A transatlantic cruise from New York to London (Southampton) costs $800–$5,000+ per person for the cruise fare alone, depending on cabin type and cruise line — budget for a total trip cost of $1,500–$8,000+ per person once you add drinks, gratuities, flights home, and port fees.
Photo: Carnival Cruise Line
Most people picture a transatlantic crossing as an exotic splurge reserved for retirees with unlimited budgets. The reality? You can cross the Atlantic in 7–14 days for less than a round-trip business class flight — if you know what you're booking and what's coming for your wallet on board.
What a New York to London (Southampton) Transatlantic Cruise Actually Costs
The crossing typically runs 7 nights (Queen Mary 2) to 14 nights depending on the line and whether it's a repositioning cruise or a dedicated voyage. Fares vary enormously by cabin class, cruise line, and how far in advance you book.
| Tier | Cruise Line Example | Cabin Type | Cruise Fare (per person) | Total Trip Est. (per person) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Cunard QM2 (repositioning sale) | Inside cabin | $800–$1,200 | $1,500–$2,200 |
| Mid-Range | Cunard QM2 | Balcony / Britannia | $1,800–$2,800 | $2,800–$4,500 |
| Mid-Range | Norwegian (repositioning) | Inside/Balcony | $900–$2,000 | $1,800–$3,500 |
| Splurge | Cunard QM2 | Queens Grill Suite | $4,500–$12,000+ | $6,000–$15,000+ |
| Splurge | Regent Seven Seas | All-inclusive suite | $7,000–$14,000 | $8,000–$16,000 |
Port fees and taxes add $200–$400 per person on top of any advertised fare — always check the total before you get excited about a deal.
Photo: Carnival Cruise Line
Key Factors That Drive the Cost
1. Cunard vs. Repositioning Cruises The Queen Mary 2 is the only ship purpose-built for transatlantic crossings. It does the New York–Southampton route year-round in 7 nights. That exclusivity has a price — but Cunard also runs flash sales where inside cabins drop to $799–$999 per person. Repositioning cruises (when lines move ships between seasons) on Norwegian, Holland America, or Celebrity can go even cheaper, but they're slower (12–15 days) and route through multiple ports.
2. Time of Year Summer crossings (June–August) command the highest fares — expect to pay 20–35% more than shoulder season. April, May, and September offer the best value-to-weather ratio. November crossings are cheapest but the North Atlantic in November is exactly what you'd imagine.
3. Cabin Class On the QM2, class matters more than on almost any other ship. The three-tier dining system (Britannia, Princess Grill, Queens Grill) means your cabin category determines which restaurant you eat in — every night. Upgrading from Britannia to Princess Grill adds roughly $800–$1,500 per person but buys you a dedicated restaurant with waiter service that's genuinely superior.
4. What's Included (Almost Nothing on Most Lines) Unless you're on Regent Seven Seas or Silversea, assume drinks, gratuities, specialty dining, and Wi-Fi are all extra. Budget these add-ons:
| Add-On | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| Drinks package (Cunard) | $65–$85/person/day |
| Gratuities | $16–$20/person/day |
| Wi-Fi (QM2) | $25–$35/day or $150–$200/voyage package |
| Specialty dining | $35–$65/person/meal |
| One-way flight back from London | $400–$1,200 (economy) |
On a 7-night QM2 crossing, drinks + gratuities alone can add $570–$735 per person before you've bought a single souvenir.
5. One-Way vs. Round-Trip Logistics This is the cost nobody budgets for properly. You're arriving in Southampton (not central London — it's 80 miles away). A train to London Waterloo from Southampton costs £20–£35 (~$25–$45). Then you need a flight home, which you're buying one-way, which is rarely cheap. Factor in $400–$900 per person for economy one-way transatlantic air — or use this as an excuse to do a few days in London and book a separate return flight as part of a broader trip.
Photo: Carnival Cruise Line
How to Save Money on a Transatlantic Crossing
Book repositioning cruises. When Norwegian, Celebrity, or Holland America move ships from the Caribbean to Europe in April–May, they discount heavily. You'll stop in the Azores, Canary Islands, or coastal Portugal en route. Fares can be 40–50% below equivalent QM2 pricing for the same number of sea days.
Book the QM2 early or very late. Cunard's sweet spot is either 12+ months out (best cabin selection) or inside 60 days (flash sales on unsold inventory). The middle window — 3–6 months out — is often the worst value.
Go inside cabin on a sea-day-heavy crossing. On a 7-night QM2 voyage with 6 straight sea days, a balcony sounds great until you realize the North Atlantic in spring means you'll use it for about 45 minutes total. Inside cabins on the QM2 are genuinely comfortable and well-sized — this is not the place to splurge on a balcony.
Pre-purchase the drinks package. Cunard's drinks packages are always cheaper pre-cruise than on board. If you're a two-drinks-a-day person, do the math — packages usually break even at 4–5 drinks/day. If you drink less, skip it.
Use the crossing as a one-way transit, not a round-trip. Book a cheap transatlantic flight TO New York (often cheaper from London than the reverse), cruise back to Southampton, spend a few nights in London, and fly home. You've turned a cruise into a two-destination trip for the price of one flight.
Which Cruise Line Is Right for Which Traveler
| Traveler Type | Best Option | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-time crosser, moderate budget | Cunard QM2 Britannia inside | The definitive transatlantic experience, authentic ship, best sea-keeping |
| Budget traveler, flexible on routing | Norwegian/Celebrity repositioning | Cheapest fares, multiple port stops, less "event" more "bargain" |
| Luxury traveler | Cunard Queens Grill or Regent | All-in pricing, exceptional food, butler service |
| Solo traveler | Cunard QM2 | QM2 has solo cabins at no single supplement on select sailings — rare and valuable |
| Families | Norwegian repositioning | Family cabins, more activities, lower price point |
One honest warning: The QM2 is a formal ship. Gala nights are taken seriously. Pack at least one formal outfit or you'll feel out of place — and out of the main dining room, which enforces dress codes at dinner.
For a full breakdown of what everything costs on a transatlantic cruise before you commit to booking, run the numbers through CruiseMutiny — it'll show you the real all-in cost including drinks, gratuities, and one-way flight estimates so there are no surprises when the credit card bill lands.