Transatlantic Crossing Cost From Canada: A Realistic Budget

Updated 25 October 2026 · 4 min read · Cruise Questions Canada editorial team

A transatlantic crossing usually costs a Canadian couple C$5,000–10,000 for a repositioning voyage, or C$7,000–14,000 on the Queen Mary 2. Those figures cover the crossing itself, with flights, gratuities and onboard spending. The European holiday that usually follows is a separate budget.

Two kinds of crossing, two very different bills

Fares are at recent prices and vary by season and promotion. Cunard's Queen Mary 2 is the only ship running a regular scheduled liner service across the Atlantic, with formal evenings, a planetarium and a strong tradition. Repositioning crossings are mainstream ships moving between the Caribbean and European seasons, priced to fill.

Budgeting a repositioning crossing

For a Toronto couple on a 14-night Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona sailing in an inside cabin:

• Fare with taxes: about C$1,900–3,850
• Flight to Florida: C$300–700 for two
• One-way flight home from Europe: C$1,200–2,400 for two
• Hotel in Florida the night before: C$250–400
• Gratuities for 14 nights: about C$615–770
• Drinks: C$300–800
• Port excursions: C$200–600
• Travel insurance: C$300–700

That lands between roughly C$5,000 and C$10,000, before any time in Europe. Lighter drinkers who walk the ports themselves will sit near the bottom.

Budgeting a Queen Mary 2 crossing

New York to Southampton takes about seven nights. A Montreal couple might fly to New York, spend a night there, sail, then fly home from London. New York hotels are expensive, often C$350–600 a night, and the one-way flight home from London is the second-biggest cost after the fare. Gratuities for a week are about C$300–350.

Why one-way flights cost more than you'd expect

A one-way ticket from Europe to Canada is sometimes priced close to a return. Try these in order:

1. Search a multi-city ticket with the same airline, for example Toronto to Fort Lauderdale and Barcelona to Toronto.
2. Compare that with a separate one-way on a carrier with genuine one-way pricing.
3. Check whether the cruise line's air program offers a reasonable one-way fare, as discussed in cruise line air vs booking your own flights.
4. Allow at least a night in the arrival city before flying home, in case disembarkation runs late.

Building the Europe half

Most crossings turn into a crossing-plus-Europe holiday. Sail over, spend a week or two on land, and fly home. Priced that way, a two-week crossing and a week in Europe for a couple typically lands around C$8,000–15,000 all-in, with the land portion often the bigger share once hotels, trains and meals are added. The Mediterranean cruise budget gives a sense of European costs ashore.

Who each crossing suits

Repositioning crossings suit budget-minded retirees, sea-day lovers and anyone combining a cruise with a long European trip. The Queen Mary 2 suits travellers who want the liner tradition, dress-up evenings and a shorter, port-free voyage. Read what a transatlantic crossing is like before booking, since a week of ocean is not for everyone, and see repositioning cruises explained for the wider picture.

Pricing your crossing

Start with your preferred season and direction, then price the crossing and both flights together. A crossing that looks cheap can become expensive if the flight home is booked late.

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