Hi Richard,

Absolutely it is fun to travel solo and meet so many interesting people. Have a wonderful cruise to Lisbon. Try to go to a Fado performance in the Alfama district if you haven’t been yet.

Thanks for your comment.

Tomorrow, 4-12-13, I fly from my home to San Juan PR. Spending one night and most of the day in San Juan, I then board the RCCL Brilliance of the Seas for my 5th Transatlantic Crossing! We have port days in St. Maarten and Tenerife, Canary Islands before disembarking in Lisbon, Portugal! My other 4 TA’s were twice eastbound onboard the Queen Elizabeth 2, including her final Transatlantic Crossing in 2008, a westbound crossing on the QM2, and lastly in 2011 westbound onboard the Celebrity Solstice, from Barcelona to Ft. Lauderdale. I love the peacefulness of a TA Crossing and would do one anytime.

Just for the record, I have done all 5 of my TA Crossings as a single traveler. I know many people say they would never travel alone like that, but I have always met great people onboard the ship and have always had a fantastic time!

Thanks for finding this article! No…it’s really not much different than any other cruise. Sometimes the North Atlantic is like a millpond and other times, well, we’ve had 30′ seas. Once on the Constellation, the letters of the ship’s name were nearly washed off the bow. The southern route in winter is usually a bit more calm in the winter months…but you never know!

A transatlantic is on my list of cruises to do. Thanks for sharing! Are the seas more turbulent or really no different than other cruises?

You were lucky to have a few tropical ports to visit along the way; I’ve only done the roundtrip LA non-stop to Hawaii. Definitely, you should try to schedule a Queen Mary 2 at some point. And you’re right…there never seems to be enough time to do all the things that are offered!

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Best transatlantic cruises for 2024 and 2025, plus tips and what to expect

A transatlantic cruise ranks high on many travelers' bucket lists, especially those who love the camaraderie and adventure of a voyage by ship. Today's roughly 4,000-nautical-mile transatlantic crossing is more akin to the preaviation "Grand Tour" wealthy Americans once enjoyed than the immigration journeys many of our European ancestors made from the 17th to early 20th centuries.

Leisurely and luxurious, a one-way sailing offers fine dining, wellness-oriented pampering, enlightening lectures, glamorous nightlife and plenty of time to relax. Transatlantic cruises are also a solution for travelers who prefer not to fly and a tempting option for cruise lovers seeking a longer itinerary at an affordable price.

Is a transatlantic cruise right for everyone? Not necessarily, especially for anyone prone to moderate to severe sea sickness. However, for those who love sea days — and many cruisers do — a crossing can offer an uninterrupted "floating resort" experience; plus, it provides the added bonus of delivering you to Europe or returning you home without a cramped transatlantic flight.

Here's everything you need to know about cruising the Atlantic — plus a selection of the best transatlantic cruises you can book in 2024 and 2025.

Which cruise lines offer transatlantic crossings?

While Cunard is most famous for its weekly crossings between Southampton, England, and New York City — which sail from April to December on its ocean liner Queen Mary 2 — pretty much every major cruise line offers transatlantic crossings.

These generally occur in the spring (late March to early May) and fall (September to November). In the spring, ships are repositioned from the Caribbean to Europe, and in the fall, vessels sail from Europe to the U.S. to begin Canada-New England and Caribbean itineraries.

Also known as repositioning cruises , these sailings are usually longer than a traditional crossing and often include several port calls beyond the city of embarkation and disembarkation.

Even better, cruise fares for these itineraries are typically one-third to one-half the price of a cruise of the same length that visits a new port daily. This makes them a great deal for travelers looking to settle into shipboard life rather than just sightsee.

These types of transatlantic/repositioning itineraries are offered by Azamara, Carnival, Celebrity, Disney, Holland America, MSC, Norwegian, Oceania, Regent, Royal Caribbean, Princess, Seabourn, SeaDream Yacht Club, Silversea, Star Clippers, Windstar, Viking and Virgin.

When is the best time of year for transatlantic cruises?

The best time to take a transatlantic cruise depends on what you're looking for: great weather, smooth seas, the best price or specific ports of call.

Generally speaking, May, June and July are recommended for warmer weather and gentler seas — before the Atlantic hurricane season peaks in August, September and October — although storms can arise any time of the year.

March, April and November — while not ideal due to cooler temperatures that can limit on-deck and poolside enjoyment — are a good option and a terrific value. This is especially true if the ship's route is a southerly one between Florida and the Mediterranean rather than between northern Europe and New York.

As noted above, the best prices are generally in spring and fall for repositioning cruises. These itineraries might also visit several appealing ports in the Mediterranean or Caribbean as well as call on the Azores, Madeira, Canary Islands, Iceland or Bermuda in the Atlantic.

Related: Why I was wrong about transatlantic cruises

How long does the crossing take?

It varies. The classic nonstop transatlantic itinerary aboard Queen Mary 2 is a seven-night voyage between New York and Southampton (and vice versa). On the other hand, transatlantic repositioning cruises generally range in length from 11 to 21 nights, with an average of 14 nights (seven or eight of them typically sea days).

Will the seas be rough?

It's up to Mother Nature. At times, the Atlantic can be smooth sailing, even in spring and fall. Yet unpredictable wind and water current patterns can create rough seas seemingly out of nowhere any time of year.

Captains can generally maneuver around storms — and try to do so whenever possible for the comfort of all onboard. Additionally, modern cruise ships are equipped with stabilizers that reduce a ship's rolling motion due to wind or waves.

However, if you're even slightly prone to seasickness, don't throw caution to the wind. You'll be better off on a larger ship (pick a midship cabin on a lower deck); also, be sure to pack medication, patches, bands or whatever works best for you. While it might seem counterintuitive, having a window or balcony actually helps offset seasickness since it offers fresh air and a horizon view. If you're concerned, opt for an ocean-view or balcony cabin over an inside one.

Which side of the ship is best for a transatlantic crossing?

It honestly doesn't make much difference whether you book a cabin on the port (left) or starboard (right) side of the ship since most daytime views will be of the ocean. However, if you're departing from a Mediterranean port, say Rome or Barcelona, for a southerly crossing, book a starboard cabin; this might offer a view of the Rock of Gibraltar if your ship transits between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic during daylight hours. For a U.S.-to-Europe eastward crossing, you'd want the opposite — a port-side cabin.

Similarly, if your crossing takes you from northern Europe on a northerly route to the U.S., and you want to be among the first to spot land (perhaps Greenland or Newfoundland), book a starboard cabin. If you are cruising into New York Harbor just before dawn and want to see the Statue of Liberty from your cabin, book on the port side.

More important for an Atlantic crossing location-wise is your cabin's deck number and whether the cabin is situated forward, midship or aft. Generally, the ship's movement through rough seas will feel less severe if your cabin is midship and on one of the lower or middle decks versus the top-most decks.

Related: The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship

Which ports do transatlantic cruises visit?

Where you embark and disembark will determine your route and the ports you potentially call on. Ships repositioning to or from the Baltic Sea and the British Isles generally take a northerly route. Vessels sailing from the Mediterranean cross on a more southerly route, especially if they are repositioning to or from a winter home port in Florida.

On a northerly crossing, you can expect to embark in a port such as Copenhagen; Rotterdam, Netherlands; Southampton or New York. Depending on the length of the cruise, expect to call on ports in Ireland (Dublin or Cork), Iceland (Reykjavik), Greenland (Qaqortoq or Nuuk), Atlantic Canada (St. John's in Newfoundland, or Sydney or Halifax in Nova Scotia) and Bermuda (King's Wharf).

On a southerly crossing between Barcelona or Rome in the Mediterranean and Miami or Fort Lauderdale, typical ports of call include Madeira; Grand Canary or Tenerife in the Canary Islands; Ponta Delgada in the Azores; and one or two islands in the Caribbean, such as St. Maarten or Puerto Rico.

Is it better to book an eastbound or westbound cruise?

Which direction you book really depends on whether you're aboard for the experience or you're using the crossing as a substitute for a flight to reach the other side of the ocean. Below are a few factors to keep in mind.

Aside from Queen Mary 2 crossings, westbound transatlantic repositioning cruises (from Europe to the U.S.) take place in the fall during the Atlantic hurricane season; some are also scheduled for mid-to-late November when storm formation has generally diminished. Eastbound cruises (from the U.S. to Europe) happen in spring, a season also often known for periods of gray skies and rain.

When considering westbound versus eastbound crossings, factor in the time change. While a transatlantic cruise is a terrific way to avoid the jet lag caused by flying across multiple time zones in a single day, you will be subject to almost daily reminders to reset your clock.

On westbound cruises, you'll have to set your clock back at night, thus gaining an extra hour of sleep on most days. On eastbound cruises, you'll set it ahead an hour and lose an hour of leisure time or sleep.

Another factor to keep in mind is that unless you plan to return home on another transatlantic cruise, you'll also need to book a one-way flight. Before committing to a specific eastbound or westbound itinerary, always check your flight options. One-way tickets are sometimes more expensive than round-trip fares.

Best transatlantic cruises for 2024 and 2025

There are dozens of opportunities to cross the Atlantic by cruise ship, but here are some of the best itineraries available in the next two years.

Cunard's Queen Mary 2

• Transatlantic crossings: September through December 2024 and 2025

There's nothing quite like it. Cunard 's weekly transatlantic crossing between New York and Southampton aboard the 2,691-passenger Queen Mary 2 celebrates the grand age of ocean liners with a level of pomp and ceremony that appeals to Cunard loyalists, bucket-listers and memory-making couples or families celebrating a milestone anniversary or birthday.

These eight-night eastbound and six-night westbound voyages are all about the sea. There are interludes of culinary enjoyment and evening entertainment designed for travelers who appreciate formality and glamor.

A typical day might include time in the library perusing the largest book collection at sea, getting an illuminating astronomy lesson in the onboard planetarium and enjoying traditional afternoon tea.

The evening lineup generally starts with a multicourse dinner (same table and same waiter nightly) followed by a Broadway-inspired show, an abridged Shakespeare play or even a magic act. The ship is also famous for its Gala Evenings, capped off with Champagne sipping and dancing to a live orchestra. Yes, pack those ballgowns and tuxes.

Cruise fares start at $1,818 per person for an inside cabin and $2,238 per person for a balcony room.

Virgin Voyages' Scarlet Lady

• 16-night Rome to Miami: Nov. 28-Dec. 14, 2024
• 15-night Miami to Casablanca and Barcelona cruises: May 3-18, 2025

Virgin Voyages ' 2,770-passenger Scarlet Lady has an onboard ambience that rivals a youthful beach club. Passengers and crew will keep the party going day and night this fall on a 16-night Rome to Miami transatlantic sailing . The sailing has calls on Barcelona and Malaga in Spain; Funchal on the island of Madeira; and Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the Canary Islands.

Or party in reverse on the ship's 15-night Miami to Casablanca and Barcelona crossing in May 2025. It stops in Grand Canary and Santa Cruz de Tenerife; Casablanca, Morocco; and Barcelona.

The ship's 20 excellent dining venues, cutting-edge entertainment (campy and a bit naughty — think Drag Queen Bingo), an impressive lineup of wellness classes (from yoga at sunrise to On-the-Upswing Bungee Aerobics) and fun activities ('90s Boy Band Dance Class, anyone?) provide plenty of ways to pass the time.

Cruise fares start at $3,326 per cabin (or less than $1,700 per person) for the Rome-to-Miami sailing and $3,976 per cabin (or around $1,988 per person) for the Miami-to-Barcelona sailing.

Disney Cruise Line's Disney Dream and Fantasy

• 13-night eastbound transatlantic cruise: May 4-17, 2025
• 13-night westbound transatlantic cruise: Oct. 20-Nov. 2, 2024 and 2025

Certain Disney fans — namely childless adult couples and empty nesters — love the brand's storytelling and Imagineering but prefer not to share a two-week cruise with hundreds of kids and teens. These 13-night eastbound and westbound crossings from Port Canaveral to Barcelona and from Southampton to Port Canaveral aboard 2,500-passenger Disney Dream or 4,000-passenger Disney Fantasy offer a solution to that dilemma.

Each of these transatlantic cruises occurs when almost everyone ages 5 to 18 is still in school. Yes, some kids will likely be on board, but certainly not in overwhelming numbers.

These crossings feature nine to 11 sea days during which Disney Cruise Line offers all kinds of immersive entertainment, excellent onboard dining and a southerly route in spring that means plenty of pool time. On top of that, each sailing includes a mix of culturally rich ports.

On the eastbound crossing, they are Ponta Delgada and Lisbon, Portugal; and Cadiz, Cartagena and Barcelona, Spain. On the westbound crossing, the ports are Ponta Delgada and the new Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point.

Eastbound fares for balcony cabins start at $4,937 for two adults (or just under $2,500 per person). Westbound fares start at $5,360 for an inside cabin (about $2,680 per person).

Related: 5 reasons why Disney cruises aren't just for kids

Holland America's Nieuw Statendam

• 28-night Adriatic Crossing: Stromboli, Andalusia & Azores: Nov. 1-29, 2025

For a shoulder-season meander through the Adriatic and Mediterranean followed by a transatlantic crossing, Holland America 's 28-night Adriatic Crossing: Stromboli, Andalusia & Azores visits 14 ports in eight countries. This makes it a true hybrid of an ocean crossing and a traditional cruise.

The sailing, aboard the 3,665-passenger Nieuw Statendam, departs from Athens and visits ports in Greece, Croatia, Montenegro, Italy, Albania, Spain and Portugal before arriving in Fort Lauderdale. Of the 12 sea days, two include scenic cruising.

The voyage takes place in November, so expect temperatures to be on the cooler side in most ports and during the crossing. It's a good thing, then, that Nieuw Statendam has an indoor pool with a retractable roof. Holland America passengers, mostly older retirees, can also pass the time dining at each of the 10 onboard restaurants and enjoy entertainment that includes live bands at the B.B. King's Blues Club and Rolling Stone Rock Room.

At $3,249 per person for an inside cabin and $4,699 per person for a balcony cabin, fares are a great deal for a four-week sailing.

Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Ascent and Celebrity Apex

• 13-night Italy and Bermuda transatlantic: Oct. 31-Nov. 13, 2025
• 13-night Bermuda and Portugal transatlantic: March 8-21, 2025

Celebrity Cruises ' Italy and Bermuda transatlantic sailing from Rome to Fort Lauderdale offers 13 nights aboard its newest ship, Celebrity Ascent. The sailing features port calls in Cagliari, Sardinia; Gibraltar; and Bermuda, along with nine sea days.

Accommodating 3,260 passengers, Celebrity Ascent is a megaship designed with adults in mind. On board, you'll find multiple hot tubs but no waterslides, contemporary decor, 32 sophisticated food and beverage venues (including Voyages, Daniel Boulud's restaurant at sea, bookable at extra cost), an indoor solarium pool, a glittering Grand Plaza housing the line's signature Martini Bar, and nightly entertainment ranging from high-tech theater productions to multisensory events in Eden.

Inside cabin fares start at $1,147 per person, and balcony cabin fares at $1,335 per person.

If you prefer to cross the Atlantic in spring 2025, take sister Edge Class ship Celebrity Apex , which carries 2,910 passengers. It will sail a 13-night Bermuda and Portugal transatlantic cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona with port calls at Bermuda's Royal Naval Dockyard; Ponta Delgada; and Valencia.

Inside cabins for that cruise start at $910 per person, and balcony rooms start at $1,163 per person.

Viking's Viking Mars

• 20-night Atlantic and Mediterranean Horizons: March 27-April 16, 2025

Passengers aboard Viking Mars for its 20-night Atlantic and Mediterranean Horizons sailing from Fort Lauderdale to Rome will meander through the Caribbean to the French-Dutch island of St. Martin/St. Maarten. They will spend six days crossing the Atlantic and call on Madeira and then overnight in Barcelona. Then, they will visit the French ports of Sete and Marseille, followed by Monte Carlo, Monaco, and another overnight in Livorno, Italy (gateway to Florence).

The 930-passenger Viking Mars is an adults-only ship featuring a sleek Scandinavian design. Guests can enjoy elevated (and complimentary) dining in eight venues, as well as daily activities that include lectures by guest speakers and resident historians. ( Viking bills itself as "the thinking person's cruise.")

They will also get unlimited access to the thermal suite at the Liv Nordic Spa, a main pool with a retractable roof (there's also an aft infinity pool and hot tub), and complimentary beer and wine with lunch and dinner.

Deluxe balcony cabins start at $8,698 per person (basic balcony cabins are currently sold out).

Princess Cruises' Sky Princess

• 27-night Moroccan and Iberian Grand Adventure: March 9-April 5, 2025

To snag an excellent deal on an almost month-long journey, check out the 27-night Morocco and Iberian Grand Adventure . It sails from Fort Lauderdale to Southampton aboard the 3,660-passenger Sky Princess. Princess Cruises guests will enjoy a southerly spring crossing that culminates with visits to 10 ports in four countries (Portugal, Morocco, Spain and England) — including Madeira, three Canary Islands and Casablanca.

Sky Princess , which debuted in 2019, is a Royal Class ship featuring three pools, a glittering Italian-style Piazza (home to Alfredo's Pizzeria — some of the best pizza at sea), four specialty dining venues (at an extra cost), poolside Movies Under the Stars and original production shows in the Princess Theater.

Inside cabins start at $2,746 per person, and balcony cabins at $4,126 per person.

Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Princess Cruises ship

Regent Seven Seas Cruises' Seven Seas Splendor

• 14-night Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro: Jan. 5-19, 2025

If crossing the southern Atlantic Ocean from Africa to South America on a small luxury cruise ship is on your bucket list, consider Regent Seven Seas Cruises ' early 2025 Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro sailing.

While not a bargain by any means, this 14-night itinerary aboard the 750-passenger, all-suite Seven Seas Splendor is all-inclusive. Business-class airfare, transfers, top-notch cuisine, unlimited beverages, gratuities, Wi-Fi and most shore excursions are all included in the fare.

Start by taking in the scenic beauty of Namibia, with a port call in Luderitz, known for its colorful colonial architecture. Another call is Walvis Bay, where the ship will overnight. Here, you'll get a chance to experience the country's dramatic sand dunes and resident flamingos. Then, as you cross the Atlantic, you'll visit the remote island of St. Helena, where Napoleon died in exile, before continuing on to an overnight stay in Rio de Janeiro ahead of disembarkation.

All-inclusive fares start at $12,949 per person for a suite with a balcony.

Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Prima

• 16-night Transatlantic (Italy, France and Spain): Nov. 7-23, 2024

Board in Rome and tour the Mediterranean in the shoulder season before crossing the Atlantic to New York on a November 2024 Norwegian Cruise Line cruise. The Transatlantic (Italy, France and Spain) sailing aboard Norwegian Prima visits Livorno (for Pisa and Florence); Cannes, France; Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Alicante, Malaga and Cadiz, Spain; Lisbon, Portugal; and Ponta Delgada. You'll spend six days at sea.

The 3,099-passenger Norwegian Prima , which debuted in 2022, features 14 restaurants (six included and eight specialty options for an added fee) and 19 bars and lounges. It also sports a three-level go-kart racetrack and virtual-reality gaming. Entertainment options include "Summer: The Donna Summer Musical," stand-up comedy at The Improv at Sea and a rock cover band in Syd Norman's Pour House.

Inside cabins start at $1,421 per person, and balcony cabins at $2,101 per person.

Silversea Cruises' Silver Ray

• 25-night Rome to Fort Lauderdale: Nov. 7-Dec. 2, 2025

Plan ahead to score a suite on the 25-night Rome to Fort Lauderdale transatlantic crossing in late 2025 aboard Silversea Cruises ' newest all-suite luxury ship, Silver Ray .

Not only is the price all-inclusive, but the 728-passenger ship will visit 11 ports in five countries. You'll experience Livorno; Monte Carlo, Monaco; Marseille; Valencia, Barcelona (overnight), Palma de Mallorca, Malaga and Cadiz, Spain; and Lisbon and Madeira. Then, you'll cross the Atlantic and spend an overnight in Hamilton, Bermuda, before disembarking in Fort Lauderdale.

Silver Ray is Silversea's second Nova Class ship. It features spacious suites and inviting exterior and interior spaces perfect for late-season Mediterranean cruising and a cool-weather transatlantic crossing. Its culinary-focused S.A.L.T. (Sea and Land Taste) program tempts tastebuds with region- and port-inspired menus, cooking classes and cocktails.

All-inclusive, door-to-door fares — which include economy-class flights, transfers, complimentary beverages and gourmet dining, butler service, gratuities and select shore excursions — start at $13,100 per person for Classic Veranda Suite.

Bottom line

No matter your reason for considering a transatlantic cruise, you're guaranteed to experience the secret magic of sea days, with ample time to relax and unwind. With no land in sight for roughly a week, you can enjoy the ship's amenities without feeling rushed.

Make new friends over coffee or a game of bridge, watch movies in your cabin, learn more about the world during lectures by onboard experts, or treat yourself to rejuvenating massages and facials in the spa.

Even better, per-night rates are typically lower on crossings than on round-trip, port-intensive cruises. So, you can enjoy a longer sailing at a fraction of the usual cost. No matter which transatlantic cruise you deem best for your travel style and interests, it will surely be a memorable bucket-list trip.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

Transatlantic Cruises Calendar

This is the complete schedule of Transatlantic cruises in 2024 and 2025 . Most are in the spring and fall when cruise lines reposition ships between the United States and Europe. Throughout the year there are also cruises between New York and England on the Queen Mary 2.

On the calendar you'll find many Atlantic crossings to Spain, Portugal, Italy, Denmark and the UK. In total, there are about 100 Transatlantic cruises annually.

January 2024

January 3: 8-day cruise from New York to Southampton (England) on the Queen Mary 2 January 11: 11-day cruise from Southampton (England) to Fort Lauderdale on the Cunard Line January 11: 10-day cruise from Miami to Southampton (England) on Norwegian Cruise Line January 27: 12-day cruise from Southampton (England) to Fort Lauderdale on the Cunard Line

February 2024

February 13: 11-day cruise from Southampton (England) to Miami on Norwegian Cruise Line February 21: 10-day cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Southampton (England) on the Cunard Line

March 2: 15-night cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona (Spain) on Viking March 9: 16-day cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Southampton (England) on Princess Cruises March 15: 17-night cruise from Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) to Lisbon (Portugal) on Azamara Cruises March 18: 15-night cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona (Spain) on Viking March 23: 14-night cruise from Tampa to Barcelona (Spain) on Celebrity Cruises March 27: 15-night cruise from Miami to Rome (Italy) on Oceania March 30: 16-day cruise from Barbados to Lisbon (Portugal) on Star Clipper March 31: 14-day cruise from Miami to Barcelona (Spain) on Regent Seven Seas

April 5: 14-day cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona (Spain) on Holland America April 5: 15-night cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Southampton (England) on Royal Caribbean April 5: 14-night cruise from Miami to Barcelona (Spain) on Oceania April 5: 16-day cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Southampton (England) on Princess Cruises April 6: 20-day cruise from Antigua to Malaga (Spain) on Star Clipper April 7: 14-day cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Rotterdam (Netherlands) on Holland America April 7: 19-day cruise from Puerto Rico to Lisbon (Portugal) on Norwegian Cruise Line April 8: 16-day cruise from New York to Rome (Italy) on Norwegian Cruise Line April 10: 14-day cruise from New York to Barcelona (Spain) on Regent Seven Seas April 11: 12-night cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Lisbon (Portugal) on Celebrity Cruises April 13: 14-day cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Rotterdam (Netherlands) on Holland America April 13: 12-day cruise from Puerto Rico to Lisbon (Portugal) on SeaDream April 14: 13-night cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona (Spain) on Celebrity Cruises April 14: 12-night cruise from Miami to Lisbon (Portugal) on Seabourn April 15: 12-day cruise from Norfolk (Virginia) to Barcelona (Spain) on Carnival Cruise Line April 18: 14-day cruise from Barcelona (Spain) to Port Canaveral on Carnival Cruise Line April 21: 14-night cruise from Miami to Barcelona (Spain) on Royal Caribbean April 21: 14-night cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Rome (Italy) on Royal Caribbean April 21: 15-night cruise from Miami to Lisbon (Portugal) on MSC April 22: 13-night cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Amsterdam (Netherlands) on Celebrity Cruises April 25: 14-day cruise from New York to Southampton (England) on Norwegian Cruise Line April 28: 7-day cruise from Southampton (England) to New York on the Queen Mary 2 April 28: 13-night cruise from Miami to Barcelona (Spain) on Royal Caribbean April 28: 12-night cruise from New Jersey to Southampton (England) on Royal Caribbean April 29: 14-day cruise from New York to Southampton (England) on Norwegian Cruise Line

May 1: 15-night cruise from Texas to Barcelona (Spain) on Royal Caribbean May 2: 13-night cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Southampton (England) on Celebrity Cruises May 4: 15-day cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Southampton (England) on Princess Cruises May 5: 13-day cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona (Spain) on Disney Cruise Line May 5: 7-day cruise from New York to Southampton (England) on the Queen Mary 2 May 11: 14-day cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Amsterdam (Netherlands) on Holland America May 16: 7-day cruise from Southampton (England) to New York on the Queen Mary 2 May 23: 7-day cruise from New York to Southampton (England) on the Queen Mary 2

June 9: 7-day cruise from Southampton (England) to New York on the Queen Mary 2 June 16: 7-day cruise from New York to Southampton (England) on the Queen Mary 2 June 21: 21-night cruise from Southampton (England) to New York on Oceania June 23: 7-day cruise from Southampton (England) to New York on the Queen Mary 2 June 24: 36-night cruise from New York to Amsterdam (Netherlands) on Viking June 29: 21-day cruise from Amsterdam (Netherlands) to Boston on Holland America

July 5: 21-day cruise from New York to Southampton (England) on Princess Cruises July 6: 8-day cruise from New York to Southampton (England) on the Queen Mary 2 July 12: 51-night round-trip cruise from New York to Europe on Oceania July 14: 24-night cruise from England to New York on Seabourn July 20: 17-day cruise from Boston to Rotterdam (Netherlands) on Holland America July 21: 7-day cruise from Southampton (England) to New York on the Queen Mary 2 July 28: 7-day cruise from New York to Southampton (England) on the Queen Mary 2

August 2024

August 16: 7-day cruise from Southampton (England) to New York on the Queen Mary 2 August 17: 15-night cruise from Tilbury (England) to New York on Oceania August 19: 22-night cruise from Amsterdam (Netherlands) to Miami on Royal Caribbean August 22: 16-night cruise from Amsterdam (Netherlands) to Boston on Royal Caribbean August 23: 7-day cruise from New York to Southampton (England) on the Queen Mary 2 August 24: 16-day cruise from Barcelona (Spain) to New York on Regent Seven Seas

September 2024

September 15: 7-day cruise from Southampton (England) to New York on the Queen Mary 2 September 23: 16-day cruise from Southampton (England) to Fort Lauderdale on Princess Cruises

October 2024

October 6: 7-day cruise from New York to Southampton (England) on the Queen Mary 2 October 6: 12-day cruise from Lisbon (Portugal) to Miami on Norwegian Cruise Line October 6: 21-day cruise from Southampton (England) to Galveston (Texas) on Princess Cruises October 9: 22-night cruise from Rome (Italy) to Puerto Rico on Viking October 12: 15-day cruise from Rotterdam (Netherlands) to Fort Lauderdale on Holland America October 17: 8-day cruise from Southampton (England) to New York on the Queen Mary 2 October 17: 13-day cruise from Rome (Italy) to Port Canaveral on Norwegian Cruise Line October 19: 19-night cruise from Barcelona (Spain) to Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) on MSC October 20: 13-day cruise from Southampton (England) to Fort Lauderdale on Disney Cruise Line October 21: 14-day cruise from New York to Barcelona (Spain) on Norwegian Cruise Line October 23: 12-night cruise from Southampton (England) to Fort Lauderdale on Celebrity Cruises October 23: 16-night cruise from Barcelona (Spain) to Galveston on Royal Caribbean October 24: 14-night cruise from Barcelona (Spain) to Fort Lauderdale on Royal Caribbean October 25: 7-day cruise from New York to Southampton (England) on the Queen Mary 2 October 26: 15-day cruise from Rome (Italy) to Tampa on Carnival Cruise Line October 26: 13-night cruise from Barcelona (Spain) to Fort Lauderdale on Celebrity Cruises October 26: 14-night cruise from Malaga (Spain) to Puerto Rico on SeaDream October 30: 18-night cruise from Barcelona (Spain) to Miami on MSC October 31: 14-day cruise from Barcelona (Spain) to Fort Lauderdale on Holland America

November 2024

November 1: 14-night cruise from Rome (Italy) to Fort Lauderdale on Celebrity Cruises November 3: 14-day cruise from Miami to Southampton (England) on Norwegian Cruise Line November 3: 16-night cruise from Amsterdam (Netherlands) to New York on Oceania November 3: 14-day cruise from Barcelona (Spain) to Miami on Regent Seven Seas November 3: 14-night cruise from Rome (Italy) to Cape Liberty on Royal Caribbean November 7: 16-day cruise from Rome (Italy) to New York on Norwegian Cruise Line November 7: 14-night cruise from Barcelona (Spain) to Tampa on Celebrity Cruises November 8: 16-night cruise from Miami to Lisbon (Portugal) on MSC November 9: 13-night cruise from Lisbon (Portugal) to Fort Lauderdale on Celebrity Cruises November 10: 13-day cruise from Rome (Italy) to Port Canaveral on Norwegian Cruise Line November 10: 16-day cruise from Rome (Italy) to Fort Lauderdale on Princess Cruises November 10: 16-night cruise from Barcelona (Spain) to Port Canaveral on Royal Caribbean November 13: 12-night cruise from Lisbon (Portugal) to Fort Lauderdale on Azamara Cruises November 13: 7-day cruise from Southampton (England) to New York on the Queen Mary 2 November 15: 12-night cruise from Lisbon (Portugal) to Miami on Oceania November 16: 13-night cruise from Barcelona (Spain) to Fort Lauderdale on Celebrity Cruises November 16: 14-day cruise from Rome (Italy) to Fort Lauderdale on Holland America November 20: 10-night cruise from Lisbon (Portugal) to Barbados on Azamara Cruises November 20: 15-night cruise from Rome (Italy) to Miami on Oceania November 21: 12-night cruise from Lisbon (Portugal) to Port Canaveral on Celebrity Cruises November 22: 14-day cruise from Barcelona (Spain) to Miami on Regent Seven Seas November 22: 14-day cruise from Lisbon (Portugal) to Fort Lauderdale on Silversea November 24: 13-night cruise from Barcelona (Spain) to Port Canaveral on Royal Caribbean November 26: 14-day cruise from Barcelona (Spain) to Miami on Norwegian Cruise Line November 28: 17-day cruise from Southampton (England) to Fort Lauderdale on Princess Cruises November 28: 12-night cruise from Lisbon (Portugal) to Miami on Seabourn November 28: 22-night cruise from Rome (Italy) to Fort Lauderdale on Viking November 29: 16-day cruise from Lisbon (Portugal) to Puerto Rico on Norwegian Cruise Line November 30: 14-day cruise from Barcelona (Spain) to Miami on Norwegian Cruise Line

December 2024

December 3: 12-day cruise from Southampton (England) to Miami on Norwegian Cruise Line December 3: 7-day cruise from New York to Southampton (England) on the Queen Mary 2 December 4: 18-day cruise from Rome (Italy) to Fort Lauderdale on Princess Cruises December 4: 15-day cruise from Lisbon (Portugal) to Fort Lauderdale on Silversea December 5: 15-night cruise from Barcelona (Spain) to Fort Lauderdale on Viking December 15: 7-day cruise from Southampton (England) to New York on the Queen Mary 2

January 2025

January 3: 8-day cruise from New York to Southampton (England) on the Queen Mary 2 January 4: 13-day cruise from Miami to Southampton (England) on Norwegian Cruise Line January 9: 9-day cruise from Southampton (England) to New York on Cunard Line January 9: 12-day cruise from Southampton (England) to Fort Lauderdale on Cunard Line

February 2025

February 2: 13-day cruise from Southampton (England) to Miami on Norwegian Cruise Line February 7: 12-day cruise from Miami to Southampton (England) on Norwegian Cruise Line February 10: 12-night cruise from Miami to Barcelona (Spain) on Royal Caribbean February 18: 14-day cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona (Spain) on Princess Cruises

March 8: 13-night cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona (Spain) on Celebrity Cruises March 8: 8-day cruise from Southampton (England) to New York on the Queen Mary 2 March 9: 15-day cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Southampton (England) on Princess Cruises March 14: 14-day cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Southampton (England) on Cunard Line March 16: 14-day cruise from Barcelona (Spain) to Miami on Carnival Cruise Line March 19: 14-day cruise from Miami to Barcelona (Spain) on Regent Seven Seas March 22: 12-night cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Southampton (England) on Celebrity Cruises March 22: 14-day cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona (Spain) on Princess Cruises March 24: 15-day cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Rome (Italy) on Princess Cruises March 29: 8-day cruise from New York to Southampton (England) on the Queen Mary 2 March 31: 12-night cruise from Miami to Lisbon (Portugal) on Azamara Cruises March 31: 15-day cruise from New York to Rome (Italy) on Norwegian Cruise Line

April 1: 14-day cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Lisbon (Portugal) on Silversea April 4: 14-day cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Southampton (England) on Princess Cruises April 4: 12-day cruise from Miami to Lisbon (Portugal) on Regent Seven Seas April 5: 15-day cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Rotterdam (Netherlands) on Holland America April 6: 14-night cruise from Miami to Lisbon (Portugal) on MSC April 12: 16-night cruise from Tampa to Rome (Italy) on Celebrity Cruises April 12: 14-day cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Rotterdam (Netherlands) on Holland America April 12: 15-night cruise from Miami to Portsmouth (England) on Royal Caribbean April 19: 14-night cruise from Port Canaveral to Barcelona (Spain) on Celebrity Cruises April 19: 14-day cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona (Spain) on Holland America April 19: 16-day cruise from Palm Beach (Florida) to Lisbon (Portugal) on SeaDream April 20: 15-night cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Rome (Italy) on Celebrity Cruises April 22: 14-night cruise from Puerto Rico to Barcelona (Spain) on Oceania April 24: 16-day cruise from New Orleans to Barcelona (Spain) on Carnival Cruise Line April 24: 14-day cruise from New York to Southampton (England) on Norwegian Cruise Line April 27: 8-day cruise from Southampton (England) to New York on the Queen Mary 2 April 27: 12-day cruise from New York to Southampton (England) on Norwegian Cruise Line April 27: 14-night cruise from Cape Liberty (New Jersey) to Rome (Italy) on Royal Caribbean April 28: 14-night cruise from Miami to Southampton (England) on Royal Caribbean April 30: 12-night cruise from Miami to Barcelona (Spain) on Royal Caribbean

May 1: 12-night cruise from Miami to Lisbon (Portugal) on Oceania May 3: 13-night cruise from Port Canaveral to Barcelona (Spain) on Royal Caribbean May 5: 7-day cruise from New York to Southampton (England) on the Queen Mary 2 May 5: 13-day cruise from Port Canaveral to Barcelona (Spain) on Disney Cruise Line May 16: 7-day cruise from Southampton (England) to New York on the Queen Mary 2 May 18: 36-day cruise from New York to Amsterdam (Netherlands) on Viking May 23: 7-day cruise from New York to Southampton (England) on the Queen Mary 2 May 29: 30-day cruise from New York to Copenhagen (Denmark) on Silversea

June 6: 7-day cruise from Southampton (England) to New York on the Queen Mary 2 June 11: 15-day cruise from Barcelona (Spain) to New Orleans on Carnival Cruise Line June 11: 13-day cruise from New York to Belfast (Northern Ireland) on Silversea June 13: 7-day cruise from New York to Southampton (England) on the Queen Mary 2 June 24: 7-day cruise from Southampton (England) to New York on the Queen Mary 2

July 8: 7-day cruise from New York to Southampton (England) on the Queen Mary 2 July 18: 15-day cruise from Southampton (England) to Boston on Princess Cruises July 19: 35-day round-trip cruise from Boston to Northern Europe on Holland America July 25: 14-day cruise from Southampton (England) to New York on the Queen Mary 2 July 27: 36-day cruise from New York to Amsterdam (Netherlands) on Viking

August 2025

August 2: 36-night cruise from Dover (England) to New York on Seabourn August 8: 7-day cruise from New York to Southampton (England) on the Queen Mary 2 August 27: 7-day cruise from Southampton (England) to New York on the Queen Mary 2 August 30: 15-night cruise from Southampton (England) to Boston on Royal Caribbean

September 2025

September 3: 7-day cruise from New York to Southampton (England) on the Queen Mary 2 September 13: 14-day cruise from Port Canaveral to Barcelona (Spain) on Carnival Cruise Line September 16: 14-night cruise from Lisbon (Portugal) to New York on Oceania September 26: 7-day cruise from Southampton (England) to New York on the Queen Mary 2

October 2025

October 7: 45-day round-trip cruise from New York to the Mediterranean on Holland America October 8: 21-day cruise from Southampton (England) to Galveston (Texas) on Princess Cruises October 11: 15-day cruise from Rotterdam (Netherlands) to Fort Lauderdale on Holland America October 11: 15-day cruise from Southampton (England) to Fort Lauderdale on Princess Cruises October 16: 14-day cruise from Barcelona (Spain) to Port Canaveral on Carnival Cruise Line October 16: 14-night cruise from Southampton (England) to Miami on Royal Caribbean October 17: 7-day cruise from New York to Southampton (England) on the Queen Mary 2 October 19: 13-night cruise from Southampton (England) to Port Canaveral on Celebrity Cruises October 20: 16-day cruise from Southampton (England) to Fort Lauderdale on Princess Cruises October 22: 14-night cruise from Rome (Italy) to Cape Liberty on Royal Caribbean October 24: 7-day cruise from Southampton (England) to New York on the Queen Mary 2 October 16: 14-night cruise from Southampton (England) to Miami on Royal Caribbean October 26: 13-night cruise from Barcelona (Spain) to Fort Lauderdale on Celebrity Cruises October 31: 7-day cruise from New York to Southampton (England) on the Queen Mary 2 October 31: 16-night cruise from Rome (Italy) to Tampa on Celebrity Cruises October 31: 13-night cruise from Rome (Italy) to Fort Lauderdale on Celebrity Cruises

November 2025

November 1: 15-day cruise from Barcelona (Spain) to Fort Lauderdale on Princess Cruises November 2: 15-day cruise from Barcelona (Spain) to Fort Lauderdale on Holland America November 2: 13-day cruise from Malaga (Spain) to Puerto Rico on SeaDream November 7: 15-day cruise from Barcelona (Spain) to New York on Norwegian Cruise Line November 8: 14-day cruise from Rome (Italy) to Tampa on Carnival Cruise Line November 8: 16-day cruise from Barcelona (Spain) to Miami on Regent Seven Seas November 14: 16-day cruise from Southampton (England) to Fort Lauderdale on Princess Cruises November 15: 14-day cruise from Rome (Italy) to Fort Lauderdale on Holland America November 18: 14-night cruise from Barcelona (Spain) to Puerto Rico on Seabourn November 19: 7-day cruise from Southampton (England) to New York on the Queen Mary 2 November 19: 14-night cruise from Barcelona (Spain) to Miami on Oceania November 19: 13-day cruise from Lisbon (Portugal) to Fort Lauderdale on Silversea November 26: 14-day cruise from Barcelona (Spain) to Miami on Regent Seven Seas November 28: 15-day cruise from Lisbon (Portugal) to Galveston (Texas) on Norwegian Cruise Line November 28: 22-day cruise from Rome (Italy) to Fort Lauderdale on Viking

December 2025

December 8: 7-day cruise from New York to Southampton (England) on the Queen Mary 2 December 8: 14-day cruise from Lisbon (Portugal) to Fort Lauderdale on Silversea December 15: 7-day cruise from Southampton (England) to New York on the Queen Mary 2

• P&O Cruises ( UK )

weather on a Transatlantic Cruise

By leds lot , February 13, 2017 in P&O Cruises ( UK )

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we are looking at a Transatlantic Cruise on Britannia at the end of October this year. Southampton to Barbados via Madeira then 5 days at sea over to the Caribbean....someone has told us it will be really rough crossing at that time of the year?? Hoping as we will be heading south (?) it shouldnt be too bad...anyone got any experience of this? all advice gratefully received!

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We have done eight transatlantic crossings in October/November over the last ten years. We have another booked this year. We have only ever had one rough crossing and that was on the Eclipse heading for New York a few years ago. Every other trip has been fantastic even the bay of biscay was fine. Once you get down past Lisbon the weather has been fab. Enjoy your trip we are looking forward to ours.

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We did a TA on Reflection late October in 2015 departed Rome and were very lucky with the weather. We spent a lot of time outside in shorts as the weather was warm. We only had one day when we were near Gibraltar when the weather was not too good which was due to an unusual weather system. Would definitely cruise this route at this time of year again given the chance.

The someone who told you it was always rough - ask them how they know this to be the case. As the other posters have said, it can be perfectly calm.

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Did it on Azura 28th October last year; flat calm nearly all the way though not really warm until we left the Azores behind.

Done several to the Caribbean but not from Southampton, only the Med. The Atlantic has always been fine and plenty of sun but obviously from or to Southampton the nearer you are to the UK, the cooler it gets.

We always book these cruises late and get a good deal. I am still keeping my eye on the Britannia and Azura returning next month and will probably book either very soon. A balcony for about £1000 or less is a good price.

terrierjohn

The only transatlantic we have done was a round trip from Southampton, out in Jan and back in Feb; and although not flat clam it was fine for sunbathing after we left Madeira.

So in October I would imagine it would be far smoother.

Thank you to all for your prompt replies...It seems we have nothing too much to worry about! Perhaps we shall go ahead and book! :)

We're on the same cruise(B730). I'm told it might be a bit cold/rough until Madeira but fine from then onwards,

Thank you...

john watson

The weather can vary enormously as can sea conditions. In my experience on a P&O ship doing the Caribbean to Southampton route it will likely be warmer than the Cunard New York to Southampton route. Remember P&O stay much further South on the crossing as they transit via the Canaries, Madeira or Azores. This makes the cruise much more warmer but the sea conditions can sometimes be rough. Cunard hug the Canadian coastal shelf. If you went for Star Clippers transatlantic you will not benefit from the massive size of the ship. Queen Mary is going to be steadiest and Britannia a bit more rocky under the same sea conditions. Star Clippers are going to be a significantly rougher ride but the sea conditions on this clip would be the same time of year as any major line repositioning a ship.

Regards John

Is it better doing the Southampton - Caribbean in October or the return Caribbean - Southampton in March, not only from a crossing point of view but also the weather when we arrive in the Caribbean, I've only ever cruised Caribbean late Jan, early Feb and the weathers always been fine I'd be interested to know how it varies from October to March. I'm looking at cruises this October and there seems to be some decent deals to be had on Britannia I'm just a little wary of what weather will be on offer when we arrive.

I prefer the Caribbean to Southampton in April. The long flight is over with up front, you can bring back limitless weight of souveneirs, duty free etc. and the Caribbean weather seems good to me. The only poor weather that is likely to crop up is the canary leg.

March is likely to be better on both counts, but of course there's no absolute guarantee. For the crossing, there's more risk of deep depressions in the Atlantic - and hence high winds - in October, and especially in late October. In the Caribbean, I think October will still be in the rainy season, and if you're unlucky there could even be a hurricane in the region, whereas March is in the dry season.

We are on Britannia's TA in March, having only ever done westbound TAs previously, does anybody know how P&0 adjust the time onboard to compensate for the time difference?

We are on Britannia's TA in March, having only ever done westbound TAs previously, does anybody know how P&0 adjust the time onboard to compensate for the time difference?     Sent from my iPad using Forums

Down to the Captain most do it at mid day losing the 12.00 to 13.00 hour.

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Down to the Captain most do it at mid day losing the 12.00 to 13.00 hour.     Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

That's interesting. When we did the TA on Royal there was an hour lost overnight 5 days in a row. Bad enough for the passengers but the poor staff must be worn out losing those sleeping hours. Losing them from the middle of a sea day makes a lot of sense.

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I much prefer loosing the hour at Midday. Makes lunch a little nearer afternoon tea. [emoji513]

Booked the Britannia Trans Atlantic, last minute deal, so I hope it is mid day, makes sense for passengers and crew.

I booked the Britannia yesterday for the TA in October.

Anything I have looked at suggests that the weather should fine but who knows but excited all the same:cool:

I booked the Britannia yesterday for the TA in October. Anything I have looked at suggests that the weather should fine but who knows but excited all the same:cool:

We have done three maiden transatlantics, the first on Ventura was lovely weather the second on Azura we were delayed a day leaving Southampton as the weather was really bad, our third on Britannia was ok weather. But we have never made it to Madeira. Twice diverted to Tenerife and once diverted to Azures as we were skirting round a hurricane, that crossing was very rough, but got some great pics of the sea crashing over the bow!

Rocky of London

We have travelled T A both ways, but we prefer flying out and sailing back , so much more relaxing to walk off at Southampton.

October 2015 we sailed over to Barbados and flew back, the airport wait and the flight back, was not the best.

We are sailing in March to Barbados and the prices are excellent value......But you must enjoy days at sea to get the best from this cruise,

Weather hopefully will be good again and a great bunch of passengers, who are onboard to relax and take in the sea air.

Really recommend these T A ......

lanarkshire lad

hi we have just booked this cruise, looking forward to it.One tip we would recommend if you are booking a balcony book it on a Select fare so you can book an even cabin No. to get the most of any sun on the balony as we sail south west,i would then mark it DO NOT UPGRADE

But if you are doing a round trip it makes no difference. Sun on the way out, or on the way back.

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tartanexile81

We've just come back from Ventura and the Atlantic was like a milll-pond mid-january but on the way back mainly quite windy so it's too difficult to predict really. They moved the clocks forward at noon and that seems to be the norm these days

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• Northern Europe & Baltic Sea

COST of day trip to Moscow ??

By densol , February 26, 2012 in Northern Europe & Baltic Sea

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We have just booked a cruise to the Baltics for next year. I am trying to find out the average cost for a day trip to Moscow from STP. I have searched several times, and whilst I have read reviews and reports about the trips etc - I cannot actually see any examples of the costs. I imagine its quite expensive - but we want to do it so I need to budget LOL !!

Any ballpark figures ? :D

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We have just booked a cruise to the Baltics for next year. I am trying to find out the average cost for a day trip to Moscow from STP. I have searched several times, and whilst I have read reviews and reports about the trips etc - I cannot actually see any examples of the costs. I imagine its quite expensive - but we want to do it so I need to budget LOL !! Any ballpark figures ? Thanks

We did the Moscow trip through our cruise ship in late July 2008. Its cost was a little under $1000 pp. Now, that cost through this cruise line is a little over that $1000 pp cost. Now, most are using the high-speed rail connection versus the air flights as we did. I have seen some other numbers from other cruise lines and/or private firms that run $700-850.

Why cheaper or the differences? As cruise lines are pressured to keep their "sticker price" low, they need to make up some "margin" with ship tours, beverages, spa stuff, etc., to help cover their costs and gain some profit. Second, different tours provide various features. Our tour included going inside the famed and spectacular Kremlin Palace. Most Moscow tours don't feature that option and you cannot just walk up there and get in on your own. That Palace is where the Czars were crowned and all of the current/recent Russian leaders assumed their powers.

We could have saved a little if we had used a private tour to go to and visit Moscow, but, with my wife's pushing, we felt it was worth it to pay a little more, do it through the cruise line. If there had been any problems or mix-ups, it was the ship's duty to "make it right" and we would not have to worry.

If you have three days in St. Petersburg and/or have been there before, then the Moscow tour can work out very well. It's not cheap, but in my view, worth it!! Both are a few of my visuals from this super great city with such interesting history and dramatic architecture.

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Did a June 7-19, 2011, Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik . Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of wonderful visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 66,454 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now at 60,364 views.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

One of the Kremlin Wall Towers in Moscow:

Walking on the famed Red Square of Moscow:

St. Basil's sits on Red Square and dates back to its 1555-61 construction on the orders of Ivan the Terrible (Ivan IV). It commemorates the capture of Kazan and Astrakhan and marks the geometric center of the city. This location has been the hub of its growth for Moscow since the 14th century. It was the tallest building in Moscow until the completion of the Ivan the Great Bell Tower in 1600. This church was near destroyed in the 1930’s when Stalin was in control.:

Here is a small sampling of the Kremlin Royal Treasures of the Czars: Eggs & Jewels insicde the famed Armory.:

Moscow’s subways are called the “People’s Palaces” with their marble coverings and unique designs for each of the different and many stations.:

This is the interior for Moscow's most historic church, Assumption Cathedral or the Cathedral of the Dormition, inside the Kremlin walls. It is the mother church of Muscovite Russia. The church stands on Cathedral Square and was built in 1475–1479 by the Italian architect Aristotele Fioravanti. It was erected on the spot of an older 14th century cathedral of the same name:

We did the day trip to Moscow with Alla-tour and were very pleased with our tour. Our guide whose English was great was a wealth of information and the day went very smoothly. I checked the web site and Alla's prices for 2012 range from $884 a person for two down to $542 a person for 6 with the 5% cruisecritic discount. So if you can get a group together the per person price goes down considerably. You can try to do this on the roll call section of cruisecritic.

We did not go to the Palace and as Terry says this is not included generally in tours. However, we did go to the Diamond Fund, an amazing display of crown jewels and jewelry in the Armoury building but not really part of the Armoury. I would think you could include this if you had a small group and really wanted to see it. It is quite small and does not accommodate a large group. You can google "diamond fund kremlin" to learn more.

Here are some of my pictures

Red Square with St. Basil’s at the far end

Kremlin Cathedral Square

Bolshoi Theatre

Treasures at the Armoury

200 ton Tsar Bell

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

We did the day trip to Moscow with Alla-tour and were very pleased with our tour. Our guide whose English was great was a wealth of information and the day went very smoothly. I checked the web site and Alla's prices for 2012 range from $884 a person for two down to $542 a person for 6 with the 5% cruisecritic discount. So if you can get a group together the per person price goes down considerably. You can try to do this on the roll call section of cruisecritic. We did not go to the Palace and as Terry says this is not included generally in tours. However, we did go to the Diamond Fund, an amazing display of crown jewels and jewelry in the Armoury building but not really part of the Armoury. I would think you could include this if you had a small group and really wanted to see it. It is quite small and does not accommodate a large group. You can google "diamond fund kremlin" to learn more.

Well said, cadreamer! (nice photos, by the way).

We also used Alla. She is just a super person to work with and, if you get a group together, she will accomodate what YOU want to do!! You can check-out her Moscow tour at:

http://www.alla-tour.com/tours/1

As cadreamer suggests, go to your roll call on Cruise Critic & see if you can get a group together.

Terry, your pix, per usual, are awesome! Still envious! :)

Terry, your pix, per usual, are awesome! Still envious! :) jill

Appreciate, Jill, the kind comments! Envy is GOOD!!

Below are a few more visuals on Moscow that are more "interesting". Fascinating to having seen both cities, back-to-back. It really puts all of this unique Russian history and architecture in better perspective.

Did a June 7-19, 2011, Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik . Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of wonderful visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 67,001 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

The famed KGB (Secret Police) Headquarters in Moscow where many entered and did not exit (alive) during the 1950’s and 1960’s:

Kremlin Treasures: Royal coaches:

Young Military Officers on the streets of Moscow with Soviet "High Hat".:

These are the series of smaller domes on the top of the Church of the Deposition of the Robe in the Kremlin Cathedral Square area.:

Inside the newly, more westernized GUM Department Store:

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