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Can you take a boat from New York to London?

Are you looking for a cruise from New York to London? April is the most popular month to cruise between New York and London and there are 41 departures available from six of the world's leading cruise lines.



While you cannot sail directly into the center of London, you can take a transatlantic voyage from New York to the nearby port of Southampton, which is about 80 miles (130km) from London. The most famous and only remaining regular "Ocean Liner" service is provided by the Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2. Unlike a standard cruise, this "Transatlantic Crossing" is a 7-night journey across the North Atlantic that focuses on luxury, relaxation, and tradition rather than island-hopping. Once you arrive in Southampton, it is a quick 1.5-hour train ride into London’s Waterloo station. For a more adventurous but less luxurious option, you could theoretically travel via freighter ship, though these berths are rare and can take 10 to 14 days. In 2026, the Queen Mary 2 remains the premier way to travel between these two global cities without flying, offering a "slow travel" experience that includes formal galas, a planetarium at sea, and the world’s largest library on a ship.

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Boat travel is a charming alternative to long-haul flying, and far better for the environment, too. A little known and inexpensive boat option, freighter travel, is popular with student travelers and adventurers of all ilk, but figuring how to hop aboard a freighter isn't as simple as you may expect.

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Cargo ships This is a non-sailing ship option that can take you across. Cargo ships usually rent out a few cabins to passengers. This costs a few thousand euros. Travelling with a cargo vessel can be a good alternative if you want to cross the ocean, don't like sailing, and do not want to fly.

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Ocean liners are typically constructed to undertake transcontinental voyages between specific ports, for example, a trans-Atlantic journey between Southampton in the UK and New York in the USA. Cruise ships are used for shorter trips closer to land that may touch many ports.

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Yes, you can still travel to many locations in the world by boat. It was by far one of the best trips I've ever taken.

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Currently, only one ocean liner that still operates on trans-Atlantic voyages is the Queen Mary 2. Cruise ships, instead, are used more for tourism and recreational purposes and not so much for transportation.

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Keeping with its legacy as a traditional, old-world ocean liner, U.K.-based Cunard Line is one of the only luxury cruise lines to offer secluded dining areas for select passengers, meaning guests staying in standard staterooms dine in a different restaurant than passengers staying in suites.

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