The unique pleasures of a transatlantic crossing are hard to pin down.
But maybe one simple pleasure is found in the curious “transatlantic time warp” whereby serene and seemingly limitless days suddenly end and you’re (regrettably) at your destination!
Experience the luxury and adventure of crossing an entire ocean by sea!
Reconnect with the Golden Age of transatlantic travel.
Enjoy the ultimate in cruising relaxation, serenity and elegance.
Choose from efficient nonstops or leisurely multi-stop itineraries!
Choose
this cruise because…
The Experience of it all! You truly understand - and embrace - the expression “getting there is half the fun.” Transatlantic journeys have always been as much about the voyage as the destination!
Escape & Relaxation. You’re looking forward to those limitless, peaceful, blissful days at sea.
The Ship! You’d like to focus on the shipboard experience - the activities, facilities and events.
But
consider…
Time. It’s a big ocean. Even the fastest liners (Cunard's QM2, for instance) schedule 6 nights to cross, taking a big chunk from your precious vacation time.
Ties and gowns! Transatlantic crossings - particularly aboard Cunard liners - tend to be a bit "dressier" than most itineraries.
Weather. North Atlantic weather, particularly during the spring and fall, can be unpredictable and seas can be rough.
The glory of it all! The latest ship from Cunard, the QM2 (the largest, most expensive passenger liner ever built), has brought renewed attention to the elegance and tranquility of transatlantic travel. Today's cruisers - especially the "Boomers" - are reconnecting to the Golden Age of transatlantic ocean liners.
Repositioning Luxury Cruise "Deals." Most cruise lines that offer summertime European cruises move their ships from North America to Europe in the spring, and then back again in the fall. Those movements from one market area to another are called “repositioning” cruises, but they qualify as "transatlantic" cruises, too. What's more, they're often priced at costs well below the usual per diems (cost per person per day) - a prime opportunity to sample the good life! As an example, compare the per diem costs of non-stop transatlantic Windstar cruises (often below $100) with their Caribbean or European per diems (typically $250 to $500). Big differences!
The
Details
The
Departure Ports
"Eastbounds" from North America depart New York, Baltimore, Boston, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Tampa, Galveston or San Juan
"Westbounds" from Europe depart London (actually, from Southampton, Dover or Harwich), Le Havre, Copenhagen, Lisbon, Barcelona and sometimes - Rome.
The
Season:
March through November
Most nonstop 6-night transatlantic crossings are scheduled from April through November.
Most multi-stop and “repositioning” transatlantic crossings occur in April & May and again in October & November.
The
Duration:
Nonstop transatlantic crossings take 6 to 9 nights (more for Windstar's "motor/sailing" ships). The Cunard liners - Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth 2, purpose-built for speed, are fastest at 6 nights.
Multi-stop crossings typically range from 10 to 21 nights, depending on the route and number of ports of call. The transatlantic portion is usually interrupted with welcomed stops in the Azores, the Canary Islands, Bermuda or the Eastern Caribbean.
