Status: checked against official sources; automated independent review
GUIDE
How to book a repositioning or transatlantic cruise
Repositioning and transatlantic cruises are long ocean crossings that take a ship from one continent to another, and they are sold as itineraries in their own right by lines such as Royal Caribbean, Holland America Line and Norwegian Cruise Line. [1] [5] [8] Norwegian Cruise Line, for example, lists transatlantic departures from Barcelona, Lisbon, London (Southampton), New York, Rome (Civitavecchia) and San Juan. [8]
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- Royal Caribbean publishes repositioning cruises as a category of their own, alongside a separate transatlantic cruises page. [1] [7]
- Norwegian Cruise Line lists transatlantic departure ports on both sides of the Atlantic, including Barcelona, Lisbon, London (Southampton), New York, Rome (Civitavecchia) and San Juan. [8]
- Loyalty credit follows the line operating the ship: Royal Caribbean publishes the Crown & Anchor Society, Holland America Line the Mariner Society, and Norwegian Cruise Line Latitudes Rewards. [1] [5] [8]
- Each line publishes its own required-travel-documents guidance, so the page to read is the one for the line and itinerary you book. [1] [5] [8]
What is a repositioning or transatlantic cruise?
Royal Caribbean publishes repositioning cruises as a distinct cruise category on its site, next to its 2026–2027 cruise search. [1] The same line sells transatlantic cruises as their own collection, with its Crown & Anchor Society loyalty programme and a required-travel-documents page linked from the same navigation. [7]
Norwegian Cruise Line describes its transatlantic itineraries as departing from a variety of destinations in Europe or North America and then continuing from one continent to another, and gives a Barcelona departure sailing through Spain, France and the Caribbean as an example. [8] Holland America Line lists Transatlantic Cruises both as a destination category and as a line in its book-a-cruise menu. [5]
Which ports do transatlantic cruises leave from?
Norwegian Cruise Line names six departure ports for its transatlantic sailings. [8]
| Port | Country or territory |
|---|---|
| Barcelona | Spain |
| Lisbon | Portugal |
| London (Southampton) | United Kingdom |
| New York | United States |
| Rome (Civitavecchia) | Italy |
| San Juan | Puerto Rico |
The same Norwegian Cruise Line page highlights places visited across its transatlantic routings: the gardens at Funchal and the Praça do Comércio in Lisbon, both in Portugal; St Colman's Cathedral in Cobh, near Cork in Ireland; Legzira Beach in Agadir, Morocco; and the Auditorio de Tenerife Adán Martín in Santa Cruz, Spain. [8]
What are the days at sea like?
Norwegian Cruise Line presents the crossing as time on board as much as time in port, describing activities, restaurants, entertainment and a spa, or simply relaxing at the pool by day and stargazing at night. [8] Its Free at Sea package is described as including an unlimited open bar, specialty dining, excursion credits at every port and a Wi-Fi package. [8] For filtering, Holland America Line's booking menu separates 17+ day cruises from 25–59 day Legendary Voyages and 60+ day Grand Voyages & World Cruises. [5]
Does a crossing earn cruise loyalty credit?
Each of the three lines names its own loyalty programme on its own site, so the programme that applies is the one belonging to the line operating the sailing. [1] [5] [8]
| Line | Programme named on the line's site |
|---|---|
| Royal Caribbean | Crown & Anchor Society [1] [7] |
| Holland America Line | Mariner Society [5] |
| Norwegian Cruise Line | Latitudes Rewards [8] |
Royal Caribbean also advertises Royal ONE Visa Signature credit cards, described as a way to earn rewards across Royal Caribbean Group brands. [1]
How do you choose a cabin for a long crossing?
Start with what each line publishes about its accommodation. Royal Caribbean's menus list rooms and suites. [1] [7] Holland America Line lists suites and staterooms, and a Club Orange option, from its ship-life menu. [5] Norwegian Cruise Line describes The Haven as its most luxurious, well-appointed accommodation, with 24-hour butler service, concierge service and a private sundeck. [8] Compare categories and deck positions before you book; the cabin categories and locations guide explains the trade-offs.
What documents do you need for a transatlantic cruise?
Royal Caribbean lists required travel documents in its before-you-sail menu. [1] [7] Holland America Line links required travel documents from its plan menu and its footer. [5] Norwegian Cruise Line lists required documents under its essentials section. [8] Read the page belonging to the line and itinerary you book before you commit, and use the passport and visa requirements guide to organise the paperwork.
Exceptions and limits
- The port list is Norwegian Cruise Line's. The six departure ports above are the ones Norwegian Cruise Line publishes for its own transatlantic sailings, and the places named on that page are its own highlights. [8]
- Dates belong to each line's own programme. Royal Caribbean's repositioning and transatlantic pages sit within its 2026–2027 cruise range. [1] [7] Holland America Line groups Transatlantic Cruises under its Europe destinations and advertises Europe 2027–2028 sailings as year-round. [5]
- Loyalty programmes are separate. The Crown & Anchor Society, the Mariner Society and Latitudes Rewards are published by three different lines, and each line's own pages are the place to check what a sailing earns. [1] [5] [8]
- Suite extras follow the accommodation category. On Norwegian Cruise Line, 24-hour butler service, concierge service and a private sundeck are described as features of The Haven. [8]
- Package contents are as the line describes them. The unlimited open bar, specialty dining, excursion credits at every port and Wi-Fi package listed above are Norwegian Cruise Line's description of its own Free at Sea package. [8]
Frequently asked questions
Are transatlantic cruises one-way?
Norwegian Cruise Line describes transatlantic itineraries that depart from Europe or North America and continue from one continent to another, so the start and end of the sailing sit on opposite sides of the Atlantic. [8] Royal Caribbean sells repositioning cruises as a separate category from its standard cruise search. [1]
Where do transatlantic cruises leave from?
Norwegian Cruise Line lists Barcelona, Lisbon, London (Southampton), New York, Rome (Civitavecchia) and San Juan as departure ports for its transatlantic sailings. [8] Check the individual itinerary before booking, because the port you fly into depends on the sailing. [8]
Which loyalty programme covers a repositioning cruise?
The programme of the line operating the ship: Royal Caribbean publishes the Crown & Anchor Society, Holland America Line the Mariner Society, and Norwegian Cruise Line Latitudes Rewards. [1] [5] [8]
How do I check entry paperwork before a crossing?
Read the required-travel-documents page of the line you are sailing with: Royal Caribbean, Holland America Line and Norwegian Cruise Line each publish their own. [1] [5] [8]
Sources
Sources accessed on 18 October 2026. Lines other than Royal Caribbean, Holland America Line and Norwegian Cruise Line are not covered here; see the cruises hub for the wider picture.
- Royal Caribbean repositioning cruises, checked 18 October 2026
- Holland America Line transatlantic cruises, checked 18 October 2026
- Royal Caribbean transatlantic cruises, checked 18 October 2026
- Norwegian Cruise Line transatlantic cruises, checked 18 October 2026