Transatlantic Cruises from the UK

What Is a Transatlantic Cruise from the UK?

A transatlantic cruise connects the UK to North America, South America or — on longer world voyage segments — ports further afield, entirely by sea. The vast majority depart from Southampton, which has direct rail and road links from across Britain, making it possible to board your ship without setting foot in an airport. A smaller number of sailings depart from Tilbury (London), Portsmouth, and Belfast — so if you are based further north or in Northern Ireland, it is worth checking the full range of embarkation options.

Most crossings are one-way, ending in a port such as New York, Miami, Fort Lauderdale or Rio de Janeiro. That means a flight home is needed at the end — and our team can book that too, along with any hotels either side and transfers, so nothing is left hanging. Sailings typically run from 7 nights up to over 100 nights for full world voyage segments, with a median around 3 weeks: long enough to genuinely unwind, short enough to plan around.

Where Do Transatlantic Cruises from the UK Go?

The two main areas covered are the classic transatlantic route and world cruise segments. Here is what each looks like in practice.

Transatlantic Crossings

The lion’s share of sailings follow the traditional North Atlantic route, heading west from Southampton towards the eastern seaboard of the United States or south towards the Caribbean and South America. New York is the most common disembarkation port, followed by Miami and Fort Lauderdale. If you are planning around Florida, it is worth knowing that Miami and Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades) are roughly half an hour apart — checking both for dates and prices often turns up more options. Rio de Janeiro and Boston also feature as end points on select sailings.

Some crossings go the other direction — eastbound from the US back to Southampton — so if you are already over there, you can sail home in style rather than flying. And a handful of itineraries call at Reykjavik en route, adding an Iceland stopover to the classic Atlantic passage.

World Cruise Segments

A smaller but significant share of these sailings are segments of longer world cruises, departing the UK and heading far beyond the Atlantic. These are typically 50 nights or more and suit travellers who want the grand voyage experience without committing to the full circumnavigation. World cruises from Southampton cover this in more detail if you are thinking about that style of trip.

Which Cruise Lines Offer Transatlantic Sailings from the UK?

Several lines compete on this route, each with a different style. Cunard dominates by volume — no surprise given that the transatlantic crossing is essentially the route the line was founded to sail. Princess Cruises is the next most active, followed by Regent Seven Seas Cruises for those who want an all-inclusive luxury crossing, P&O Cruises for a British-flavoured experience from Southampton, and Royal Caribbean for a livelier, resort-style ship. Cruise1st Packages bundle a cruise with flights, hotels and transfers into a single booking, which is particularly useful on one-way crossings where a flight home needs arranging anyway.

If you are looking at transatlantic cruises in 2027 specifically, or would prefer a transatlantic fly-cruise that puts you on board in a US port and sails you home, both options are available through Cruise1st.

The Ships on This Route

Queen Mary 2 — Cunard

Queen Mary 2 is the world’s only true ocean liner — built specifically for the North Atlantic, not adapted from a cruise ship design. That distinction matters on a crossing: the hull handles Atlantic swells differently, and the whole ship is engineered for the open ocean rather than sheltered Caribbean waters. On board, the cabin grades range from the 14.8 m² Britannia Inside (HB, with an atrium view that sets it apart from a standard inside cabin) up through a 16.5 m² Britannia Solo outside cabin (KB, designed with no single supplement for solo travellers), a 25 m² Britannia Balcony with covered loggia for fresh air in any weather, and all the way to the Queens Grill Grand Duplex Suite Q1 — a two-storey maisonette of 208.9 m², more than twice the size of any other Queens Grill suite. The ship also carries the first planetarium at sea: the Illuminations venue hosts stargazing shows alongside cinema screenings, concerts and lectures. Six speciality restaurants, the Royal Court Theatre with West End-calibre productions, and nightly ballroom dancing in the Queens Room complete the picture.

Queen Anne — Cunard

Launched in 2024, Queen Anne is Cunard’s newest ship, completing the four-Queens fleet with Art Deco interiors and the line’s signature British White Star Service. The Mareel Wellness Spa occupies an entire upper deck — Himalayan Salt Sauna, cold therapy room, hydrotherapy pool, and a glass-domed Pavilion pool venue for when the Atlantic weather calls for a roof overhead. Fifteen restaurants include Sir Samuel’s steakhouse, Aji Wa Japanese dining, and a Golden Lion pub overseen by Michelin-starred chef Michael Roux. Cabin grades on Queen Anne run from the 13.7 m² Britannia Inside (IA) to the 133.8 m² Queens Grill Grand Suite Q1, with the 21.9 m² Britannia Deluxe Ocean-view (EA) offering a separate seating area, and the Britannia Club Balcony (A1) giving exclusive access to the more intimate Britannia Club Restaurant.

Majestic Princess — Princess Cruises

Refurbished in 2025 and sailing from Southampton, Majestic Princess brings the Princess fleet’s MedallionClass technology to the crossing — meaning food and drinks delivered anywhere on board, tracked by a wearable device. The SeaWalk glass-floor walkway extends over the ocean from the side of the ship; the Hollywood Pool Club sits under a glass dome; and The Sanctuary gives adults a top-deck retreat away from the main pool areas. Across 16 venues you will find the Crown Grill, Sabatini’s, O’Malley’s Irish Pub and Chef’s Table Lumiere. See the full Majestic Princess cabin and deck plans if you are choosing a grade.

Sky Princess — Princess Cruises

81% of cabins on Sky Princess come with a private balcony — one of the highest ratios in the Princess fleet, which makes a real difference on a multi-week crossing where outdoor space matters. The Sanctuary adults-only retreat offers private cabanas, spa treatments and light meals on a dedicated sun deck. The dining line-up includes Crown Grill, Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria, Chef’s Table Lumiere with a galley tour, and Movies Under the Stars on the open deck. Full Sky Princess cabin grades and deck plans are available for those deciding between a balcony and a suite.

Queen Victoria — Cunard

Queen Victoria carries what is widely considered the most traditional class-dining experience at sea — tiered across Britannia, Princess Grill and Queens Grill restaurants, with service calibrated to each. The Royal Court Theatre is the first at sea to feature private boxes, with West End-calibre productions nightly. The largest ballroom at sea is host to Cunard’s famous Gala evenings: live orchestra, white-gloved afternoon tea service, and proper dancing. Queen Victoria’s cabin grades and deck plans cover every class from Britannia to Queens Grill.

Freedom of the Seas — Royal Caribbean

If the crossing itself matters less than what you do on board, Freedom of the Seas brings an ice skating rink, a 3D cinema and an open-air cinema screen, and the Tropics bar for a different pace entirely. Freedom of the Seas cabin grades range from a 31.6 m² Large Inside with promenade view (1Q — more than twice the size of a standard inside) up to the 130.1 m² Royal Suite (RS), sleeping up to 4 guests.

What Fare Types Are Available?

Cunard offers a flexible Cunard Fare on all sailings — choice of stateroom number, priority for upgrades, a 15% deposit with flexible balance payment, and the ability to amend up to the balance due date. Fare bundles pair this with on-board credit, a drinks package, coach transfers or car parking at Southampton, so you can tailor what is included to your journey. A Saver Fare is available for last-minute bookings where you pay in full upfront and accept a pre-allocated stateroom in exchange for a reduced price.

Princess Cruises sails on a Standard base fare or on the Princess Plus package, which adds 4 casual dining meals per voyage, beverages up to a daily limit, MedallionNet Max Wi-Fi, pre-paid gratuities, unlimited digital photographs and reserved theatre seating. If you want drinks and dining without the extras, Standard is available and the packages can be added later.

Royal Caribbean offers fare types such as last-minute fares and early booking incentives including on-board credit. A Solo Fare is available for solo travellers in single occupancy. Promotional offer types change regularly, so our team can confirm what is running at the time you book.

How Much Do Transatlantic Cruises from the UK Cost?

Prices start from £425 pp* for sailings on this route. Most discounted sailings carry modest reductions, though select departures show savings of up to 33% off that cabin grade’s previously listed price — that is on one departure, with most reductions running at a smaller margin. The widest discounts tend to appear on specific cabin grades and departure dates rather than across the board, so it pays to browse the full range or ask our team which sailings are currently reduced.

Can I Book Flights and Hotels Around My Transatlantic Cruise?

Yes — and for a one-way crossing, it is almost always worth doing so at the same time. Most sailings leave eastbound from Southampton and end in a US or South American port, which means you need a flight home. We can book that flight, the hotel the night before you fly (or after you dock), transfers between ship and airport, and travel insurance — all on one booking, so nothing slips through the gaps. That is what a Cruise1st Package is: a cruise plus every practical element bundled together. If you would rather build it yourself, our experts can do that too.

If you want a no-fly option, some eastbound sailings bring the ship back to Southampton, and a handful of shorter no-fly sailings are available for those who prefer to stay closer to home. Our all-inclusive no-fly Southampton cruises and 2026 departures page covers that angle if it suits your plans better.

Which Ports Do These Sailings Depart From?

The overwhelming majority of transatlantic sailings from the UK leave from Southampton — it is the home port for Cunard, P&O Cruises and Princess Cruises in the UK, and has direct rail connections from London, the Midlands and the North. Most of Britain can reach it by train or car without an early-morning flight.

Some sailings leave from Tilbury (London) — note that some sailings do leave from London itself, including Tilbury, Greenwich and Dover, though Southampton is a short journey away and offers a far wider choice. A small number depart from Portsmouth and from Belfast.

All of these are genuine no-fly departures — you drive or take the train to the port, walk up the gangway, and you are at sea the same afternoon.

What About Repositioning Crossings?

Many transatlantic sailings are effectively repositioning crossings — the ship moves between the UK and the Americas for seasonal deployment, and passengers benefit from longer sea days and often very competitive prices. If that style of sailing appeals, our repositioning cruises page is worth a look for similar options across other ocean routes.

Why Book a Transatlantic Cruise with Cruise1st?

Cruise1st is one of the UK’s leading cruise specialists, which means our team knows these ships and these routes from the inside — not a general travel agent ticking a box. We are rated 4.5/5 on Trustpilot from over 7,000 reviews, and we are ABTA and ATOL protected, so your money is safe. When you call, you speak to a real cruise expert who can steer you towards the right cabin grade, the right fare tier, and the right ship for the length of crossing you have in mind. And if you want a flight, a hotel, a transfer or insurance wrapped around it, we put the whole thing on one booking.

Browse the full range of cruises from the UK or explore everything on offer across our full cruises listing if you want to compare transatlantic options alongside other destinations before deciding.

*Prices are per person based on 2 people sharing, and are subject to change. This price is not kept up to date and therefore does not reflect live pricing and availability. Prices and any discounts shown were checked on 14 October 2026.

Where a discount is shown, it is a reduction from the price previously listed for that cabin grade on that sailing, not a comparison between cabin grades or against a brochure rate. Discounts and prices shown are not kept up to date: the reduction available now may be smaller, or may have ended, and prices may have changed.