The economy isn’t bouncing back as quickly as everyone had hoped, so travel sales are still down.  And the cruise industry is responding by slashing prices to the bone.   Right now, transatlantic repositioning cruises to Europe this spring are a fantastic deal with fares under $50 per person, per day.

Even the most expensive fares represent savings of up to 60% off.

Many of these special fares expire soon, so act fast.   Here’s a brief run down of what’s available.

Azamara’s 710-passenger Azamara Journey (5*) sails from Miami on April 11 and arrives in Barcelona on April 25.  There are four port calls in Portugal and Spain.  Fares start at $1,799 for 14 nights ($128.50 per person, per night).

Celebrity’s 1,770-passenger Celebrity Century (4*) sails from Miami on May 20 and arrives in Barcelona on June 3. There are four port calls in Portugal and Spain.   Fares start at $1,099 for 14 nights ($128.50 per person, per night).

Costa’s 2,600-passenger Atlantica (3*) sails from New York City on May 5 and arrives in Copenhagen on May 22.  There are eight port calls in New England, Canada, France, England, and Germany.  Fares start at $919 for 17 nights ($54 person, per night).

Cunard’s 2,620-passenger Queen Mary 2 (5*) has 21 transatlantic crossings from New York to Southampton this summer.  Early booking fares start at $895 for 6 nights ($149 per person, per night).

Disney’s 2,500-passenger Disney Magic (4*) sails from Port Canaveral on April 10 and arrives in Barcelona on April 24.  There are four port calls in the Bahamas, Madeira, Spain, and Gibraltar.  Fares start at $699 for 14 nights ($50 per person, per night).

Holland America’s 2,044-passenger Eurodam (5*) sails from Fort Lauderdale on April 3 and arrives in Rome on April 19.  There are seven port calls in Portugal, Spain, and Monaco.  Fares start at $799 for 16 nights ($49.95 person, per night).

Their 1,918-passenger Noordam (5*) sails from Fort Lauderdale on May 14 and arrives in Barcelona on May 27.  There are four port calls in Madeira and Spain.  Fares start at $799 for 13 nights ($61 person, per night).

MSC’s 3,013-passenger Poesia (3*) sails from Fort Lauderdale on April 27 and arrives in Hamburg on May 15.  There are seven port calls in New York, Portugal, Spain, and England.  Fares start at $1,089 for 18 nights ($60.50 person, per night).

Norwegian Cruise Lines’ 1,936-passenger Norwegian Sun (4*) sails from Miami on April 26 and arrives in London on May 11.  There are six port calls in Portugal, Spain, France, and Belgium.  Fares start at $979 for 15 nights ($65.26 person, per night).

Oceania’s 684-passenger Insignia (5*) sails from Rio de Janeiro on April 3 and arrives in Barcelona on April 18.  There are four port calls in Brazil, the Cape Verde Islands, and Morocco.  Fares start at $2,599 for 15 nights ($173 person, per night).

Their 684-passenger Regatta (5*) sails from Miami on March 21 and arrives in Barcelona on April 4.  There are three port calls in Madeira, Morocco, and Spain. Fares start at $2,099 for 14 nights ($150 person, per night).

Princess Cruises’ 3,120-passenger Crown Princess (4*)  sails from Fort Lauderdale on May 1 and arrives in Rome on May 15.  There are five port calls in Gibraltar, Spain, France, and Italy.  Fares start at $799 for 14 nights ($57 person, per night).

Their 2,600-passenger Grand Princess (4*) sails from Fort Lauderdale on April 9 and arrives in London on April 24.  There are six port calls in Bermuda, Scotland, Ireland, England, and France.  Fares start at $799 for 15 nights ($53 person, per night).

The 3,080-passenger Ruby Princess (4*) sails from Fort Lauderdale on April 19 and arrives in Barcelona on May 5.  There are seven port calls in Madeira, Gibraltar, Italy, and Monaco.  Fares start at $999 for 16 nights $62.50 person, per night).

The 2,600-passenger Star Princess (4*) sails from Fort Lauderdale on April 24 and arrives in Copenhagen on May 12.  There are eight port calls in Portugal, Spain, England, France, Belgium, Holland, and Norway.  Fares start at $1,270 for 18 nights ($70.55 person, per night).

Regent Seven Seas’ 700-passengers Mariner (6*) sails from Fort Lauderdale on March 22 and arrives in Monte Carlo on April 7.  There are five port calls in Bermuda, Madeira, Spain, and France.  Fares start at $5,695 for 16 nights ($355 person, per night).

Their 700-passenger Voyager (6*) sails from Fort Lauderdale on May 12 and arrives in Reykjavik on May 26.  There are six port calls in the U.S. and Canada.  Fares start at $6,195 for 14 nights ($442 person, per night).

Royal Caribbean’s 3,835-passenger Navigator of the Seas (4*) sails from Miami on April 10 and arrives in Rome on April 24.  There are four port calls in the Canary Islands, Spain, France, and Italy.  Fares start at $799 for 14 nights ($57 person, per night).

The 4,375-passenger Independence of the Seas (4*) sails from Fort Lauderdale on April 11 and arrives in Southampton on April 25.  There are four port calls in Portugal and Spain.  Fares start at $599 for 14 nights ($42 person, per night).

The 3,835-passenger Voyager of the Seas (4*) sails from Galveston on April 18 and arrives in Barcelona on May 2. There are four port calls in the Bahamas, Portugal, and Spain.  Fares start at $558 for 14 nights ($39.85 person, per night).

The 3,835-passenger Adventure of the Seas (4*) sails from San Juan on May 2 and arrives in Barcelona on May 15. There are four port calls in the Canary Islands and Spain.  Fares start at $499 for 13 nights ($38 person, per night).

The 2,501-passenger Jewel of the Seas (4*) leaves Miami on May 6 and arrives in Harwich on  May 19.  There are three port calls in Bermuda, Portugal, and Belgium.  Fares start at $594 for 14 nights ($42 person, per night).

Seabourn Cruise Lines’ 208-passenger Seabourn Spirit (6*) sails from Fort Lauderdale on March 19 and arrives in Lisbon on April 1.  There is one port call in Madeira.  Fares start at $2,799 for 13 nights ($215 person, per night).

Their 208-passenger Seabourn Legend (6*) sails from Fort Lauderdale on April 8 and arrives in Lisbon in on April 21.  There is one port call in Madeira.  Fares start at $3,300 for 13 nights ($254 person, per night).

SeaDream Yacht Club’s 110-passenger SeaDream I (6*) sails from San Juan on April 30 and arrives in Malaga on May 13.  There’s one port call in Madeira.  Fares start at $2,299 for 13 nights ($176 person, per night).

SeaDream’s 110-passengers SeaDream II (6*) sails from Barbados on April 25 and arrives in Malaga on May 7.  There is one port call in Madeira.  Fares start at $2,299 for 12 nights ($192 person, per night).

Silversea’s 540-passenger Silver Spirit (6*) sails from New York on April 23 and arrives in Southampton on May 7.  There are six port calls in the United States, Canada, Ireland, Wales, and England.  Fares start at $6,238 for 14 nights ($445 person, per night).

Their 296-passenger Silver Cloud (6*) sails from San Juan on April 14 and arrives in Barcelona on April 29.  There are six port calls in the Caribbean, the Canary Islands, Morocco, and Spain.  Fares start at $5,518 for 15 nights ($368 person, per night).

Windstar Cruises’ 312-passenger Wind Surf (4*) sails from Barbados on March 21 and arrives in Lisbon on April 4.  There are no port calls.  Fares start at $1,499 for 14 nights $107 person, per night).

Their 148-passenger Wind Star (4*) sails from St. Martin on April 10 and arrives in Lisbon on April 24.  There are no port calls.  Fares start at $1,635 for 14 nights ($117 person, per night).

Find more information on Transatlantic repositioning cruises here.

The Promenade Deck Image Flickr: garybembridge
Seven Seas Navigator Image Flickr: milan.boers
Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas Image Flickr: EandJsFilmCrew

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Most of the repositioning cruises during March leave from South American, cross the Atlantic, and then disembark passengers in a Mediterranean port.  They range in length from around 14 to 30+ days.  And because the trans-Atlantic segment of the voyage can take up to a week, they’re very relaxing.

You may not familiar with Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, but they’re very popular with British travelers.  Their ships are older — they were originally built for the now-defunct Royal Viking Line — but they’ve been thoughtfully updated.  With 435 cabins, their Black Watch is a nice size — big enough to have all the amenities, but small enough not to overwhelm the ports it visits.

Passengers embark Black Watch in Lima, Peru and overnight before setting sail on the afternoon of March 5.  She calls at Guayaquil, Ecuador before transiting the Panama Canal, then visits Columbia, Barbados, and Funchal, Portugal before disembarking passengers in London on March 26.  With more than 14 days with no port calls, passengers will have plenty of time to enjoy the large fitness center and spa.

Seabourn repositioning cruises.

Seabourn is another first-rate cruise line whose passengers want for nothing.  Complimentary wines and spirits, afternoon tea, and menus created by celebrity chef Charlie Palmer set the tone.  And the water sports platform at the stern makes it easy to get into and out of the briny.   Each of Seabourn Spirit’s staterooms are suites tricked out with marble baths, balconies, DVD players, and walk-in closets.

Seabourn Spirit embarks passengers in Manaus, Brazil on March 3.  Guests overnight on board and depart Manaus the next day.  The Spirit calls at several ports in Brazil, including Parintins, Alter de Chao, and the Curua Una River before cruising the Breves Narrows.  After a day at sea, she calls at Devil’s Island, French Guiana, before visiting Barbados, Tortola, and Turks & Caicos.  She arrives in Fort Lauderdale on March 19.

Lucky travelers with lots of time can continue on from there and cross the Atlantic.  Or they can board Seabourn Spirit in Fort Lauderdale and disembark in Venice on April 17.  They’ll spend ten days crossing the Atlantic before arriving in Funchal, Portugal.  The voyage includes four ports in Spain, Sicily, Malta, Greece, and Croatia.

MSC Cruises repositioning cruises.

MSC Cruises is another line that’s more familiar to Europeans than Americans.  In fact, you’ll hear many languages other than English spoken on board.  With 11 ships, they’re one of the fastest growing cruise lines in Europe.

The MSC Magnifica is a brand new ship with state-of-the-art technology and amenities.  The spa has treatment rooms, a Turkish bath, sauna, and fitness center.  And the retractable dome over the swimming pool means you never have to lose a pool day due to rain.  In preparation for it’s Mediterranean cruises, Magnifica is sailing from Hamburg, Germany to Venice, Italy on March 7.  The 14-day cruise calls at ports in Holland, Portugal, Spain, Italy, and Croatia before arriving in Venice on March 19.  As repositioning cruises go, this one has plenty of port calls, and it’s a nice itinerary.  Plus, it’s always fun to sail aboard a shiny, new vessel.

MSC’s 2,069-passenger Lirica is smaller than the other MSC vessels.  There’s an English pub for British passengers and the Beverly Hills Bar for Americans.  But the design is understated and European.  She sails from Rio de Janeiro on March 12 and arrives in Genoa, Italy on March 29.  In addition to the usual ports in Brazil, Cape Verde, the Canary Islands, and Portugal, Lirica also calls at Tangier, Morocco and Alicante, Spain.

The MSC Musica, has several unexpected amenities including a Zen garden, sushi bar, a three-tiered waterfall, a wine bar, and a cigar club.  And there are plenty of sports areas that make it easy to keep fit.  She was christened in 2006 by Sophia Loren.  Her repositioning cruise from South America to Europe sails from Sao Paolo on March 17, and her itinerary is similar to the Lirica’s until the final week, when she calls at Malaga, Spain, Tunis, Tunisia, and Dubrovnik, Croatia before arriving in Venice on April 4.

Originally built for Festival Cruises, the MSC Armonia entered service in 2001. She was redone when MSC purchased her in 2004.  Cabins are on the small side, so upgrade to a suite if you can afford it.   With 2,200 passengers, she’s less grand than many of the MSC ships.   Her South America/Europe repositioning cruise leaves Buenos Aires on March 29, sails the eastern coast of Brazil, calling at Rio, Salvador, and Recife, calls at the usual ports in Portugal and Spain, before visiting Tunis and Kotor in Montenegro.  The cruise ends in Venice on April 19.

Costa Cruises repositioning cruises.

As part of the Carnival Cruise Lines family, Costa doesn’t necessarily cater to American passengers, but it certainly makes sure they feel at home.   Their flagship, Costa Concordia, has one of the most impressive spas at sea with 20,500 square feet of treatment rooms, pools, and a fitness center.  What’s more, the Samsara Suites adjoin the spa and have their own restaurant.  The 3,000 passengers can choose from five restaurants and 13 bars.  And two of the four swimming pools have retractable glass roofs.  If you get bored, you can take a spin in the Formula One race car simulator.  On March 10, Concordia sails from Sao Paulo, Brazil for Savona, Italy.  En route, she calls at Rio de Janeiro and three other Brazilian ports, the Canary Islands, Portugal, Spain, and France.

Costa’s Victoria has a seven-story atrium lobby, a modern spa, five restaurants, a fitness center, jogging track, and sport court.  There’s a large, indoor pool in the spa, and plenty of teak deck chairs.   Victoria leaves Buenos Aires on March 20 and visits Uruguay, and Brazil before arriving in the Canary Islands.  She calls at ports in Madeira, Spain, Italy, Greece, and Croatia before arriving in Venice on April 17.  If you have the time, this repositioning cruise includes lots of interesting ports, including Gythion and Argostoli, Greece.

Launched in 2003, Costa Fortuna was built in Genoa and it’s one of the most Italian ships afloat.  Public areas and restaurants were inspired by Italian cruise liners from the golden age and are named for famous Italians.  Dinner in the main dining room can be a 3+ hour affair.   And their a la carte restaurant, Club Grand Conte 1927, serves grilled Tuscan steaks and chops.   Fortuna sails from Fort Lauderdale on March 28.  She visits five ports in the Caribbean before crossing the Atlantic.  And then calls at Funcal and Malaga before arriving in Savona on April 14.  Because she sails from Fort Lauderdale, this repositioning cruise has more affordable airfare than some.

Royal Caribbean repositioning cruise.

One of Royal Caribbean’s Vision Class ships, Splendour of the Seas provides its 1,800 passengers with plenty of distractions, including an 18-hole miniature golf course, a solarium with retractable glass roof, and a fitness center.  There’s a Champagne Bar in the seven-story Centrum, and the ship-top Viking Crown Lounge is a great spot at sunset.  Splendour sails from Sao Paolo on March 20 on a voyage to Barcelona, Spain.  The 15-day sailing has nine sea days and fewer port calls than many South America to Europe repositioning cruises.  It’s best suited to American travelers.

Windstar repositioning cruise.

Windstar is one of our favorite cruise lines.  The sleek, computer-assisted sailing vessels provide an inviting home away from home for world travelers who like the casual, country-club atmosphere.  Carrying 312 passenger, Windsurf is the largest ship in the Windstar fleet.  The only drawback is that none of the staterooms have balconies.  But the platform at the back of the ship — and all the free water sports equipment — makes it really easy to enjoy the water.  Open-seating dining and an inventive menu from Joachim Splichal make meals a special event.  There’s not much in the way of nightlife, but most passengers don’t seem to mind.  Suites are worth the added expense.

Those who love the open ocean will enjoy the Windsurf repositioning cruise from the Caribbean to the Mediterranean.  There are no ports of call between Barbados and Lisbon.  Just 13 days at sea.   She sets sail on March 21.  Because of the lack of ports, this sailing is an especially good bargain.

Oceania repositioning cruise.

Built for the now defunct Renaissance Cruise, Oceania Cruises’s Regatta is an intimate 684-passenger vessel.   Due to it’s smaller size, you’ll never feel rushed or crowded.  Open-seating dining is a popular feature, as is the menu created by Jacques Pepin.   In fact, Oceania serves some of the best food at sea.  And there’s no additional charge for the alternative restaurants, as there is on other cruise lines.  Service is exceptional for the price.   Regatta sails from Miami on March 21 and spends eight days at sea before arriving in Funchal.  She also visits Casablanca and Malaga before ending in Barcelona on April 4.

Regent Seven Seas repositioning cruise.

Regent was formed when Radisson merged with Seven Seas in 1994 and rebranded as Regent in 2006.  Today, the line is one of the best and most all-inclusive at sea.  With complimentary beverages throughout the voyage and an interesting on-board educational program, Regent serves up whatever its passengers require.   Their Mariner was the first all-suite, all-balcony ship, and the cabins are quite spacious.  Their four restaurants all offer open seating and serve French, Asian, steak, and Mediterranean cuisine.  And with just 700 passengers, public spaces are rarely overwhelmed.  Their Canyon Ranch SpaClub is a great way to while away the time.

Mariner departs Fort Lauderdale on March 22 bound for Bermuda, and arrives at Funchal on April 1.  Passengers can disembark there or continue on to Monte Carlo, Monaco, calling at Cadiz and Malaga, Spain and Marseilles, France en route.

Read more about trans-Atlantic repositioning cruises here.  Or find February 2010 cruises here.

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The Alaska cruising season isn’t very long.  By September, the weather starts to change and many of the ships leave Alaska bound for the Caribbean, where they’ll spend the fall and winter.  These repositioning cruises, which typically leave from Vancouver or Southern California, use the Panama Canal as a shortcut on their way to the Caribbean.

If you’ve never been through the Canal, it truly is an engineering marvel.  And there’s plenty to see from the ship, especially if you have a balcony stateroom.

In mid September, the Island Princess sails from Vancouver to Fort Lauderdale in 17 nights.  This leisurely voyage has an equal number of port calls and sea days, and balcony staterooms are a little over $100 per night.  With lots of dining options and a big spa, the Island Princess is an attractive home away from home.

You can also join the cruise two days later in San Francisco.

The Norwegian Pearl sails from Los Angeles in late September and calls at three Mexican ports, Guatemala and Costa Rica before transiting the canal.  This two-week itinerary stops in Cartagena, Columbia before arriving in Miami.

With six sea days, there’s a nice balance of sightseeing and free time.  But amenities like a bowling alley, sports bar, and cigar bar provides lots to do on board.  Fares are currently about 50% off.

The Coral Princess sails from Vancouver to Fort Lauderdale, calling at Cabo, Acapulco, Aruba, and six other ports.   Balcony staterooms are running right around $100 a night.

Bay-area residents can take the Sea Princess from San Francisco to Fort Lauderdale on a 15-night cruise.  Or stay aboard for another week and disembark in Barbados.  The longer cruise includes the Bahamas, the British Virgin Islands, St. Maarten, Antigua, and St. Lucia.  You’ll save as much as 60% on the shorter cruise, but you’ll pay rack rates for the longer cruise.

Celebrity offers a 16-night sailing in early October aboard their Millennium that leaves Los Angeles and visits several Mexican ports, Costa Rica, Panama, and Aruba before arriving in San Juan, Puerto Rico.  This innovative ship has Champagne and martini bars, an MP3 music library with listening stations, and one of the largest spas at sea.  Balcony cabins are running less than $100 per person, per night.

In May, the repositioning cruises transit the canal in the opposite direction in order to be in Alaska for the summer.

Regent’s Seven Seas Navigator has a 20-night sailing from Ft. Lauderdale to San Francisco.  This luxurious 450-passenger ship boasts all suite accommodations, and one of the highest crew-to-passenger ratios at sea.  Discounts up to 60% off are available.

Another six-star ship, Silversea’s Silver Shadow, pampers its 388 passengers with a Relais & Chateaux restaurant, a Davidoff Humidor room for cigars, and a Champagne bar.  The ship leaves Fort Lauderdale, calls at ports in Columbia, transits the Panama Canal, and then stops in Acapulco and Cabo before disembarking passengers in Los Angeles.

Find out more about trans-Atlantic repositioning cruises here.

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