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 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, slowly day by day.
This blog series recounts life at sea between continents - including elegant formal dinners, fog-shrouded mornings on the promenade deck, afternoons enjoying high tea or reading books, and the gentle solitude that only comes when land and our screens are 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 Queen Mary 2, we fully 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 luxury of time. To voyage in this way 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 choice and passage; in a world that values fast arrivals, we discovered the gift of
a slow crossing.
QM2 Transatlantic Itinerary and Blogs
Slow Travel and The Value of the Journey
Setting Out: The Journey to New York
New York Embarkation: Transatlantic Voyage on Queen Mary 2
QM2 Day 2: High Tea and the Red and Gold Gala
QM2 Day 3: Newfoundland, the North Atlantic and Titanic
QM2 Day 4: Looking Outward, Birding the Atlantic
QM2 Day 5: Mid-Atlantic and Hiking Maritime Quest
QM2 Day 6: Art Deco, Murals and Masquerades
QM2 Day 7: Departure Preparations and Farewells
QM2 Day 8: Queen Mary 2 Arrives in Southampton, UK
Reflecting on an Eastbound Transatlantic Voyage on Queen Mary 2
Nature on Board: Crossing the Atlantic on Queen Mary 2
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.
Continuing Our Journeys by Trail and Sea
Crossing the Atlantic aboard Queen Mary 2 was the beginning of a much larger journey, one that would take us from the open ocean to some of Britain's most remarkable walking trails. After seven days at sea, arriving in Southampton marked a transition from the rhythms of shipboard life to the very different experiences awaiting us on land. We had chosen to cross the ocean slowly, and we intended to continue exploring Britain in much the same way.
Our first major adventure after arriving in England was Wainwright's Coast to Coast, a roughly 300-kilometre walk from St. Bees on the Irish Sea to Robin Hood's Bay on the North Sea. Following the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales, and North York Moors, we discovered a landscape of mountains, moorlands, historic villages, and challenging pathways. That trek became the beginning of several weeks of walking through England and Scotland, including further long-distance trails that would eventually carry us north into the Scottish Highlands.
After completing our British walking adventures, we returned to Southampton for our westbound transatlantic crossing aboard Queen Mary 2. The return voyage provided an opportunity to rest after weeks of hiking, revisit the traditions and routines of life aboard an ocean liner, and reflect on the experiences we had accumulated between the two crossings. Travelling east and west across the same ocean, with an extended journey on foot between them, offered a distinctive way of connecting continents.
Our enjoyment of ocean travel also encouraged us to return to Queen Mary 2 for other adventures, including our 2026 Solar Eclipse voyage through Norway and Iceland. Although that journey included visits to ports and the anticipation of a celestial event, it continued our exploration of the natural world, life at sea, and the different experiences made possible by travelling slowly.
These journeys are part of our wider collection of long-distance hikes, pilgrimages, railway adventures, and ocean voyages. Whether crossing a continent on foot or an ocean aboard a ship, we continue to discover that the journey itself often matters as much as the destination. Readers interested in following our other adventures can explore the Come Walk With Us travel collection.
See you on the voyage!
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