I have always suggested that, for those worried about the weather during an Atlantic crossing, especially during the winter months, the best choice would be the last of the true ocean liners in service today, the Cunard line’s Queen Mary II...

I was on the maiden voyage, which was a hoot. (paid for it with a lucky outcome on some Vivendi put options, as I recall...) I was most amazed at how each drinking establishment on board had a different reputation within an hour or two of setting sail.

There is quite a snobbery to ocean liner fans versus cruisers. For one thing, people forget that they are actual vehicles. My wife and I emigrated across the Atlantic on the QE2, the "right" way to do it as I see it. You meet a lot of people who are small business owners where the person or their spouse doesn't like to fly.

But mainly, it's the snobbery of that deep keel and lots of steel. Never cross the Atlantic in a cruise ship "relocation cruise". One rogue wave will ruin your whole day. Blew out 150 windows on one "barge" style cruise ship.

To your comment about their military utility: they do have quite the capacity. Churchill noted that the Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth, the forerunner ships which were requisitioned, shortened the war by at least a year. Despite the Queen Mary being a badly designed ship--it would roll to 40 degrees in rough weather, famously smashing its grand piano to smithereens.

Jim

PS
Speaking of snobbery, it's the Queen Mary 2, not the Queen Mary II : )
The first one indicates the second ship of the name Queen Mary, the second one denotes the second queen named Mary.