Cunard's flagship — the only true ocean liner still crossing the Atlantic — enters drydock March 31 to May 9, 2027 for a roughly six-week refit: 31 new staterooms (16 of them Princess Grill suites), refreshed Grills restaurants, and a major upgrade to Illuminations, the largest planetarium at sea. If a 2027 transatlantic crossing is on your list, note that spring window won't exist.

Atlantic season officially runs June through November, but the risk is far from evenly spread — and September is statistically the peak. Our month-by-month guide ranks the danger, flags which Caribbean and Gulf routes get hit hardest, and explains exactly what cruise lines do when a storm threatens your sailing.

How many tops, bottoms, swimsuits, and formal looks do you actually need for a week at sea? We put exact quantities to every category — with the reasoning, a mix-and-match plan, and a carry-on-only version for anyone skipping the checked bag.