A standard direct transatlantic crossing from New York to the United Kingdom (usually docking in Southampton, which is the gateway to London) typically takes 7 nights. This iconic route is most famously operated by the Cunard Line's Queen Mary 2, which is the only ocean liner currently providing a regular scheduled transatlantic service. Because it is an ocean liner designed for speed and stability in the North Atlantic rather than a traditional cruise ship, it maintains a brisk pace across the 3,400 nautical miles. If you choose a "repositioning cruise" on a different line, the journey can take much longer—anywhere from 12 to 15 nights—as these ships often include stops in the Azores, Iceland, or Ireland along the way. Once you dock in Southampton, it is about an 80-mile journey to London, which takes approximately 1.5 to 2 hours by train or coach. Travelers often value this 7-day crossing as a "time-traveling" experience that avoids jet lag by allowing the body to adjust to time zone changes gradually each night.