Cruise ships that have spent the summer in Europe will start to head back to the United States in August. With fares as much as 65% off, now is a great time to book your trip.
The weather is still pleasant in Europe, many of these cruises include interesting ports in Europe and visits in Iceland, Greenland, and the Martime provinces of Canada along the way. So a repositioning cruise would be a lovely way to end the summer.
Holland America’s Eurodam sails from Amsterdam on August 19, then spends a day at sea before overnight in South Queensferry. This is the port for Edinburgh, Scotland, and Eurodam overnights so passengers will have the opportunity to attend the 59th annual Edinburgh Military Tatoo. Hundreds of pipers, drummers, and members of the Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland perform. It’s a thrilling spectacle you’ll never forget.
Newfoundland
After South Queensferry, Eurodam calls at Kirkwall, Scotland, and Torshavn, Denmark before spending a day at sea en route to Reykjavik, Iceland. Passengers will be able to learn more about the Eyjafjallajokull volcano during their visit. After two more days at sea, Eurodam arrives in Qaqortoq, Greenland, where passengers can tour the Norse ruins of Halsey.
The ship spends the next five days in Canada, calling at ports in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. Passengers arrive 19 days later in New York City on September 6. Big discounts are currently available on this sailing.
Travelers with more time can board Eurodam in Amsterdam on August 8 and visit Stockholm, Tallinn, St. Petersburg — where the ship overnights — Helsinki, and Copenhagen in addition to the ports described above. Passengers can choose from several evening activities in Saint Petersburg. The 29-night voyage offers a huge number of ports for a repositioning cruise.
Launched in 2008, Eurodam has the Culinary Arts Center sponsored by Food and Wine magazine, several excellent alternative restaurants, a large spa, and the largest gymnasium in the HAP fleet.
On August 22, Crown Princess sails roundtrip from Southampton and does a 13-night British Isles itinerary visiting Guernsey, Cork and Dublin, Irleand, Liverpool, Belfast in Northern Ireland, and Glasgow, Invergordon, and South Queensferry in Scotland. She calls at Le Havre before returning to Southampton on September 3. Those with less time can board Crown Princess then.
Edinburgh Castle at night
We did this cruise two years ago and really enjoyed Guersney and Liverpool, which was nothing like what we expected. When a strike prevented us from calling at Le Havre, we went to Dover instead, and spend a delightful day in Canterbury.
After leaving Southampton, passengers will visit Falmouth — the gateway to Cornwall — Dublin and Belfast, before sailing to Reykjavik. After leaving Iceland, she has two days at sea before arriving in Greenland, then two more days at sea before visiting St. John’s, Newfoundland. Passengers disembark in New York on September 17.
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.
Repositioning cruises typically offer some of the best cruise bargains you can find. But if you can travel without a lot of advance planning, you’ll find even better deals. Right now, some cruise lines are discounting their February repositioning cruises 50% or more.
Most of the ships sailing in South America don’t reposition to Europe until March. So February repositioning cruises are one-of-a-kind voyages in which a cruise line moves a single ship from one part of the world to another.
A couple of these cruises visit exotic ports you’re not likely to visit any other way. And there are lots of relaxing days at sea for unwinding and relaxing.
Silversea repositioning cruise from South Africa to the Canary Islands.
Silversea has some of the most inviting ships at sea. And with a Relais & Chateaux restaurant, a luxurious spa, and staterooms with marble baths, their Silver Wind is no exception. In fact, thanks to their butler service you may feel like you’re aboard your own private yacht. Other luxurious touches include Champagne in your stateroom on arrival, which is replenished throughout the voyage — and caviar available through room service.
All 148 cabins are suites with sitting areas and walk-in closets, and 80% of them have teak balconies. Grand Suites have two bedrooms, two living rooms, and Jacuzzi tubs. And early- and late-check in are available for an added charge.
On February 12, Silver Wind sails from Cape Town, South Africa bound for Las Palmas in the Canary Islands. The 19-day voyage calls at some very unusual places, including Namibia, Bom Bom Island, Gambia, Senegal, and the Cape Verde Islands. With ten days at sea, you’ll have plenty of time for spa treatments and enjoying life at sea.
Star Clipper repositioning cruise.
If you haven’t heard of Star Clipper, they’re a nice cross between conventional cruising and bare-boat cruising. Their 4-masted ships actually sail, so if you love the sound of the wind in the sheets, you’ll feel right at home. With nearly 20,000 square feet of deck space, two swimming pools, and a library with a fireplace, guests aboard the Star Flyer aren’t exactly roughing it. But the onboard ambience is more casual than on most ships.
You can fulfill your dream of sailing across the South Pacific in comfort if you board Star Flyer in Papeete on Valentine’s Day. You’ll call at Moorea, Bora Bora, Huahine, and Rangiroa in the Society Islands before sailing for Hiva Oa and Nuku Hiva in the Marquesas. Then, it’s 18 days at sea before arriving in Cocos Island, Costa Rica. Passengers disembark in Panama City on March 20.
Crystal Cruises repositioning cruise.
For traditional, six-star luxury, Crystal Cruises is rarely outdone. From the Frette linens and robes to the Riedel crystal wine glasses to the spa that’s frequently voted World’s Best at sea, all amenities are top tier. Room service is available 24 hours a day, and the menus were developed by star chefs Piero Selvaggio and Nobuyuki Matsuhisa.
During your days at sea, you can learn a foreign language, a musical instrument, or a new software program at the Creative Learning Institute. Golfers will appreciate the driving range, putting green, and resident pro. And tennis players will enjoy the top-deck paddle tennis court.
If you want to visit Australia and don’t like to fly, Crystal Symphony’s February 28 repositioning cruise is the perfect solution. You’ll sail from Los Angeles, spend five days at sea before calling at Hilo, Lahaina, and Honolulu, Hawaii. After another ten relaxing sea days, you’ll arrive relaxed and refreshed in Sydney on March 18.
