When Cunard Line launched the original trans-Atlantic passenger voyage from Liverpool on July 4, 1840, the ship carried 115 first-class passengers, 600 tons of coal, three cats to chase rats and one cow for fresh milk. Today, 175 years later, the trans-Atlantic crossing remains the emblematic ocean voyage. Cunard is now the only line to offer regularly scheduled year-round crossings, and its 2,620-passenger Queen Mary 2 is a purpose-built megaship designed for the rigors of the Atlantic, offering amenities far beyond those of the wooden paddle steamer RMS Britannia that made the original trip.
Trans-Atlantic travel enjoyed a golden age from the 1920s through the 1950s, when liners such as Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth and Queen Elizabeth 2 made crossings glamorous and romantic. Air travel largely replaced the practical need for ocean crossings, but for travelers who value the journey itself rather than just speed, a trans-Atlantic cruise remains a grand way to cross the sea. For some, the three-thousand-mile voyage by ship is preferable to flying, and cruise fares are often comparable to airfares for those who have the leisure to travel slowly.
The QM2 evokes the heyday of ocean travel while delivering a modern holiday at sea, typically seven or eight days without the hurried pace of back-to-back port calls. Cunard’s trans-Atlantic seasons, most commonly between New York City and Southampton, depart each April and offer a rich program of onboard activities. Passengers are grouped by cabin categories rather than by the rigid social divisions of the past, and the atmosphere today—more like the romantic crooning of 1950s cinema than the class-bound drama of Titanic—invites dressing up for evening events without making it a requirement.
A week aboard the QM2 is tailored to let guests be as active or as leisurely as they choose. The ship features one of the largest dance floors and libraries at sea, a 3-D cinema, a full-service spa, a two-tiered theater and even a planetarium. Daily offerings include watercolor workshops, bridge tournaments, Royal Academy of Dramatic Art classes and performances, and a robust lecture series. Passengers can attend first-run films, wine tastings with winemakers, jazz and classical music performances, and enjoy a Monte Carlo-style casino. Recreational options include shuffleboard, tennis, five swimming pools and ample shopping. Traditional afternoon tea is served with scones and white-gloved service, and the ship even provides a kennel with staterooms and gift packs for up to a dozen pets.
This year Cunard marks its 175th Atlantic crossing with a special voyage July 2–14 from Southampton to New York retracing the original route. The anniversary sailing will include gala dinners, commemorative cakes, guest speakers and 175th souvenirs, with port calls in Liverpool, Halifax and Boston.
Although Cunard is most closely associated with the classic crossing, many other lines reposition ships across the Atlantic each spring and fall. Repositioning cruises occur when major operators move vessels between Europe and the Americas, making them an attractive value: they often run longer—closer to two weeks—include extended days at sea and may bundle return airfares. Departure and arrival points vary widely, from Miami and Caribbean ports to Mediterranean and Baltic embarkation cities.
For example, the 3,560-passenger Regal Princess offers a 15-night crossing departing Copenhagen on Sept. 12, balancing scenic port calls with relaxing sea days as it calls in Denmark, Scotland, Ireland and Canada en route to New York City. Similarly, Holland America Line repositions the 1,258-passenger ms Maasdam from Fort Lauderdale to Rome on a 22-day voyage departing Oct. 30, with stops in Puerto Rico, the Canary Islands, Morocco and Spain breaking up seven consecutive days at sea.
Trans-Atlantic cruises, like those on Seabourn, are perfect for people who enjoy relaxing days at sea. © Seabourn
Among small luxury ships, Silversea’s 540-passenger Silver Spirit runs a 15-day crossing from Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale beginning Nov. 9, pausing at Valencia, Cartagena and Madeira before the long ocean stretch. Crystal Cruises is marking its silver anniversary with repositionings: the 1,090-passenger Crystal Serenity undertakes an 11-day December voyage from Lisbon to Miami with stops in the Canary Islands and Key West, while the 960-passenger Crystal Symphony sails from Miami to Monte Carlo in late March and early April, including an overnight in Bermuda and calls in the Azores, Spain and France. These voyages, often featuring ballroom dancing and big-band entertainment, attract many repeat groups. Seabourn also offers trans-Atlantic passages, such as the 15-day Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale sailing aboard the 450-passenger Seabourn Odyssey, which calls in Gibraltar, Spain and Portugal before several uninterrupted sea days.
There are some important caveats. Trans-Atlantic crossings differ from island-hopping or coastal cruises in that they include many consecutive days at sea without the variety of frequent port visits. Some travelers find this repetitive or even tedious, while others prize the uninterrupted time for private relaxation, extended socializing and repeated enjoyment of onboard amenities. Passengers prone to seasickness should be aware that Atlantic weather and stronger winds can make crossings rougher than sheltered coastal itineraries. Jet lag is less of a concern, as ships generally adjust the clock by an hour each day during the voyage. For those who relish slow travel and the romance of a long ocean passage, a trans-Atlantic cruise can be an invigorating and memorable way to journey between continents.