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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The Atlantic is a big ocean, and there’s not much between the west coast of Europe and New York or Boston.  You can make a bee line and cross the Atlantic in six to eight days.  Or you can go north and visit Iceland, Greenland, and Canada along the way.

There’s so little to see on a straight trans-Atlantic crossing, that these voyages have some of the lowest per-night fares of all repositioning cruises.

If relaxing days at sea are your cup of tea, consider a London to New York crossing on Queen Mary 2.  Launched in 2002, the QM2 combines the romance of the gilded age of cruising with state-of-the-art amenities like the 20,000-square-foor Canyon Ranch Spa.   Ten restaurants, including the award-winning, Todd English, serve some of the best food at sea.  And there’s even an onboard planetarium.  You’ll fit right in with a tuxedo or ball gown.

With fares starting under $1,000, it’s the best way to experience old-school luxury for a modest price.  You can also board Queen Mary 2 in Hamburg two days earlier.  Or do a roundtrip from London.

Sunset at Sea

The two-week cruise aboard the Crystal Symphony gives golfers the chance to play three courses between London and Boston — Nairn in Invergordon, Scotland; Keiler in Reyjavik, Iceland; and Glen Arbour in Halifax, Nova Scotia.   Additional parties, contests, and amenities add some excitement to the sea days.

Those who have plenty of time and would like exotic ports in addition to relaxing sea days can opt for MSC Cruises’ 17-night sailing aboard the MSC Lirica.  The ship leaves Genoa, Italy in early October and calls at Barcelona, Lisbon, and the Canary Islands, before arriving in Recife, Brazil.  The ship also stops in Salvador, Brazil before disembarking passengers in Rio.

An Italian line, MSC is expanding rapidly.  Guests enjoy the friendly Italian staff and the excellent food.

Lucky travelers with even more time can save almost 50% on the Seabourn Odyssey.   This 31-night voyage leaves from Athens, calls at several ports in the Greek Isles and Mediterranean, and then leaves Funchal, Madeira and arrives Fort Lauderdale a week later.

With only 450 passengers, and fewer than that on repositioning cruises, the Seabourn Odyssey is one of the most luxurious and spacious ships at sea.   Ninety percent of the staterooms have private verandahs.  And The Restaurant features menus created by Charlie Palmer.

Seabourn also has 12-night voyages from Lisbon to Fort Lauderdale aboard the Seabourn Spirit.

Another luxury cruise line, Sea Dream Yacht Club offers an 11-night cruise that sails from Seville, Spain to San Juan, Puerto Rico, stopping in Funchal and Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands en route.   The Sea Dream II carries just 110 passengers and has unusual amenities like Balinese Dream Beds for sunbathing on deck.

Discounted fares are around $200 per person, per night.

Holland America has a mid-October 16-night program from Rome to Fort Lauderdale aboard the Noordam.  You’ll explore lots of Mediterranean ports, including Livorno, Monte Carlo, and Barcelona before crossing the Atlantic.  Their Oosterdam sails from Barcelona, and visits Spain, Casablanca, and Portugal before sailing for Fort Lauderdale.

These cruises are currently discounted by about 50%.

For the ultimate in relaxation, Windstar offers a 13-night sail cruise aboard the 312-passenger Wind Surf.  This five-masted, motor-sail vessel is a great choice for those who love sailing.  This voyage leaves from Lisbon and disembarks passengers in Barbados.

Find out more about Alaska  repositioning cruises here.

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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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