Information to Repositioning Cruises — and 5 to E book Now

As I stepped off the pier and onto my ship in Ushuaia, Argentina, it dawned on me that this was the final time I might be on continental land for practically three weeks. Lindblad Expeditions’ Nationwide Geographic Explorer was about to ferry me throughout the South Atlantic, all the best way to Cape City. Now that is a cruise.

In reality, it was a really particular kind of cruise referred to as a repositioning cruise, or a “repo.” Repositioning cruises do precisely what their title entails — they reposition a ship from one place to a different. Within the case of my crusing, Nationwide Geographic Explorer had simply wrapped up a season in Antarctica and was scheduled for a stint in Africa. So, the ship sailed a repositioning cruise to get from one area to the opposite, bringing alongside a handful of intrepid vacationers.

Learn on to seek out out all the things it’s essential find out about repositioning cruises.

What’s a repositioning cruise?

Repositioning cruises reposition cruise ships — it is so simple as that. However to grasp why cruise ships have to be repositioned, you must take a look at how most cruise traces function their vessels.

Typically talking, cruise ships do not simply crisscross the world on a collection of one-way journeys, crusing from A to B, then B to C, then C to D, and so forth. Most ships spend months at a time “homeported” at a particular cruise port, resembling Miami or New Orleans, or generally in a common area, just like the Mediterranean. Then throughout a season, they’re going to sail both an an identical itinerary or maybe a couple of related itineraries. Take, for example, a cruise that is homeported in Miami for the winter. That ship would possibly sail Japanese or Western Caribbean itineraries for a couple of months, however not essentially your entire yr.

“On account of climate and seasonality, most cruise ships don’t keep in the identical geographic space for a complete yr. They due to this fact should reposition from one area to a different — and people cruises are known as repositioning cruises,” Journey + Leisure A-Record Advisor Rob Clabbers, president of Q Cruise + Journey, tells T+L. “For instance, a ship that sails summers in Alaska could spend the winter within the Caribbean; and due to this fact will reposition within the fall to go from Alaska through the West Coast and the Panama Canal to the Caribbean, then again within the spring.”

Relying on the route, cruise traces would possibly select to reposition ships with out company onboard. In that case, the crew would possibly spend the time deep cleansing and performing upkeep on the vessel. However repositioning cruises nonetheless use loads of costly gasoline, so many cruise traces decide to open them as much as company to assist offset that value — and even flip a revenue, in the event that they’re fortunate. From the visitor perspective, you get to sail a non-traditional itinerary, which might take you to less-visited locations. In my case, we ventured to the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and the extraordinarily distant Tristan da Cunha, a tiny volcanic island in the course of the Atlantic that is solely accessible by ship.

The place do repositioning cruises go, and the way lengthy are they?

Clabbers shares some frequent repositioning routes beneath, however repositioning cruises can occur just about anyplace on the planet. There may be one rule for all repositioning cruises: They should be one-way.

• Between Mediterranean and South Asia: Historically through the Suez Canal, however extra lately across the tip of South Africa.
• Between Antarctic and Arctic polar areas: Through the coasts of the Americas (would possibly embody an expedition onto the Amazon); or in some instances through the coast of Africa and Europe.
• Between Alaska and Japan: Through the North Pacific.
• Between North America and Australia/South Pacific: Through Hawaii and French Polynesia to Australia and New Zealand.
• Between Europe and North America: Through the Atlantic, which can additionally imply from the British Isles through Iceland and Greenland to Canada for the Canada/New England season within the late summer time/fall.
• Between Alaska and the Caribbean: Through the West Coast and the Panama Canal.

As for the way lengthy repositioning cruises are, that varies. “Repositioning cruises, resembling transatlantic sailings, are typically longer than a ‘commonplace’ seven-night itinerary and can embody extra sea days, as they should cross a bigger distance,” says Clabbers.

However some repositioning cruises is likely to be damaged up into shorter segments. Within the occasion of a ship repositioning from Alaska to the Caribbean, there could also be a West Coast crusing adopted by a Central America crusing that transits the Panama Canal. When you might stack the 2 journeys to create one lengthy cruise, you might additionally guide it in shorter segments.

What occurs on a repositioning cruise?

All of it is determined by the place you are crusing. “Relying on the a part of the world, the ships cease at fewer ports of name and/or cease in ports which are considerably uncommon due to their location,” T+L A-Record Advisor Olga Placeres, president of Most well-liked Journey & Co, tells T+L. She factors to transatlantic cruises for example — they’ve quite a few sea days, however additionally they would possibly cease in distant locations just like the Azores.

When you’re repositioning on a mega ship, you may probably get to totally immerse your self in all of the facilities that the ship has to supply. My transatlantic repositioning cruise was on a tiny expedition ship, which meant that the main focus of our programming was schooling and journey, so our sea days have been full of lectures and wildlife recognizing — and loads of time for contemplation.

When do repositioning cruises occur?

Repositioning cruises can occur at any time of yr, however most happen within the spring and fall, that are historically shoulder seasons for cruises. Some cruises use seasonality to their benefit. For instance, when ships are repositioning from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean within the fall, they’re going to reap the benefits of fall foliage within the Northeast U.S. and Canada.

Are repositioning cruises cheaper?

The brief reply: It is determined by demand. And demand is determined by the itinerary and the scale of the ship. “Extra distinctive itineraries — by means of the Panama Canal, or alongside a number of the extra uncommon/off-the-beaten-path islands within the South Pacific — may be very excessive in demand, which is mirrored within the fares,” says Clabbers.

However not all repositioning itineraries enchantment to the mass market, and cruise traces could wrestle to fill the ship. “Fewer vacationers get pleasure from a crossing with many sea days. Most company want to see ports, not solely the ocean,” says Placeres. “Climate is one other issue — crossings may be tough, and it’s essential be a very good sailor to get pleasure from a bumpy voyage.” In these instances, demand may be low, and due to this fact costs (when damaged down per day) can be comparatively low.

Typically talking, nonetheless, many repositioning cruises are, in actual fact, cheaper than extra conventional week-long sailings. “There are numerous ships that sail from the Caribbean to Europe within the spring, together with a number of the bigger modern cruise ships. Meaning there’s fairly a little bit of capability at a variety of engaging fares annually for those who wish to journey between the continents,” says Clabbers. “These cruises may be fairly reasonably priced, particularly when it from a per-day perspective. As well as, with fewer ports of name, the taxes and port costs could also be decrease, too.”

5 Repositioning Cruises to E book Now

Superstar Cruises

17-night Fiji Transpacific on Superstar Solstice

Departs April 9, 2025

Sail throughout the South Pacific on a grand journey from Sydney to Honolulu. Whereas there are 9 days at sea, there are fairly a couple of particular ports of name on this itinerary, together with Loyalty Island in New Caledonia, Thriller Island in Vanuatu, two Fijian islands, Apia in Samoa, Pago Pago in American Samoa, and Kailua-Kona in Hawaii.

Royal Caribbean

16-night Tokyo to Los Angeles on Ovation of the Seas

Departs Could 15, 2025

Get your sea legs prepared. Although this cruise does name at a couple of ports in Japan, plus an additional day in Los Angeles, it’s going to spend most of its time at sea. Thankfully, the large ship has loads onboard to maintain you entertained, from a skydiving simulator to a spa to greater than two dozen eating places.

Holland America

18-day Voyage of the Vikings on Zuiderdam

Departs Aug. 5, 2025

When you’re seeking to take a repositioning cruise that would not have too many days at sea, this itinerary connecting Rotterdam within the Netherlands and Boston is for you. There are solely six sea days, with the majority of the itinerary together with ports throughout Eire, Iceland, Greenland, and Canada.

Viking

22-day Southern Atlantic Crossing on Viking Jupiter

Departs Nov. 8, 2025

Are you able to courageous three weeks at sea? Viking’s crusing from Barcelona to Buenos Aires features a transient stint within the Mediterranean and a name in Casablanca, Morocco, earlier than taking to the Atlantic. To interrupt up the week-long transatlantic portion of the voyage, Viking Jupiter will go to São Vicente Island (Mindelo), Cape Verde. And it will wrap up with per week crusing the coast of South America.

Virgin Voyages

16-night Panama Canal and Pacific Wonders on Sensible Woman

Departs March 21, 2026

Sail by means of the enduring Panama Canal on this journey from Miami to Los Angeles on this well-paced voyage. There are by no means greater than three sea days in a row, with ports like Cartagena, Colombia; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico breaking apart the journey.