Tips for Transatlantic Cruising
What to Know Before You Sail Across the Atlantic
There’s a special kind of magic to a transatlantic cruise. No rushing off the ship, no racing to make a tour—just open ocean, great coffee, new friends, and more time than you’ve had in ages to actually…breathe. Think cozy layers on a breezy deck, afternoon tea that somehow stretches into trivia, and the quiet satisfaction of finally finishing that book you’ve half-read three times.
Okay, maybe not quite the nirvana I have outlined —but you get the idea.
If you’ve ever wondered when to book, what’s different about these crossings, or how on earth to fill all those sea days—pull up a chair. I’ve got you.
Why Choose a Transatlantic Cruise?
In my opinion, there are four main reasons to book a Transatlantic Cruise:
- Value for money: Transatlantic cruises are often the lowest “per-day” fares you can find — like finding a first-class nap at economy pricing.
- Sea-day heaven: Imagine no port FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out for those that have been asleep for awhile). You’re officially allowed to do “absolutely nothing,” and call it an itinerary.
- Ship-forward experience: With so many at-sea days, it’s all about the entertainment and enrichment, with dining take center stage.
- Romance of the ocean: We typically really enjoy the one or two at-sea days on most cruises, but this is the kind of crossing that makes you want to write postcards—even if you don’t have stamps.
Best Time to Book (and When to Sail)
When to Book
- Sweet spot: 8-12 months in advance to be able to pick your cabin and to take advantage of cruise line promotions.
- Last-minute magic: If you’re the type of person who always has their passport at the ready and have a flexible schedule, booking just 4–8 weeks will give you great deals —aka “mystery cabin, maximum adventure.”
- MAK’n Waves Air tip: Compare cruise-line air vs DIY. Remember, for transatlantic cruises, you are only needing to fly internationally one way.
When to Sail
- Spring (Apr–May): Transatlantic sailings in the Spring typically go from European ports to North America. You’ll find brisk air evenings, moody skies during the day, and perfect sweater weather. Make sure to bring the cardigan that says “I brunch responsibly.”
- Fall (Sep–Nov): These Fall sailings typically go from North America to Europe. You’ll find cooler temps, shorter days, and prices so good you’ll wonder if the decimal point is in the right place.
To Summarize
If you want to cruise the Transatlantic in the Spring, best time to book would be the prior Summer. And if you want to cruise the Transatlantic in the Fall, best time to book would be the prior Winter. For a detailed breakdown of the Best Times to Book a Cruise, check out our Best Time To Cruise Calendar.
What’s Different About Transatlantic Cruises?
Sure, a cruise is a cruise…until you sail across the Atlantic. Then it becomes part vacation, part floating summer camp, and part masterclass in creative napping. Let’s look at what is different about a transatlantic cruise those 95% of the cruises we are probably more familiar with.
- Consecutive sea days: For most transatlantic cruises, you will experience 5–9 at-sea days in a row — like summer camp for adults, minus the lighting a campfire test.
- Time changes: It can get a little difficult keeping up with the time changes. As you travel eastbound you “lose” hours; westbound you “find” them.
- Weather roulette: Sunshine, wind, drizzle—sometimes before lunch. Layers are your love language for transatlantic cruises — might save the carryon suitcase challenge for another cruise.
- Enrichment galore: Unlike traditional itineraries, these cruises will be packed with lectures, language classes, dance lessons, and lots of trivia.
- Wi-Fi reality: On transatlantic cruises, once the ship is far out in the middle of the ocean, Wi-Fi is much slower and less reliable than what most of us are used to on land or even on other sailings. Cruise ships connect via satellite, so speed depends on weather, ship positioning, and bandwidth use by thousands of passengers at once. You’ll often find that:
- Web pages load slowly (sometimes like the good old dial-up days).
- Streaming (Netflix, Zoom, YouTube) may not work at all or only at low quality.
- Social media can be hit or miss—posting a photo might take minutes.
- Email & messaging usually work fine for text, but large attachments can lag.
I’d suggest downloading books, movies, podcasts, and playlists before you board, and treating the slower Wi-Fi as an excuse to “embrace the digital detox.” It’s less about frustration and more about leaning into the unplugged experience.
What to Pack (Beyond the Basics)
Here are some things you might want to pack for a long transatlantic cruise that you might not normally pack.
- Layering kit: light sweater/fleece + packable rain/wind jacket = smug comfort.
- Sea-day uniform: joggers/leggings + soft cardigan (photogenic naps optional).
- Sleep helpers: blue-light glasses and a mask so you and the time zones can be friends.
- Hobby stash: Kindle, journal, sketch kit—anything you’ve said “I’ll get to it someday.” Guess what? Someday floats.
- Cabin helpers: non-surge power strip, long cable, and magnetic hooks—AKA “instant closet upgrade.” Check out our complete Cruise Packing List
Sea-Day Game Plan: Loving All That Time
Build a Routine (the fun kind)
- Move: Deck walk, stretch class, or gym. If you lap the ship twice, you’ve technically “seen the Atlantic.”
- Learn: A lecture or demo—bonus points if you can casually say “As we discussed at the astrophysics talk…”
- Create: Daily journal page, photo edit, or a tiny craft you can show off at tea like it’s the Met Gala.
- Connect: Join a trivia team; every ship has a secret ringer named Pat. Be on Pat’s team.
- Unwind: Visit the thermal suite, take a schvitz at the sauna, or a strategic nap—set an alarm or you’ll wake up in Lisbon.
20 Fun Ways to Pass the Time
- Master trivia smackdown
- Attend enrichment lectures
- Card/Mah Jongg meetups. Here’s a great upcoming Mah Jongg Cruise (not transatlantic but fun nonetheless)
- Afternoon tea (a personality, not a beverage)
- Mini book club
- Deck-walk mileage challenge
- Wine/whiskey tasting
- Dance classes
- Bridge/chess lessons
- Chef demos
- Photo-backlog purge
- Spa circuit
- Stargazing (the sky goes full IMAX)
- Community puzzle table
- Phrase-a-day language challenge
- Sea-day scavenger hunt
- Chair yoga + breathing
- Comedy/live music/movie night
- Progressive dinner (apps here, dessert there)
- “Captain’s Log” journal—include latitude and a review of the cheesecake
Cabins, Food & Wellness Tips For Transatlantic Cruises
- Cabins: You have probably already heard this about cabin locations, but it’s never more true than on a transatlantic sailing. Mid-ship, lower decks = less motion.
- Dining: Treat breakfast like a tasting menu, lunch like a hobby, and dinner like an event.
- Wellness: Set a small goal (5k steps, one stretch class, etc.). Shift bedtime in 15–30 minute increments so your body doesn’t struggle with the continuous time change.
Lighthearted Etiquette (a gentle nudge)
While we should always be aware of our surroundings and our fellow travelers, when cruising with so many sea days, I thought this was a good list to share. A few do’s and don’ts.
- Deck chair diplomacy: A towel is not a title deed. We have started seeing this same “attitude” appearing at the buffet, where people are placing items at a table to hold for their party, who are still down on the Lido deck doing Karaoke.
- Elevator zen: One deck level = stairs (unless you truly need it). Your future self will applaud you.
- Wind vs wardrobe: On the bow, the wind always wins. Pin your hat or scarf or gift it to Poseidon.
- Open seating courage: Sit with strangers at trivia—today’s strangers are tomorrow’s inside jokes. Shout out to “Gary from Missouri” who joined us every day for trivia on the Celebrity Eclipse.
Sample 7-Day Sea-Day Rhythm (steal and remix)
Here is my suggested routine for a 7-day at-sea rhythm:
Mornings: Deck walk (or gym) → café latte or tea → join a lecture
Midday: Long MDR (main dining room) or buffet lunch → nap/read → trivia
Afternoon: Take a class/workshop → tea time → hit the spa or gym
Evening: Early show → specialty dinner or MDR → stargazing stroll
Money-Saving Nugget
I am always about the hunt when it comes to cruise deals, and with transatlantic cruises, it’s no different. Do some online searches for “repositioning promotions” and specify a cruise line. The deals are out there – you just need to hunt them down.
Sailing across the Atlantic isn’t about rushing from port to port—it’s about slowing down, leaning into the rhythm of the sea, and discovering how good life feels when the biggest item on your to-do list is “afternoon tea.” Whether you’re building a trivia dream team, taking a shvitz in the steam room, or simply watching the horizon melt into sunset, a transatlantic cruise turns “just getting there” into the best part of the journey. And while it may not be nirvana, it’s pretty darn close.
