How Long Does It Take to Cross the Atlantic by Ship?

Last updated: 23 October 2026

Crossing the Atlantic by ship usually takes between 7 and 14 days, depending on the ship, the route and the weather. A liner like Queen Mary 2 takes about a week, while a container ship from Europe to the US East Coast takes around 9 to 14 days. Here’s how long each option takes.

Atlantic crossing times compared

Way to cross	Typical route	Durée habituelle
Ocean liner (Queen Mary 2)	Southampton to New York	About 7 nights
Container ship	UK or Northern Europe to the US East Coast	About 9–14 days
Container ship	Northern Europe to Montreal or Halifax	About 9–14 days
Croisière de repositionnement	Southampton or Barcelona to Florida or the Caribbean	About 10–16 nights
Sailing yacht	Canary Islands to the Caribbean (trade-wind route)	About 2–4 weeks
Rowing boat (ocean race)	Canary Islands to Antigua	About 30–60+ days

Stormy Atlantic waves — Winter crossings can be slower because of storms.

Why do container ships take longer?

Vitesse : most container ships sail at 14–20 knots, slower than a liner. See how fast do container ships go.
Port calls: many call at several European ports before crossing.
Routing: ships plan routes around weather and their port slots.

What affects crossing time?

Weather: winter storms in the North Atlantic can slow ships down. See best time for cargo ship travel.
Route: northern routes (to Canada) are shorter in distance, but can be rougher.
Port calls: each one adds time.
Schedule changes: cargo ships can wait at anchor before entering port.

Container ship sailing — Container ships cross from Europe to North America in about 9–14 days.

Distances across the Atlantic

Itinéraire	Approx. distance
Southampton to New York	About 3,150 nautical miles
Liverpool to Halifax	About 2,500 nautical miles
Rotterdam to New York	About 3,400 nautical miles
Canary Islands to Antigua	About 2,700 nautical miles

Which is best for you?

Want luxury and a fixed date? Queen Mary 2. See transatlantic cruise from the UK.
Want a cheaper cruise? A repositioning cruise.
Want peace, authenticity and a working ship? A container ship. See par bateau, du Royaume-Uni vers les États-Unis et cargo ship travel from the UK to the USA.

Life on board during the crossing

Ten days on the Atlantic means open sea, no phone signal, long meals and time to rest. Many passengers say it’s the best part of the trip. Read life on a container ship on the Atlantic.

Foire aux questions

How long does it take to cross the Atlantic by ship?

Usually 7–14 days: about a week on Queen Mary 2, and 9–14 days on a container ship.

How long does a cargo ship take from the UK to New York?

About 9–14 days, depending on port calls and weather.

How long does Queen Mary 2 take to cross the Atlantic?

About 7 nights from Southampton to New York.

How far is it across the Atlantic?

Southampton to New York is about 3,150 nautical miles.

When is the best time to cross the Atlantic by ship?

May to September usually has the calmest seas.

Cross the Atlantic on a cargo ship

Ask us about passenger cabins from Europe to North America.

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Steve Joury

Conseiller en voyages Cargo chez Cargoholidays

Passionné par le voyage lent et la mer. Steve connaît la plupart des routes maritimes et des procédures pour découvrir notre beau monde depuis la mer sur un porte-conteneurs. Il a participé à la plupart des voyages, de 7 jours en cargo à 140 jours à bord.

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