Why Should I Go On A Repositioning Cruise
Repositioning cruises are longer than average because most of these journeys are spent crossing the worlds oceans and waterways. They will make fewer stops in order to cover great distances. However, the ports of call are special because average cruises rarely visit them.
You can use these numerous sea days to relax, unwind, and appreciate the stunning sea views around you. Or you can take advantage of the ships many amenities, including the spa, sports facilities, dining and bar options, theatres, and other entertainment opportunities.
Repositioning cruises also generally cost less than an average cruise. Because the ports of embarkment and disembarkment are different, you would normally have to factor in pre- and post-cruise travel costs. However, thanks to Cruise1sts amazing packaged cruise deals, airfare and accommodations are already included!
How To Score Repositioning Cruise Deals
More often than not, a repositioning cruise is a good deal because it costs much less per night than a typical sailing. This is because the one-way, sea day-heavy itineraries are less desirable to the majority of cruisers and they take place during slower travel seasons.
Take, for example, Celebrity Beyond, one of Celebrity Cruises newest ships, launching in April 2022. Its 12-night sailing to Italy, Turkey and Greece during high season starts at $2,999. Compare that to its 12-night Spain, France and Canary Islands transatlantic repositioning cruise , which starts at $1,299 a whopping $1,700 less.
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Travelers who live near the embarkation or debarkation ports can save even more by only having to buy a one-way plane ticket rather than a full round trip.
Repositioning cruises can be tricky to find on booking sites. They may be referred to as repositioning cruises or transatlantic or transpacific cruises. When ships reposition between ports in the U.S. and Canada, the one-off, one-way itineraries might not be labeled anything special beyond Caribbean or Pacific Coast cruises.
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Repositioning 2022 / 2023 / 2024 Cruises
Options removed due to no results:Search:
Cruise and Stay
These include several nights stay in a hotel or a land tour before or after your cruise.
Fly Cruise
These cruises require a flight. On some of these cruises you have the option to book just the cruise only.
No Fly Cruise
No Fly Cruises start and end in the UK. No flights are needed.
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How To Book A Repositioning Cruise
Enter the search term Repositioning cruises into any online search and youll find a huge choice of Transatlantic and Repositioning cruises.
Alternatively, if you have a preferred cruise line or belong to a cruise loyalty program with benefits, go directly onto your cruise line website.
When prompted to enter a destination in your cruise search, you will find a section dedicated to Transatlantic/Repositioning Cruises.
Follow our guidelines regarding the route and take your pick of the bargains!
What are your thoughts about Transatlantic cruises? Do you have any questions or anything cool still to add on? We love to discuss travel so go ahead and fire away, there are no wrong comments!
If you are new to cruising you might also want to take a look at these tips on making your first cruise awesome.
Also, please let us know how your trip went and what was the most exciting part about it.
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More Disadvantages Of Repositioning Cruises
- Fewer sailings to choose from. While turnaround cruises go back and forth, thus offering many sail dates, each repositioning cruise schedule happens only once per year per ship. And they are typically off-season.
- More days at sea often means more spending at sea. If you gamble, play bingo, drink without purchasing a drink card, indulge in fancy coffee, eat in speciality restaurants, spend time in the spa, or attend and shop at art auctions, more time onboard can equal more spending. For us, we tend to spend more money onshore, so we find sea days to be less expensive.
- People with certain medical conditions might not want to be away from a shore for so long.
- Weight gain from too many days at sea. Really, this one is on you.
- Environmental responsibility. Today, many cruise lines have made vast improvements in this area.
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Reasons To Choose A Repositioning Cruise:
1. Days at Sea:
A repositioning cruise will almost always feature several sea days. Therefore, its a style of cruising that is perfectly suited to those who love being out in the open water. These sea days also provide guests with plenty of time to enjoy a ships facilities.
2. Varied itineraries:
Traditionally, repositioning cruises operate from one port to another without stopping. However, it is now far more common to find repositioning cruise itineraries punctuated with ports of call throughout the sailing to break-up the multitude of sea days.
As a repositioning cruise will cross a vast stretch of ocean to get to the next region, the ports of call on an itinerary will be slightly off-beat and a little more exotic than you might have encountered on previous voyages.
3. Cost:
As cruise lines operate repositioning cruises out of necessity, you will often find that they are available for a much lower per-day rate compared to standard mid-season fares. Booking a repositioning cruise is, therefore, a great idea if you are seeking a cruise holiday especially one with a luxury cruise line but are working to a tight budget.
Best Repositioning Cruises 2022 & 2023 Sail All Inclusive From Only 62 A Day
Repositioning cruises present a unique opportunity to cruise across the transatlantic enjoying two worlds while making the most of some banging deals.
Transatlantic repositioning cruises take place at various points throughout the year as cruise lines shift their ship depending on the season.
Many ships generally pass the winter in the Caribbean, for instance, offering cruises around the tropical islands, and then spend the spring and summer in the Mediterranean calling at Europes countless hotspots.
As Jo Rzymowska, Vice President and Managing Director of Celebrity Cruises, explained: In the late autumn, our transatlantic cruises sail from Europe to North America, whilst in the early spring, they depart from the United States and head back across the Atlantic.
Both offer a wealth of stunning destinations to explore from the sun-soaked Mediterranean, the Azores and Canary Islands, majestic Iceland and Greenland and the exotic Caribbean. The itinerary travellers choose will depend on what sort of holiday theyre looking for.
These repositioning cruises tend to be cheaper than other sailings as they include more days at sea but this doesnt need to be seen as a negative thing. According to travel agent Bolsover Cruises Club: Repositioning cruises are usually great value and more for those that love lazing away on sea days.
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Where To Book Repositioning Cruises
If you are an avid cruiser with priority status on one or more of the major cruise lines, you can simply search that lines website for itineraries that suit your needs. However, if you want a repositioning cruise that works for your schedule or destination preference then youll need a more general search site to find one.
We used Cruise Direct to source our repositioning cruise.
They provided excellent customer service and even offered us cruise credit just for booking with them. Their offers and discounts do change, so this might not be available when you book.
Cruise Direct even helped us track open rooms on the ship in a better area. Thats how we upgraded from an interior cabin to an oceanview one. I also liked that we could pay it in stages rather than the entire thing all upfront. Plus, if we had been more flexible on our destination or timing we could have easily booked a last-minute deal!
Scenes That Inspired 1000 Paintings
Endless possibilities are what the coasts of France, Spain and Portugal have always been about. Generations of painting greats from Van Gogh to Picasso have found inspiration from the crystalline coasts of the French Riviera, to the craggy mountaintops of the Canary Islands. Of course, the best European cruises also dock in timeless cities like Barcelona, Cherbourg, Lisbon and beyond.
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What To Expect On Sea Days
Transatlantic and Repositioning Cruises do a wonderful job of adding new experiences and enrichment lectures to keep everyone busy on sea days.
You may find a renowned sports personality, naturalist, celebrity chef, travel writer or lecturer who will give a series of talks or presentations on sea days.
Topics can range from travel to nature, stargazing, Reiki, art appreciation, learning to write a novel, beauty and wellness and more.
Activities following popular games shows are also organized, often using the ships staff.
Programs such as Masterchef are replicated with daily cookery sessions by volunteer cruisers and staff all competing for the coveted Masterchef at Sea Apron or whatever.
They are given a set of surprise ingredients and 30 minutes to make something edible for the judges to sample.
The audience votes on who will be eliminated from the following days round.
Youll find dance classes, bridge classes, cookery demos, casino classes, crafts, art auctions, informative jewelry and watch lectures, wine tasting, quizzes, book reviews, team games, stargazing and other entertainment to keep you hopping from one event to the next every day.
Being part of a daily program makes it easy to meet fellow cruisers with similar interests and make new friends.
Transatlantic And Repositioning Cruise Highlights
Days at SeaThere is never enough time to relax. Slowly, take a breath and enjoy the surroundings and the people around you. That is what transatlantic cruising is about. Its a unique experience that will create incredible memories for years to come.
Enrichment ProgramsFive or six days at sea and what is there to do? A transatlantic or repositioning cruise is filled with a variety of different learning and entertainment opportunities. Many ships offer language lessons, computer classes, lectures on art, history and a number of other subjects.
Luxurious SpasYou can relax and rejuvenate in the spa during your days at sea. Pamper yourself with a facial or sooth your muscles with one of the many massages that are offered. Steam in the thermal suite and enjoy a relaxing manicure or pedicure.
Fine DiningOne great way to take advantage of sea days is to enjoy all of the exquisite dining options and specialty restaurants that ships now offer. You can dine al fresco, sample foods in the casual restaurants or enjoy a fine steak, gourmet French meal or Italian inspired cuisine in one of the many restaurants on board.
Special Cruise Offers
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Where And When Do Repositioning Cruises Take Place
The good news is you can book a repositioning cruise nearly six months out of the year, spanning mid-spring and mid-fall months, which are the cruise lines shoulder seasons.
Because repositioning cruises are not all tied to the same destination, this only widens your options in terms of geography. To envision where these will sail and when, you need to know a destinations cruise season.
Take Europe as an example. The majority of Mediterranean and Baltic sailings take place in the spring through the early fall. The Europe-based ships flee the region during the winter, spending November through March in the warm Caribbean. Therefore, a ship will need to travel from the Caribbean to Europe in spring and return to the Caribbean by fall. Look for transatlantic repositioning cruises during those changeover months.
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Some ships stay in the Caribbean year-round and only reposition when the cruise line chooses to move them to a different home port. However, ships sailing short seasons in Alaska, South America, Canada/New England and Europe will always be repositioning at least twice a year.
Top 7 Repositioning Cruises
Repositioning cruises are a great option for those looking to get away from it all, visit unique destinations, and spend less than most typical cruises.
Begin your journey in one port and end it in another, giving you the adventure of a lifetime.
While aboard your cruise ship, you will be able to take advantage of numerous amenities as you travel along wide regions of the world, relaxing and enjoying the ocean waters.
Unwind and breathe easy as you create unforgettable memories with unique destinations, scenic views, fun-filled days, and luxurious surroundings.
Whether you are looking for a family vacation that is anything but ordinary, a romantic excursion, or simply trying to get away from it all and relax, one of these cruises will bring you experiences youll never find again.
Below, you will find a list of the best repositioning cruises from around the world.
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Transatlantic Cruises From Florida
Transatlantic cruises out of Florida go to destinations all over Europe. They depart from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Port Canaveral or Tampa, and are on several cruise lines.
The end destination ports for Transatlantic cruises from Florida include Rome, Barcelona, Lisbon, Southampton, Dublin, Copenhagen, Rotterdam and Amsterdam. So you can sail to the Mediterranean or Northern Europe.
The cruises are about two weeks long and stop at Atlantic islands in route. On days at sea youll enjoy live entertainment, sports, food and relaxing.
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Learn From Our Guests Ask & Answer
Even the most seasoned travellers have questions. With Ask & Answer, you dont have to go far to get those questions answered. The bonus the questions and answers come from fellow cruisers!
Learn about the latest ships and destinations by browsing hundreds of questions posted by real cruisers. If you happen not to find what youre looking for, you can even post a question of your own.
Real questions. Real answers. All from real cruisers.
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Advantages Of A Repositioning Cruise
- Lower cost. And not just a little lower, the average daily cost of a typical repositioning cruise is less than half of a turnaround cruise.
- Generally, repositioning cruises are less crowded. As they often sail below capacity, there are fewer passengers. However, the staff size is the same, resulting in a higher staff to passenger ratio, and the illusion of better service.
- Only have to unpack once. This is an advantage of all cruising.
- Exotic ports of call. Tahiti, Moorea, Kauai, Aruba, Cartegena, American Samoa, and Puntarenas Costa Rica are amongst the more exotic ports we have visited on repositioning cruises.
- Longer-term onboard activities and lessons. On the Golden Princess, we took daily lessons and learned to play the ukulele. On other repositioning cruises, we have taken lessons in watercolour painting, ballroom and tango dancing, portrait photography, and more.
- Better enrichment and lecture series. Topics we have enjoyed include blogging, stargazing, and nature, including local birdlife.
- More laid-back atmosphere. While we love port days, back-to-back, day after day, they become exhausting, whereas several consecutive days at sea can be quite relaxing.
Repositioning Cruise Examples Benefits Disadvantages
- Passenger ships sailing during the hot summer in Alaska relocate in the Fall to the Caribbean Sea region through Panama Canal, or to Hawaii and then to Australia or Asia for their winter seasons.
- Ships from Northern Europe sail to the Mediterranean Sea or across the Atlantic Ocean to operate roundtrip itineraries leaving from USA ports or to the Caribbean for round-trips from Barbados or Puerto Rico.
- Ships move from South America to Florida or Transatlantic to Europe in early Spring.
- Search for ships sailing along Africas east coast. In the Fall they will be departing from UK to South Africa . In spring they will return to the UK or the Mediterranean. Such sailings are offered mainly by MSC and luxury ships.
Benefits
Disadvantages
- Too much time aboard the ship instead of visiting different ports of call . Some find it pretty boring.
- Embarkation and disembarkation not in the same port increase the expenses as to additional flight fares added to the cruise ticket price.
- Spending a lot of time aboard the ship might tempt you to enjoy more money spending fun by splurging on bar drinks and gambling in the casino.
- The duration of relocation cruises some last up to 18 days, and most people cannot afford so much time off work.
- You may experience an occasional bumpy ride due to rough waters , and often choppy weather as your ship transits from one part of the globe to another. The changing weather issue will also have an impact on your packing list.
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Why Go On A Repositioning Cruise
The best reason to book a repositioning cruise is to not only be on a certain ship, but enjoy extra sea days and even unique ports of call.
Many repositioning cruises involve an ocean crossing, where the ship moves from one region to another. This means many days at sea, and ample opportunity to see and experience everything onboard. Moreover, it is a great way to get to know the crew members since your sailing is more than just a few days.
In order to drum up demand for repositioning sailings, Royal Caribbean often includes special port visits that are not regularly offered. This may mean a visit to a port not usually visited by Royal Caribbean, or a combination of ports on either end of the crossing.
On top of all of these reasons, repositioning cruises tend to be priced pretty favorably, with per-night costs substantially below other sailings.
What To Expect On A Transatlantic Cruise
Only one cruise line makes regularly scheduled voyages across the Atlantic Ocean Cunard and its ships depart from New York rather than from Miami. The other transatlantic cruises are repositioning cruises out of Miami. Cruise ships tend to spend winters in the warm Caribbean and summers in the Mediterranean. In spring and fall the ships need to move from one sea to the other, which means that ride-along passengers take advantage of lower daily rates and a relaxing vacation they might not be able to get with the traditional cruise temptation of a new port every morning.
Passengers on long cruises often find themselves taking advantage of onboard spas and gym sessions. They catch up on books and sleep, reconnect with their partners and find it easy to take in more onboard entertainment. Choose your cruise based not simply on the ports it visits and where it ends, but on the kind of shipboard activities you want to experience.
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