By Chantae Reden | Published on January 29, 2026
"Transatlantic" refers to the crossing of the Atlantic Ocean. Following that thought, any Royal Caribbean cruise from America to Europe (or vice versa) is considered a transatlantic journey.
Throughout transatlantic history, ships were the most common vessels to cruise across the Atlantic, both for recreation and business purposes. However, in the last 70 or so years, airplanes accounted for the majority of passenger crossings.
The transatlantic route was significant for modern America, as this momentous journey had a massive impact on the current people and culture. The trade triangle that it created still impacts the culture and economy of Europe and Africa today. In this guide, explore the history of vessels and cruise ships across the Atlantic and what you can expect on a crossing today.
Key Takeaways: History, Itineraries and Amenities on Transatlantic Cruises
- ● History of the Transatlantic Crossing: Christopher Columbus is often credited for making the first transatlantic journey in 1492, sparking the imagination of millions of European traders and triggering massive colonization events. However, historians mostly believe that the Vikings first made the transatlantic crossing in the 10th century.
- ● Modern transatlantic cruising: Most transatlantic cruises take slightly longer than five days. This can stretch out to around 15 days if the ship stops at historic ports along the way.
- ● Transatlantic itineraries: There are many ways to cruise from America to Europe, often departing from East Coast ports in New York and Florida, sailing to European ports in Portugal, Spain and England. You can also cruise from Europe to the U.S., from Spain to The Bahamas, for example.
- ● Explore our transatlantic cruises to retrace history and discover the magic for yourself.
Who Made The First Transatlantic Crossing?
Humanity is a whopping 300,000 years old, so you can imagine why historians disagree on what is truly considered the first crossing. The explorer Christopher Columbus is often credited as the one who made the first transatlantic journey in 1492, discovering and settling America in the process. And while it was a pretty big deal when he landed on the continent, Columbus' boots weren't the first to hit the ground. It's likely hundreds came before him.
But Columbus' crossing is still important to transatlantic history. His crossing sparked the imagination of millions of European traders and triggered massive colonization events. It ultimately thrust Spain into the spotlight as the world's first global superpower.
Back in the 16th century, the Americas were unknown to Europe. The wheels of fate were set in motion when Columbus reasoned that, since the world was round, sailing to the west would inevitably take him to the spice-rich lands of India. He was correct in theory, but underestimated the size of the world by an entire continent. That's why when Columbus first saw the Native Americans, he thought he'd found India, calling them "Indians."
Vikings Transatlantic Crossings
Historians (mostly) agree that the Vikings made the first transatlantic crossing in the 10th century — totally by accident. The explorer Leif Erikson was one of the first Vikings to land on North American shores after being blown off course on a routine trip to Norway. In true Viking fashion, Erikson claimed the lush area by naming it "Vinland" due to the many grapevines his party encountered.
Shortly after arriving, he set sail back to his homeland, picked up some shipwrecked Norsemen on the way and never returned. Those who heard his tale sailed to Vinland, repeating Erikson's fateful journey in search of rich new lands. They built a small settlement and traded with the native people they found there. After some tensions and skirmishes, the Norsemen abandoned the settlement entirely. America was cut off from the rest of the world until the Spanish discovery.
While Norway has the strongest claim to the first transatlantic crossing by ship, some fringe theories suggest that the crossing was made by humans hundreds or even thousands of years earlier. In the 6th century, the Irish monk St. Brendan supposedly sailed from Ireland to North America. His ship was a small, crude vessel called a "currach" built of wood and animal skin. Brendan's adventures are documented in a book he wrote himself, "The Voyage of St. Brendan the Abbot." The book was a medieval bestseller (yes, those existed!) and catapulted St. Brendan to legend status.
Chinese Exploration of the Americas
Neolithic Transatlantic Crossings
But there's yet another contender for the first-place prize. Some leading scientists think Neolithic sailors beat everyone to the finish line by a good 16,000 years. Dr. Dennis Stanford of the reputable Smithsonian Institution says there's plenty of evidence to support the claim. The reasoning largely depends on similarities between American and European Stone Age tools.
However, the transatlantic voyage looked a lot different back then — it was the middle of the Ice Age. Amidst icy storms, frozen seas and incredibly low temperatures, the likelihood of people actually surviving such a trip in a Stone Age boat was low. Stanford argues that much of the ocean was frozen in ice, exposing more land and making the distance between continents shorter. This theory is on thin ice — pun intended — and technical advancements in genetics support the hypothesis that America was first populated by Asian people who made the migration on foot.
What Is It Like Traveling on a Transatlantic Crossing by Ship?
Historical Cruising Across the Atlantic
The experience of crossing the Atlantic has changed significantly in the past few hundred years. Back in Columbus' day, sailing from England to America could take you anywhere between six weeks and four months, depending on the wind and weather you faced. Without modern-day weather-prediction technology, your voyage time was largely based on luck. Columbus himself was lucky, making the journey in approximately 61 days.
By the early 1900s, sailing ships were out and passenger liners were in. Technology had long surpassed wooden vessels, and gigantic steel hulls capable of transporting up to 2,000 people per voyage were now a reality. This ushered in the golden age of the liner — a significant contributor to the speed of American colonization. A 1900s liner once made the transatlantic journey in a record four days, but the average was around five days.
By the 1950s, passenger liners were made obsolete by airplanes that could make the journey in hours, not days. As the liner industry dwindled, liners gradually transformed into what is known today as cruise ships. On a leisure cruise ship, you can make a historic journey of your own.
What To Expect on Modern Cross-Atlantic Cruises
Nowadays, most transatlantic cruises take slightly longer than five days. This can stretch out to around 15 days if the ship stops at historic ports along the way. You may encounter some bumps, as the ship’s pathway is less protected from sheltering land masses.
It’s possible to enjoy the transatlantic crossing any time of year, although Atlantic storms are more common between June and late November. Storm activity tends to be higher from mid-August until mid-October, so it might pay to plan around that!
Best Destinations as You Cruise Across the Atlantic
Spain to The Bahamas
There's something romantic about retracing the footsteps of a legendary historical figure — no matter how flawed that figure was. The classic trip from Spain to The Bahamas is unmissable. Most cruises will depart from the vibrant city of Barcelona and stop off at a few nearby European ports before continuing to The Bahamas.
With five to six days out at sea, you'll experience the majesty and raw power of the ocean before catching sight of The Bahamas archipelago. The Bahamas was the first place Columbus claimed for the New World, and in his letter to the Spanish King and Queen, he describes the islands: "All these islands are very beautiful, and of quite different shapes; easy to be traversed and full of the greatest variety of trees reaching to the stars."
Spain was the first to establish trade routes by creating the West Indies Fleet (also known as the Spanish Treasure Fleet).
Exploring Barcelona, you'll find much of what used to be sent to Spanish colonies: oil, wine, textiles, books and other goods that Spanish America needed. You'll also be able to see the effects of some of the goods brought back from the Treasure Fleet's many voyages, including silver and gold, gems, pearls, spices, sugar, tobacco, silk and more.
While you’re in Barcelona, you can check out the Sagrada Familia in a quick 15-minute drive from the port — leave a few hours for visiting, because the lines can get long. Or, head to Park Güell with mosaic buildings, panoramic views and the Gaudí House Museum to dodge the crowds, at a 35-minute drive from the port. It’s recommended to arrive a day earlier to avoid flight delays, but you may even choose to come a few days early and explore the city and its history.
Other Cruises to Europe From the US
Other European destinations include Italy, Portugal and France, which traded often with Spanish-American colonies. All three countries tried to overthrow Spain's iron-tight grip on transatlantic trade but failed. While the most famous transatlantic crossings go from east to west, just as many crossings go from west to east.
Set sail from New York for five days at sea, before finally cruising the Azores in Portugal. You’ll spend a day at Ponta Delgada, where you can experience Furnas Valley bubbling with geothermal activity or try out some Pico wines. You’ll then move on to Lisbon, where you can see how West African culture had a profound and lasting effect on the country. It was a Portuguese ship that first transported enslaved Africans to the Americas. It's a dark part of history, but it's important to learn about and honor those who suffered and lost their lives. Finally, you can continue exploring European history as you cruise around ports in Málaga, Gibraltar and Seville.
Cruise Amenities and Planning Tips
Keep in mind that you’ll have at least five sea days as you cruise the Atlantic crossing. Royal Caribbean provides plenty of onboard entertainment, like the FlowRider® surf simulator, theater shows, multiple pools, spas and nightlife options to keep you entertained and relaxed.
If you’re worried about the young ones during sea days — don’t. Royal Caribbean has an Adventure Ocean® Youth Program to keep kids 3-12 occupied while you take moments for yourself during days at sea.
Finally, as you’re planning your cruise, remember that you’ll need to bring your passport and may require visas to enter certain territories, depending on your nationality. Securing these early is the best way to ensure you can set sail worry-free.
Retrace History on a Royal Caribbean Transatlantic Cruise
Get Royal Deals, Sign Up Today
Getting There
Explore Our Most Affordable Itineraries
Enjoy transatlantic cruise adventure and set sail to cross the seas.
