A repositioning cruise is a one-way cruise that occurs when a cruise line moves its ships from one region to another. This typically happens seasonally, as cruise companies relocate their vessels to different destinations that offer more favourable weather or tourism opportunities. For example, cruise lines often move ships from Europe or Alaska to the Caribbean or South America when winter approaches, and vice versa in the spring.
Ready to look at the cruises already? Here are some of my favourite places to browse.
| Company | Link |
| Vacations To Go | Repositioning Cruises |
| Costa Cruises | Transoceanic Cruises |
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Why Do Cruise Lines Reposition Their Ships?
Ships need to follow the seasonal demand for cruises, ensuring they operate in regions with ideal conditions for vacationers. Here are a few examples of common repositioning routes:
- Transatlantic Repositioning Cruises: These move ships between Europe and the Americas, often in the fall and spring.
- Panama Canal Repositioning Cruises: Ships might travel through the Panama Canal to relocate between the West Coast and the Caribbean or vice versa.
- Transpacific Repositioning Cruises: These are typically used to move ships between Asia and North America or Australia and Alaska.
What Can You Expect on a Repositioning Cruise?
Repositioning cruises tend to offer unique itineraries, often with longer durations and fewer port stops. Instead, these cruises feature more sea days, giving you ample time to enjoy the ship’s amenities and onboard entertainment. At the same time, we have also found repositioning cruises with many stops which often span across continents.
While the number of stops may be limited compared to regular cruises, the ports visited on repositioning cruises are often more exotic and less frequented, adding to the sense of adventure. You might visit ports that aren’t typically included in standard itineraries due to their location on the repositioning route.
Benefits of a Repositioning Cruise
- Great Value: Because repositioning cruises are one-way and have fewer stops, they often come at a lower price than regular cruises, offering fantastic deals for passengers. You can experience luxury ships and extended itineraries at a fraction of the regular cost.
- Unique Destinations: Repositioning cruises often stop at off-the-beaten-path ports, giving travelers the opportunity to see destinations they may not visit on a traditional cruise.
- Extended Time on Board: If you enjoy the ship’s amenities like dining, shows, pools, and spas, repositioning cruises offer plenty of time to explore and relax on the ship without the rush of daily port stops.
Considerations Before Booking
- One-Way Travel: Since these cruises are not round-trip, passengers must arrange one-way flights, either to or from the embarkation or disembarkation point, which could add to your travel costs.
- Longer Sea Days: For some, extended time at sea without frequent stops may feel monotonous. However, if you love spending time on the ship, this can be a bonus.
- Seasonal Weather: Repositioning cruises take place at the edge of seasons, so while they allow you to follow good weather, there may be transitional climates along the way.
How To Find Repositioning Cruises
A lot of cruise lines offer repositioning cruises, but they may call them something different so it is not always easy to find them upfront.
One of my favourite resources for finding repositioning cruises is a website called Vacations To Go. You can filter the search results to show repositioning cruises. You do this in the section for the region. The only thing to keep in mind is they also have a category for Transatlantic and Transpacific so you may want to search those categories too.
I also often opt to cruise with Costa Cruises because the cost has always been far lower than any other cruise line. Within their website. In there ‘where are you going?’ section pick Transoceanic. This brings up a bunch of options but does not cover all of the repositioning cruises, such as those from Europe to Dubai.
Just remember the lots of different terms used for this type of cruise and watch out for them on the different cruising websites:
- Repositioning cruise
- Relocation cruise
- Transatlantic cruise
- Transatlantic crossing
- Transpacific cruise
- Transoceanic cruise
In summary, a repositioning cruise is a fantastic option for those looking for a more relaxed, affordable, and unique cruise experience. Whether you’re a seasoned cruiser looking for new adventures or someone who enjoys long, leisurely days at sea, repositioning cruises offer an extraordinary way to travel across continents and oceans.
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