Transatlantic cruise from Southampton: parking and prep

Transatlantic cruises from Southampton are dominated by one line and one ship: Cunard's Queen Mary 2. The QM2 sails the Southampton to New York route across the summer and the winter, taking 7 nights each way. This page covers the parking implications.

The QM2 transatlantic

Queen Mary 2 is the only purpose-built ocean liner currently sailing the transatlantic crossing as a scheduled service. The crossing takes 7 days from Southampton to New York and 7 days from New York to Southampton.

The customer base is mixed: a strong British contingent on outbound sailings, a strong American contingent on return sailings, and a year-round audience of seasoned cruisers and ocean-crossing enthusiasts.

Which terminal

QM2 sails from Mayflower Cruise Terminal at Berth 106. The terminal at the western end of the Western Docks is QM2's home berth.

Best service for a transatlantic cruise

For a one-way transatlantic, the parking choice depends on which leg you are on:

Sail out from Southampton. Standard Meet & Greet or Park & Ride booking. The car is with us for the cruise duration plus any extension if you are flying back from New York. The fly-cruise pattern is common.

Sail in to Southampton. The car is with us only for the return leg. Either service works.

For a return transatlantic (Southampton to New York and back), the booking is standard for the full duration.

The fly-cruise post covers the one-way patterns in detail.

What to pack for a transatlantic crossing

QM2 maintains traditional cruise patterns: formal nights, dress codes, multiple dining venues. The luggage volume is heavy.

Typical packing:

• Formal evening wear for the formal nights (typically 2 to 3 per crossing).
• Smart casual for informal evenings.
• Day clothing for ship activities (lectures, dance classes, deck strolls).
• A light jacket for the deck on cooler crossings.
• Warm clothing for winter crossings.

Most QM2 customers travel with more luggage than for a Mediterranean cruise.

Transatlantic check-in timing

Cunard opens check-in earlier than mass-market lines, often 9:00 am or 10:00 am for an afternoon sail-away. Cunard guests are assigned specific check-in windows.

For our handover slot, match it to your Cunard-assigned check-in time.

QM2 transatlantic season

The QM2 transatlantic runs roughly April to December. The winter period (typically January to March) is the ship's refit and dry-dock period; world cruise sailings happen in this window for Cunard's other ships.

Why a transatlantic crossing is different

For most cruise customers, a cruise is a holiday with port calls. The QM2 transatlantic is a transit: 7 days of ocean with no port stops. The on-board experience is the entire cruise.

The parking pattern is broadly similar to any other Cunard cruise, just with a one-way fly-cruise variant for many customers.

Booking

The quote returns the price for your QM2 booking. The booking flow handles fly-cruise patterns for one-way crossings.