Transatlantic cruises are different from the usual types of cruises that people book for family vacations and romantic breaks. In general, these trips are longer. They include more days at sea, which means there is a lot more time on board. People who are retired or just want to relax and enjoy the ship’s comforts are more likely to go on repositioning cruises that include a transatlantic crossing. This is because there are fewer days in port, which means fewer excursions and more time to do nothing at all.
Still, transatlantic trips can be as short as seven nights, which means they may be easier to fit into your schedule than you think. Transatlantic crossings also have benefits that might not be as clear at first glance. For example, the weekly rates are lower, there is more onboard credit, and you have more time to relax at a luxury resort that floats in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
If you want to know which transatlantic trips are the best for 2024, here are six of the best, each with a different length of cruise, different itinerary, and different places to visit.
Princess Cruises also has several different ships that can go across the Atlantic Ocean. Island Princess will sail from New York to Barcelona, Spain, over 31 nights in July 2024. Along the way, there will be many interesting places to visit. This long transatlantic trip will only be 13 days at sea. It will stop in Newfoundland, Greenland, Iceland, Scotland, England, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco on its way to Barcelona, where it will finish.
Over a month, this interesting Princess cruise takes people to eight different countries. Island Princess is a nice ship for a long trip because it’s not too big. It has only 2,200 passengers and 900 team members. But the ship is big enough to have a lot of different types of dining, a casino that looks like Las Vegas, a sports court, a big central atrium where people can meet, and many pools and hot tubs to enjoy.
- Date: Departs July 5, 2024
- Departure port: New York City (Manhattan or Brooklyn)
- Starting price: $4,098 per person (plus port taxes and fees)
- Cruise length: 31 nights
2. MSC Cruises
In November 2024, MSC Cruises’ MSC Virtuosa will move from Europe to the Caribbean. This will allow passengers to enjoy a long transatlantic trip with many interesting ports. There will be eight days at sea on this trip, which starts in England and stops in France, the Azores of Portugal, St. Maarten, Antigua and Barbuda, and Martinique. There is no more travel for the ship as it arrives in Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe.
The MSC Virtuosa is a bigger cruise ship with a grand promenade that looks great and has an LED dome roof. It also has clubs just for kids and teens, a spa, a fancy casino, and the MSC Yacht Club. This ship can hold up to 6,334 people at once.
- Date: Departs Nov. 8, 2024
- Departure port: Southampton, England
- Starting price: $769 per person (plus port taxes and fees)
- Cruise length: 16 nights
3. Seabourn Cruise Line
Seabourn is going to offer a 21-night transatlantic cruise on the Seabourn Quest starting in Miami in March 2024. The cruise will stop at several different ports before finishing in Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, Spain. The trip starts in Miami and goes on at sea for nine days. This is followed by several stops in the Canary Islands, such as Santa Cruz de La Palma and San Sebastián de La Gomera. You will also have the chance to visit Praia and Mindelo in the Cape Verde islands.
Travelers can see some of the world’s most beautiful and remote tropical islands on this Seabourn trip. The beaches on the Canary Islands have white sand, mountains, and lots of greenery. The coastal towns and villages of Cape Verde have similar scenery. The Seabourn Quest is a tiny ocean ship that can only hold 229 people.
- Date: Departs March 24, 2024
- Departure port: Miami
- Starting price: $5,949 per person (plus port taxes and fees)
- Cruise length: 21 nights
4. Cunard Line
Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 will offer three different ocean trips of different lengths in May 2024. You can choose between a seven-night trip from Brooklyn, New York, to Southampton, England, a nine-night trip to Hamburg, Germany, or an 18-night round-trip trip that starts in Brooklyn and crosses the Atlantic twice on its way back to where it began. You can cross the ocean and make your trip fit your length of time away from home with this one-of-a-kind mix of plans.
With stops in both England and Germany and lots of time at sea, the 18-night schedule is especially interesting. You can leave the United States and end up back in Brooklyn. The Queen Mary 2 is one of the most luxurious ships in the Cunard line. The line is known for its elegant style, high-end amenities, and high-class feel. This fancy ship has a lot of great features, like the Royal Court Theatre, a casino, gala nights, a spa, and a huge library. The Queen Mary 2 can hold up to 2,691 people and has 1,173 crew members to take care of all your needs.
- Date: Departs May 5, 2024
- Departure port: Brooklyn, New York
- Starting price: $2,449 per person (plus port taxes and fees)
- Cruise length: 7 to 18 nights
5. Royal Caribbean International
Starting in Barcelona, Spain, and ending in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the Oasis of the Seas from Royal Caribbean will be on a transatlantic trip in October 2024. Later, this ship will go out to sea for eight days after stopping in Spain’s Palma de Mallorca, Valencia, Cartagena, and Málaga. Then, cruisers can enjoy a day in Nassau, Bahamas, before being dropped off in sunny Florida.
Starting at just $876 per person (plus port taxes and fees), an interior cabin on this Royal Caribbean cruise costs about $60 per night, per person. The mega-ship Oasis of the Seas can hold up to 6,771 guests and 2,109 crew members, making it, to put it simply, super-sized. Travelers who want a more personal cruise experience might not like this size, but it’s great for tourists who want lots of room to move around and lots of things to do. There are 20 restaurants and cafes, 11 bars and clubs, a rock climbing wall, a mini-golf, a casino, the AquaTheater (a place for diving and entertainment), and many more on the Oasis of the Seas.
- Dates: Departs Oct. 24, 2024
- Departure port: Barcelona, Spain
- Starting price: $876 per person (plus port taxes and fees)
- Cruise length: 14 nights
FAQ’s
Q1. What makes these transatlantic cruises stand out for 2024?
When people book one of these cruises in 2024, they will have an unforgettable transatlantic trip thanks to their amazing routes, onboard experiences, and overall reputation.
Q2. What destinations are covered by these transatlantic cruises?
The chosen cruises may go on a variety of transatlantic routes, such as trips between North America and Europe, so guests can see a lot of different ports.
Q3. Can I expect luxury amenities on these transatlantic cruises?
Yes, many of these cruises are known for their high-end features, such as large cabins, gourmet food, entertainment choices, and excellent service that make the whole cruise experience better.