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How long does it take to cruise from Southampton to New York?

How long does a transatlantic cruise take? A transatlantic cruise is one of life's experiences that is truly about the journey and not the destination. With Cunard, this means taking seven days to sail from Southampton to New York, or vice-versa, during which you're invited to spend your time in any way you like.



A standard transatlantic crossing from Southampton to New York in 2026 typically takes 7 nights. This iconic route is most famously serviced by the Cunard Line's Queen Mary 2, which remains the only ship designed specifically as an ocean liner for this purpose. The journey across the North Atlantic covers approximately 3,100 nautical miles. While most crossings are 7 nights, some "slow steaming" or repositioning cruises on other lines may take between 9 and 14 days, especially if they include stops in the Azores, Iceland, or Halifax. For the QM2, the ship usually departs Southampton in the late afternoon and arrives at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal in New York early on the eighth day. In 2026, these voyages are increasingly popular as a "slow travel" alternative to flying, offering a week of total disconnection with no ports of call, just the vast expanse of the open sea.

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Queen Mary 2 is a very fast ship with a cruising service speed of 28.5 knots. The ship could complete a 5 day transatlantic crossing, but in reality most crossings are 7 days. A 7 day crossing on QM2 offers you enough time to really enjoy the ship while reducing the impact of timezone changes on your body clock.

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Featured Transatlantic cruises from Southampton This Westbound Transatlantic Crossing to New York offers seven luxurious sea days in which to relax and indulge to your heart's content, sailing on board Cunard's flagship ocean liner, Queen Mary 2. Embark on Queen Mary 2's legendary Transatlantic Crossing.

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The New York metro area is a top tourist destination in the U.S. and a top cruise port for travel to the Caribbean, Canada, Europe and other destinations around the world. The Brooklyn Cruise Terminal is located in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn, NY.

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However, unlike other cruise ships, the Queen Mary 2 is a true ocean liner, and therefore is meant to be out in the Atlantic. Because of that, it is more stable at sea, and you're less likely to get seasick.

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How did the Titanic Compare to the Queen Mary? The Queen Mary is 15% longer than the Titanic and 28% wider. She has over three times the horsepower and was able to travel 39% faster than the Titanic. The Queen Mary has an additional 3 passenger decks compared to the Titanic.

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