Repositioning cruises aren’t a new phenomenon, they are the best kept secret in the cruising industry. Just like migrating birds, many cruise ships move to warmer climates in the Autumn and then return in the Spring. Some head south for the winter months and then they sail back for the summer months. Other cruise ships sail across the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans to “reposition” in warmer weather. Just like most vacationers, these huge fleets of ships are seeking seasons in the sun.

These special one-way cruises are offered at incredible savings to attract new and seasoned cruise lovers alike. No cruise line ever wants to have the expense of moving a huge ship over hundreds or thousands of miles of ocean without having any paying cruise passengers onboard. This is an opportunity for vacationers to book a great luxury dream cruise for a bargain basement price.

A repositioning cruise is not just a stripped down version of a luxury cruise. It is a luxury cruise! All passengers enjoy the same meals, the same entertainment, and have the same onboard privileges. And your deeply discounted ticket, sometimes costing as low as fifty dollars per day, entitles you to everything that is usually included in a luxury cruise.

The main difference between a standard cruise when compared to a repositioning cruise is that the latter is longer, usually lasting from two to four weeks, with more time spent at sea and fewer, or possibly no ports of call. This will mean more peaceful, relaxing days at sea and a less hectic itinerary. And on certain repositioning cruises some ships will drop their anchors in very unique ports of call that are normally reserved for extremely expensive world cruise itineraries.

Usually these repositioning cruises happen in the months of September and October, and also in March and April. Some of the main destinations in the Winter are Hawaii, the Caribbean, Mexico, the Panama Canal, South America as well as Asia. The destinations in the Summer are Europe, Canada, Alaska, New England, and the Mediterranean.

Depending on which season, vacationers can sail to or from North America and Europe; Alaska and British Columbia, and the U.S. southwest coast including destinations in Mexico; the East coast of Canada and the northern United States, and a number of southern U.S. as well Caribbean destinations. Some of the repositioning cruises sail to and from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

There are a few important things that you should consider if you are planning to go on a repositioning cruise. First is booking an “open jaw” flight where you will fly to the departure port of call and then fly home from the cruise ship’s destination port. These air flights can be a little pricey compared to the usual return airfares that travelers are most familiar with. Sometimes it may be possible to book a flight through the cruise line, but not always. Even with the usual extra cost for an open jaw ticket over a regular airline return ticket, a repositioning cruise is still an exceptionable value for your travel dollar. However, if you are fortunate to live near by, or within driving distance of your departure port, then you would only need a one-way air flight back to your departure port and then drive back home.

When you book your flight it may be advisable to arrive at your departure port a day before you sail and stay overnight at a hotel. This will avoid any problem of unforeseen flight delays that can sometimes happen and leave you stranded on the pier waving goodbye to a cruise ship that has left without you.

If you think you would enjoy a long and relaxing luxury cruise then you will love a repositioning cruise which usually is not filled to capacity with passengers and spends more time at sea.

P.S. Don’t forget your camera and a wardrobe to reflect the possible weather conditions on your cruise.

Tags: Cruises

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