Can't get to Europe by plane? There's always a cruise ship.

Ash from an erupting volcano in Iceland has grounded nearly every flight from the USA to the UK over the past two days, stranding thousands of travelers. But not everyone bound for the UK has seen their plans dashed by the eruption.

For some, in fact, it's been smooth sailing. Literally.

We're talking, of course, about the thousands of travelers heading to the UK today on Cunard's Queen Mary 2, which set sail late Thursday as scheduled from New York to Southampton, England. The five-year-old ocean liner, which stands alone in offering semi-regular service across the Atlantic, has been unaffected by the ash cloud.

Also unaffected are more than a dozen other North American-based cruise ships that are in the midst of setting sail on "repositioning cruises" to the UK and the rest of Europe for the summer season, carrying thousands more one-way to the region.

Norwegian Cruise Line's 2,394-passenger Norwegian Gem, for instance, is midway across the Atlantic today on its way from New York to Venice. Call it a throwback to an earlier time, but passenger ships once again, however briefly, find themselves kings of the Atlantic.

Worried that continued eruptions from the volcano, Eyjafjallajokull (ay-yah-FYAH'-plah-yer-kuh-duhl), could cause continuing flight cancellations in the days and weeks ahead, derailing your upcoming travel plans (some scientists are saying the eruption could last for months)? The good news is there's still room available on some of the vessels scheduled to sail for Europe in April and May.

Among ships heading to the Continent in coming days from the USA are Silversea Cruises' Silver Spirit, which departs New York for Southampton on April 23; Princess Cruises' Star Princess, sailing from Ft. Lauderdale to Copenhagen on April 24; and the Norwegian Sun, leaving Miami for Dover, England on April 26.

Ships repositioning from the USA to Europe in early May include Royal Caribbean's Adventure of the Seas and Jewel of the Seas; the Crown Princess; and Regent Seven Seas' Voyager.

4/16/2010 3:17:00 PM from USA TODAY