TransAtlantic cruises - Tips by travel authority Howard Hillman

My tips
Best cruise lines by category
29 cruise lines - descriptions
Top 10 destinations
Cabin selection
Cruise costs
Booking advice
Shore excursions
Cruise pros & cons
Cruise dining insights
Family cruising
Cruise etiquette
Ship communications
Cruise industry - facts
More cruise tips/insights

Read my
destination-specific
cruise tip guides
Alaska
Antarctica
Arctic
Baltic
Bermuda
Canada New England
Caribbean
Fjords of Norway
Galapagos
Hawaiian
Honeymoon
Luxury
Mediterranean
Mexican Riviera
Nile
Persian Gulf
Romantic
River cruises
South American
TransAtlantic
World
Yangtze

What it's like
on luxury cruise ships
Paul Gauguin
Silver Shadow
Silver Spirit
Silver Whisper
SeaDream II
Regent Voyager
Azamara Quest
Celebrity Xpedition

Also read
Family
Luxury
Cruise history in brief

World wonders
Top 100
Top 1000

More
Site map
About me and my credentials
About my website
Reader testimonials
Email me your opinion

TransAtlantic cruise

tips you can trust

Top 3 essentials about
TransAtlantic cruises to
know before you book

The difference between
repositioning and regularly
scheduled TransAtlantic cruises

Both are one-way. You cruise cruise going and fly back - or do the reverse. Here's how the two cruise types compare:

Repositioning
TransAtlantic cruise

This is the most popular type. Essentially, a ship crosses the Atlantic twice a year to be where the best weather is - and, therefore, where cruisers vacation.

Spring - March, April or May.
Ships relocate from the Americas (especially the Caribbean) to Europe (usually the Mediterranean).

Fall - September, October or November.
Ships reverse their nautical migration by returning to their winter habitat.

Most repositioning voyages last about two weeks because their itineraries include several stops. These can be during the ocean crossing or directly after it.

To entice travelers to book repositioning cruises, lines offer enticingly low fares, and many travelers grab them.

Scheduled
TransAtlantic cruise

The Cunard Line is the dominant player in this category. Its Queen Mary2 ping-pongs between New York and Southampton from May to October

The voyage takes only six days because the Queen Mary2 does not make stops along the way, And, the stylish Queen Mary2 is 50% faster than the typical trans-ocean cruise ship.

Cruisers will like this itinerary if they relish relaxing, get-away-from-it-all sea days. You don't see land for four consecutive days. Cruisers also appreciate the low-keyed traditional style.