The Hidden Costs of a Transatlantic Cruise: What You Need to Know Before Booking

Considering booking a transatlantic cruise?

On the surface, it might seem like a fantastic deal—two weeks on the open ocean, luxurious amenities, and the thrill of traveling between continents. But before you get swept up in the allure of that bargain price, there are a few important things to consider.

While the cruise fare might appear affordable, there are many additional costs and logistical details that often go overlooked. Flights, hotel stays, transfers, meals, and other expenses can quickly add up. In this post, I’ll walk you through the real costs and travel time of a transatlantic cruise, based on our experience sailing from Miami to Southampton, and help you decide if it’s the right adventure for you.

What Is a Transatlantic Cruise?

Transatlantic cruises typically involve repositioning ships between Europe and the Americas, depending on the season. These cruises are often longer, with several sea days in a row, making them a unique experience compared to typical cruises. In our case, we sailed from Miami, Florida, to Southampton, UK.

While the cruise itself was straightforward, getting to and from the departure and arrival ports required a lot of planning, time, and extra money. Let’s break down the journey and see how the costs added up.

Step 1: Flights to the Departure Port

Since we live in the UK, we needed to fly to Miami to start our cruise. Here’s an important tip: always fly in the day before your cruise departs. It might seem like an unnecessary expense, but it’s crucial. A flight delay, bad weather, or traffic could cause you to miss the ship. If that happens, the ship won’t wait—and with a transatlantic cruise, the next stop could be several days away!

After researching flights, we found that booking a one-way trip from London Heathrow to Miami would cost about £750 per person. However, we reached out to Princess Cruises and discovered they offered a flight package for £840 for both of us. This included direct flights at convenient times.

Tip: Always check with your cruise line for flight packages. They often have deals that can save you a significant amount of money.

• Cost: £840 (for two)

• Travel time: 13 hours (10-hour flight + 3-hour check-in)

Step 2: Getting to Heathrow

Next, we had to figure out how to get to London Heathrow from our home in Exeter. Driving was an option, but it would mean leaving our car at Heathrow and then traveling back after the cruise to pick it up, which didn’t seem ideal. Instead, we opted for a coach that took us directly to Heathrow’s Terminal 2—a 3-hour journey that cost £70 for both of us.

• Cost: £70 (for two)

• Travel time: 3 hours (plus 1.5 hours for getting to the coach station)

Step 3: Overnight at Heathrow

Since our flight check-in was at 9 a.m., we needed to stay overnight at a hotel near the airport. Traveling up to Heathrow on the morning of the flight was too risky—miss the flight, miss the cruise!

We found a range of hotels near the airport, with prices between £130 and £300. We decided to stay at the Hilton Garden Inn at Terminal 2 for £225, which included breakfast. The convenience of being just steps away from the terminal saved us from the hassle of taxis or traffic delays.

• Cost: £225 (for two)

• Travel time: We arrived at Heathrow 15 hours before our flight.

  
  

Step 4: Food Costs - Heathrow

Staying overnight meant we had to factor in meal costs. While breakfast was included in our hotel stay, dinner wasn’t, so we spent £64 on dinner at the hotel.

• Cost: £64 for dinner

• Total costs so far: £1,199

  
  

Step 5: Arriving in Miami

Once we landed in Miami, we needed somewhere to stay before the cruise departed the next day. After doing some research, we booked a transfer package through Princess Cruises for £150 per person. This covered our hotel stay, transportation to the hotel from the airport, and a transfer to the ship the following morning. Not only was it a convenient option, but it also saved us the hassle of arranging everything ourselves.

• Cost: £300 (for two)

• Travel time: 30 minutes from airport to hotel, 12 hours at the hotel

Step 6: Food in Miami

Again, dinner wasn’t included at the hotel, so we spent another £70 on food while staying overnight in Miami. Breakfast was included so that was free, though!

• Cost for dinner in Miami: £70

  
  

Step 7 : Returning Home from Southampton

Once our cruise ended in Southampton, we still had to get home. Since we didn’t leave a car at the port, our only option was to take the train from Southampton to Exeter. We bought two tickets for £80 and took a £15 taxi from the port to the station. The journey took about 4 hours in total, but it was an easy and comfortable ride.

• Cost: £95 (for two)

• Travel time: 4 hours

  
  

Adding It All Up: The Real Costs

Here’s a quick breakdown of the total costs for getting to and from our cruise:

• Flights: £840

• Coach to Heathrow: £70

• Overnight hotel at Heathrow: £225

• Dinner at Heathrow hotel: £64

• Transfer package in Miami (hotel + transport): £300

• Dinner in Miami: £70

• Train home from Southampton: £95

  
  

That brings us to a total of £1,664, just for travel and accommodation. Add that to the original cruise fare of £3,819.98, and the total comes to £5,483.98.

This doesn’t include extra spending like snacks at the airport or purchases on the ship. For example, we spent an additional £500 on activities and entertainment during the cruise.

In addition to considering the cost, the time factor was also important. We started our journey at midday on May 2nd to reach the cruise ship by 11am on May 4th. Due to the time difference, we spent a total of two and a half days before boarding the ship. This timeframe may vary based on your location, so it's advisable to allocate a few extra days for travel before and/or after your cruise.

Conclusion: Is a Transatlantic Cruise Worth It?

A transatlantic cruise can be an unforgettable experience, but it’s important to plan for the full cost, not just the price of the cruise itself. Flights, hotel stays, transfers, and meals all add up quickly. In our case, these extras added more than £1,600 to the cost of our trip, turning our affordable cruise into a more expensive adventure.

However, if you’re prepared for the hidden costs and ready for a journey that includes long travel times, a transatlantic cruise can still offer incredible value. Just be sure to budget wisely and plan for the unexpected!