One of the only cruise ships that make frequent journeys year-round between New York and London is the Cunard Cruise Lines opulent Queen Mary 2. Since launching its first ship in 1840, Cunard has mastered the art of creating a one-of-a-kind cruising experience. Guests may feel like royalty on their transatlantic crossing on a ship designed to emulate the golden ages of ocean travel. They can relax on one of the 13 spacious decks, rejuvenate at the prestigious Canyon Ranch Spa, gaze at the stars on the deck at night or in the only planetarium built on a cruise ship. Passengers learn about their ports of call by the on-ship history and cultural experts. Transatlantic voyages range from a quick six days to a leisurely 24 nights. If travelers want want to avoid flying back to the States, they should book one of the roundtrip transatlantic cruises. In 2009, the Queen Mary 2 was voted "World's Best International Cruise Ship" by "Conde Nast Traveler."
Cunard
24303 Town Center Drive, Suite 200
Valencia, California 91355
800-728-6273
cunard.com
Take a Holland America Cruise for an extensive tour of Southern or Northern Europe. In the Spring, depart Fort Lauderdale and cross the Atlantic on a 27-day voyage to Venice, Italy. You'll spend 6 days crossing the Atlantic before visiting Portugal and five major Spanish ports, including Cadiz and Barcelona. Then, you'll cruise along the Mediterranean Coast to Florence, Rome, Greece and Croatia before disembarking in Venice. If you'd like to explore the fjords of Northern Europe, take the round-trip, 35-day summer Voyage of the Vikings Cruise from Boston. You'll cross the Atlantic and visit France, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Denmark, The Netherlands, United Kingdom and Ireland before returning to Boston.
Holland America
300 Elliott Ave. West
Seattle, WA 98119
877-932-4259
hollandamerica.com
In the Spring, depart Fort Lauderdale on a Princess Cruises transatlantic cruise to Rome. You'll spend 15 days at sea and visit eight ports of call, including Tenerife in the Canary Islands, Gibraltar, Alicante, Barcelona, Marseille and Florence, before disembarking in Rome. You'll sail on the Star Princess containing an entire deck of luxurious mini-suites, four swimming pools, a spa, three formal dining rooms, a casino, 24-hour Internet cafe, and numerous nightclubs and lounges.
Princess Cruises
24844 Avenue Rockefeller
Santa Clarita, CA 91355
800-774-6237
princess.com
