Repositioning cruises almost always offer good value for money. Because they are less popular than round-trip voyages and visit fewer ports, the cruise lines usually sell then for much less on a per-day basis. But if you know when to book, you might save even more — as much as 70% off the already-low brochure rate.

Cruise ships have fairly sophisticated inventory management systems. And when certain benchmark dates are reached, if too few passengers are booked, the price is reduced. An empty cabin doesn’t generate any revenue. So it’s worth it to reduce the price of the stateroom to attract a passenger who might gamble, drink, and dine in the specialty restaurants.

Many cruise ships offer repositioning cruises.

Several years ago, cruise lines offered their best deals in the form of early booking discounts. In return for having your deposit as much as a year in advance, cruise companies would give early birds a discount. Back in those days, marketing materials had to be created months in advance. And special offers were established according to a fixed schedule.

But today, cruise lines can market specific cruises online, which reduces the amount of lead time required for marketing campaigns. With a healthy list of email addresses, a cruise line can decide on Wednesday to discount a cruise on Thursday. And on Friday, savvy travelers who have given up their email addresses can get really impressive repositioning cruise deals.

If there’s one particular cruise line that you like, sign up for any email updates or e-newsletters that they offer. Registering with an online cruise agency is also a good idea. Vacationstogo, Travelzoo, and Shermans Travel all have hot deals.

A repositioning cruise gives you plenty of time to enjoy onboard amenities.

As a rule, the best deals are available 30 to 90 days before sailing. But in some cases, you may be able to get a bargain as much as six months before departure.

Be sure to take advantage of any shipboard credits that are offered. These are often worth up to $1,000 per stateroom and use can use them to offset the cost of almost any service available on board.

Although airfare isn’t often included with repositioning cruises — because two point-to-point fares are usually required — be sure to ask if any discounted airfares are available. This can end up saving you quite a bit.

Before you book, be sure to shop around. If there’s a cruise agency in your town, give them a call. If you live in a big city, check your local, Sunday newspaper. And visit the cruise line websites.

With any luck, you’ll be able to land a repositioning cruise for less than $100 per person, per day.

Many cruise ships offer repositioning cruises Image Flickr: Salicia
A repositioning cruise gives you plenty of time to enjoy onboard amenities Image Flickr: Tom Mascardo 3

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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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