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A Brief Introduction to Repositioning Cruises
Like wealthy 19th-century travelers, cruise ships go where the nice weather is. They winter where it's warm and sunny, and then when the weather changes, they go someplace else that's warm and sunny.Cruises in which a ship leaves one region to begin the season in another region are called repositioning cruises. And in addition to being good cruise bargains, they also offer several other advantages.Many of the cities that cruise lines visit, particularly in Europe, are actually quite a ways from the port. It's a good hour from Civitavecchia to Rome. And Paris is a couple of hours from Calais. So port days can be exhausting. You're usually up and out early, and you don't return to the ship until late afternoon.By contrast, days at sea can be very relaxing. With no agenda, and no reason not to sleep in, you can take life easy and just enjoy the shipboard amenities. If your idea of a full travel days is reading a book, getting a massage, maybe attending an art auction, a repositioning cruise may be your cup of tea.Around May, ships that have been in the Caribbean or South America will transit the Panama Canal for Alaska, or cross the Atlantic to sail the Mediterranean or North Atlantic. Repositioning cruises can be a short as a week or as long as a month. They can have several ports at the beginning or end, or simply sail from A to B.Because of the lack of ports on most true repositioning cruises, they're less popular than other voyages. So they're often deeply discounted - as much as 60% off the normal per diem for that ship or cruise line.This year, occupancy has been so low that there are some cruises available for as little as $60 per person, per night. When you consider all that includes - transportation, lodging, meals, and entertainment - repositioning cruises are one of the great cruise bargains.To make the days at sea more interesting, many cruise lines have themes for their repositioning cruises or include seminars or cultural programs. Golfers, food and wine lovers, and music buffs will all find sailings that cater to their interests. Best of al, with fewer fellow passengers, you'll find it easier to get a chaise by the pool, or to get into the buffet line.Sometimes, repositioning cruises are the only way to visit an off-the-beaten path destination. Trans-Atlantic cruises often call at Madeira, the Canary Islands, and ports in Iceland and Greenland. If you've always dreamed of visiting Tonga or Samoa, a trans-Pacific is your best bet.You'll need an air ticket that flies into one city and returns from another, and these can be expensive. But many cruises lines can assist you with your reservations, and some cruise companies are including the airfare as part of the cruise package.If relaxing and stretching your travel budget are most important to you, you should look into repositioning cruises. These days, they're a great travel bargain.