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The Man in Seat 61

The transatlantic ferry

Cunard's queen mary 2.

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This is a guide to travel between Europe & the United States using Cunard's Queen Mary 2. 

Cunard maintain a scheduled transatlantic passenger service between Europe and the United States, usually one sailing a month in each direction between Southampton & New York from April to December taking 7 nights.

You travel aboard the greatest ocean liner in the world, Cunard's Queen Mary 2 (QM2).  It's a crossing , not a cruise , and many people use the QM2 as their preferred mode of transport between Europe & the United States.  The Queen Mary 2 is a proper ocean liner, built with the extra structural strength & power to withstand the rigours of the North Atlantic in all weathers.  The QM2 took over the transatlantic service from Cunard's 1967-built QE2 in 2004.

You can forget being bored, it's a week of relaxation, with cinema, theatre, interesting lectures, spa treatments, swimming pools, cocktail bars, restaurants, an excellent library, shops and even the world's only sea-going planetarium.  Plus the cold grey Atlantic which I never tire of watching.  You can also forget seasickness, the 150,000 ton QM2 is rock-steady in most weather amidships, you'll need to walk forward towards the bows to feel any up and down movement.  Westbound, the crossing is rounded off by an awe-inspiring early-morning arrival into New York City, in my opinion the best way to arrive in the Big Apple. 

Crossing the Atlantic by ocean liner needn't cost much more than a business-class flight, fares for two people sharing the cheapest Britannia stateroom start from £1,099 per person each way, for 7 nights accommodation, all meals & entertainment.

The Man in Seat Sixty-One says:   "From personal experience, staggering round a transatlantic liner in a dinner jacket with a martini is the normal, rational, reasonable way to cross the Atlantic.  Heading for an airport and strapping yourself to a flimsy aluminium tube is an unfortunate and eccentric aberration."

Transatlantic sailing dates

Southampton ► new york.

2024 transatlantic sailings:   28 April, 16 May, 9 June (6 night), 23 June (6 night), 21 July (6 night), 16 August, 15 September, 17 October (8 night), 13 November, 14 December.

2025 transatlantic sailings:   9 January (9 nights, Queen Anne), 8 March, 27 April (8 nights), 16 May, 6 June, 24 June, 27 August, 26 September, 24 October, 19 November, 15 December.

All crossings are now 7 nights except where shown.  The Queen Mary 2 usually sails from Southampton at 17:00, arriving in New York 7 nights later at 06:30-07:00.  The terminal she uses in Southampton varies.  In New York she arrives at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal.

New York ► Southampton

2024 transatlantic sailings:   3 January (8 nights), 5 May, 23 May, 15 June (8 nights), 6 July (8 nights), 27 July (8 nights), 23 August, 4 October (9 nights), 25 October, 3 December.

2025 transatlantic sailings:   3 January (8 nights), 6 April (8 nights), 5 may, 23 may, 13 June, 8 July, 8 august, 3 September, 17 October, 31 October, 8 December then 3 January 2026 (8 nights).

The QM2 usually sails from New York Brooklyn Cruise Terminal at 17:00, with check-in opening at 13:00 and closing at 15:45.  She arrives in Southampton at 06:30 seven nights later.

How to check sailing dates, times, prices & availability

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How much does it cost?

Typical Cunard one-way fares for transatlantic crossings.  Late bookings in late season can often be cheaper than this!

Inside = without window, oceanview = with porthole, see the cabin accommodation guide .  All other staterooms & suites have a balcony, except the two Q3 Royal Suites.

Britannia = allocated to the Britannia restaurant for meals.  Princess or Queen's Grill = allocated to the superior Princess or Queen's Grill restaurants for meals.

How to find cheaper tickets:   You'll often find cheaper fares if you buy your tickets from a cruise specialist such as www.cruisenation.com (UK-based) or www.cruisedirect.com (in the USA or Canada), both of which have online booking for transatlantic crossings and cruises.  Agencies like these can save perhaps £100 per person or more off the official Cunard price, and you'll also find cheaper fares if you shop for last minute deals and late-season crossings, as low as £799 or better, for example.  However, be aware that in high summer transatlantic sailings can get full many months in advance.

Round trip fares:   There are special round trip fares covering two back-to-back crossings with just 1 day in New York, but if you plan to spend more than a day at your destination you'll need to pay one-way fares each way.  In other words, for all practical purposes a round trip on the QM2 means buying two one-way tickets.

Cunard Fare & Saver fare:   The Cunard fare lets you choose a specific cabin & dinner sitting up front.  The Saver fares are several hundred pounds or dollars cheaper and guarantee a cabin in the booked grade or higher, but the cabin and dinner sitting time are allocated for you.  You can log in to Cunard's voyage personaliser at my.cunard.com/en-gb/mycruise/login a couple of weeks before departure to see what cabin & sitting you have been allocated.

Child fares:   See here .

What does the fare include?   All Queen Mary 2 transatlantic fares include your cabin accommodation, all meals & afternoon tea, on-board entertainment such as shows, lectures, films, access to the swimming pools & library, plus the tea, coffee & juices available in the Kings Court self-service.  The fare does not include alcoholic & non-alcoholic drinks served in bars or at meals, Canyon Ranch Spa access & treatments, or internet access .  Also, a 'discretionary' fee of around $11-$14 per person per day will be added to your on board account each day as a gratuity for staff.

How to buy tickets

  if you live in uk & europe,   if you live in the usa or canada, how does the ticketing work , westbound transatlantic guide.

Here is a typical transatlantic timetable, port transfer, embarkation arrangements & journey information for a typical westbound transatlantic sailing on the QM2.  Although they normally follow this same pattern, always check the sailing time & check-in times for your specific date.  If you find that something has changed, please let me know .  If you're sailing eastbound, see the eastbound information .  Are  westbound or eastbound crossings better?

Take the train from London Waterloo

Fast air-conditioned trains run from London Waterloo to Southampton Central every 30 minutes taking around 1h17.  No reservation is necessary, just turn up, buy a ticket and hop on the next train.

London to Southampton costs £43.10 adult one-way Super Off-Peak in standard class or £86.80 one-way Off-Peak in 1st class.

These tickets have unlimited availability, you can buy them on the day, the price doesn't change.  Children under 16 half price, children under 5 free.

If you book in advance and commit to a specific train, cheaper Advance fares are available from around £10 in standard class or £16 in 1st class.  These tickets have limited availability at each price level.

Check train times & fares from London Waterloo or anywhere in Britain to Southampton at www.thetrainline.com .  Direct trains run from Manchester, Birmingham, Oxford, Reading, Bristol & Cardiff to Southampton, so you won't have to cross London.  See a beginner's guide to UK train travel .

For train connections from Paris or any other European city to London, see here .  I'd recommend a night in London before taking the train to Southampton on sailing day.

Transfer by taxi in Southampton

Make sure you know which of the four possible terminals the QM2 is sailing from, the QEII terminal (dock gate 4), City Cruise Terminal (dock gate 10), Mayflower Cruise Terminal (dock gate 10), or the new Ocean Terminal (dock gate 4).  Map of Southampton, showing all cruise terminals, Southampton Central Station & the historic Ocean Terminal .

A taxi from Southampton Central station takes 10 minutes and costs around £10 to the Mayflower or City cruise terminals, around £13 to the QEII terminal or Ocean Terminal.  You'll find plenty of taxis waiting at the station, the taxi rank is on the same side of the station where most trains from London arrive, so no bridges or subways to negotiate., level access from platform to booking hall to forecourt.

QM2 check-in procedures

Check-in typically opens at 13:00 and closes around 15:45.  Cunard will give you a specific check-in time on your e-ticket to stagger people arriving, but you can arrive earlier if you like, it's not a problem.

Visitors are not allowed on board, so anyone seeing you off will have to leave you at the terminal.   Cunard either send you or allow you to download labels showing your departure date & cabin number, remember to put one on each bag before arriving at the terminal.

When you get out of the taxi at the terminal drop-off point your large bags are immediately taken from you and whisked away, they will magically reappear later in your stateroom.  No bag should exceed 23Kg (50lb) but you can take as many bags as you like as long as they will all fit into your stateroom.

You then walk into the check-in hall and go to the first available check-in desk, this usually doesn't take long.  At the check-in desk, you show your e-ticket, your passport & your credit card for on-board purchases, and a webcam photo is taken of each passenger for security purposes.  You may be asked to fill out a brief health form to notify the ship of any fever you have or any diarrhoea you've had in the last 48 hours.  Each passenger is given a credit-card sized plastic card which is your embarkation card, your cabin key and your charge card for buying drinks & souvenirs on board. 

After check-in there's an airline-style X-ray & metal detector security check, then straight onto the gangway onto the QM2, entering the Grand Lobby on deck 3.  It's a painless process compared to airports.  If you feel like a late lunch, or just a tea, coffee or juice when you board, you'll find the King's Court self-service restaurant on deck 7 open for business and offering all of these.

What's an Atlantic crossing like?

The Queen Mary 2 is usually due to sail from Southampton at 17:00.  This is the most usual time, but please check for your sailing date.  Once on board and settled into your stateroom, listen for announcements about emergency drill.  This is held at 16:00 and takes about 20 minutes.  You listen for the alarm bells, fetch your lifejackets from your stateroom and go to your allocated muster station where staff will brief you on emergency procedures and you'll listen to an announcement by the captain.  When it's over, return your lifejackets to your stateroom and head up on deck for departure...

Soon after 17:00 the QM2 sails, with a band playing on her aft decks and glasses of champagne available (around $17).  She is sometimes moored facing upstream, sometimes downstream, and if she's moored facing upstream at the City or Mayflower terminals, she'll first head further upstream before turning around, somehow managing to turn her 1,130 foot length without hitting the far bank of the river or the small boats moored there.

Southampton's historic Ocean Terminal:  Cunard no longer use the traditional and historic Ocean Terminal dock, from which the original Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth and even Titanic would have sailed.  Indeed, the old 1950 terminal building was demolished in 1983 and this hugely historic location now looks totally unremarkable, a freight dock with a couple of multi-storey car parks next to it for vehicle exports.  You won't know that you're looking at it unless you know where it is, so see this map .  It's just north of the QEII terminal, just south of the City & Mayflower terminals.  About the old Ocean Terminal .

The Queen Mary 2 heads downstream into the Solent, heading directly towards Cowes on the Isle of Wight before making a tight turn to port (left) in the deep water channel, passing Ryde to starboard (right) and Portsmouth to port.  The QM2 rounds the Isle of Wight using the deep water route to the east (although this looks like the long way round on a map) and heads out into the English Channel.  By breakfast next morning, you're well past Bishop Rock lighthouse and out in the Atlantic...

Seven nights at sea on the Atlantic.  Cunard slowed down their crossings from 6 nights to 7 nights from 2011 onwards, although an occasional crossing may take 6 or 8 nights.  This is two days slower than it used to be, as the weekly service operated from 1946 to 1967 by the original Queen Mary and her consort Queen Elizabeth took just 5 nights for the 3,150 nautical miles (3,625 miles). 

There may be no coastline or islands to see in mid-Atlantic (or even other ships, usually), but I never tire of gazing at the brooding waters of the North Atlantic.  It changes from day to day, sometimes smooth and glassy, sometimes choppy and sombre, sometimes sunny, sometimes foggy with the Queen Mary 2's fog horn blaring at regular intervals.

You may get rough crossings especially in October, November or December, but my summer crossings on the 150,000 ton Queen Mary 2 or 70,000 ton QE2 have been rock steady all the way.  You could be in a 5 star hotel rather than on board a ship!

The QM2's clocks are put back an hour at 2am on 5 of the 7 nights because of the time difference, giving you a welcome extra hour's sleep in this direction.  You will pass within a few miles of the resting place of the Titanic (within 38 nautical miles on one of my westbound crossings) and an announcement may well be made on board.  Naturally, you'll find a whole programme of entertainment & activities on board every day, and if you really want to be bored you'll have to work hard at it.

The QM2 arrives in New York at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal at 06:30.  This is the highlight!  Whether you're a natural early riser or not, make sure you're up and on deck by 04:45 on the morning of arrival in New York, as the arrival into New York by ocean liner is something you will remember all you life.  There's a forward-facing observation deck on deck 11,  immediately below the bridge, accessed from 'A' stairway.  You'll see the lights of Long Island to starboard (the right-hand side), Staten Island to port, and the Verrazano suspension bridge dead ahead at the entrance to New York harbour.  The Queen Mary 2 passes under the bridge with just a few precious feet of clearance above her funnel, and as she does so the fabulous Manhattan skyline comes into view.  The QM2 no longer uses Cunard's traditional terminal at Pier 90 on Manhattan itself, so she no longer steams right past the Statue of Liberty, but instead she turns to starboard (to the right) opposite the statue and heads into the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, berthing within sight of the famous Statue and Manhattan skyline.

QM2 disembarkation in New York

A note explaining QM2 disembarkation procedures appears outside your stateroom a day or two before arrival, and each deck is allocated a disembarkation time.  Disembarkation takes place between 08:00 & 11:00.  The upper decks with the more expensive cabins disembark first (e.g. decks 9, 10, 11, 12), other decks such as 4, 5 or 6 later.

Labels for your bags appear outside your stateroom the day before arrival.  You put a label on each of your bags and place them in the corridor outside your stateroom between 20:00 & midnight before arrival.  Your bags will disappear and will be waiting for you in the terminal hall next morning, in an area marked with the same colour as your labels.

It's then just a matter of going through the U.S. immigration check, a slowish process but no worse than any airport.  They you walk out of the terminal.

Express disembarkation:   If you want to get off sooner and are happy managing all your own bags, you can register for Express disembarkation at the purser's desk on deck 2 the day before arrival.  You are given an express disembarkation card.  Express disembarkation passengers gather in the Queens Room from 06:45 onwards with all their luggage, and at around 07:00 when the gangway opens you simply walk off the ship with your bags, straight into the terminal.  With a Deck 4 cabin we were allocated an 11:00 disembarkation time, which would have meant half a day in New York wasted, so I'd go for express disembarkation every time!

Transfer by taxi to Manhattan

The Tour Office on deck 2 offers private transfers by minivan from Brooklyn Cruise Terminal to any Manhattan hotel for a ridiculous $429, or they can sell you tickets for a transfer bus for $59 per person. 

However, both options are crazy, because a normal yellow cab from the terminal taxi rank to anywhere in Manhattan costs only $40 for up to 4 people and all your bags, and you'll find plenty of taxis waiting right outside the terminal building.  Enjoy the drive across the famous Brooklyn Bridge in a New York Yellow Cab!

You'll also find plenty of black private hire vehicles outside the terminal with a fixed price of around $55 to a Manhattan hotel, also a good relaxed option.  The ride takes 20 minutes.

Alternatively, the cheapest option (just $4) is to take the frequent ferry from Brooklyn's Red Hook ferry terminal to Pier 11 on Wall Street at the southern end of Manhattan.  Red Hook ferry quay is only 100m from the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, and it'll take you to Manhattan in a matter of minutes, see www.ferry.nyc .  It's aimed at locals, but taking a suitcase isn't usually a problem.  See walking map cruise terminal to Red Hook ferry .

By train from New York to other U.S. cities

You can be at Penn Station by 11:30 or earlier, for onward train connections.  Washington DC is only 3 hours away by train, Boston 4 hours or less.  The Lake Shore Limited train to Chicago leaves Penn Station around 15:45 arriving in Chicago next morning, with connections for all points west including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Dallas, Seattle.  You'll also make the afternoon Crescent overnight train to Atlanta & New Orleans, or the afternoon Silver Meteor overnight to Florida.

You can book any of these trains online in advance at www.amtrak.com , collecting your ticket from the self-service machines at Penn Station.  Note that between New York & Washington or New York & Boston you'll be offered two different types of train:  The premium-fare Acela Express 150mph high-speed train with business class and first class, but no coach class, and the slower but cheaper Northeast Regional trains with coach class and business class. 

You can book Amtrak trains yourself, but if you want an agency to sort a package of train connections and hotels from New York to other US cities, call Railbookers on 0207 864 4600 (UK office) or 1-888-829-4775 (US office).  Beginner's guide to train travel in the USA .

By train from New York to Toronto, Montreal & Canada

Two daily trains link New York with Canada, the Maple Leaf to Toronto and the Adirondack to Montreal.  Both trains leave New York in the morning, so you'll need to spend the night in New York.  It's a very scenic run along the Hudson River valley, past West Point Military Academy, Storm King Mountain and Bannerman's Island.  As it's name suggests, the train to Montreal also passes through the scenic Adirondack Mountains and past Lake Champlain.  Information on trains from New York to Canada .  Change in Toronto for the famous Canadian trans-continental train 2-3 times a week to Winnipeg, Edmonton, Jasper & Vancouver. 

You can book Amtrak & VIA Rail trains yourself, but if you want an agency to sort a package of train connections and hotels from New York to major Canadian cities, call Railbookers on 0207 864 4600 (UK office), 1-888-829-4775 (US office, toll-free) or 1-855-882-2910 (Canada, toll-free).  Beginner's guide to train travel in Canada .

Eastbound transatlantic guide

Here is a typical timetable, transfer & journey information for most eastbound trans-Atlantic crossings.  Although they usually follow this pattern, please check sailing & check-in times for your specific date when you book in case they are different.  If you find that anything has changed, do let me know .  If you plan to travel westbound, click here .  Are  westbound or eastbound crossings better?

By train from Washington DC & other US cities to New York

Amtrak trains link Washington DC & New York in less than 3 hours, Boston to New York in under 4 hours.  The daily Lake Shore Limited links Chicago & New York overnight, with connections in Chicago from LA, San Francisco, Seattle, etc.  However, the Lake Shore arrives at New York's Penn station in the early evening, too late for same-day connections with the 'Mary, so you'll need to leave Chicago two nights before the 'Mary sails and spend a night in New York before sailing day.  You can check schedules and fares and buy tickets for any of these trains online at www.amtrak.com .  Note that between New York & Washington or New York & Boston you'll be offered two different types of train:  The premium-fare Acela Express 150mph high-speed train with business class and first class, but no coach class, and the slower but cheaper Northeast Regional trains with coach class and business class.  You can book Amtrak trains yourself, but if you want an agency to sort a package of train connections and hotels from other US cities to New York for you, call Railbookers on 0207 864 4600 (UK office) or 1-888-829-4775 (US office.  Beginner's guide to train travel in the USA .

By train from Toronto, Montreal & Canada to New York

Two daily trains link Canada with New York, the Maple Leaf from Toronto and Adirondack from Montreal.  Both trains arrive in New York in the evening, so you'll need to spend a night in New York before sailing day - Check hotels in New York .  It's a very scenic run down the Hudson River valley, past West Point Military Academy, Storm King Mountain and Bannerman's Island.  As it's name suggests, the train from Montreal also passes through the scenic Adirondack Mountains and past Lake Champlain.  Information on trains between Canada & New York .  The famous Canadian trans-continental train links Vancouver & Toronto three times a week, via Jasper, Edmonton & Winnipeg.  You can book Amtrak & VIA Rail trains yourself, but if you want an agency to sort a package of train connections and hotels from a Canadian city to New York for you, call Railbookers on 0207 864 4600 (UK office) or 1-888-829-4775 (US office, toll-free) or 1-855-882-2910 (Canada, toll-free). Beginner's guide to train travel in Canada .

By taxi from Manhattan to Brooklyn Cruise Terminal

A normal yellow cab from New York Penn Station or any hotel in Manhattan to the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal costs around $40 for up to 4 people and all your bags.  Enjoy the drive across the famous Brooklyn Bridge in a traditional New York Yellow Cab!  The taxi ride takes 20 minutes.

Alternatively, a frequent ferry operates from Pier 11 at the end of Wall Street in Manhattan to Red Hook ferry terminal in Brooklyn, this is just 100m from the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, fare $4, see www.ferry.nyc .  See walking map from Red Hook ferry terminal to Brooklyn Cruise Terminal .

QM2 check-in procedures in New York

Check-in usually opens around 13:00 and closes around 15:45.  Cunard will give you a specific check-in time on your e-ticket to try and stagger people arriving, but you can arrive earlier if you like.  Visitors are not allowed on board, so anyone seeing you off will have to leave you at the terminal then wave from the shore.

Cunard will have sent you adhesive labels showing your departure date & cabin number, remember to put one on each bag before arriving at the terminal, as when you get there your larger bags are immediately taken from you.  They will magically reappear later in your stateroom.  No one bag should exceed 23Kg (50lb) but you can take as many bags as you like as long as they will all fit into your stateroom.

You then walk into the terminal and join the short queue for a ticket check, then another short queue for the X-ray and metal detector security check, then you join a long zig-zag queue for check-in proper.

At the check-in desk, you show your e-ticket, your passport & your credit card for on-board purchases, and a webcam photo is taken of each passenger for security purposes.  You also hand in a brief health form notifying the ship of any fever you have or any diarrhoea you've had in the last 48 hours. Each passenger is given a credit-card sized plastic card which acts as your embarkation card, cabin key and charge card for buying drinks & souvenirs on board.  You then go up the gangway onto the QM2, entering the Grand Lobby on deck 3.

Apart from the time spent in the main queue (have a reading book and some refreshments to hand), it's a painless process compared to airports.  If you feel like a late lunch, or just a tea, coffee or juice when you board, you'll find the King's Court self-service restaurant on deck 7 open for business and offering all of these.

What's an eastbound Atlantic crossing like?

The ship normally sails from New York at 17:00.  This is the usual time, but please check for your specific departure date.  Once on board and settled into your stateroom, listen for announcements about emergency drill.  This is held at 16:00 and takes about 20 minutes.  You listen for the alarm bells, fetch your lifejackets from your stateroom and go to your allocated muster station where staff will brief you on emergency procedures and you'll listen to an announcement by the captain.  After this you're free to go up on deck and admire the Manhattan skyline astern and the Statue of Liberty to starboard (right-hand side).  At 17:00 she casts off, and with a band playing on her aft decks and glasses of champagne available (around $17) she heads out to sea.  Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty slowly disappear astern, and the QM2 heads toward and then underneath the huge Verrazano suspension bridge out into the Atlantic.  There is just a few precious feet of clearance above her red funnel!  An NYPD police boat follows behind (seeing you off the premises?), and a police helicopter buzzes overhead.

Seven nights at sea on the Atlantic.  Cunard slowed down their crossings to from 6 to 7 nights from 2011 onwards, although an occasional crossing still takes 6 nights.  Naturally, you'll find a whole programme of entertainment & activities on board every day, and if you really want to be bored you'll have to work hard at it!  There are no islands or coastline to see in mid-Atlantic (or even other ships, usually), but personally I never tire of gazing at the brooding waters of the North Atlantic.  It changes from day to day, sometimes smooth and glassy, sometimes choppy and sombre, sometimes foggy, sometimes sunny.  You may get rough crossings especially in October, November or December, but my own transatlantic crossings on the 150,000 ton Queen Mary 2 or 70,000 ton QE2 have been rock steady all the way.  You could be in a 5 star hotel rather than on board a ship!  The QM2's clocks are put forward an hour at 2am on five of the seven eastbound nights because of the time difference, giving you an hour's less sleep in this direction - if there's one reason why a westbound crossing can be nicer than an eastbound one, this is it!  (update 2013:  Cunard has tried the crazy idea of putting the clocks forward at midday on recent crossings, much to passengers dismay, as it can be confusing and means dinner is too soon after lunch!)  You will pass within a few miles of the resting place of the Titanic and an announcement may well be made on board.  On the last evening at dinner you may catch site of the Isles of Scilly in the distance (about 35 miles west of Land's End), and later the lights of Cornwall twinkling to port.  A first view of Great Britain!  You're now past the Bishop Rock lighthouse an in the English Channel.  Incidentally, a modern transatlantic crossing is now two days slower than it used to be, as the weekly service operated by the first Queen Mary and her consort Queen Elizabeth from 1946 to 1967 took just 5 nights.

The ship arrives in Southampton at 06:30.  You'll need to be up early, at around 04:30, if you want to see the ship round the Isle of Wight and head past Portsmouth & Ryde and into Southampton Water, although this hardly lives up to the spectacular arrival in New York on a westbound transatlantic.  There's a forward-facing observation deck on deck 10, immediately below the bridge, accessed from 'A' stairway.  Otherwise, you'll find the ship docked at the Southampton Terminal when you awake, and the Kings Court & Britannia restaurants serving a welcome cooked breakfast to send you on your way.

QM2 disembarkation in Southampton

It's then just a matter of going through the UK immigration check.  They you walk out of the terminal.

Express disembarkation:   If you want to get off sooner and are happy managing all your own bags, you can register for Express disembarkation at the purser's desk on deck 2 the day before arrival.  You are given an express disembarkation card.  Express disembarkation passengers gather in the Queens Room from 06:45 onwards with all their luggage, and at around 07:00 when the gangway opens you simply walk off the ship with your bags, straight into the terminal.

Transfer by taxi to Southampton Central station

The Queen Mary 2 can use any one of four different terminals in Southampton, either the QEII terminal (dock gate 4), City Cruise Terminal (dock gate 10), Mayflower Cruise Terminal (dock gate 10), or the new Ocean Terminal (dock gate 4).  Map of Southampton, showing all cruise terminals, Southampton Central Station & the original historic Ocean Terminal .  A taxi to Southampton Central station costs around £10 from the Mayflower or City cruise terminals, or around £13 from the QEII terminal or Ocean Terminal.  You'll find plenty of taxis waiting at the terminal, although there can be a long wait as there are so many other passengers.  The taxi ride takes just 10 minutes.

Take the train to London Waterloo

Cunard no longer organise a special 'boat train' in connection with QM2 sailings.  However, fast air-conditioned trains link Southampton Central with London Waterloo every 30 minutes taking around 1h17.  No reservation is necessary or even possible for Southampton-London trains, you just turn up, buy a ticket and hop on the next train.

Southampton to London costs £43.10 adult one-way Super Off-Peak in standard class or £86.80 one-way Off-Peak in 1st class.

I would not buy a cheaper advance-purchase Advance fare because this commits you to a specific train and you are not in control of exactly when you arrive and disembark.  Super Off-Peak, Off-Peak and Anytime fares can be bought on the day and used flexibly, so you can catch the next train.

You can check train times & fares from Southampton to London Waterloo or anywhere in Britain using www.thetrainline.com .  Direct trains run from Southampton to Reading, Oxford, Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol & Cardiff, so you won't have to cross London.  Beginner's guide to UK train travel .  Find a hotel in London .

Onward trains from London to Paris & beyond

Onwards to Paris:   Allow plenty of time for onward connections, certainly several hours, and maybe stay in London overnight.  For Paris, take a UK domestic train from Southampton central to London Waterloo (no reservation necessary, see the section above), then take a taxi or Underground across London to St Pancras Station.  Eurostar runs every hour or so from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord in central Paris, journey time 2 hours 20 minutes.   For a beginner's guide to Eurostar travel, see the London to Paris by Eurostar page .  You can book tickets online in advance at www.eurostar.com , and you should indeed pre-book, as London-Paris prices start from £52 in advance but up to £200+ if you wait and buy on the day of travel.

Onwards to other countries:   See this page for information on getting from London to any country in Europe .  Having crossed the Atlantic on the luxurious Queen Mary 2, how about taking the Venice Simplon Orient Express vintage luxury train to Italy ?  This runs on most Thursdays from April to October, and takes 24 hours from London to Venice, a real treat.  You can book European trains yourself, but if you want an agency to put together a package of train connections and hotels from anywhere in Europe to Southampton for you, call Railbookers on 0207 864 4600 (UK) or 1-888-829-4775 (US office).

Which cabin to choose?

There are a bewildering range of staterooms on the Queen Mary 2 at varying prices, but they basically fall into these categories, in ascending order of cost:

Britannia Inside:   An Inside cabin means it has no window, but even though this is the cheapest option, these staterooms are spacious, beautifully designed and have all the facilities mentioned above.  They have double or twin beds for 2 people, although some rooms are fitted with an additional two drop-down upper berths making a 3 or 4-berth room.  Some cabins are wheelchair-accessible.  Allocated to the Britannia restaurant.  Typically 155 sq ft.

Britannia Atrium View:   There are a handful of standard inside cabins on decks 4, 5 & 6 which have a small window opening onto the atrium above the Grand Lobby.  They have double or twin beds for 2 people, but none of these rooms are fitted with additional berths.  Also allocated to the Britannia restaurant.  Typically 161 sq ft.

Britannia Oceanview:   These are outside cabins meaning they have a small non-opening porthole for sea views.  Some seasoned travellers will tell you that with no coastline or islands to see on a 6 day transatlantic crossing, a window is unnecessary.  However, I enjoy seeing where I am and love gazing at the vast and always-changing waters of the North Atlantic.  Paying the extra for a Standard Oceanview is well worth it, both for the views and the natural light.  These staterooms have double or twin beds for two people, but some rooms are fitted with an additional two drop-down upper berths making a 3- or 4-berth room.  Some are wheelchair-accessible.  Also allocated to the Britannia restaurant.  Typically 194 sq ft.

I've crossed with an inside cabin and with an outside cabin, and I think it's well worth the extra for a porthole.  It lets natural light into the cabin and it gives you a much greater sense of place - not to mention sunsets over the Isle of Wight and views of the Statue of Liberty as you pack up on arrival!

Britannia Balcony (Obstructed View) :  The cheapest cabin type to have its own balcony, allocated to the Britannia restaurant.  These are all on Deck 8 above the promenade deck, but with their view heavily obstructed by the ship's lifeboats.  They have a double or twin beds for 2 people, and a few cabins have a 3rd berth in the form of a pull-out sofa bed.

I'd definitely pay a little more for an sheltered balcony, without any obstruction.

Britannia Sheltered Balcony:   The next cheapest cabin type to have its own balcony, allocated to the Britannia restaurant, also with a double or twin beds for 2 people, a few cabins have a pull-out sofa bed as well.  Sheltered balcony cabins are on decks 4, 5 & 6 below the promenade deck with a small balcony cut into the hull.  Typically 269 sq ft, including balcony.

This is my own first choice (unless you can afford a megabucks suite, of course), arguably a better choice for a transatlantic crossing than a more expensive cabin with a more windswept balcony in the ship's superstructure.  See the photos below.

Britannia Balcony:   Also allocated to the Britannia restaurant, these are slightly smaller than the Sheltered Balcony rooms, but have a glass-fronted balcony higher up in the ship's superstructure, on deck 8 and above.

The open glass-fronted balcony lets even more natural light into the cabin than a sheltered balcony, but it'll be more windswept than a sheltered balcony on a transatlantic crossing!   Typically 248 sq ft, including balcony.

Britannia Club Balcony:   Similar to a Britannia Balcony, but allocated to the single-sitting 'Britannia Club' restaurant, a separate off-shoot of the main Britannia restaurant.  Typically 248 sq ft, including balcony.

Princess Balcony Suites:   Suites with balcony, all allocated to the Princess Grill restaurant.  Typically 381 sq ft, including balcony.

Queens Balcony Suites:   Various types of suite, up to and including the extravagant Grand Duplex suites, all allocated to the Queen's Grill restaurant.  All have balconies, except the two Q3 grade Royal Suites.  Size varies from 506 sq ft to 2,249 sq ft.

QM2 deck plans in PDF format

If you pay the more expensive Cunard fare so you can choose a specific cabin, here are some things to consider.

You can feel a slight up & down movement of the ship towards at the bows, but will feel hardly any movement at all amidships.  For this reason mid-ships cabins are higher-graded and cost more (Even if you pay the cheaper Saver fare, you can select a higher grade to ensure a mid-ships cabin).

Some people have reported noise from below when occupying sheltered balcony cabins on 4 deck directly above the Illuminations or Royal Court Theatre, so 5 or 6 Deck may be preferable.  However, we had 4101 & 4105 over the Chart Room bar and these were perfect.

Adjacent cabins with connecting doors are marked on the QM2 deck plan .  Choose these if four of you are going to book two cabins.  But don't choose these if you're only booking one cabin, as a wall with connecting door is never as totally soundproofed as a wall without.

Facilities in all cabins

Even the cheapest QM2 cabin (or stateroom as Cunard calls them) features comfortable beds, a private bathroom with shower, sink & toilet, a dressing table, flatscreen TV, a small coffee table & chair, 240v UK & 110v US style power sockets, pay-per-minute internet access , soap, shower gel, shampoo & conditioner, bathrobes, hairdryer, plenty of wardrobe space, room service menu and a solid electronic safe for your valuables that's large enough for a 14" laptop.  A bedtime chocolate is delivered to your stateroom when the steward turns down your bed.

Where cabins can be configured with either twin beds or a double, you can select your preference in advance using the online voyage personaliser at my.cunard.com/en-gb/mycruise/login the same online system where you download and print your luggage labels and e-ticket.  You log on with your Cunard booking reference and personal details.

Britannia sheltered balcony  See 360º image

This is cabin 4101 on 4 Deck.   The Man in Seat 61 says , "This is my own preferred cabin for a transatlantic crossing.  Even at 20 knots in mid-Atlantic the balcony remains wind-free just as the word sheltered suggests.  Some people say you won't get much use out of a balcony on the Atlantic, but I loved being able to stroll outside at any time and stand at the rail watching the Atlantic drift past.  On a sunny summer crossing off Newfoundland we did indeed sit outside, and even when inside, the French windows let in lots of natural light, making it a far nicer room than an inside or outside cabin, so upgrade if you can.  I have yet to travel with a more expensive full-balcony cabin, but I expect those are a lot more windswept!".  Click the photos for larger images.

Britannia inside & oceanview

Qm2 restaurants, which restaurant.

The fare includes breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as afternoon tea in the Queen's Room or King's Court.  It does not include drinks, other than the basic water, tea, coffee & juice available at the drink stations in the Kings Court buffet restaurant.  Bottles of wine start at around $30 and real ale lovers can choose Old Speckled Hen or Spitfire for around $6 a bottle.

Your allocated restaurant:   Each stateroom is allocated a restaurant.  Most cabins, including the Inside, Oceanview & Sheltered Balcony, are allocated to the Britannia restaurant on decks 2 & 3. The more expensive staterooms are allocated to the more intimate Princess Grill on deck 7, and the very best staterooms to the Queen's Grill , also on deck 7.  The food is excellent, and you choose from a menu of half a dozen different starters, main courses and desserts, which changes every day.

Optional dining venues:   You can also choose to eat any given meal in the informal King's Court buffet on deck 7, or pub grub in the Golden Lion pub on deck 2, instead of your allocated restaurant.  It's entirely up to you, you can decide on a day by day basis.

There is also the Veranda Restaurant aft on deck 8.  This does seafood and steaks, and is an extra-cost option - you reserve a table and pay extra to dine there instead of your allocated restaurant.

Room service:   If you'd rather eat in your cabin, every cabin has free room service from a simple menu including burgers, pasta, cheese & crackers.  You can order by phone at any time, it's all included in your fare.  However, if you order any drinks from room service, including soft drinks, these are charged at bar prices.  You can also choose to have breakfast delivered to your stateroom, except on the morning of arrival.  Just hang the breakfast order form on your cabin door before retiring.

Britannia restaurant

Most staterooms are allocated to the Britannia restaurant , a magnificent two-storey 1,300 seat restaurant spanning decks 2 & 3 and reminiscent of the grand dining saloons of the great ocean liners of the past.  There are two sittings for dinner, 6pm & 8.30pm.  If you pay the Cunard fare you can choose a sitting when you book, if you pay the cheaper Saver fare you will be allocated a sitting, perhaps the less popular 8.30pm one.  If you log onto your online voyage personaliser at my.cunard.com/en-gb/mycruise/login with your booking reference and personal details it will confirm your sitting before you travel.  Evening entertainment is arranged so that both sittings can enjoy it, although the 6pm sitting gives you the rest of the evening free, and is arguably more relaxed than the later one.  If you've young children, see the section below .  There are no specific sittings or allocated tables for lunch or breakfast, you are allocated a table when you walk in, choosing your own table for 2, table for 4 or if you prefer, seats at a shared table so you get to meet other passengers.

Princess Grill & Queen's Grill

More expensive staterooms are allocated to the Princess Grill , the most expensive suites to the Queens Grill .  Both are aft on deck 7, served by the same galley.  There are no sittings, you can dine any time you choose when the restaurant is open.  If you want a drink before dinner, the Grill Lounge is a lounge and bar exclusively for Princess & Queens Grill passengers, on 7 deck aft, directly opposite the entrance to the Queens Grill.

Kings Court

The Kings Court buffet restaurant takes up most of the centre section of deck 7, and it's open almost continuously from early until late, with only half an hour here and there were breakfast dishes are swapped for lunch or lunch for dinner.  There's a wide variety of food, all good quality, including a carvery.  The window tables with sea views cross the promenade deck are the nicest.  Tea, coffee, hot chocolate, water & juices can be had for free from the drinks stations in several locations around the Kings Court area.  Stewards will take your order for wine, beer, cocktails, mocktails or fizzy soft drinks and deliver them to your table, these drinks must be paid for, added to your on board account.

The Man in Seat 61 says , "If you fancy a first breakfast in the Britannia restaurant then a second breakfast in the Kings Court, why not?  After all, Second Breakfast is the most important meal of the day..."

The Verandah restaurant

The Verandah restaurant aft on deck 8 is an extra-cost option, specialising in steaks and seafood.  You can make a reservation at the Verandah restaurant whilst you are on board, or you can book a table for one or more nights at your desired time before you travel, by logging into your voyage personaliser at my.cunard.com/en-gb/mycruise/login booking the table and paying the extra.

The Man in Seat 61 says , "With our normal Britannia sitting not until 8.30pm, we booked a table at the Verandah for 6pm on our last evening before getting up early to see the arrival into New York.  I wished we'd dined there on more than just one occasion, the steaks were top class."

QM2 bars & lounges

There is no shortage of watering holes on the Queen Mary 2.  Personally, the Chart Room works for cocktails before or after dinner as it's near the social centre of the ship on deck 3, but for quiet reading, working on a laptop and generally getting away from it all, the Commodore Club with its forward view over the bows is my top choice.  Drinks are not too expensive:  A tea is $2, a glass of wine perhaps $6, a cocktail $10.  Although I'm a non-smoker 99.9% of the time, one of Havana's Montecristo number 2 cigars and a 1979 Armagnac were sound recommendations from the barman on the last night of a return crossing from New York.

Champagne bar

Sponsored by Veuve Cliquot, the Champagne Bar is on 3 Deck, on the upper level of the Grand Lobby in the centre of the ship.

Commodore Club

Located on deck 9 on 'A' stairway at the forward end of the superstructure.  It's away from the hustle and bustle, a quiet and relaxing place for a cocktail and a read or chat.  You get a great forward view over the bows, although blinds are drawn at dusk so the light does not interfere with the view from the bridge above.  This is my favourite place on QM2 - it does a great range of cocktails and other drinks, the Churchill Cigar Lounge opens off the Commodore Club, the library is one deck down also on 'A' stairway, and the open-air observation deck below the bridge is two decks up on 'A' stairway.  There's a huge illuminated model of the QM2 behind the bar.

Chart room bar

Located on deck 3 near the Britannia restaurant, this is the largest and busiest of the QM2's bars.  Click the photo for larger image.

Golden Lion Pub

Located on deck 2 near the Britannia restaurant, this is not only a good place for a pint of London Pride, you can take meals here too, with pub-style food such as fish and chips or sausages and mash.  Click the photo for larger image.

Carinthia Lounge

Located on deck 7 next to the Kings Court buffet with doors opening onto the promenade deck.  This is a good place to sit, read, and have a tea or coffee.  You may also find some complimentary snacks or soup here too, at the kitchen counter.  Click the photo for larger image.

Afternoon tea in the Queen's Room

Every day at around 3.30pm, afternoon tea is served in the Queen's Room, on 2 Deck aft.  A choice of teas comes with daintily-cut sandwiches, scones and cakes, served by stewards in white gloves.  Afternoon tea is included in the fare, but a glass of champagne is extra.

Grill Lounge

The Grill Lounge is a lounge and bar exclusively for passengers travelling in the upmarket staterooms and suites allocated to the Princess and Queen's Grill restaurants.  It's located on 7 Deck aft, directly opposite the entrance to the Queen's Grill and the ship's width away from the entrance to the Princess Grill.  It seemed to be empty most of the time even with the ship sailing full, it's main purpose seems to be drinks before dinner.

Churchill's Cigar Lounge

This is a sealed and specially-ventilated room opening off the starboard side of the Commodore Club.  Here you can order a whisky or cognac and choose from a cigar menu.  The rest of the ship's accommodation is of course non-smoking!

QM2 activities & entertainment

A daily programme for the following day is delivered to your stateroom each evening.  It shows details of the entertainment and activities on board, along with navigational & itinerary information and the opening and closing times of all restaurants, bars and other facilities.  There's an ongoing programme of shows, plays & lectures.  For example, recent crossings featured talks by John Cleese about his work on Monty Python & Fawlty Towers, excellent lectures by an expert on New York skyscrapers, an edited version of Shakespeare's 'Taming of the Shrew' and Oscar Wilde's 'The Importance of being Earnest'.  The QM2 also features the world's only sea-going planetarium, called the 'Illuminations'.  And of course there are several live bands on board, with dancing every evening, sometimes themed such as the 'Black & White Ball' and 'Ascot Ball'.  If it's disco you prefer, you'll find that in the G32 nightclub.  You'll also find the Canyon Ranch spa on deck 7, offering a wide range of treatments from manicures to massages, Jacuzzis to saunas.  If you want to be bored, you'll have to really work at it.

Library & bookshop

The QM2 has an excellent library - for me, one of its best features - located on 8 deck forward on 'A' stairway directly below the Commodore Club.  You can take out books using your cabin key, or read them in the library, with comfy seats, some with a forward-facing view over the QM2's bows.  The library is open during office hours every day, outside these times the bookshelves are locked but the library itself remains accessible.  As you'd expect, the QM2's library has a particularly good section of books about ocean liners.  Next to the library is a bookshop selling travel guides, QM2 souvenirs & ocean liner/QM2 books.  Click the left-hand photo for larger image .

Swimming pools

The QM2 has several swimming pools.  The most popular (certainly on a transatlantic crossing) is the Pavilion Pool on 12 deck, with sun loungers, two hot tubs, see the photo below.  The roof can slide away when the QM2 visits warmer climates, but it remains closed on the Atlantic.  Towels are provided, there are toilets (visible below behind the two hot tubs) which you can use as changing rooms, or you can change in your cabin and use your bathrobe.  You can see the funnel from the pool through the glass roof, towering above you.  Don't jump when the ship's horns are tested at midday!  There's also a bar here, open at certain times of day.  In addition to this indoor pool there are two outdoor pools on the open decks aft (7 & 8 Deck), one of which is only shallow for kids, the other designated as adults-only.  Click the photo for larger image .

Illuminations

The QM2's Illuminations towards the forward end of Deck 2 can be used as a lecture theatre, cinema or (with an ingenious dome lowered from the ceiling) the world's only ocean-going planetarium.  You'll usually find varying recently-released films shown most evenings, and planetarium sessions at various times on most days.  There's also usually a lecture series or two during each crossing with subjects varying from New York Skyscrapers to pirates on the high seas to the design and build of the QM2.  Click the photo for larger image .

Royal Court Theatre

The QM2's Royal Court Theatre is used for various shows and performances, for example I have seen an interview with John Cleese here, and some stand-up comedy.  Click the photo for larger image .

Spa & gymnasium

The QM2's Canyon Ranch Spa is at the forward end of Deck 7, with with treatment rooms and pool, plus a small beauty salon above on Deck 8.  You can make appointments at the reception desk, treatments & massages are billed to your on-board account.  There's a free-to-use gymnasium at the forward end of Deck 7, pictured below right.

The Cunard heritage trail

The Queen Mary 2 is filled with paintings, information panels and even interactive screens telling the history of Cunard Line, its ships, and the famous people who crossed the Atlantic aboard them.

Travelling with children

You won't be the only family on the QM2, especially on a transatlantic run!  You'll find plenty of entertainment for children in the Play Zone at the aft end of 6 deck.

Arrangements for children & pregnant women on the Queen Mary 2

The play zone & child care.

The Zone is aft on deck 6, staffed by a team of friendly young British-trained nannies.  It has a toddler zone for ages 1-3, a Play Zone for ages 4-6 and The Zone with various computer games and other activities for older kids up to 17.  There's plenty to do, and activities such as treasure hunts or ship tours are organised by the Play Zone team.

Children from 2 to 7 inclusive can be left free of charge with the nannies in the Play Zone during its opening hours, 09:00-12:00, 14:00-17:00, 18:00-24:00 (shorter hours apply on the first and last nights).  In other words, you can sign them into the Play Zone at 9am, pick them up at noon and take them to lunch, sign them back in at 2pm and enjoy an afternoon show, pick them up at 5pm and take them to the children's tea provided in the King's Court 'Chef's Galley' area between 16:30 & 17:30.  Then you can check them back into the Zone at 6pm until midnight, leaving you free to enjoy a formal dinner and evening entertainment while the kids play happily in the Zone and later settle down and fall asleep in front of some cartoons.  Outside the Play Zone, children 1 to 7 must always be accompanied by an adult around the ship.

Children 8 and up to 17 can also use the Zone, signing themselves in and out.  They are free to wander the ship solo.

I suggest calling Cunard to check current childcare arrangements as they tweak them from time to time, but they don't properly explain them on their website - indeed, we didn't know how extensive their childcare facilities were until we we actually on board!

Cabins & dinner sittings

If you have young children, it's worth asking for a cabin towards the stern of the ship.  We were given a stateroom at the extreme forward end of deck 6, whereas the Play Zone is at the extreme aft end of deck 6.  That meant we had to walk a sixth of a mile from cabin to Play Zone to sign the kids in, then a sixth of a mile back again to get changed.  It proved impossible sign the kids in at 6pm when the Zone opens, walk all the way back to the cabin, get changed into formal dress, then walk forward again to the Britannia restaurant for a 6pm sitting. 

From this experience on our outward crossing, we changed our sitting for the return crossing to 8.30pm.  The evening then worked better, although some after-dinner films or shows finished after midnight so could not be attended without leaving early to collect the kids.  The dinner tended to take up much of the evening.  A stateroom near the Zone, and dressing for the 6pm dinner sitting before taking the kids to the Zone, might be the ideal solution, but my wife's and my opinion is divided!

If you've small children, remember to take your folding buggy (stroller).  It's a big ship!

Other useful information

There is no baggage limit on the Queen Mary 2, either in terms of total weight or the number of bags.  You can bring what you like, as long as it all fits in your stateroom.  However, for safe lifting by staff, no one item may exceed 23Kg (50lb).  Bags are taken from you on arrival at the terminal and they reappear in your stateroom on board.  At the end of the crossing, they are transported ashore for you.  See the embarkation & disembarkation arrangements above.  If you plan to go one way by ship, the other by air, one advantage of taking the ship on the return leg is that you can take as much shopping as you like!

Cunard sometimes have to fight off a stuffy image, and it didn't help that until 2013 they had a three-tier dress code as complicated as a Virgin Trains Saver Ticket restriction.  However, they now have just two codes, formal and informal.  One of two dress codes will apply each evening after 6pm in all the main restaurants and bars, although not in the Kings Court buffet restaurant.  You'll be told which dress code applies on which night in if you log on to your voyage personaliser and it's also stated in the daily programme delivered to your stateroom.

Payment on board

Everything on board, including drinks in the bar, books from the bookshop, massages in the spa, purchases in the shops or internet access, is billed to your on board account.  You simply show your cabin card and sign for the payment.  At the end of the crossing, the total is automatically deducted from the credit card you gave them at check-in and you'll get a summary of your account delivered to your stateroom half-way across and at the end of the voyage.  Just be aware that Cunard follow the American practice of quoting you one price but charging you a slightly higher price, as all bar prices shown on the drinks menu have 15% service fee added to them automatically.  As service is then included, there is no need to add a gratuity unless the service has been particularly special. 

Internet & mobile phone access

Internet access is available for a fee throughout the QM2, both in your cabin and in all the public areas including bars but excluding the theatres & restaurants.  It generally works well with good download speeds.  You pre-pay for a bundle of minutes and this is added to your normal on-board account.

2019 prices:  $15 for 30 minutes (= $0.50 per minute), $45 for 120 minutes (= $0.38 per minute) or $80 for 240 minutes (= $0.33 per minute).

You can spend these minutes individually, so for example you can buy 120 minutes and spend them over the course of the whole voyage, logging on to download emails, logging off again to compose replies offline, then logging on again to send, and so only using a few minutes at a time.

To use your own laptop, simply click on the 'Qm2_Guest_internet' internet connection and open a web browser to see the log-in screen.  Register with your name & cabin number on this log-in page and the cost will be billed to your QM2 stateroom account.  If you don't have your own laptop, the Cunard Connexions rooms on deck 2 or the library on deck 8 have self-service internet PCs which you can use for the same rates.  You'll find power sockets for laptops (both British 3-pin and US 110v) in your cabin, and (if you hunt for them) British 3-pin sockets in certain areas of most bars including the Commodore Club on deck 9 forward and the Chart Room on deck 3.  Tip:  I found that the Commodore Lounge on 9 deck was the quietest and nicest place to work, there's a 3-pin power socket near the skirting in the 'bridge wing' far side of the lounge.  Mobile phone access is available on board throughout the crossing, although it isn't cheap, you'll need to ask your phone network for their rates.

The QM2 is entirely non-smoking apart from the open decks and the Churchill Cigar Lounge forward on deck 9 next to the Commodore Club.

As well as a hotel-style pay-per-item laundry service for laundry collected from your stateroom, you'll find a small free-of-charge self-service laundrette on cabin decks 4, 5, 6 & 8, see the photo below.  These have washers, driers, free detergent sachets, iron & ironing board.  This came in very handy on both our outward and return crossings on a 7-week trip to the States, as we arrived in the US with bags full of clean clothes and arrived back in Blighty without a huge laundry backlog.  Also useful for ironing dress shirts that have become creased in the baggage.

Taking your dog

Yes, you can take your dog across the Atlantic on the Queen Mary 2, but they will be kept in the ship's kennels on 12 Deck during the crossing and (except for guide dogs) are not allowed in the public areas.  Contact Cunard for details.  There's an exercise area next to the kennels.

Visiting the QM2's bridge

There are no official bridge visits, but there is a viewing room behind the bridge with two large soundproofed windows so you can see what's going on.  It's normally open 09:00-16:00 on sea days, although it's closed in bad weather.  The entrance is on the port (left-hand) side of the ship on deck 12, accessed via 'A' stairway.  No photography is allowed now - the photos below were taken in 2010 although little has changed here.

Which is better, a westbound or an eastbound transatlantic crossing ?

If you really haven't got the time or money to go both ways by sea, you might want to go one-way by sea and the other by air.  You can often find one-way QM2 fares with a 'free' air fare in the other direction.  If you're British and a shopaholic, the obvious advantage of going out westbound by air and back eastbound by sea is that you can shop in New York and bring back as much as you like, as there are no baggage limits on the Queen Mary 2.  And you'll have the leisurely voyage back home to look forward to at the end of your trip.  However, for my money (not being a great shopper), westbound is much better.  There's the growing anticipation as you near America at the end of an outward westbound crossing, there's the significant advantage of 25-hour days as the clocks are put back on 5 of the 7 nights due to the time difference, and best of all the spectacular arrival into New York harbour in the early morning, with that Manhattan skyline lit by the rising sun.  When you're enjoying your evenings on the town (or rather, the ship) until late at night, the 23-hour days on an eastbound crossing as the clocks are put forward can be a killer!  On the other hand, if I were an American heading for Europe, I might well be tempted to head out by sea eastbound, returning west by air.

Forum for cruise reviews, questions & the latest advice

A good place to find advice & reviews about the Queen Mary 2 and other ships, and to post your own questions and reviews of your trip, is the online cruise forum at www.cruise.co.uk .

About Queen Mary 2

The QM2 was built in 2003 at St Nazaire in France, by Chantiers de l'Atlantique, the same shipyard that built the famous French Line ships Ile de France , Normandie and France .  The Queen Mary 2 is no longer the biggest passenger ship in the world in terms of Gross Tonnage, as the Queen Mary 2's 148,528 tons have now been exceeded, first by Royal Caribbean's 154,000-ton Freedom of the Seas in 2006, and then by the 225,000-ton Oasis of the Seas in 2009.  However, the QM2 remains the tallest, longest and widest ship ever built, at 1,132 feet long and 148 feet wide.  For comparison, the original Queen Mary is just 81,237 tons, 1019 feet long, 118 feet wide, and the Titanic was only 46,000 tons, 883 feet long, 93 feet wide.  Queen Mary 2 uses an unconventional propulsion system:  Four large diesel engines and two gas turbines generate electricity, and this powers four electrically-powered propellers each housed in a 'pod' attached under her stern.  The rear two pods swivel to steer the ship, so the QM2 does not have a conventional rudder.  The propellers face forwards rather than backwards, and give her a top speed of around 30 knots (1 knot = 1.1 mph), although she normally crosses the Atlantic at 20 to 25 knots.  See Queen Mary 2 Wikipedia entry .

Souvenirs & books about the QM2

Buy a superb model of the Queen Mary 2:   The souvenir shop on board QM2 on deck 3 has a couple of models of the Queen Mary 2, but neither (in my opinion) are particularly well detailed, and yet they aren't cheap, either.  If you become a QM2 aficionado during your crossing (highly likely!) and want a top-quality model of the QM2 to sit on your shelves or desk, I highly recommend the 1:1250 Queen Mary 2 model at www.galerie-maritim.de .  It is hand painted in die-cast metal.  You can buy either a full hull version in a glass case, or a waterline model without a case.  The models are small enough not to take up too much room, yet are superbly detailed.  They are very expensive, but you won't be disappointed!

Books about the Queen Mary 2:

The book by John Maxtone-Graham is beautifully written and illustrated, a great souvenir, search for it at Amazon.com (USA) or Amazon.co.uk (UK).  It's also available in the bookshop on board the QM2.

But by far the best book about the design, construction and operation of the QM2 is written by its designer, Stephen Payne, "RMS Queen Mary 2 Manual: An Insight into the Design, Construction and Operation of the World's Largest Ocean Liner", buy it at www.amazon.co.uk (UK) or www.amazon.com (USA).  Highly recommended!

QM2 video guide

Alternatives to the queen mary 2, passenger-carrying freighters, hotels & accommodation, hotels in new york.

New York has hundreds of hotels, the two most famous being the New York Plaza Hotel opposite Central Park and the Waldorf-Astoria on 4th Avenue.  I've never stayed at the Plaza, but have to say I was not impressed by the rooms at the Waldorf, on either occasion I stayed there.  Here's my top tip for New York:

The Algonquin Hotel

The Algonquin is New York's oldest operating hotel, opened in 1902, and a designated New York City Historic Landmark.  Perfectly located in mid-town Manhattan, a block or two from Times Square one way and Grand Central the other, with a lovely wood-panelled lobby and even its own hotel cat, which you may find wandering the corridors or sitting on the reception desk.  To check prices & book, click here .  For the Algonquin's history see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algonquin_Hotel .

In Los Angeles:  Hotel Queen Mary, Long Beach

If you get as far as Los Angeles after your transatlantic crossing, it has to be the Hotel Queen Mary , doesn't it?  She makes a good base to explore the Los Angeles - Hollywood - Disneyland area.  The original Queen Mary of 1936 has been permanently moored at Long Beach in California since the late 1960s, some 25 miles from Los Angeles Union Station (about a $90 taxi ride), and it's undoubtedly the most fascinating place to stay in LA.  The hotel consists of most of the Queen Mary's original first class cabins, and there are plenty of restaurants and bars available on board, too.  Hotel guests can more or less wander the ship at will, and even sign up for ghost hunts at night on board (and yes, from my own experience there is definitely something going on aboard that beautiful but ageing ship!).  Wood panelled art deco interiors have been preserved, although a few modern items have been installed such as televisions, and (as we worked out from a historic deck plan) in some cases two of the Queen Mary's original cabins have been knocked into one hotel suite by turning one of the en suite bathrooms into a connecting corridor.  She is one of the most atmospheric places I have ever stayed.

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USA to England Cruises

There are cruises from the United States to England, including regularly scheduled Transatlantic voyages between New York and Southampton. A cruise is the comfortable and luxurious way to get to the UK. See the full schedule of departures below.

US to England cruises depart from New York, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale and Miami. Large cruise ships cannot fit up the river to London, so the trips go to Southampton or Dover, England. Southampton is 80 miles south-west of London. Harwich is 85 miles north-east of London.

January 3, 2024: 8-night cruise to England on Cunard Line . One-way from New York to Southampton (England) on the Queen Mary 2. Non-stop cruise.

January 11, 2024: 10-day cruise to England on Norwegian Cruise Line . One-way from Miami (Florida) to Southampton (England). Non-stop cruise.

March 9, 2024: 16-day cruise to England on Princess Cruises . One-way from Fort Lauderdale (Florida) to Southampton (England). Visit Ponta Delgada (Azores), Funchal (Madeira), Casablanca (Morocco), Cadiz (Spain) and Lisbon (Portugal).

April 5, 2024: 15-night cruise to England on Royal Caribbean . One-way from Fort Lauderdale (Florida) to Southampton (England). Visit CocoCay (Bahamas), Tenerife (Canary Islands), Cadiz (Spain), Lisbon (Portugal) and Vigo (Spain).

April 5, 2024: 16-day cruise to England on Princess Cruises . One-way from Fort Lauderdale (Florida) to Southampton (England). Visit Ponta Delgada (Azores), Lisbon (Portugal), Bilbao (Spain) and Cherbourg (France).

April 25, 2024: 14-day cruise to England on Norwegian Cruise Line . One-way from New York to Southampton (England). Visit Halifax (Canada), Reykjavik (Iceland), Belfast (Northern Ireland), Dublin (Ireland) and Le Havre (France).

April 28, 2024: 12-night cruise to England on Royal Caribbean . One-way from Cape Liberty (New Jersey) to Southampton (England). Visit Funchal (Madeira), La Coruna (Spain) and Le Havre (France).

April 29, 2024: 14-day cruise to England on Norwegian Cruise Line . One-way from New York to Southampton (England). Visit Halifax (Canada), Dublin (Ireland), Belfast (Northern Ireland), Amsterdam (Netherlands), Zeebrugge (Belgium) and Le Havre (France).

April 30, 2024: 7-night cruise to England on Cunard Line . One-way from New York to Southampton (England) on the Queen Mary 2. Non-stop cruise.

May 2, 2024: 13-night cruise to England on Celebrity Cruises . One-way from Fort Lauderdale (Florida) to Southampton (England). Visit Ponta Delgada (Azores), Cork (Ireland), Dorset (England) and Bruges (Belgium).

May 4, 2024: 15-day cruise to England on Princess Cruises . One-way from Fort Lauderdale (Florida) to Southampton (England). Visit Ponta Delgada (Azores), Cork (Ireland), Falmouth (England), Portland (England) and Le Havre (France).

May 26, 2024: 7-night cruise to England on Cunard Line . One-way from New York to Southampton (England) on the Queen Mary 2. Non-stop cruise.

July 5, 2024: 21-day cruise to England on Princess Cruises . One-way from New York to Southampton (England). Visit Halifax (Canada), Corner Brook (Canada), St Anthony (Canada), Qaqortoq (Greenland), Nanortalik (Greenland), Reykjavik (Iceland), Stornoway (England), Glasgow (Scotland) and Portland (England).

July 7, 2024: 7-night cruise to England on Cunard Line . One-way from New York to Southampton (England) on the Queen Mary 2. Non-stop cruise.

July 21, 2024: 7-night cruise to England on Cunard Line . One-way from New York to Southampton (England) on the Queen Mary 2. Non-stop cruise.

August 18, 2024: 7-night cruise to England on Cunard Line . One-way from New York to Southampton (England) on the Queen Mary 2. Non-stop cruise.

September 11, 2024: 7-night cruise to England on Cunard Line . One-way from New York to Southampton (England) on the Queen Mary 2. Non-stop cruise.

October 13, 2024: 7-night cruise to England on Cunard Line . One-way from New York to Southampton (England) on the Queen Mary 2. Non-stop cruise.

December 8, 2024: 7-night cruise to England on Cunard Line . One-way from New York to Southampton (England) on the Queen Mary 2. Non-stop cruise.

January 3, 2025: 8-night cruise to England on Cunard Line . One-way from New York to Southampton (England) on the Queen Mary 2. Non-stop cruise.

January 4, 2025: 13-day cruise to England on Norwegian Cruise Line . One-way from Miami (Florida) to Southampton (England). Visit Ponta Delgada (Azores), Lisbon (Portugal), Vigo (Spain) and Le Havre (France).

February 7, 2025: 12-day cruise to England on Norwegian Cruise Line . One-way from Miami (Florida) to Southampton (England). Visit Ponta Delgada (Azores).

March 9, 2025: 15-day cruise to England on Princess Cruises . One-way from Fort Lauderdale (Florida) to Southampton (England). Visit Funchal (Madeira), Casablanca (Morocco) and La Coruna (Spain).

March 14, 2025: 14-night cruise to England on Cunard Line . One-way from Fort Lauderdale (Florida) to Southampton (England) on the Queen Victoria. Visit Port Canaveral (Florida), Hamilton (Bermuda) and Ponta Delgada (Azores).

March 22, 2025: 12-night cruise to England on Celebrity Cruises . One-way from Fort Lauderdale (Florida) to Southampton (England). Visit Royal Naval Dockyard (Bermuda) and Ponta Delgada (Azores).

March 29, 2025: 8-night cruise to England on Cunard Line . One-way from New York to Southampton (England) on the Queen Mary 2. Non-stop cruise.

April 4, 2025: 14-day cruise to England on Princess Cruises . One-way from Fort Lauderdale (Florida) to Southampton (England). Visit Ponta Delgada (Azores), Brest (France), Rotterdam (Netherlands) and Brussels (Belgium).

April 12, 2025: 15-night cruise to England on Royal Caribbean . One-way from Miami (Florida) to Portsmouth (England). Visit Grand Bahama Island (Bahamas), Royal Naval Dockyard (Bermuda), Ponta Delgada (Azores), Porto (Portugal) and La Coruna (Spain).

April 24, 2025: 14-day cruise to England on Norwegian Cruise Line . One-way from New York to Southampton (England). Visit Halifax (Canada), St John's (Newfoundland), Reykjavik (Iceland), Belfast (Northern Ireland), Dublin (Ireland) and Le Havre (France).

April 27, 2025: 14-day cruise to England on Norwegian Cruise Line . One-way from New York to Southampton (England). Visit Halifax (Canada), St John's (Canada), Reykjavik (Iceland), Belfast (Northern Ireland), Liverpool (England) and Le Havre (France).

April 28, 2025: 14-night cruise to England on Royal Caribbean . One-way from Miami (Florida) to Southampton (England). Visit Royal Naval Dockyard (Bermuda), Ponta Delgada (Azores), Lisbon (Portugal) and Vigo (Spain).

May 5, 2025: 7-night cruise to England on Cunard Line . One-way from New York to Southampton (England) on the Queen Mary 2. Non-stop cruise.

May 23, 2025: 7-night cruise to England on Cunard Line . One-way from New York to Southampton (England) on the Queen Mary 2. Non-stop cruise.

June 13, 2025: 7-night cruise to England on Cunard Line . One-way from New York to Southampton (England) on the Queen Mary 2. Non-stop cruise.

July 8, 2025: 7-night cruise to England on Cunard Line . One-way from New York to Southampton (England) on the Queen Mary 2. Non-stop cruise.

August 8, 2025: 7-night cruise to England on Cunard Line . One-way from New York to Southampton (England) on the Queen Mary 2. Non-stop cruise.

September 3, 2025: 7-night cruise to England on Cunard Line . One-way from New York to Southampton (England) on the Queen Mary 2. Non-stop cruise.

October 17, 2025: 7-night cruise to England on Cunard Line . One-way from New York to Southampton (England) on the Queen Mary 2. Non-stop cruise.

October 31, 2025: 7-night cruise to England on Cunard Line . One-way from New York to Southampton (England) on the Queen Mary 2. Non-stop cruise.

December 8, 2025: 7-night cruise to England on Cunard Line . One-way from New York to Southampton (England) on the Queen Mary 2. Non-stop cruise.

How to Travel From the U.S. to England by Boat

by Laurie Jo Miller Farr

Published on 23 Aug 2018

Transatlantic voyagers may prefer the thrill of two deep, long blasts from an ocean liner's horn compared to listening to boarding gate announcements at the international airline terminal. The vast differences between sailing and flying across the big pond certainly don't stop there. Of course, with boat travel, there's no jet lag. But it's important to set aside one week or more for the journey, as the cruising rule of thumb is that the mileage a ship will cover in one day is about what a jet covers in an hour.

Before Departure

Check the passport validity requirements and for any country you plan to visit after arrival in England. While the U.K. and Republic of Ireland don't have a minimum validity for U.S. passport holders, many European countries require at least six months from the date of arrival. The process for passport renewals and new passports typically takes around six weeks. If children under 18 are traveling without parents, a letter of authorization is required in addition to a passport. Book flights, arrange insurance, organize transfers to and from the ports of departure and arrival, and consider pre-booking onboard spa or theme restaurant dining options.

Affix the special luggage tags provided by the cruise line, make a sensible packing list (check on what the weather is likely to be at your onward destination) and prepare a carry-on bag of essential items to use while luggage is being distributed to the cabins. Take note of any formal evenings or dress codes on board. Travelers who plan to return by air will want to keep baggage weight restrictions in mind for the homeward journey. Lastly, double check on what's included onboard, from gratuities to cocktails, as this varies by cruise operator and possibly by accommodation category. U.S. dollars are accepted in transit, but U.K. sterling will be required upon arrival.

Choose a Ship

Travelers can select from a wide range of ship sizes. Eastbound transatlantic voyages to England are mainly limited to late March through early November, with Cunard offering sailings in December and January as well. Most of the departures are from New York City and Fort Lauderdale, with perhaps an occasional departure from Miami. Arrivals are at the port cities of Southampton or Dover, each about 75 miles from London. Silversea operates Silver Wind, the smallest luxury ship on the transatlantic crossing, docking at Tower Bridge in London. She has a capacity limited to 296 guests plus 222 crew members. Two of the largest ships on the Atlantic crossing to England are Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Breakaway with a guest capacity of 3,998 and RMS Queen Mary 2, Cunard's flagship, with a guest capacity of 3,090. Speed is a hallmark of the elegant QM2; with a maximum speed just over 30 knots (34.5 mph) she sails New York to Southampton in seven days.

Life on Board

It's a special time at sea with no distractions other than an extraordinary array of activities to keep passengers occupied. A daily ship's newspaper is delivered to each cabin nightly with a rundown of the following day's special events, activities, entertainment and meal times. Because transatlantic voyages don't call on sightseeing ports for several consecutive days, the onboard agenda is robust. Programming varies with each cruise line, so consider whether an emphasis on family-friendly or formal is most suitable. "Edutainment," or hands-on learning and lectures, is popular on many transatlantic crossings, offering passengers the opportunity to develop a skill or hear from topic experts. Spa services are also popular for whiling away the hours. Active types will find fitness and sports options for keeping in shape. In addition to live theater productions and cinema screening, evenings may be given over to international dining options, piano bars, casinos and dancing. There is sure to be more to do at any given time than one can possibly manage.

How Long To Sail From New York To London?

Last Updated by

Jacob Collier

August 30, 2022

Every sailing enthusiast dreams of a long trip, such as from New York to London. So, how long does it take to sail from New York to London? Let's find out.

Going on a long voyage across an ocean is going to need a lot of planning and preparation. Factors such as fuel consumption, food, water, and many others need to be considered before leaving the dock. However, the amount of time you will be spending at sea will be the main determining factor.

Sailing from New York City to London takes about six nights and seven days, depending on your speed. That's because the famous royal palaces, Big Ben, and double-decker buses of London are just 3,459 miles away from New York City. The average cost of sailing to London from New York is around $1,300.

We have read many articles and blogs and have watched videos of other sailing enthusiasts as they voyage across the Atlantic. If you are an avid sailor thinking of taking a similar trip, you will want to read till this end.

As avid sailors who have years of experience and have planned and completed multiple long trips, we are in the ideal position to help you. This is why we've put together this guide; as a means to help you decide if sailing from New York to London is feasible.

Table of contents

‍ How Long to Sail from New York to London?

For obvious reasons, flying is the most efficient and convenient mode of transportation when it comes to travelling from New York City to London, or vice versa. The flight takes around seven hours, but it does not include travel time to and from the airport, baggage check, or security clearance.

There are around 30 nonstop flights every day from Newark International Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York to London. If you want to get to London fast, taking a boat isn't the best option, but if you want to make a holiday out of the travel and enjoy sailing, a ship could be the way to go. Of course, sailing evokes romanticism and a feeling of nostalgia that planes simply lack in today's world. There's also no problem with having to deal with a serious case of jet lag, and you don't have to sit next to someone who snores for the whole trip.

However, the journey takes around a week, and it's crucial to understand that because London is landlocked, boats cannot land there, so you'll have to travel from Southampton or Dover, where ships dock. Since 1847, Cunard's Queen Mary 2 has been crossing the Atlantic from Brooklyn to Southampton roughly once a month during high season. It takes seven days and six nights to complete without stopping and costs $1,200.

There is no bad time to visit London because it is a vast cosmopolitan metropolis with typically moderate weather all year. Late spring (before schools let out) and the fall months (September through November) offer the ideal combination of inexpensive costs, wonderful weather, and a crowded event schedule.

Except for a brief period when the United States begins Daylight Savings Time before the United Kingdom, London is generally five hours ahead of New York. London is four hours ahead of New York at that time in March. Take this into account when planning your flight and ship arrival timings, and be prepared for some jet lag if flying. And the best part is that you do not need to have a visa to sail from New York to London.

Each journey takes seven days and covers 3,150 nautical miles (3,625 statute miles). From port to port, sailing vessels and excursions from the United States to England usually take six to nine days. The majority of ships depart from New York City and dock in Southampton, England, with no stops in between.

You'll also want to double-check that you've made all of the necessary arrangements because you don't want your boat to break down in the middle of nowhere, especially since it could take you up to 70 days to row across the 3,400-mile journey, starting from Liberty Landing Marina in New York and ending at Tower Bridge in London.

How Fast Can a Yacht Sail?

The distance between London and Seattle is 7,723 kilometers. The distance between London and New Orleans is 7,462 kilometers. The distance between London and Braintree is 5,284 kilometers. The distance between London and Stamford is 5,531 kilometers. On a great circle path from the fairway buoy to the entrance to the English Channel, the minimum distance between New York City and London, UK, is 3290 nautical miles.

So, how long would sailing from New York to London take? It's all about the boat's length and capability for racing. The shortest distance to England is around 3,000 kilometers. Many cruising boats can travel 150 miles per day, but just a few can travel 200 miles.

This mainly depends on the speed that your particular yacht can sail and the navigator's experience. That being said, a fully provisioned seaworthy 30-foot sailing boat can travel around 100 nautical miles per day and can stay at sea for up to 90 days. A sailing vessel in good condition can sail around the world at a constant 5 knots per hour under the appropriate wind conditions.

Sailing across the Atlantic Ocean is a dream for any sailor, but it also puts their ability and capabilities to the test like no other journey. That's because the journey itself can take anywhere between 30 to 40 days, and it is not without risk.

The distance between the two ports is approximately 3500 nautical miles. Because both of those places were major ocean-liner ports in 1951, we're going to assume we're talking about an ocean liner. It takes around 15 days to travel at 10 knots. It would take around four days to travel on the quickest liner of the day.

So, your desire has always been to sail across the Atlantic Ocean. But what you really want to know is if crossing the Atlantic is risky. There are two primary paths to follow. You may sail past parts of Cape Verde, Portugal, and even the picturesque Canary Islands if you start sailing east and proceed west.

Another alternative is to travel via the Arctic Circle. So, regardless of your route, you're in for a rough journey? In general, however, sailing the Atlantic Ocean is very hazardous. In reality, most of the time, it may be a pretty relaxing journey. Your experience, however, will be largely determined by the time of year you visit and the path you choose.

The season, wind direction, crew experience, accessible equipment, and, of course, the boat all play a role in crossing the Atlantic Ocean. Remember that the Pacific, other oceans, and other bodies of water have all been traversed and crossed by numerous boats. However, smaller boats, rafts, and canoes are not seaworthy. Of course, some attempts at the crossing have failed, but they have mostly been successful. But, it is not advised to use any of those for your trip from New York to London.

Anyone who sets out to cross the Atlantic or any ocean for that matter will have to deal with many dangers such as unpredictable sea currents, rough waters, and the like. However, with today's technology and safety measures, traversing an ocean is about as safe as it gets. It's almost carefree, with so many boats and equipment available on the market. Let's just say there are 30-foot boats on the market that take most of the danger out of this attempt.

You don't want to take that rickety old sailboat with the leaks on your journey across the Atlantic Ocean. The Atlantic might be tranquil and uninteresting, but certain seasons of the year present a slew of hazards.

Even in the most tranquil seasons of the year, weather changes can and do occur, and they do so regularly. These are all very disastrous possibilities if your boat starts to leak in heavy weather.

It is also important to note that boom injuries can be serious, which is another factor to consider. You'll want to repair your boat to make it as good as new before you start on your journey.

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Born into a family of sailing enthusiasts, words like “ballast” and “jibing” were often a part of dinner conversations. These days Jacob sails a Hallberg-Rassy 44, having covered almost 6000 NM. While he’s made several voyages, his favorite one is the trip from California to Hawaii as it was his first fully independent voyage.

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• RMS Queen Mary 2 Cruises

CUNARD QM2 SHIP CRUISE ITINERARY, SCHEDULE, PRICES, INFORMATION

• World Cruises
• Transatlantic
• QM2 Transatlantic Crossings

This is the Cunard Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic cruise 2024-2025-2026  schedule of all one-way and round-trip Atlantic Ocean crossings. It shows all departures from New York ,  Southampton-London , and Hamburg as dates and prices per person. RMS Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic crossings are part of the Cunard Line’s regular Atlantic Ocean crossing service between the UK and the USA (London/Southampton and NYC New York). Next is the link to our complete  QM2 itineraries and schedule  (all sailing dates with the lowest prices comparison). This link is to our review of QM2 cruise ticket prices .

Longest QM2 Transatlantic crossings are between New York and Hamburg (Germany /9-day itinerary with Southampton, England). The longest QM2 Transatlantic cruises are when the Caribbean or Canada New England is part of the Atlantic Ocean crossing itinerary.

RMS Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic cruise experience

The Cunard Line maintains a scheduled Trans-Atlantic Ocean passenger service between the UK and the US. It’s almost like a ferry cruise service – but it’s absolutely not a ferry one!

The Cunard Transatlantic cruise schedule offers at least one crossing a month between UK/Southampton and USA/New York City, in the period from April to November or early December. Most of the crossings are 6 nights / 7 days in length. On the Cunard’s RMS Queen Mary 2 ship, it’s definitely the most civilized and adventurous exciting way to visit the UK and USA – or both!

Doing the 7-day voyage on Queen Mary 2 is not a Transatlantic cruise – it’s an Atlantic crossing. Most of the Transatlantic cruises are operated only in the low season when quite a number of cruise ships reposition between Europe and the North or South American continents. But the huge number of QM2 passengers use the Cunard crossings as their preferred travel mode between Europe and the USA. And QM2 is not any ship and not a regular “cruise ship” – she’s a real-deal ocean cruise liner, which power and hull strength helps her to withstand the nasty North Atlantic weather.

Celebrating the 200th QM2 Transatlantic Crossing

To mark her 200th Atlantic Ocean crossing, RMS Queen Mary 2 performed on July 6th a sail-by of NYC’s most famous attraction – the Statue of Liberty. The list of onboard special events includes lectures and presentations by renowned speakers (by the “Cunard Insights” enrichment programme), Big Band musical performances, a most special Gala Dinner (on 11 July). Stephen Payne (a naval architect, responsible for the QM2 design) will present an insight into her construction. He is also guest of honour at the Gala Dinner. Another renown speaker is the BBC’s Nick Owen. Performing onboard is a jazz orchestra of 13 musicians and 1 vocalist from the Juilliard School (juilliard.edu). They will perform in the Royal Court Theatre (in the evening), an afternoon tea dance, lunchtime jam sessions (in the Chart Room), and a late evening in the Illuminations (planetarium).

RMS Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic Crossing statistics and facts

• This cruise liner is one of the biggest (weight 151,000 tons, capacity 2,500+ guests, and 3,056 max/all berths, 1,250 crew), longest (1,132 ft), tallest (550 ft) and most expensive (cost to build USD 800 million) passenger ships ever built. QM2 is also the only one still operational ocean liner, and she is the fastest cruise ship in the world (service speed 34 mph). RMS QM2 is the most famous cruise ship afloat – simply there’s no other ship in the world to enjoy such respect and recognition.
• In the course of the vessel’s 200 Transatlantic Crossings over 500,000 passengers were carried. They have consumed more than 8,400,000 cups of tea; more than 980,000 scones; over 481,000 bottles of champagne; more than 644,000 eggs; nearly 960,000 liters of milk, and 22,400,000 meals have been served. More than 1,000 dogs have been transported in the QM2 kennels.
• In comparison to other Cunard ships, QM2 has many seasons still ahead – RMS Queen Mary (1001 crossings), RMS Queen Elizabeth (896 crossings), ms Queen Elizabeth 2 (812 crossings).

The Cunard’s flagship QM2 cruise liner is a classic/authentic Trans-Atlantic Ocean liner offering deals on regular one-way and round-trip Cunard crossings between UK/England and USA/New York (NYC, Brooklyn). The regular QM2 crossings also offer cruises between New York and Hamburg (Germany) – again with both one-way and longer round-trip itinerary. In this survey, we list only the regular crossings which do not include additional ports of call.

Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic 2024-2025-2026 crossings (UK-USA-UK-Germany)

The following tables show all Queen Mary 2 ship departures from Southampton to New York and the reverse from New York to Southampton. They are part of the ship’s scheduled regular service on  Cunard Transatlantic Crossings: Westbound routes (from the UK to the USA) and Eastbound routes (from the USA to the UK). Prices are only indicative and subject to change.

QM2 schedule from Southampton to New York (UK-USA crossings) and Hamburg (UK-Germany)

The Queen Mary 2 cruise ship is usually departing from Southampton at 5PM and arriving in New York from 6:30 to 7AM. For exact New York USA arrival times please visit the Cunard Line’s website.

Cunard QM2 Southampton cruise port embarkation

There are four possible Southampton cruise terminals where you can board the Queen Mary 2 ship – so check your booking for the exact terminal:

• QE2 Terminal (dock gate 4)
• City Terminal (dock gate 10)
• Mayflower Terminal (dock gate 10)
• Ocean Terminal (dock gate 4).
• The taxi service from Southampton Central is ~10 min, costs ~£7 to Mayflower/City, and ~£10 to QE2/Ocean terminals.
• For schedules and price information on all the trains to Southampton from London and other major UK cities please visit nationalrail.co.uk. For the port’s cruise ship schedule you can visit CruiseMapper (cruisemapper.com/ports/southampton-port-115).

Queen Mary 2 Southampton boarding/check-in services open at 1 pm, and close ~3:45 pm (the exact check-in time is on your Cunard ticket). The line will also send you or you can download and print information about your departure date and room number (print them and put one on each of your bags). Remember that the baggage weight limit is 23 kg / 51 pounds per bag (no limit about their number).

At the check-in service desk, you show your ticket, passport, and credit card for on-ship purchases, and a photo will be taken for security purposes. You will be given a plastic card acting as an embarkation card, room key, and charge card on the ship. After the security check, you embark on the RMS Queen Mary 2.

Cunard QM2 New York cruise port disembarkation

All QM2 NYC disembarkation procedures are delivered to your cabin 1/2 days before the Brooklyn arrival. The Cunard’s “Express disembarkation” service allows you to leave the QM2 ship ~1/2 hour after docking (~7:30am). The standard procedure includes delivering to your cabin of colored labels for your baggage 1 day before the NYC arrival (put one on each of your bags, move them outside your cabin by the door between 8-12 pm the night before arrival. Your bags will be st the Brooklyn cruise terminal next morning, in a dedicated zone marked with your labels color. Know that they disembark the more expensive rooms guests first. The QM2 disembarkation time is 8-11 am.

QM2 schedule from New York to Southampton (USA-UK crossings) and Hamburg (USA-Germany)

Qm2 new york cruise information.

The Queen Mary 2 ship is usually departing from the New York cruise port terminal in Brooklyn at 5 PM. The ship’s check-in services start at 1 PM, and close at 3:45 PM. QM2 arrives at the Southampton cruise port at 6:30 AM. Again, please visit the line’s website for the exact Southampton UK arrival times confirmation.

QM2 New York/Port Brooklyn embarkation

Queen Mary 2 New York boarding/check-in services open at ~1 pm to ~3:45 pm (local time). The embarkation time, along with the other standard procedures information are the same as those about the UK departures from Southampton, since this is the Cunard policy and not the port policy-related issue. So you have the e-tickets with all the info, Cunard will send you labels with departure dates/room numbers, the bag weight limit is again 23kg per bag, you get through the security check, join the queue for check-in, show tickets/passports/credit cards, they take your photo, give you the plastic card for onboard uses, and you embark the cruise ship Queen Mary 2.

The QM2 Southampton disembarkation procedures are also the same as those for the NYC disembarkation – you’ll receive a note explaining them outside your cabin 1 or 2 days before the UK arrival, you can choose standard or “Express” disembarkation, put labels on your bags, place the bags outside your cabin between 8-12 pm the night before the UK arrival, etc. The London/Southampton disembarkation is between 8-11 AM local time.

Note: For exact times and prices on trains to NYC leaving from major US cities please visit amtrak.com  (the Amtrak train schedule).

QM2 schedule from Hamburg to Southampton and New York (Germany-UK-USA crossings)

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How Long Does It Take to Get from the US to the UK by Boat?

Are you considering a trip to Europe? For a different experience, if you have some extra time, you might want to consider traveling from the US to the UK by boat. But how long does it take?

To get from the US to the UK by cruise ship, it usually takes around 6 to 7 days – compared to about 6 to 7 hours by plane. Cunard is one of the most popular cruise line options for transatlantic trips. Their Queen Mary 2 has trips every few weeks from New York to Southampton, England. Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Lines often take about 10 – 13 days from the US to the UK.

If you’re really adventurous, you can cross by sailboat. To get from the US to the UK by sailboat usually takes around 3 to 4 weeks. If you are using a fast sailboat, take shortcuts, and are lucky, you can reduce the travel time to 2 weeks tops. However, if you are using a slow boat or don’t get a lot of good, a transatlantic crossing can take up to a month.

Planning your next transatlantic trip? Want to know about your options? Curious how long it takes? Keep reading to learn more about how long it takes to get from the US to the UK by boat.

How Long Does It Take to Get from the US to the UK by Cruise Ship?

Considering a transatlantic sea trip? Before you rush to purchase a ticket and hop on the next cruise line, you should consider all the pros and cons of crossing the Atlantic.

There are generally two categories for transatlantic cruises. First are scheduled transatlantic crossings. The only cruise ship to have a routine crossing of the Atlantic is the Queen Mary 2. They run from late April to December and take about 6 to 7 days. It is the quickest trip since they have no ports of call throughout the journey. They cross about 25 times in a year for the week-long route.

These types of crossings differ from cruises because they sail directly from one port to another without docking at a new port of call every day.

The second is reposition cruises. These are ships that cross Central America, the Caribbean, or South America throughout winter and Europe during the rest of the year. On the other hand, these ships often sail during the spring and fall months, but there are a few options for every month of the year.

If you have too much time on your hands and want to add a dash of adventure and unpredictability in your travels, repositioning cruises are perfect for you. You get to experience different cultures as your cruise stops over at different ports of call.

Taking a Cruise Ship from the US to UK – Pros and Cons

Before you decide to cross the Atlantic by cruise ship, instead of flying, you should first weigh down the pros and cons of a sea trip from the US to the UK. By doing so, you’ll be more prepared for your trip and be able to make an educated decision whether to fly through the Atlantic or enjoy an adventure at sea.

• Bargain prices
• Perfect for people with a fear of flying
• Jet lag is history
• Sights and sound
• Chances of ports of call are slim
• The unpredictable sea
• Got nothing but time
• Passenger age gap

Bargain Prices

Cruise ships always move forward; they chase the sun to ensure guests have the best weather for activities. But operating a cruise ship isn’t cheap, and that’s why cruise lines often have low prices. They often reduce the prices per day to attract more travelers and passengers, especially during the peak seasons.

Bargain prices are one way for cruise lines to entice travelers to choose their cruises, the prices may be low, but they know that while on board, they will spend more on gambling, drinks, activities, souvenirs, and more.

To take advantage of these prices, remember to compare the prices before and after your trip from the US to the UK since most cruise lines have discounts for people who book back-to-back.

Perfect for People with a Fear of Flying

For many, flying induces stress and anxiety, which are two things you do not want to begin or end a vacation with. Let’s face it; not everyone is comfortable with flying, especially when it’s a six to seven-hour flight. Sitting for hours in a cramped airlock cabin doesn’t really sound like a great way to start a long trip. Plus, being up so high, you won’t be able to marvel at the beauty the Atlantic has to offer.

Jet Lag is History

If you’ve ever felt drowsy, irritable, lethargic, tired, and slightly disoriented after a long flight , that’s jet lag. Desynchrony or jetlag is a result of traveling across numerous time zones or shifting at work. It happens because the synchronization in the brain cells is disrupted due to activities. The severity of jet lag depends on how many time zones you cross during your trip.

Some travelers opt for transatlantic cruises from the US to the UK for this specific reason. Nobody enjoys feeling lethargic due to jet lag. Since a cruise travels much slower than a plane, your body is going to have more time to adjust to the time zones you will be crossing. Say bye-bye to jet lag!

Sights and Sounds

One perk of going to the UK by boat is the cruise activities. Since you will be at sea for several days with nowhere else to go, you should maximize and take advantage of the cruise’s range of activities. You can take educational classes, attend seminars and workshops, or enjoy the lounges on the cruise. With the increase of cruise popularity, most cruise lines try to include as many unique activities in their cruises to attract more travelers.

Cruise lines always try to be inclusive; they come up with activities and experiences for everyone to enjoy while onboard. So don’t worry, with the dozens of activities, classes, and workshops on board, there sure won’t be any dull moments.

Chances of Ports of Call Are Slim

The Queen Mary 2 does not have any ports of call; it is a straight journey from New York to Southampton. As mentioned earlier, the trip takes about 6 to 7 days. Other transatlantic repositioning cruises that take a southern route have ports of call in the Cape Verde Islands, Caribbean Sea, and the Canary Islands.

People often prefer having an abundance of ports of call for cruises since it allows them to step out of the cruise and spread their legs for a while. Ports of call provide a rest from the constant swaying at sea, which some travelers aren’t accustomed to.

Repositioning cruise trips from the US to the UK do take longer than the direct Queen Mary 2 route, but you will have more sights to see and experience along the way.

The Unpredictable Sea

The weather is one major concern for most travelers, especially when planning a transatlantic cruise. Since these cruise ships will be crossing the open sea, the weather and the sea can be a bit rough. Thankfully, modern cruise ships, like the Queen Mary 2, have advanced stabilizers and other features that help stabilize the ship.

Boats from the US to the UK that cross the Atlantic during the summer months have a higher chance of getting the best weather. If you aren’t one of the people who enjoy rough seas and the thrill of the storm, it would be best to check the weather predictions before purchasing your tickets.

Got Nothing but Time

Cruise lines offer a wide array of activities onboard; however, being surrounded by sea all day isn’t for everyone. Many get bored or claustrophobic. If you have a rough time adjusting to the rhythm of the sea, then you might have a tough time. Your best option is to book your events for the purpose of entertaining yourself and distracting you from the unending sea on your horizon.

Passenger Age Gap

Since transatlantic crossings take a long time, many passengers would be the elderly. They have more time to spare and generally just want to sit back and enjoy the day. So if you’re hoping to hop on a cruise and find that special someone, there’s a slim chance of romance on a cruise.

How Long Does It Take to Get from the US to the UK by Sailboat?

Feeling adventurous and bored with cruises? Why not try to sail through the Atlantic. The Atlantic ocean is the 2nd largest ocean next to the Pacific. It is over 41 million square miles or 20% of the Earth’s surface. In short, sailing through the Atlantic is as hard as you allow it.

Sailing across the Atlantic may sound daunting. You’ll be sailing through long stretches of blue at 5 knots for a long time. It may not sound hard to some, but you have to be prepared for anything. How long does it take to get from the US to the UK by sailboat?

Sailing through the Atlantic is a journey of 3 to 4 weeks. If you are using a fast sailboat, take shortcuts, and are lucky, you can reduce the travel time to 2 weeks tops. However, if you are using a slow boat or don’t get a lot of good, a transatlantic crossing can take up to a month.

With respect to tradewinds, the easiest route from the East to West is through Portugal – The Canary islands – Cape Verde- then the Windward Islands. With a distance of 6800 km on a map.

Sailing Across the Atlantic

There are two main routes that you can choose from:

• The Southern Passage from East to West
• The Northern Passage from West to East

They might seem like enormous detours, which they are; however, these routes are the most forgiving and have been used for generations.

The Southern passage, which takes you from Portugal to the Canary Islands, is 750NM which takes around 5 to 7 days. The Canary Islands to Cape Verde is 850 NM, which takes 5 to 8 days. From the Canary Islands to the Windward islands is 2700NM, which takes 16 to 21 days of travel .

The Northern passage takes you from the Caribbean to Bermuda in 850NM, which takes around 5 to 8 days. Bermuda to the Azores in 1900NM in 14 to 17 days. From the Azores to Portugal in 700NM in 4 to 8 days.

Remember that once you are out at sea, the only tool you have is knowledge. If you are well versed in the routes, tradewinds and have contingencies, you can enjoy a sailing adventure across the Atlantic. Thanks to modern sailing technologies, the improved sailing efficiencies are surely able to lessen the burdens of sailing across the second largest ocean.

Conclusion – How Long Does It Take to Get from the US to the UK by Boat?

How long does it take to get from the US to the UK by boat? If you take the trip by cruise ship, it takes about 6 to 7 days. If you take the trip by sailboat, it takes about 3 to 4 weeks.

Yes, it takes more of your time to go from the US to the UK by boat than by plane, but then again, it’s an adventure. Instead of sitting in a cramped airplane cabin for six to seven hours, why not enjoy the sea breeze and wonders of nature on the open water .

Life is about living every day to the fullest, and what better way to do that than to see the world. If your trip to the UK is for leisure and you have time to spare, it would be a great experience to go on a transatlantic cruise. You could take a direct cruise to the UK with no ports of call or hop on a repositioning cruise with some ports of call to enjoy the local culture. More ports of call mean more adventures, more cultures, and more experiences for you to treasure.

On the other hand, sailing through the Atlantic can be the highlight of your travels. On your own ship, sailing past islands and long stretches of blue water gives you more freedom. If you opt to sail through the Atlantic, you have the luxury to take detours on islands and countries you may pass.

You follow your own time. However, to fully enjoy this adventure, you need to prepare yourself and your ship beforehand. Familiarize yourself with the Tradewinds, weather predictions, entry and docking requirements, and permits in places you might want to stop over.

Overall, a trip from the US to the UK doesn’t have to be a dull seven-hour flight. You can spice things up by going on a cruise or sailing. Always plan ahead and be vigilant on your travels. There are dozens of options for transatlantic crossings; your only tool is to have ample knowledge on which option works best for you.

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• Post category: General
• Post author: Quinn Hopkins

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Transatlantic cruises

Explore the cunard transatlantic crossing.

Life on board a Cunard Transatlantic Crossing is all about freedom. Every day presents myriad choices but how much, or how little, you do is entirely up to you. Visit Queen Mary 2's planetarium, join a yoga class, dance the night away, or bury yourself in a good book. It's your time to spend however you please.

Our guide to a Transatlantic Crossing

Transatlantic cruise packing guide

Queen Mary 2 accommodation

Queen Mary 2 dining

Be inspired.

Browse our articles to find out more about the world's most iconic ship, making the most of your time on board, and the origins of the Transatlantic Crossing.

10 things to know about Queen Mary 2

The pleasures of a Cunard cruise

The history of the transatlantic cruise

Eastbound, westbound or both.

Eastbound transatlantic cruises from New York

Sailing from New York to Southampton takes you Eastbound across the Atlantic, passing beneath the Verrazano Bridge and alongside the Statue of Liberty. It’s an iconic image to behold, one that will stay with you long after the ocean replaces the view of Manhattan’s skyscrapers on the horizon.

Westbound transatlantic cruises from Southampton

Your transatlantic adventure starts the second you set foot inside Queen Mary 2. Enjoy the freedom to explore your on board world, and be carried away in the spirit of celebration, as you toast your departure from Southampton and the beginning of your week-long voyage to New York.

Transatlantic round trip cruises

Completing both legs of your Transatlantic Crossing by ship means never having to wait at an airport or compromise on the amount of luggage you bring. Relish the unadulterated pleasure of two relaxing weeks at sea, with the freedom to do as you wish and nowhere to be but on board.

Transatlantic Event voyages

Cruising across the Atlantic becomes even more special with a theme. From fashion to dining to theater to music, satisfy your appetite for passions old and new with a Cunard Event Voyage.

Westbound Transatlantic Crossing, 6 nights, Jun 9, 2024

Roundtrip Transatlantic Crossing, 14 nights, 2Jun 9, 2024

Eastbound Transatlantic Crossing, 8 nights, Jun 15, 2024

Roundtrip Transatlantic Crossing, 14 nights, Jun 15, 2024

Eastbound Transatlantic Crossing, 9 nights, Oct 4, 2024

Eastbound Transatlantic Crossing, 11 nights, Oct 4, 2024

Literature Festival At Sea, 7 nights, Nov 13, 2024

Explore on board

The elements of a transatlantic crossing.

Come alive at night

Gala Evenings are a regular feature of sailing with Cunard and a magical way to round off an evening on board. Feel your inhibitions dissolve and be captivated by the wondrous sense of occasion as you join your fellow guests on the largest dance floor at sea.

Room to relax

Each stateroom is a personal oasis of calm, offering the very highest luxury at sea. Sumptuous bedding beckons, beautiful balconies celebrate the ocean view, and even a seven-pillow menu option awaits you.

Drink in the history

Frank Sinatra, Audrey Hepburn, Clark Gable, you. We've hosted the famous and fabulous on this iconic crossing for almost 180 years, and now invite you to share in that timeless sense of occasion and create your own history.

A dog's life

We lavish the same attention on all our guests. That's why your faithful friend is also invited on our transatlantic cruise. Our unique kennels even include a convenient lamp post from Liverpool and fire hydrant from New York.

Explore ashore

English shore experiences.

Prehistoric Stonehenge

Discover the mystery surrounding ancient Stonehenge, Europe’s most remarkable prehistoric monument, whose extraordinary features include its orientation on the rising and setting sun and the fact that some stones were dragged over 100 miles to the site.

Royal Windsor Castle

Enjoy a visit to the magnificent Royal residence of Windsor Castle, the largest and oldest inhabited castle in the world. Tour the splendid State Apartments and grand St George’s Hall, admire the world-famous Queen Mary's Dolls' House, and explore the charming town of Windsor.

New Forest scenic drive

The New Forest, created by William the Conqueror for deer hunting, has remained almost untouched for 1,000 years. and is famous for its tiny villages with traditional thatched cottages and wild ponies which roam free on the land. Take in a variety of beautiful landscapes and three of its prettiest villages; Hythe, Beaulieu and Lyndhurst.

*Shore Experiences are bookable through My Cunard after cruise booking, up to one year in advance of sailing. Please note that these English Shore Experiences will only be available to book for voyages calling at Southampton , such as a round trip transatlantic, and not voyages ending in Southampton.

Transatlantic Crossing special offers

Enjoy our limited-time offers on our Transatlantic Crossings. As you cross the Atlantic Ocean in the ultimate style, embrace the freedom of the sea, with time to do as much — or as little — as you please.

More destinations to explore

USA and Canada

How to Travel from New York to London by Plane or Ship

Michela Ravasio

London ’s double-decker buses, royal palaces, afternoon tea, and top-notch theater are 3,459 miles away from New York City . To get from New York City to London , you have to cross the Atlantic Ocean, making options limited to flying or taking a ship. Obviously, it is a long distance so flying will certainly take the least amount of time (about seven hours of flight time). It’s a popular route for business and leisure travelers alike so many airlines fly the route and there are multiple flights a day. On the other hand, a transatlantic cruise takes about a week so if you want to make a trip out of the journey, are are looking for some nostalgia, that might be the way to go.

What Is the Cheapest Way to Get from New York to London?

Because the route between New York and London is a popular one, flying is the cheapest way to get between the two cities and sometimes you can find good deals—especially on low-cost carriers.

All of the major U.S. carriers, including Delta, United, and American Airlines, fly the route nonstop, as does British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, with one-way fares starting around $450. Budget carrier Norwegian Air also services the route, with one-way fares as low as $160 one way but pay attention to extra fees for things like baggage and food. Prices are usually highest during summer and holidays. You can also fly with a stopover on other European airlines, and it might be cheaper to do so, but will certainly add time to your journey.

What Is the Fastest Way to Get From New York to London?

Flying to and from London is the fastest and most convenient way to travel. The flight takes around seven hours, but that does not include time spent getting to and from the airport, checking bags, or clearing security.

There are about 30 nonstop flights a day from New York to London from John F. Kennedy International Airportand Newark International Airport . There are no direct flights to London from LaGuardia International Airport. From New York, you can fly into two of London's airports : London Heathrow Airport, which is 15 miles from the city center, and London Gatwick Airport, which is 28 miles from the city center. From either airport, you can take a bus, train , or taxi into the city.

How Can I Get to London Without Flying?

  If you’re trying to get to London quickly, it doesn’t make much sense to take a boat, but if you’re looking to make a vacation out of the journey and you enjoy cruising , then taking a ship might be right for you. Not to mention the voyage offers a type of romanticism and a sense of nostalgia planes no longer have in this day and age. And, there’s no issue with jet lag. But of course, the trip takes about a week, and it’s important to note that boats can’t land in London because it’s landlocked, so you’ll need to get there from either Southampton or Dover, where ships dock. Cunard ’s Queen Mary 2 has been making the Atlantic crossing from Brooklyn to Southampton since 1847, and it does so about once a month during high season. It takes seven days and six nights without stops, and prices start at $1,200.

If you’re looking to make stops along the way, Norwegian Cruise Line has a 15-day somewhat roundabout voyage with stops in Bermuda, Ponta Delgada, the Azores ; Lisbon, Portugal ; Vigo, Spain ; Portland, England; Brussels, Belgium ; and Le Havre, France before arriving in Southampton. Cabins start at $1,196. Princess also offers a longer journey—a 16-day cruise on the Island Princess with stops in Halifax, Canada ; Qaqortoq and Nanortalik, Greenland ; Akureyri and Seydisfjordur, Iceland ; Edinburgh, Scotland ; and Newcastle, England before arriving in Southampton (from $3,144). For something more luxurious, book a 14-day Silversea voyage from New York to Southampton (from $5,940), with stops in Boston and Cape Cod ; Bar Harbor, Maine ; Halifax, Sydney, and St. John, Canada ; Cork, Ireland ; and Falmouth, England. However, most of these longer cruises only sail once or twice a year.

When Is the Best Time to Travel to London?

Being a large cosmopolitan city with generally mild weather year-round, there's truly no bad time to visit London. However, visitors will find the best blend of affordable prices, great weather, and a packed event calendar in the late spring (before schools let out) and the fall months from September through November.

Do I Need a Visa Travel to London?

You do no need a visa to visit London from New York, but you do need a valid passport .

What Time Is it in London?

London is usually five hours ahead of New York, except during a brief period when the U.S. starts Daylight Savings Time before the United Kingdom. During that time in March, London is four hours ahead of New York. Factor this time change into your flight and ship arrival times and expect some jet lag when arriving by plane.

While New York uses the U.S. dollar, London’s currency is the pound sterling, which is used throughout the United Kingdom. Check the exchange rate before you go.

Can I Use Public Transportation to Travel From the Airport?

London's Heathrow Airport is linked to the city both through the London Underground system (fondly known as "the tube") and the Heathrow Express, the fastest link between Heathrow and central London. The latter runs non-stop to Paddington Station every 15 minutes and the trip itself takes 15 minutes.

What Is There to Do in London?

London is full of attractions and things to do. Highlights include Big Ben, Buckingham Palace , the Tower of London , London Eye, Westminster Abbey , and Tower Bridge . Walking along the Thames River is a wonderful way to see the city, or you can go on a sightseeing cruise or boat ride on the river. There are many bridges to cross from one side of the River to the other and both sides are worth exploring. London also has several world-class museums including the British Museum , the Tate Modern , and the Victoria and Albert Museum . There are also many historic sites, like the Globe Theater , Trafalgar Square , and many palaces. Take a double decker bus, stroll through Hyde Park , sip afternoon tea , visit Borough Market , and catch a show in the West End . And don’t forget to sample some of the city’s incredible food , drinks , and nightlife .

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Eastbound Transatlantic Crossing

Cruise Itinerary

Life onboard queen mary 2.

The world's last true ocean liner was built for Atlantic Crossings and also offers luxury cruises. Read more

Your choice of stateroom gives you access to a dedicated complimentary restaurant or choose specialty dining. Read more

Elevate your experience to the pinnacle of comfort and service in a Princess or Queens Grill Suite. Read more

Watch the solar system light up the dome of Illuminations, the only planetarium at sea. Read more

Enjoy deck games, card games, dance and water colour classes, the gym and spa or even a concert. Read more

Pamper yourself with carefully curated relaxation or beauty treatments and fitness classes. Read more

Queen Mary 2 Reviews (2) Most Recent 'Queen Mary 2' Reviews

Cunard Worldwide (2024-27)

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The Geography of Transport Systems

The spatial organization of transportation and mobility

Liner Transatlantic Crossing Times, 1833 – 1952

Note: Liverpool / New York. Source: data from P.J. Hugill (1993) World Trade since 1431, Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, p.128. Stopford, M. (2009) Maritime Economics, Third Edition, London: Routledge.

The passenger liner era roughly lasted for about 100 years, from the mid-19th century to the mid-20th century. Its evolution can be divided into four distinct phases:

• Introduction . The steamship Great Western can be considered one of the first liners in 1838, crossing the Atlantic in 15.5 days. Early liners were made of wood and used paddle wheels, often complemented by sails, as the main form of propulsion. Their capacity was limited to less than 200 passengers. This phase demonstrated the possibility and market potential of transatlantic liner services.
• Growth . By the 1860s, the introduction of iron hulls, compound steam engines, and screw propulsion significantly reduced crossing times to about 8-9 days. No longer limited by the technical limits of wood armatures, the size of liners increased substantially, with a tonnage exceeding 5,000 tons and a capacity of 1,500 passengers. The number and frequency of liner services across the Atlantic (and across the world) increased substantially as the market potential was being realized.
• Maturity . The early 20th century represented the Golden Age of the liner, where those ships dominated long-distance passenger movements. In 1907, the liner Mauretania with a capacity of 2,300 passengers, was able to cross the Atlantic in 4.5 days, a record held for 30 years until the liner Queen Mary reduced the crossing time by half a day (4 days). Liners reached their operational capacity of around 1,500 to 2,000 passengers, and Atlantic crossing times stabilized around 5 days. They relied on quadruple screws using turbine steam engines. This also corresponded to the peak American immigration years from European countries, a process to which liners contributed substantially.
• Obsolescence . By the 1950s, the prominence of the liner was challenged by the first regular transatlantic commercial flights. This challenge quickly asserted itself, and in a decade, the liners shifted from being the main support of transatlantic passenger movements to complete obsolescence. One of the last liners, the United States (mainly made of aluminum), held the transatlantic crossing speed record of 3.5 days in 1952. By the 1960s, air transportation had overtaken the supremacy of liners for transatlantic crossings, and reference time became hours instead of days. Liner services disappeared, and the surviving ships became the first cruise ships .

The usage of ships for carrying passengers is now restricted to cruise shipping, ferries, and small-scale passenger crafts in archipelago countries (Indonesia, the Philippines, Greece, the Caribbean) or great river systems in developing economies (Chang Jiang, Huang He, Nile, and Amazon).

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Calculating The Nautical Miles From New York To London

For ocean travelers, knowing the nautical miles between ports is key for navigation and planning. If you’re looking to calculate the nautical distance from New York to London, you’ve come to the right place. If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: The nautical distance from New York to London is about 3,045 nautical miles following a great circle route.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explain what nautical miles are, look at the different routes from New York to London by sea, and go through how to make the distance calculation step-by-step using principles of navigation.

Understanding Nautical Miles and Their Use in Navigation

Navigation across vast bodies of water requires precise measurements to plot courses and ensure accurate travel distances. One unit of measurement commonly used in maritime navigation is the nautical mile.

Understanding what a nautical mile is and how it is used in navigation is essential for sailors, pilots, and maritime enthusiasts.

Definition of a Nautical Mile

A nautical mile is a unit of measurement used primarily in maritime and aviation contexts. It is based on the circumference of the Earth and is defined as exactly one minute of latitude. This means that a nautical mile is equivalent to one-sixtieth of a degree of latitude.

To put it into perspective, one nautical mile is roughly 1.15 statute miles or 1.85 kilometers.

The use of nautical miles in navigation is crucial because it allows for standardized and accurate distance measurements, regardless of the size or shape of the Earth. This consistency enables sailors and pilots to plot courses and estimate travel times more effectively.

Using Nautical Miles to Plot Courses

When planning a journey across the ocean, sailors and pilots rely on nautical miles to plot their courses. By converting distances between points of interest into nautical miles, navigators can easily calculate the total distance of their journey.

This information is essential for estimating travel times, fuel consumption, and determining the most efficient routes.

For example, when plotting a course from New York to London, navigators would calculate the distance between these two cities in nautical miles to determine the total distance of the journey. This knowledge is crucial for planning fuel stops, considering weather conditions, and ensuring a safe and efficient voyage.

Tools for Calculating Distances

Calculating distances in nautical miles requires the use of various tools and technologies. One commonly used tool is an electronic chart plotter, which uses Global Positioning System (GPS) data to determine positions and distances.

These devices provide accurate and real-time distance measurements, making navigation more efficient and reliable.

In addition to electronic chart plotters, navigators may also use traditional tools such as nautical charts, dividers, and parallel rules to measure distances on paper charts. These tools require manual calculations, but they are still widely used in navigation and are essential for backup and redundancy purposes.

Routes from New York to London by Sea

When it comes to traveling from New York to London by sea, there are two main routes to consider: the Great Circle Route and the Rhumb Line Route. Each of these routes has its own advantages and considerations, and understanding the differences between them can help you plan your journey more effectively.

Great Circle Route

The Great Circle Route is the shortest distance between two points on a sphere, such as the Earth. It is the most direct route from New York to London and follows the curvature of the Earth. This route takes into account the Earth’s shape and is often used by commercial ships and airlines to save time and fuel.

The Great Circle Route from New York to London covers approximately 3,460 nautical miles.

It’s important to note that the Great Circle Route may not always be a straight line on a map due to factors such as wind patterns, currents, and navigational considerations. However, it still offers the most efficient path between the two cities.

Rhumb Line Route

The Rhumb Line Route, also known as the loxodromic route, is a navigational line that crosses all meridians of longitude at the same angle. Unlike the Great Circle Route, the Rhumb Line Route follows a constant compass bearing, which makes it easier to navigate but results in a longer distance traveled.

The Rhumb Line Route from New York to London covers approximately 3,780 nautical miles. While this route may be longer, it does offer some advantages, such as more predictable wind patterns and currents.

Comparing Route Options

When deciding on the best route from New York to London by sea, there are several factors to consider. The Great Circle Route offers a shorter distance and is more commonly used for commercial travel. However, the Rhumb Line Route may be preferred by certain vessels due to its navigational simplicity and predictable conditions.

It’s important to consult nautical charts, weather forecasts, and other navigational resources to make an informed decision about which route to take. Factors such as fuel efficiency, time constraints, and vessel capabilities should also be taken into account.

For more information on nautical routes and navigational considerations, you can visit websites such as NOAA Office of Coast Survey or United Kingdom Hydrographic Office .

Ultimately, both the Great Circle Route and the Rhumb Line Route offer viable options for traveling from New York to London by sea. The choice of route will depend on various factors and preferences, ensuring a safe and efficient journey across the Atlantic Ocean.

How to Calculate the Nautical Miles from New York to London

Calculating the distance between two cities can be useful for various reasons, whether you are planning a trip or simply curious about the distance. When it comes to calculating the nautical miles from New York to London, there are a few steps you can follow to get an accurate measurement.

Gather Coordinates of Each City

The first step in calculating the nautical miles from New York to London is to gather the coordinates of each city. These coordinates are usually given in latitude and longitude format. You can easily find the coordinates of New York and London by searching online or using GPS devices.

For instance, the coordinates of New York City are approximately 40.7128° N latitude and 74.0060° W longitude, while the coordinates of London are around 51.5074° N latitude and 0.1278° W longitude.

Use the Great Circle Formula

Once you have the coordinates of both cities, you can use the Great Circle Formula to calculate the distance between them. The Great Circle Formula takes into account the curvature of the Earth and provides a more accurate measurement.

The formula uses trigonometry and the radius of the Earth to calculate the arc distance between two points on its surface. By applying this formula, you can determine the nautical miles between New York and London.

Adjusting for a Rhumb Line Course

It’s important to note that the nautical miles calculated using the Great Circle Formula represent the shortest distance between two points on the Earth’s surface. However, in reality, ships and airplanes often follow a course known as a rhumb line, which is a constant bearing or direction.

This means that the actual distance traveled may be slightly longer than the calculated nautical miles. To adjust for a rhumb line course, you can use navigational tools or consult maritime charts that provide information on the course corrections to be made.

Calculating the nautical miles from New York to London can be an interesting exercise, especially for those interested in navigation or planning a sea voyage. By following these steps and taking into account the adjustments for a rhumb line course, you can determine the approximate distance between these two iconic cities.

Factors That Add Distance for Ships

Avoiding land and hazards.

When calculating the nautical miles from New York to London, one of the factors that adds distance for ships is the need to avoid land and hazards. In order to ensure safe navigation, ships must follow established shipping lanes and avoid straying too close to coastlines or dangerous areas such as rocky outcrops or shallow waters.

This may require ships to take a longer route, adding to the overall distance traveled.

Allowing for Maneuverability

Another factor that adds distance for ships is the need to allow for maneuverability. Unlike airplanes that can fly in a straight line from one point to another, ships must navigate through waterways and ports, which often involves making turns and adjusting their course.

These maneuvers can increase the distance traveled and add to the overall nautical miles between New York and London.

Accounting for Tides and Currents

Tides and currents also play a role in adding distance for ships when calculating the nautical miles from New York to London. Ships must take into account the flow of water and adjust their course and speed accordingly.

Depending on the direction and strength of the tides and currents, ships may need to travel a longer distance to compensate for their influence. For example, if a ship is traveling against a strong current, it may need to increase its speed or take a different route to reach its destination.

Calculating the nautical miles between New York and London involves considering factors such as avoiding land and hazards, allowing for maneuverability, and accounting for tides and currents. By taking these factors into account, ship captains and navigators can plan their routes and ensure a safe and efficient journey across the Atlantic Ocean.

How Long It Takes to Sail from New York to London

Sailing across the Atlantic Ocean from New York to London is a remarkable journey that requires careful planning and consideration. The distance between these two iconic cities is approximately 3,462 nautical miles, or 6,415 kilometers.

While the exact time it takes to complete this voyage can vary depending on a variety of factors, such as vessel speed and weather conditions, there are some general guidelines to keep in mind.

Travel Times Based on Vessel Speed

The speed of the vessel will play a significant role in determining how long it takes to sail from New York to London. On average, a sailboat can travel at a speed of around 4-8 knots (4.6-9.2 mph or 7.4-14.8 km/h).

This means that it would take approximately 18-36 days to complete the journey, assuming ideal weather conditions and no stops along the way.

However, it’s important to note that many factors can affect the actual travel time, including wind patterns, currents, and the type of vessel being used. For example, larger ships or motorized yachts may be able to travel at faster speeds, potentially shortening the overall duration of the journey.

How Weather Impacts Crossing Time

Weather conditions are a crucial consideration when planning a transatlantic crossing. The Atlantic Ocean can be unpredictable, with storms, high winds, and rough seas being common occurrences. These factors can significantly impact the duration of the journey.

During favorable weather conditions, with steady winds and calm seas, the crossing time can be shorter. On the other hand, adverse weather conditions can slow down the progress of the vessel, potentially adding days or even weeks to the journey.

To ensure a safe and enjoyable crossing, it’s essential to closely monitor weather forecasts and plan the departure accordingly. Many experienced sailors recommend choosing the right season for the journey, such as spring or summer, when the weather tends to be more favorable.

Scheduling for a Transatlantic Crossing

When planning a transatlantic crossing, it’s important to consider the logistics and timing of the voyage. The availability of ports for refueling and restocking supplies, as well as the need for crew rotations, can impact the overall schedule.

There are also organized sailing events, such as the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC), which provide a structured framework for crossing the Atlantic. These events typically have set departure dates and offer support services along the way, making them popular choices for sailors looking for a well-organized and social experience.

For those planning an independent crossing, it’s advisable to allow for some flexibility in the schedule. This allows for adjustments to be made in response to changing weather conditions or unexpected delays.

While the great circle nautical distance between New York and London is around 3,045 miles, the actual routes taken by ships may be longer due to environmental factors. Calculating nautical miles for an ocean journey takes careful planning using navigation principles. With attention to voyage details, travelers can expect smooth sailing for the iconic crossing between these historic port cities.

Hi there, I'm Jessica, the solo traveler behind the travel blog Eye & Pen. I launched my site in 2020 to share over a decade of adventurous stories and vivid photography from my expeditions across 30+ countries. When I'm not wandering, you can find me freelance writing from my home base in Denver, hiking Colorado's peaks with my rescue pup Belle, or enjoying local craft beers with friends.

I specialize in budget tips, unique lodging spotlights, road trip routes, travel hacking guides, and female solo travel for publications like Travel+Leisure and Matador Network. Through my photography and writing, I hope to immerse readers in new cultures and compelling destinations not found in most guidebooks. I'd love for you to join me on my lifelong journey of visual storytelling!

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London to New York By Air freight, Cargo ship or Road

See the best way to ship your freight from London, United Kingdom to New York, United States by various transport modes including Air, Sea and Road. Compare transit times, emissions, route options and much more.

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London to new york by air freight.

The quickest way to get from London to New York by plane will take about 1 day 9h and departs from London Gatwick Airport (LGW) and arrives into John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK). There are flights departing every few hours on this route. JetBlue Airways is one of the carriers that operates regular services on this route with flights departing every 1-2 days.

Quickest air route

London gatwick airport to john f kennedy international airport.

Departs from

Every few hours

Estimated emissions

150kg - 518kg CO₂ (per 100kg)

Closest airports

London heathrow airport to la guardia airport.

203kg - 514kg CO₂ (per 100kg)

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London heathrow airport to john f kennedy international airport.

Every 1-2 hours

189kg - 482kg CO₂ (per 100kg)

Cargo flights

London stansted airport to newark liberty international airport.

Every 1-2 days

194kg - 342kg CO₂ (per 100kg)

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London to New York by Container ship

The quickest way to get from London to New York by ship will take about 14 days 23h and departs from Felixstowe (GBFXT) and arrives into Boston (USBOS). There are vessels departing every 2-4 weeks on this route. MSC is one of the carriers that operates regular services on this route with vessels departing every 2-4 weeks.

Quickest ocean route

Felixstowe to boston.

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More about shipping cargo and freight from London to New York by Air, Ocean and Road

The shortest shipping time by sea between London and New York is 14 days 23h. Ships depart from Felixstowe (GBFXT) and arrive at Boston (USBOS) with scheduled departures Every 2-4 weeks.

There are scheduled container ships that depart every 2-4 weeks from Felixstowe (GBFXT) and arrive into Boston (USBOS) around 14 days 23h later. These services are operated by MSC.

The quickest flight from London to New York takes around 1 day 9h. Flights depart from London Gatwick Airport (LGW) and arrive at John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK).

Scheduled flights between London Gatwick Airport (LGW) and John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK) depart every few hours. These flights are serviced by JetBlue Airways, British Airways, Delta Air Lines, Icelandair, Lufthansa, TAP Air Portugal, Air Europa, Swiss and Royal Air Maroc and the typical transit time is around 1 day 9h.

Yes there are dedicated cargo planes that fly regular scheduled services between London and New York. Cargo flights depart from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and arrive at John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK) with departures Every 1-2 weeks and a average flight time of around 1 day 16h. Cargolux operates Boeing 747-400 Freighter on this route.

The distance between London and New York by cargo ship is 3,943 Nautical Miles (7,303 Kilometres / 4,538 Miles). This distance is measured by sea between London Gateway Port (GBLGP) and New York (USNYC).

The distance between London and New York by air is around 7,563 Kilometres (4,700 Miles). This distance is measured following typical flight paths between London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and La Guardia Airport (LGA).

514kg - 601kg CO₂ (per TEU) is the estimated emissions output (CO2e) when transporting a typical shipping container (1 TEU) from London to New York. This is calculated using the overall historical emissions of the average container ship on this trade lane and dividing it by the total projected capacity.

203kg - 514kg CO₂ (per 100kg) is the estimated emissions output (CO2e) when sending cargo by air from London to New York. This is calculated by determining the total fuel burn output of various aircraft that typically fly this route and dividing it by the total available cargo capacity in KGs.

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