Cunard operates the world-famous Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth ships. For over a century and a half, the company has operated ocean liners to ports around the world. Although Cunard does not provide one package with both a transatlantic crossing and a Mediterranean cruise, it does offer separate cruises that can be combined. Travelers can cross the Atlantic from New York to Southampton, England, on board the Queen Mary 2. Crossings take seven nights westbound and six nights eastbound. Once in England, cruises depart from Southampton to the Mediterranean for 10- to 22-night voyages. Because you will be required to purchases up to three cruises (your Mediterranean cruise and two transatlantic crossings), this could be extremely costly.
Norwegian Cruise Line offers packaged holidays with combined transatlantic crossings and Mediterranean cruises. Travelers remain on the same ship throughout their trip. Norwegian Cruise Line offers 11- and 15-day trips with a transatlantic crossing from Miami to Barcelona and a stopover in Ponta Delgada, Azores. The 15-day voyage includes stops in Marseille, Palma and Majorca. Once in Barcelona, travelers can also opt to book Mediterranean cruises before returning to the U.S. Because Norwegian uses these one-way cruises to reposition their ships from North America to Europe, travelers must make separate travel arrangements to return to the United States.
In May 2012, Holland America Line will offer the 36-day Grand Mediterranean Voyage. Departing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the MS Prinsendam will cross the Atlantic and stop in Portugal, Spain, Malta, Tunisia, Turkey, Romania, Ukraine, Greece, Albania and Croatia, before ending its journey in Venice, Italy. Travelers can opt to make their own travel arrangements back to the United States. Alternatively, travelers can chose the 62-day Grand Mediterranean and Black Sea cruise. Once in Venice, the ship will continue its voyage around the Italian peninsula with further stops in France, Spain, Morocco and Portugal before crossing the Atlantic toward Fort Lauderdale.
Princess Cruises will reposition several of their ships in May 2011 after the winter season. In October 2011, ships will once again reposition themselves back to the United States. As ships sale between markets, Princess Cruises organizes voyages that combine transatlantic crossings with Mediterranean cruises. Cruises range from 18 to 31 days and can include destinations in Portugal, Spain, Italy, Monaco, Israel, Egypt, Greece, Turkey and others. In May, sailings are from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with final destinations in Italy, Spain and England. In October, ships set sail from Southampton, Athens, Rome and Venice. Because Princess Cruises offers only one-way crossings in each season, travelers must make alternate travel arrangements for one leg of their trip.
Royal Caribbean provides transatlantic and Mediterranean cruises twice a year as the line repositions its ships between markets in the Americas and Europe. Relatively short cruises of 13 to 14 nights leave from the U.S. in the spring, while crossings from Europe take place in the fall. Departure points in the U.S. include Boston, Fort Lauderdale and Miami. Ships depart from Rome and Barcelona on their way to the United States. Similar to other cruise lines, because these cruises by Royal Caribbean are one-way (either eastbound or westbound), travelers must make alternate travel arrangements for one segment of their vacation.
