A transatlantic cruise crosses the Atlantic between North America and Europe. Most are repositioning voyages: ships move from the Caribbean to Europe in spring (eastbound) and back in fall (westbound), so departures cluster around April and May and again from October to December. Cunard's Queen Mary 2 is the exception, sailing scheduled crossings between New York and Southampton through much of the year.
Routes vary. Southern crossings from Florida typically stop in Bermuda or the Azores, Madeira or the Canary Islands, ending in Spain, Portugal or Italy. Northern routes can call in Iceland, Greenland or Ireland, and the direct New York to Southampton crossing takes about seven nights with no stops.
The appeal is time at sea: six or more days in a row with no ports, plenty of lectures, spa time and reading. Repositioning cruises often have attractive daily rates because they are one-way and long. Seas can be rough in spring and fall, so this is a better fit for travelers who do not get seasick easily.
- January: Few or no cruises, average high 64 degrees F
- February: Few or no cruises, average high 63 degrees F
- March: Shoulder season, average high 64 degrees F
- April: Best time, average high 66 degrees F
- May: Best time, average high 68 degrees F
- June: Shoulder season, average high 72 degrees F
- July: Shoulder season, average high 76 degrees F
- August: Shoulder season, average high 79 degrees F
- September: Best time, average high 77 degrees F
- October: Best time, average high 73 degrees F
- November: Shoulder season, average high 68 degrees F
- December: Cruises run, average high 65 degrees F
- Best time
- Shoulder season
- Cruises run
- Few or none
Temperatures in Fahrenheit, long-term averages. Climate source.
Repositioning crossings cluster in spring (March to May, eastbound) and fall (October to December, westbound). Queen Mary 2 sails scheduled New York to Southampton crossings for much of the year. Southern routes in fall overlap with the end of the Atlantic hurricane season.
Weather to plan around: The North Atlantic can be rough, especially in spring and late fall, with swells that can last for days. Fall westbound routes from Europe to Florida may need to steer around late-season hurricanes (the Atlantic season runs to November 30). Northern routes via Iceland and Greenland run only in summer and can be affected by fog and ice.
Ports you'll likely visit
- Southampton, United Kingdom
The European terminus for Queen Mary 2 crossings and many repositioning cruises. - Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal
Volcanic crater lakes, hot springs and tea plantations mid-Atlantic. - Funchal, Madeira, Portugal
Gardens, Madeira wine, levada walks and a cable car above the harbor. - Lisbon, Portugal
A common start or end port, with Alfama, Belem and riverfront terminals. - Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
Mount Teide National Park and year-round mild weather. - Barcelona, Spain
A frequent end port for spring crossings from Florida. - Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda
A common stop between Florida or the Northeast and Europe. - Reykjavik, Iceland
On summer northern routes, with geothermal pools and Golden Circle tours.
Highlights
Days at sea
A rare chance to slow down with many sea days in a row.
A classic ocean liner
Queen Mary 2 is built for the North Atlantic and keeps scheduled crossings.
Atlantic islands
The Azores, Madeira and the Canaries are hard to reach otherwise.
Good value per night
Repositioning cruises often have low daily rates for long trips.
How long, and what documents
About 7 nights for a direct New York to Southampton crossing on Queen Mary 2; 12-16 nights for repositioning cruises with island stops.
A transatlantic cruise is one-way and starts or ends abroad, so you need a valid passport book. US citizens can visit the Schengen Area without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Your passport should be valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure from the Schengen Area and should have been issued within the last 10 years, and cruise lines often want six months of validity. The EU Entry/Exit System (EES), which records non-EU travelers' fingerprints and a facial image at the external border, started on October 12, 2025 and has been fully operational since April 10, 2026, so expect a biometric registration the first time you enter; how it is handled for cruise passengers varies by port. ETIAS, the separate online travel authorization for visa-free visitors, was not in operation as of October 2026: the late-2026 target was dropped, no new start date has been confirmed (reports point to 2027), and the EU says it will announce the date several months in advance. You cannot apply yet, and any website charging for ETIAS today is not official. The United Kingdom requires US citizens to get an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before traveling, including babies and children. As of October 2026 it costs £20, is applied for through the official UK ETA app or GOV.UK, and allows visits of up to six months. Plan on needing one if your cruise starts, ends or calls in the UK, and confirm with your line. Bermuda, the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands are common stops; the Portuguese and Spanish islands follow Schengen rules. A passport book is required for all of these cruises. Rules change, so check current requirements with the State Department and your cruise line before you travel.
Specialist tips
- Choose a cabin in the middle of the ship on a low deck if you are prone to seasickness.
- Clocks change by an hour on many nights; eastbound crossings lose sleep, so westbound is easier for some travelers.
- Book one-way flights early and check open-jaw fares.
- Pack for a range of weather: mild Atlantic islands, windy open-sea days and cool European ports.
