Transoceanic Cruises: A Practical Guide to Ocean Crossings with Ponant and Silversea

What Is a Transoceanic Cruise and Who Offers Them

A transoceanic cruise is a point-to-point voyage across an ocean basin — most commonly the Atlantic, repositioning between Europe and the Americas, or across the Pacific between Asia and North America. Unlike loop itineraries, these crossings begin and end in different ports, making them a distinct category of ocean travel that rewards travellers who value extended days at sea as much as port calls. In our inventory, transoceanic departures are operated by 2 cruise lines: Ponant and Silversea. Together they account for 43 in-stock departures, spanning voyages of 3 to 25 nights. The most common itinerary length is 12 nights — long enough to settle into a sea-day rhythm while still anchoring the voyage around meaningful port calls. According to Silversea's destination editorial, ocean crossings "offer a type of travel experience you pretty much can't find anywhere but on a cruise ship," with numerous consecutive days at sea that are simply unavailable on any other mode of transport.

Ships, Capacities and What They Mean for Your Experience

Travellers considering ship size as a selection criterion will find a meaningful spread in our inventory. Ponant operates several expedition-style vessels on transoceanic routes: Le Bellot and Le Dumont d'Urville each carry 184 guests, while Le Soléal, Le Boréal, and Le Lyrial each accommodate 264 guests. Silversea's Silver Spirit, by contrast, carries 608 guests — a notably larger footprint that brings a broader range of onboard amenities, dining venues, and entertainment programming. The practical implication is straightforward. Travellers who prioritise a quieter, more intimate atmosphere and faster embarkation and disembarkation at port — particularly relevant when tender operations are involved — should lean toward Ponant's smaller vessels. Those who prefer a wider selection of restaurants, larger spa facilities, and more varied evening programming will find Silver Spirit's scale more suited to a long ocean passage. For a crossing of 12 nights or more, the difference in onboard life becomes significant: the ship is your world for the majority of the voyage.

Departure Ports, Itinerary Highlights and Seasonal Patterns

In our inventory, transoceanic departures embark from four ports: Lisbon, Dakar, Ushuaia, and Guam. Each embarkation point anchors a distinct routing. Lisbon and Dakar serve Atlantic crossings toward the Caribbean and South America; Ushuaia anchors southern hemisphere routings; Guam positions voyages for Pacific crossings. Along the way, itineraries touch a varied set of waypoints. Highlighted ports of call in our inventory include Funchal (Madeira), Fort-de-France (Martinique), Buenos Aires, Mindelo (Cape Verde), Bridgetown (Barbados), Walvis Bay (Namibia), and Cadiz — alongside stretches of International Waters that form the core of the crossing experience. According to Silversea's editorial on Madeira, Funchal offers a compelling autumn stopover for travellers connecting a European sojourn to an Atlantic passage. Departures are available across ten months of the year: January, February, March, April, May, August, September, October, November, and December. March is the busiest departure month in our inventory, reflecting the classic spring repositioning window when ships move from winter Caribbean seasons back toward European home ports. Travellers with flexibility should note that shoulder months such as October and November offer Atlantic crossings with fewer competing departures.

Pricing, Inclusions and the All-In Cost Picture

Transoceanic cruises in our inventory start from $1,000 for Ponant departures and from $4,000 for Silversea departures. Prices and availability are subject to change; final price confirmed at booking. The gap between the two lines reflects meaningful differences in the all-inclusive package. Silversea's model, according to its destination editorial content, is structured around a highly inclusive fare — covering accommodation, dining across multiple venues, beverages, and gratuities within the quoted price. Ponant similarly bundles a significant share of onboard costs into its fare. Travellers should confirm exactly which elements — shore excursions, premium beverages, spa treatments, and pre- or post-cruise hotel nights — are included versus charged separately, as these can materially affect the total cost of a crossing that spans 12 or more nights. For a voyage of 25 nights, even modest daily discretionary spending accumulates. Travellers considering the longer end of the 3 to 25 night range should budget accordingly and request a full inclusions breakdown at the time of enquiry. It is also worth noting that in our current inventory, departures with at least one cabin available at no single supplement stand at zero — solo travellers should factor a single supplement into their cost planning.

Physical Demands and Suitability for Different Travellers

Transoceanic crossings are among the least physically demanding cruise formats available. The majority of days are spent at sea, meaning there are no mandatory shore excursions, no tender operations, and no requirement to walk significant distances. According to Silversea's editorial on ocean crossings, travellers "can be as busy or as languid as you like" — the rhythm of a crossing is self-directed in a way that port-intensive itineraries are not. That said, travellers with motion sensitivity should assess the specific routing and season carefully. Atlantic crossings in the autumn and winter months can encounter significant swell, particularly in the open ocean between the Canary Islands and the Caribbean. Crossings departing from Ushuaia traverse southern ocean waters that carry a different sea-state profile from the mid-Atlantic. Travellers who have not previously experienced extended sea days should consider a shorter departure — the 3 to 12 night range in our inventory — before committing to a 25-night passage. Consulting with a specialist before selecting a departure month and routing is advisable for anyone with concerns about sea conditions.

How to Choose: A Decision Framework by Voyage Length and Departure Month

Travellers considering a transoceanic voyage face three primary decisions: cruise line, voyage length, and departure month. Here is a structured way to approach each. **Cruise line:** Choose Ponant (Le Bellot, Le Dumont d'Urville at 184 guests; Le Soléal, Le Boréal, Le Lyrial at 264 guests) if an intimate, expedition-led atmosphere and naturalist-guided programming are priorities. Choose Silversea (Silver Spirit at 608 guests) if a broader onboard amenity set and a more formal luxury service model are preferred. Starting prices differ substantially — from $1,000 for Ponant versus from $4,000 for Silversea — so the budget envelope will often determine the shortlist. Prices and availability are subject to change; final price confirmed at booking. **Voyage length:** The most common length in our inventory is 12 nights, which represents a practical balance between meaningful sea-day immersion and itinerary coverage. Travellers new to crossings should start here. Those seeking a deeper passage experience — more consecutive sea days, a greater sense of oceanic scale — should look at departures toward the 25-night end of the range. Shorter departures of 3 to 5 nights suit travellers repositioning between regions rather than seeking a full crossing experience. **Departure month:** March offers the highest volume of departures in our inventory, giving the widest choice of ships and itineraries. January and February departures suit travellers targeting the mid-winter Atlantic repositioning window. October and November departures — touching ports such as Funchal and Cadiz — suit those combining a European autumn with an Atlantic passage. August and September departures are available for travellers with summer flexibility, though volume is lower than the spring peak.

Key Facts at a Glance

For travellers who want a quick reference before enquiring, here is a summary of what our inventory shows for transoceanic cruises: — Cruise lines in inventory: Ponant and Silversea (2 lines total) — Total in-stock departures: 43 — Voyage length range: 3 to 25 nights; most common length is 12 nights — Busiest departure month: March — Active departure months: January, February, March, April, May, August, September, October, November, December — Embarkation ports: Lisbon, Dakar, Ushuaia, Guam — Itinerary highlights: International Waters, Funchal, Fort-de-France, Buenos Aires, Mindelo, Bridgetown, Walvis Bay, Cadiz — Ships and guest capacities: Le Bellot (184), Le Dumont d'Urville (184), Le Soléal (264), Le Boréal (264), Le Lyrial (264), Silver Spirit (608) — Starting price: Ponant from $1,000; Silversea from $4,000 — Cabins with no single supplement: none currently available in inventory Prices and availability are subject to change; final price confirmed at booking.

Ready to plan your an ocean crossing voyage?

Browse live departures or ask our concierge — whichever you prefer.

Explore an ocean crossing voyages Ask Gvoya AI

Inventory data on this page last updated 2026-10-23.

See live market data for an ocean crossing →