Several cruise lines offer repositioning cruises which sail from one continent to another, allowing passengers who like to spend many days at sea the chance to relax and as this type of cruise doesn’t appeal to the masses the prices are normally very competitive.
Fly over to the States and discover Florida, Las Vegas and New York amongst other areas with a pre-cruise package. Then board your ship with plenty of elbow room and other amenities for the trip back home.
Repositioning cruises offer some of the best bargains as cruise lines are anxious to fill cabins for these necessary crossings; prices can be remarkably low. It is the best time to experience a suite at a price that would be normal for an inside cabin on other sailings.
Destinations that a ship may visit include Madeira Island, which is swarmed with floral wonders and contains one of a kind hiking trails known as levadas.
The Azores provides ample opportunity for whale watching and visits to pineapple plantations.
One or more of the Canary Islands located off the coast of Africa is another possibility and features a lush microclimate and a trekking opportunity amongst dormant volcanoes.
Other ports of call are Cadiz and Malaga in Spain and the famed city of Casablanca in Morocco, as well as the Caribbean and the upper Atlantic.
These types of cruises often contain a large number of days at sea. Most of the time, the number of days at sea ranges from six to seven, so if remaining dormant is not an option, make sure the right ship is booked that provides non stop activities.
A repositioning cruise allows you to relax onboard the ship and explore the amenities such as the casinos, live music and extravaganzas in the theatre nightly, as well as shopping at the ship’s boutiques. It is the perfect opportunity to dine in speciality restaurants. Obtaining that wellness treatment is the start of a healthy lifestyle and utilising the spa will help you to relax and remove all stress in no time.
Many cruise lines offer enrichment programs to expand your mind and knowledge even whilst you are away on holiday. Classes range from art history where you can for instance learn about the great Renaissance Masters to Western music, where you will learn about everything from Bach to Cole Porter and maybe even take some dance lessons too. There’s something for everyone to learn here and without the crowds as seen in the peak periods.
Any ship that is scheduled to spend the warmer months in Europe will be heading over in April.
Some repositioning cruises taking place in the next few weeks include:
• The Norwegian Epic 11-days sailing on April 25th departs from Miami to Barcelona.
• Royal Caribbean International’s Brilliance of the Seas 14-days sailing on April 30th departs Tampa (Florida’s west coast) for Harwich.
• Holland America Line’s MS Ryndam 15-days sailing on April 6th departs Ft. Lauderdale for Barcelona.
• The Celebrity Eclipse 13-days sailing on April 19th departs Ft. Lauderdale for Southampton.
• Princess Cruise’s Ruby Princess 14-days sailing on April 27th departs Ft. Lauderdale for Southampton.
• Royal Caribbean International’s Adventure of the Seas 14-days sailing on April 20th departs Miami for Southampton.
The time zones do often change but they are certainly not as stressful or disorientating as they are when flying!
Been on a repositioning cruise. Tell us What makes these cruises so different?
Written by Veronica Shine
