While sailing on a transatlantic cruise, time is slowing and you feel like a traveler half a century ago before the jet travel that made transatlantic a hurried trip and routine experience. Besides the standard relocation cruise, a transatlantic trip can be part of a world cruise, which offers a really grand adventure.

For those enjoy cruising, a transatlantic cruise reminds classic cruising at its prime, with a leisurely tempo of activity. You may rest on deck all day and spend the evening with fine dining and dancing.

Once the main way to travel across the Atlantic, the Trans-Atlantic crossing has developed from a need to a luxury voyage, a chance to experience the golden age of cruising from the early 20th century.

During the typical Trans-Atlantic crossing you will spend four or five uninterrupted days at sea. But newer and longer options of this basic itinerary will usually offer stops at places such as Bermuda, the Azores or the Canary Islands. The beginning or the end of the itinerary may also include some Caribbean islands or European cities. Extended cruises can travel down the coast of Latin America before crossing. Or you may choose a northern route via Newfoundland and Iceland and observe the untouched Scottish Isles and the Norwegian fjords. But the unique character of the traditional Trans-Atlantic cruise makes these ports short digressions from the main line of the voyage: the transit across the vast expanse of the Atlantic. Cunard line, in holding to its 165-year-old tradition, offers more regular Trans-Atlantic voyages than any other cruise line. Cunard is also famous for providing classic luxury cruises. These cruises leave almost every month and normally take 6 nights to sail between New York City and Southampton, England. 

Most cruise lines offer the trans-Atlantic cruises as a seasonal repositioning between the Caribbean and Europe. Generally at the end of April or in early May, the winter season in the Caribbean finishes and ships make an eastbound crossing to start a series of European cruises during the summer. At the end of the European season, in September or October, the ships again return westbound to the warm waters of the Caribbean for the winter. Most major cruise lines such as Celebrity, Holland America, Princess Cruises, and Royal Caribbean International offer biannual 10-16 night trans-Atlantic routes.

Eastbound Trans-Atlantic crossings often depart from Boston, New York, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and some Caribbean ports. Westbound ships often sail from Dover or Southampton, Barcelona, Lisbon, Rome and other major European ports. The ship can call at different ports on its way to America.

There are a lot of activities so the travelers were not bored on the trans-Atlantic passage. Taking in account passengers' longing for activity most cruise lines offer special interest cruises such as Swing Dance, Big Band music, or wine and culinary themes. These events may be visited by a well-known author, chef or celebrity for additional demand. Also the lines may provide different educational programs such as art classes or computer learning, and dances and dinners on the ship will be organized to assist the guests in socializing. The passengers can take their extra time to relax and take full advantage of the shipboard spa. And at last, the trans-Atlantic crossing is always the best time to finish reading the latest novel.