In my opinion, the single worst part of traveling between Europe and the U.S. is the jet lag. I doubt I’m alone in that sentiment. There’s a better way to get home, though, at least if you don’t mind taking a week or more on a repositioning cruise.
Instead of taking a flight home, you book yourself a cabin on cruise where the ship will travel from Europe to the U.S. (or vice versa). These transatlantic crossings give you time to adjust so you don’t get back home utterly discombobulated!
Better yet, sometimes this is cheaper than flying home, especially if you fly business class.
Although I learned this from another travel agent before I became one, I find many don’t know this “trick.”
What is a Repositioning Cruise?
If you’ve never heard of them, they are any itinerary where the cruise line wants to move their ship from one region, like the Caribbean, to another, like the Mediterranean. These cruises are a one-way trip and usually mean moving several thousand miles over, typically, seven or more days.
Because these cruises involve longer voyages, the cruise lines often reduce their typical rates to help attract customers. This is where we can take advantage of cheaper rates to potentially save money over a flight.
What Makes a Repositioning Cruise Different?
Other than the repositioning itself, there’s something specific that is very attractive for many people on these cruises. Sea Days.
Many cruise veterans love a sea day!
Repositioning cruises typically cover a lot of distance, and that means a lot of days at sea. Veteran cruisers often love sea days because there’s nothing to do but relax. You’re on the open water and don’t have any excursions to plan around. Typically, the ship adds more entertainment and speakers than usual to keep their guests entertained.
Admittedly, these sailings are not for people who don’t enjoy sea days.
Best of all, there’s no jet lag! Sailing gives you time to adjust so that the drastic shift in time of day doesn’t hit you. The typical ship will adjust the ship’s time by one hour each day so you adjust slowly. No more arriving at your destination and needing a day or more to adjust.
What Cruise Lines do Repositioning Cruises?
Almost every line does some repositioning cruises. They often are seen in the mid to late spring heading towards Europe from the U.S. Later, in the late summer to mid fall, there will be itineraries that head towards the U.S. from Europe.
However, there is one ship that does it more than any other, The Queen Mary 2 from Cunard Lines. The Queen Mary 2, or QM2 as many call her, is the undisputed champ of transatlantic crossings. For much of the year, the Queen Mary 2 sails the Atlantic between Southampton, England and New York City. Occasionally she will sail on to Hamburg or LeHarve (Paris).
Even though most repositioning cruises are seasonal, the Queen Mary 2 makes returning home on a ship simple if you plan ahead. I have sailed the QM2 many times and not only did I save money over flying, but it was always delightful.
Don’t Believe Me? Here’s the Math
Putting aside the fact that sailing on the Queen Mary 2 means getting a week’s worth of meals, entertainment, accommodation and fantastic scones and clotted cream at daily high tea, let’s compare sailing to flying simply as transportation.
As of this writing, for sailing from Southampton to New York on November 19-26, 2025, the full price of an inside stateroom on the Queen Mary 2, including taxes and fees for two people, is $1578 total.
A one-way airline ticket from Heathrow to New York City departing November 19 for Business class on Jet Blue is $2146 per person or $4292 for two. That’s a difference of $2,714.
“Well, yes, of course Business class will cost more,” you’re likely thinking. Alright, let’s look at Premium Economy.
Less flying also means less of the headaches that come with flying…
As of writing, Delta and American have Premium Economy on that date for $1267 per person or $2,534 for two. A difference of $956.00.
Still don’t believe me? Fine! Main cabin economy on Delta on that day is $826 for one or $1,652 for two. A difference of $74.00.
Obviously, the pricing on both can vary quite a bit, so this won’t always work. I also recognize that $74.00 isn’t that much of a savings out of around $1,600. However, the point remains valid that by using repositioning cruises, you can save money over a return flight home.
Of course, you still need to have the time to take a ship over a plane but, if you can take the time, it’s likely the more luxurious and cheaper option.
