A transatlantic cruise sounds either romantic or slightly terrifying, depending on who you ask. Weeks on a ship, days with nothing but ocean in every direction — is that a dream or a punishment?
We did it in November 2023: 17 days from Barcelona to Miami on MSC Seashore, $2,155 for two in an inside cabin. It was our first cruise ever — an ambitious choice, looking back — and it turned out to be one of the best trips we’ve taken. This isn’t a port guide or a ship review; we’ve written both separately. This is the answer to the question everyone asks us: was it actually worth it?
Quick Overview: The Decision at a Glance
| Notes | |
|---|---|
| Route | Barcelona → Canary Islands → Atlantic crossing → Caribbean → Miami |
| Duration | 17 days — 5 ports, 10 full sea days |
| Our cost | $2,155 for two, inside cabin, all meals included |
| Worth it if | You want genuine rest, love sea days, or want Europe + Caribbean in one trip |
| Not worth it if | You need constant stimulation, hate open water, or travel mainly for ports |
What 10 Days at Sea Actually Feels Like
This is the question that decides everything, so let’s answer it honestly: the sea days were our favourite part.
We kept Wi-Fi to a bare minimum — no social media, no news — and that changed the character of the trip completely. Mornings on deck with coffee. Afternoons at the water park or the gym with its floor-to-ceiling ocean views. Evenings at dinner, then a different show every night.
It sounds simple, and it was. That’s the point.
The MSC Seashore is big enough to carry a crossing — six consecutive Atlantic days never felt repetitive. If you want structure, the daily programme has trivia, workshops, and cooking demos. If you want to do nothing, nobody stops you.
Three Things the Crossing Taught Us
Rest needs time, not activities. A week’s holiday ends just as you start to unwind. Ten sea days is enough to finish a book, sleep properly, eat without hurrying, and arrive in Miami feeling like a different person than the one who boarded in Barcelona. No land-based trip has ever done that for us.
The inside cabin was the right bet — with one caveat. We saved roughly $1,000 versus a balcony and spent it ashore instead. On a sea-heavy itinerary you use the cabin almost only for sleeping. The one thing we missed: waking up with no idea what the ocean looked like. If the budget stretches, an ocean-view cabin — not necessarily a balcony — is the sensible middle ground.
Starting big works. This was our first cruise, and we chose one of the longest itineraries available. In hindsight, that was exactly right: by the time the Caribbean ports arrived, we knew the ship, the rhythm, and what we wanted from each stop. Five cruises later, we still think the crossing was the best introduction possible.
The Ports: A Bonus, Not the Point
The six stops split into a European goodbye and a Caribbean crescendo — the Canary Islands first, then Saint Martin, the British Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico before Miami. Each has its own guide on this site with everything we did and spent.
For the worth-it question, what matters is the ratio: five port days, ten at sea. If you’d resent that balance, no amount of Caribbean beach will fix the trip. This itinerary is about the crossing; the ports are the reward at the end of it.
The Value Question: What a Day Actually Costs
Here’s the calculation that convinced us — and still does:
| What you get | Transatlantic cruise | Comparable land trip |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation, 17 nights | Included | €70–150/night |
| All meals, every day | Included | €40–60/day pp |
| Entertainment every evening | Included | Extra |
| Transport between two continents | Included | €300+ flight pp |
| Cost per person per night | ~€59 | Realistically €150+ |
At $2,155 for two across 17 nights, the fare works out to roughly $63 per person per night — with all meals, the shows, the water park, and the small matter of crossing an ocean included. The extras — drinks, Wi-Fi, gratuities, excursions — add to that, but the base value is genuinely hard to match on land.
Who Should Book a Transatlantic Cruise
Book it if: you’re exhausted and want real rest; you’re curious whether sea days suit you (they probably suit you more than you think); you want Europe and the Caribbean without airports in between; or you’re a first-timer willing to start ambitious.
Skip it if: you travel primarily for destinations and see days at sea as dead time; you need constant novelty; or open water makes you genuinely anxious. Six consecutive Atlantic days is a real commitment — if you’d spend them frustrated, the ports won’t save the trip.
FAQ: Transatlantic Cruise Questions
How many sea days does a transatlantic cruise have?
Our Barcelona to Miami route had 10 full sea days out of 17, including six consecutive days crossing the Atlantic. Most transatlantic itineraries include at least 5–7 sea days in a row — that’s the defining feature of the trip.
Is a transatlantic cruise good for first-timers?
It’s ambitious, but yes — it was our first cruise. The long sea days help you settle into ship life properly, and by the Caribbean you know exactly what you want from each port. We’d choose it again as a first cruise.
How much does a transatlantic cruise cost?
We paid $2,155 for two people in an interior cabin on a 17-day MSC Seashore crossing from Barcelona to Miami — roughly $63 per person per night, including all meals, entertainment, and the water park. Prices vary by cabin type, season, and cruise line.
Is an inside cabin okay for a transatlantic cruise?
Manageable, yes — but worth thinking about carefully. The saving is real ($1,000 or more vs. a balcony), and you spend most of your time in the public areas of the ship anyway. The main downside is having no natural light and no way to check sea conditions from your room. An outside cabin is a good middle ground if the budget allows.
What is the best time of year for a transatlantic cruise?
October through December avoids peak Atlantic storm season and the worst Caribbean heat. MSC typically schedules this crossing in autumn. We sailed in November and had good weather throughout.
Do you need a visa for the Barcelona to Miami transatlantic cruise?
EU citizens need a valid ESTA to enter Puerto Rico and the US — around $21 when we applied, valid for two years, applied for online before departure. Non-EU passengers should check requirements for both Spain and the United States.
The Verdict
Yes — for the right traveller, a transatlantic cruise is one of the best-value, most restorative trips you can take. Seventeen days, two continents, ten days of ocean, and a version of yourself at the end of it that a normal holiday doesn’t produce.
Just be honest about the sea days before you book. They’re not the price you pay for the Caribbean. They’re the reason to go.