How long does it take from New York to the UK by sea?

At sea on the North Atlantic. Each crossing is an epic voyage of 3,150 nautical miles (3,625 statute miles), taking 7 nights.



In 2026, the standard travel time for a transatlantic crossing from New York to the UK is 7 nights. This is the schedule maintained by the Queen Mary 2, the world's only dedicated ocean liner, which sails between the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal and Southampton. Unlike a cruise ship, an ocean liner is built for speed and stability, maintaining a cruising speed of roughly 20–24 knots (23–28 mph) to cross the roughly 3,100 nautical miles of the North Atlantic. If you were to travel on a standard cargo ship (freighter travel), which has become a niche "slow travel" trend in 2026, the journey would typically take 10 to 14 days, depending on the number of intermediate port calls and weather conditions. For those looking for the absolute fastest sea crossing, "positioning cruises" from other lines sometimes attempt the journey in 6 nights, but the 7-night crossing remains the gold standard for comfort and reliable scheduling in the 2026 maritime travel calendar.

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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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Larger vessels may travel faster at anywhere from 21 to 24 knots. Royal Caribbean states that the average speed of their cruise ships is 18 to 20 knots. Cruise ships typically slow down as they approach the shore. That said, the top speed of a vessel would be around 30 knots, which is about 35 miles per hour.

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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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The first, which we dub a repositioning voyage, takes place in spring and fall, when many cruise lines move their ships between seasons in Europe and in the Caribbean. Depending on a ship's speed, it generally takes between six and eight days to cross the Atlantic.

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Some 200 years later, in the 1700s, sailing ships still needed at least six weeks to cross the Atlantic. But a new invention was on the way. During the 19th century, in 1845, Britain's steam-powered ship, the SS Great Britain, could make the whole journey in a breezy 14 days.

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