When the long days of summer in the northern latitudes start to shorten, the cruise ships plying the North Sea head for greener pastures.

Holland America’s Eurodam sails from Copenhagen to New York around the middle of August, calling at Scotland, Iceland, and Greenland, before arriving at St. John’s, Newfoundland.  The 16-night voyage also includes a couple of stops in Nova Scotia.  Fares this season were nearly 70% off rack rate.  Food lovers will enjoy the ship’s Culinary Arts Center — an exhibition kitchen with video screens displaying all the action.

Princess’s 18-night sailing aboard the Crown Princess leaves London and calls at Norway, Scotland, Denmark, Iceland, and Greenland before arriving in New York.  Fares for this early September cruise have been running as low as $115 per person, per night.   Since the ship is capable of  carrying 3,120 passengers, you’ll likely have lots of space to yourself.

Sea Day on Deck

Many American haven’t heard of MSC Cruises, but they’re one of the fastest growing lines in the world.  This Italian company is known for its multi-lingual staff and European service.  Test them out on a late August sailing aboard the Lirica from London to Genoa.   The 11-night itinerary which calls at several ports in Spain and Portugal, is going for as little as $799 per person.  Their 3,000-passenger Orchestra sails from Copenhagen to Genoa.

Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas sails from London to Boston in 12 nights.  This one is a great choice for those who love sea days.  Once the ship leaves Reykjavik, Iceland, there are five days at sea before sailing into Boston Harbor.   With a putting green, golf simulator, and rock-climbing wall, there’s plenty to keep you occupied.  Rates start below $1,000.

Crystal Symphony treats its  940 pampered passengers with kid gloves.  And they’re offering one of the best repositioning cruises for golfers, who have the opportunity to play some of the world’s best courses, including Nairn in Invergordon, Scotland, Keilir in Reykjavik, Iceland, and Glen Arbour in Halifax, Nova Scotia.  Several special events and parties are scheduled.   And fares are almost 50% off regular rates.

Celebrity’s Constellation leaves London and calls at France, Ireland, and Scotland before crossing the Atlantic.  You’ll also visit Iceland, Newfoundland, and New Brunswick before arriving at Bayonne, New Jersey.  The ship has innovative features like listening stations with a huge selection of MP3s and Champagne and Martini bars.

One of the least expensive repositioning cruises out there, Costa’s 10-night sailing from Copenhagen to Savona, Italy starts at just $699 per person.  With six port calls in between, it’s also a good choice for those who want some time ashore.   As the flagship of the Costa line, the Atlantica offers an authentic Italian experience at sea.

The Norwegian Jewel offers cruisers the opportunity to call at Lerwick in the Shetland Islands.  There’s a nice balance between sea days and port calls with six days at sea and four ports between London and New York.  The 11-night sailing is a good buy with balcony staterooms starting at $1,499 per person. Norwegian’s “Freestyle Cruising” means you can dine where and when you like.  And there are Asian, Italian, and French restaurants on board.

Find out if a repositioning cruise is right for you here.

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Cruise lines and their ships follow the seasons.  They go where the weather’s nice, sail there until the season changes, then relocate to another region with pleasant temperatures.

Voyages that take a ship from one region to the next are called repositioning cruises.  And they have several key advantages.

Many first-time cruisers are surprised to find that the days when the ship is at sea turn out to be the most  enjoyable.  When the ship is in port, most cruisers are sightseeing from early morning until shortly before the ship sails.  While this is certainly rewarding, it can also be exhausting.   And sea days present a welcome opportunity to do nothing at all.

If relaxing in a deck chair with a good book or taking a brisk stroll along the promenade deck appeals to you more than sightseeing ashore, a repositioning cruise may be perfect for you.

They usually take place in spring or fall as the ships reposition for summer in Alaska and Europe or winter in South America and the Caribbean.  Although the length varies by region, most repositioning cruises are about two weeks long.  But a cruise from South America to Europe could be much longer.

Because most cruisers want to see as many destinations as possible, these cruises are less popular than voyages with lots of ports of call. Consequently, repositioning cruises are less expensive on a per-night basis.  Sometimes, significantly less.

In fact, this year, some cruises were going for as little as $60 a day.  And that includes everything — accommodations, meals, transportation, entertainment, etc.  The works.  For the right people, they’re one of the best travel bargains out there.

In order to make the sea days a little more interesting, some cruise lines offer cultural programs, seminars, and lectures.  And with fewer passengers on board, you’ll get more attentive service and less crowds at the buffet.  You can enjoy long, leisurely dinners and then sleep in the next morning.

Most itineraries will include a few ports, and often they will be places that cruise liners rarely visit.  A ship repositioning from Scandinavia to New York might call at several ports in Iceland and Greenland en route.  A trans-Atlantic cruise could visit the Canary Islands.  And a trans-Pacific voyage might include Tonga and Samoa.

Because you’ll be departing from and arriving in different cities, you’ll need an open-jaw air ticket.  But several cruise companies are including airfare — and even an overnight in the departure city — in the package price.

So how do you decide if a repositioning cruise is right for you?  If you enjoy long days at sea, don’t care how many places you visit, and want to stretch your travel dollar to the max, a repositioning cruise can provide a relaxing, affordable vacation.

Learn more about repositioning cruises from Northern Europe here.

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