Best time to cruise · No regular sailings
Transatlantic cruises in January
January is the quietest month for crossings, since most ships are in the Caribbean or on world voyages and winter gales make the North Atlantic at its roughest. In some years Queen Mary 2 spends the early months on a long voyage away from the Atlantic. If you want an off-season crossing, check Cunard’s calendar; otherwise use the month to reserve a spring repositioning cabin.
- No regular sailings
- Avg high 59°F
- 10 hrs daylight
Photo: Oceanhistory46, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Transatlantic in January: No regular sailings
January is the quietest month for crossings, since most ships are in the Caribbean or on world voyages and winter gales make the North Atlantic at its roughest. In some years Queen Mary 2 spends the early months on a long voyage away from the Atlantic. If you want an off-season crossing, check Cunard’s calendar; otherwise use the month to reserve a spring repositioning cabin.
Across Transatlantic cruise ports, January brings average highs around 59°F (15°C) and lows near 52°F, with about 2.8 inches of rain over the month and roughly 10 hours of daylight.
- Verdict
- No regular sailings
- Season
- Repositioning March to May and October to December; Queen Mary 2 crossings for much of the year.
- Average high / low
- 59°F / 52°F
- Rainfall (month)
- 2.8 in
- Daylight
- About 10 hours
- Typical cruise length
- 7 nights on Queen Mary 2; 12 to 16 nights for repositioning voyages
How January compares with the rest of the year
- Jan: No regular sailings
- Feb: No regular sailings
- Mar: Good time to go
- Apr: Best time to go
- May: Best time to go
- Jun: Good time to go
- Jul: Good time to go
- Aug: Good time to go
- Sep: Good time to go
- Oct: Best time to go
- Nov: Best time to go
- Dec: Shoulder season
- No regular sailings
- Shoulder season
- Good time to go
- Best time to go
Transatlantic weather in January
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F (°C) | 5915 | 6015 | 6217 | 6519 | 7021 | 7524 | 7926 | 7926 | 7625 | 7122 | 6519 | 6116 |
| Low °F (°C) | 5211 | 5211 | 5412 | 5714 | 6116 | 6619 | 7021 | 7122 | 6820 | 6418 | 5815 | 5513 |
| Rain in (mm) | 2.872 | 2.462 | 2.564 | 2.563 | 2.769 | 2.974 | 2.358 | 2.770 | 3.487 | 3.793 | 3.282 | 3.179 |
| Daylight (hrs) | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 |
January weather port by port
| Port | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southampton (London) | 46°F | 37°F | 3.2 in | 8 h |
| New York City | 38°F | 24°F | 4.1 in | 10 h |
| Fort Lauderdale | 74°F | 68°F | 2.3 in | 11 h |
| Barcelona | 59°F | 43°F | 1.5 in | 10 h |
| Ponta Delgada, Azores | 62°F | 60°F | 2.6 in | 10 h |
| Funchal, Madeira | 66°F | 62°F | 1.3 in | 10 h |
| Tenerife | 68°F | 64°F | 0.8 in | 11 h |
| Lisbon | 59°F | 53°F | 2.0 in | 10 h |
| Reykjavík | 35°F | 28°F | 6.5 in | 5 h |
| Miami | 74°F | 68°F | 2.3 in | 11 h |
| Rome | 56°F | 48°F | 2.9 in | 9 h |
| King's Wharf (Royal Naval Dockyard) | 69°F | 65°F | 4.6 in | 10 h |
Average daily highs and lows, 2015–2024, from NASA POWER, adjusted to sea level. Rain is the average monthly total.
Other great cruise destinations in January
- Caribbean in January
- Eastern Caribbean in January
- Western Caribbean in January
- Southern Caribbean in January
- Hawaii in January
- Mexican Riviera & Baja in January
- Panama Canal & Central America in January
- South America in January
- Galápagos Islands in January
- Canary Islands & Atlantic Isles in January
See every destination for January, with a port weather map →
Transatlantic in January: FAQs
Is January a good time to cruise Transatlantic?
Generally not: there are few or no regular sailings. January is the quietest month for crossings, since most ships are in the Caribbean or on world voyages and winter gales make the North Atlantic at its roughest. In some years Queen Mary 2 spends the early months on a long voyage away from the Atlantic. If you want an off-season crossing, check Cunard’s calendar; otherwise use the month to reserve a spring repositioning cabin.
What is the weather like on a Transatlantic cruise in January?
Across Transatlantic cruise ports, January brings average highs around 59°F (15°C) and lows near 52°F, with about 2.8 inches of rain over the month and roughly 10 hours of daylight. Conditions vary from port to port and day to day.
When is the best time to cruise Transatlantic?
Repositioning March to May and October to December; Queen Mary 2 crossings for much of the year.. The best months are usually April, May, October, November.
Where else can I cruise in January?
January is also a top month for Caribbean, Eastern Caribbean, Western Caribbean, Southern Caribbean, Hawaii.
Updated November 2026 by the BookMyDreamCruise editorial team. How we research and fact-check.
Sources: NASA POWER climate data.