In short
A transatlantic crossing is mostly days at sea, usually 12 to 16 nights between Europe and the Caribbean or Florida: westbound in autumn, eastbound in spring. It suits you if you want rest, books and calm rather than a new port every morning. You sail only one way, so book a flight for the other and pack for two climates.
Destination at a glance
Transatlantic
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
- Weather in season
- Two climates: Europe and the Caribbean
- Typical duration
- 12–16 nights, one way
- Departs from
- Europe ↔ the Caribbean or Florida
- Flight from the Netherlands
- Only one way — you sail the other
Good to know: westbound in autumn, eastbound in spring; mostly days at sea, so it suits rest rather than sightseeing.
So let's start with who it isn't for.
Be honest with yourself first
If you need a new place every morning, the sea days will bore you and you'll count them. If the thought of five unhurried days with a book, a view and no notifications sounds like a luxury rather than a punishment — you're the person this route was made for.
What Makes It Different
- Sea days are the trip, not the gaps between it — the whole point is the crossing
- Time to actually rest: no packing, no logistics, no decisions for days at a stretch
- You fly only one way, which some travelers like more than they expect
- The ship's programme carries the days — talks, food, quiet corners, changing light
A Typical Itinerary
Most crossings take 12 to 16 nights and follow the southern route between Europe and the Caribbean or Florida. A few ships also sail the shorter northern route between England and New York in about a week. Here is what a typical westbound autumn crossing can look like. It is an illustration, not a specific sailing.
- Day 1Barcelona Board in the afternoon and sail out into the Mediterranean.
- Day 2Málaga or Cádiz The last day in Spain before the ocean.
- Days 3–4Madeira or the Canary Islands One or two calls in the Atlantic islands.
- Days 5–11The Atlantic Six or seven days at sea in a row: the heart of the trip. Westbound, the clocks go back an hour on many nights.
- Day 12First Caribbean island For example Barbados, Antigua or St Maarten — land and warmth after a week at sea.
- Days 13–14Caribbean One or two more island stops.
- Day 15Florida Disembark in Fort Lauderdale or Miami and fly home.
When Crossings Sail
Crossings follow the seasons, when ships move between Europe and America:
| Season | Direction | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (about April–May) | Eastbound: Caribbean or Florida → Europe | You start in the warmth and arrive in the European spring | The clocks go forward: you lose an hour on many nights |
| Autumn (about October–November) | Westbound: Europe → Caribbean or Florida | The clocks go back: an extra hour of sleep on many nights; you arrive into the Caribbean high season | The Atlantic can be rough in autumn; the hurricane season runs until 30 November |
| Northern route | England ↔ New York, on a few ships through much of the year | Short: about a week, with almost only sea days | Cooler and often rougher than the southern route |
The weather changes during the trip itself: from European autumn or spring to Caribbean warmth, or the other way round.
Where Crossings Start: Ports by Month
This table is based on cruise line schedules for the next 14 months. The darker the cell, the more Atlantic crossings start from that port in that month. Click a cell and the cruise finder shows the sailings.
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- Westbound in autumn, from the Mediterranean. Most crossings start in November from Barcelona, Marseille, Savona and Genoa, and in October also from Civitavecchia near Rome.
- Eastbound in spring, from Florida and the Caribbean. In March and April ships return to Europe from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Guadeloupe and Martinique.
- The South Atlantic, from Brazil and Argentina. In March and April the South American season ships leave Santos, Rio and Buenos Aires for the Mediterranean — about three weeks, with calls in the Canaries or Madeira. In autumn they sail the other way.
- The northern route, almost all year. Queen Mary 2 regularly sails from Southampton to New York; the crossing takes about a week.
One way without flying
In autumn some crossings start in Hamburg and Southampton — you can reach both by train and fly home at the end. Cruising without flying →
What to Pack
- Clothes for two climates: layers for the first days and summer clothes for the end
- One or two smarter outfits for the formal evenings
- Books, an e-reader or a project you have been putting off
- Remedies for seasickness — ask your pharmacist before you go
- Comfortable clothes for long days on deck
- Swimwear for the warm days
- Documents for the country where the crossing ends
Who It Is For — and Who It Is Not
A good fit if you
- dream of days with no plans, a book and a sea view
- value calm more than a checklist of sights
- travel as a couple and want time together
- do not want to fly both ways
- have two weeks or more
Probably not for you if you
- need a new place every morning
- get seasick easily
- have only a week of holiday
- find many days at sea boring rather than restful
Planning your crossing
Almost every crossing sails one way, so it pays to think about the trip home and your dates early. These guides help:
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days in a row are at sea?
On the southern route usually six or seven; on the northern route almost the whole trip.
Is the Atlantic rough?
It can be, especially in autumn and on the northern route. Modern ships have stabilisers, and a cabin low and in the middle of the ship moves the least.
What about the time changes?
Westbound, the clocks go back an hour on many nights — an extra hour of sleep. Eastbound, you lose an hour on many nights, so the trip feels slightly shorter.
How do I get home?
A crossing is one way, so you book a flight from the port where it ends. Plan it together with the cruise.
Will I get bored?
That depends on you. Ships fill the sea days with talks, entertainment, sport and good food — but the real point of a crossing is time to rest.
Making It More Affordable
Because a crossing is a long trip with fixed seasonal dates, it's naturally one you book well in advance — and if you book 270 days or more before departure, points can cover up to 100% of the cruise price instead of up to 50%.