Queen Mary 2 Eastbound Transatlantic Crossing

Queen Mary 2 : New York to Southampton

Sailing Across the North Atlantic Ocean

In the spring, we boarded Cunard’s RMS Queen Mary 2 in New York City and began a timeless seven-day journey across the Atlantic Ocean to Southampton, England. Aboard the world’s last true ocean liner, we experienced the quiet majesty of crossing the sea under our own momentum, watching the rhythms of sky and water unfold slowly day by day.

This blog series recounts life at sea between continents - elegant formal dinners, fog-shrouded mornings on the promenade deck, afternoons of tea and books, stargazing from the upper deck, and the gentle solitude that only comes when land is far behind. With no ports of call between embarkation and disembarkation, this was a voyage made for those drawn to the sea itself.

Whether you're planning your own crossing or simply curious what happens when you choose to sail - not fly - between worlds, we invite you to walk with us as we step into this unique form of slow travel.

Slow Travel by Ship

There is a quiet magic in crossing the ocean by ship.  It is a journey consciously undertaken not for speed or convenience, but for the simple pleasure of movement. Aboard Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, the last true ocean liner in service, we embraced the art of slow travel. No airport queues, no jet lag, no frantic connections - just a steady west-to-east rhythm over the rolling North Atlantic. With each passing day, the distractions of land faded, replaced by open horizons, fresh sea air, and the unhurried luxury of time. To sail is to transition.  Not just geographically, but emotionally and mentally, arriving in a new land restored. 

This voyage was not merely a means of getting to Europe. It was a deliberate passage, a meditative week suspended between continents, during which we leaned into the ship’s timeless rituals: afternoon tea, evening concerts, promenades beneath grey skies, and late-night stargazing from the decks. In a world that values fast arrivals, we discovered the gift of a slow crossing.

QM2 Transatlantic Itinerary and Blogs 

Moving on from the Trans Canada Trail

Slow Travel and Wandering in New Directions

Drawing the Line … Across the Atlantic

Planning, Preparing and Packing

About Queen Mary 2 : The World’s Last Ocean Liner

Toronto to New York : Amtrack and Subways

QM2 Day 1 : New York Embarkation on Queen Mary 2

QM2 Day 2 : Exploration, High Tea and Gala

QM2 Day 3 : Newfoundland, the North Atlantic and RMS Titanic

QM2 Day 4 : Looking Outward and Birding the Atlantic

QM2 Day 5 : Hiking the Maritime Trail

QM2 Day 6 : Art Deco, Murals and Masquerades

QM2 Day 7 : Departure Preparations and Farewells

QM2 Day 8 : Arrival in Southampton, UK

Reflections on Queen Mary 2 Eastbound Transatlantic Voyage

What’s Next?

Final Reflection

This journey aboard the Queen Mary 2 marked not only a physical passage from the New World to the Old, but also a moment of transition - a space of stillness, restoration, and anticipation before beginning the next chapter of our hikes in England and Scotland, as well as pilgrimage across Europe.

Our other Journeys

This journey, like so many others, is part of a much larger whole. From our 28,000 km hike across Canada on the Trans Canada Trail, to pilgrimages like the Camino Francés, Via Podiensis, and Via Augusta, and rail adventures aboard VIA Rail’s Canadian and Ocean trains, every journey deepens our connection to the land, the sea, and each other. The Queen Mary 2 crossing was another chapter in our ongoing exploration - a reminder that how we move through the world matters just as much as where we go.

See you on the Voyage!