Royal Caribbean has five ships sailing in the Mediterranean in the summer of 2010.  All five ships return to spend the winter in the Caribbean or Southern Hemisphere.  So there are five transatlantic repositioning cruises on Royal Caribbean to choose from this fall.

Because Royal Caribbean’s ships offer so much, they’re great for repositioning cruises.  There’s never a shortage of things to do and see on these ships.  And with fares starting as low as $499 for 14 nights, these are fantastic cruise deals.

Adventure of the Seas

Navigator of the Seas is an especially good choice for cruisers who like to play sports and stay fit.  Passengers can ice skate, play golf, basketball or volleyball, in-line skate, or work out in the fitness center.  Afterwards, the spa is the perfect place to relieve sore muscles.

When it’s time for dinner, Portofino Italian restaurant and Chops Grille are alternatives to the main dining rooms.

Navigator of the Seas leaves Rome on Saturday, October 23, 2010 and calls at Toulon, Barcelona, Cartagena, Malaga, and Tenerife before crossing the Atlantic.  She arrives in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday, November 6, after a week at sea.  This is a nice itinerary for cruisers who want to see some Mediterranean ports before relaxing and enjoying the many amenities Navigator has to offer.

A sister ship of Navigator of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas sails on Sunday, November 7, 2010, from Barcelona, Spain.  She visits Cartagena, and then has a day at sea before calling at Funchal in Madiera and La Palma in the Canary Islands.  These are interesting ports you’re not likely to visit unless you’re on a cruise.  She spends the next six days at sea, and then visits Nassau in the Bahamas.  She arrives in Galveston, Texas on Sunday, November 21, after two more days at sea.   With a total of nine sea days, there’s plenty of time to unwind on this voyage.

The 1,800-passengers Splendour of the Seas is small by Royal Caribbean standards.  In fact, she carries about 1,300 passengers fewer than Navigator.   But there’s still plenty do with a fitness center, solarium with retractable roof, and 18 hole mini golf course.

Splendour of the Seas sails from Barcelona on November 27, 2010, which is the Saturday following Thanksgiving.  Port visits before crossing the Atlantic include Cadiz, Lisbon, and Tenerife.  She spends six days making the crossing before arriving in Salvador, Brazil.   She spend one more day at sea before calling at Rio de Janeiro.  Passengers disembark the next day, December 12, in Sao Paolo, Brazil.

Adventure of the Seas entertains its 3,114 passengers with an ice-skating rink, rock-climbing wall, and full-sized basketball court.  Johnny Rockets 1950s-style hamburger restaurant is a fun alternative to the dining rooms and buffet.  And the 15,000-square-foot spa offer a wide selection of health and beauty treatments.

The Royal Promenade

On Sunday, November 28, 2010, Adventure of the Seas leaves Barcelona, and calls at Toulon, Ajaccio in Corsica, Palma de Mallorca, and Cartagena.  After a day at sea, she visits Grand Canary Island on Saturday and Tenerife on Sunday.  A week later, on December 12, she arrives in San Juan, Puerto Rico where passengers leave the ship.

One of Royal Caribbean’s first Vision Class vessels, Vision of the Seas has a soaring atrium lobby that’s flooded with natural light.  It’s a bright ship with many floor-to-ceiling windows and skylights.  The indoor, solarium pool adjacent to the spa and fitness center lets passengers enjoy some pool time whatever the weather.  And  the two-story dining room is especially attractive.

Some of the inside cabins have windows that overlook the Promenade — Vision’s café and boutique-lined main street.

Vision of the Seas leaves Lisbon on November 30,2010 and calls at both Grand Canary Island and Tenerife before crossing the Atlantic.   Six days later, she arrives in Recife, Brazil.   She has a sea day, a port call at Salvador, another sea day, and a port call in Rio before disembarking passengers in Sao Paolo on December 14.

Find more Royal Caribbean repositioning cruises here.

Adventure of the Seas Image Flickr: briandrum
The Royal Promenade Image Flickr: GregM35

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MSC started out as a cargo shipping company. In the late 1980s, they began carrying passengers, and today, they’re one of the fastest growing cruise lines in the world – with one of the newest fleets.

They add new ships and itineraries to their repertoire often. Most of their programs are in the Mediterranean, and the Baltic has recently been added. For more exotic ports, their repositioning cruises are just the thing.

Because so many of MSC’s passengers are European, they’re best for Americans who enjoy other cultures and continental cuisine. Italian language classes are a popular on-board activity. And the Euro is often the currency used on board.

The ships are clean and modern, with an Italian sense of style. Polished wood and marble set the tone. Given the overall quality of the experience, cruise fares and incidentals are very well priced. Wine and cocktails on the ships are especially reasonable.

The dining rooms serve seven-course dinners with an emphasis on authentic Italian and Mediterranean specialties. Vegetarian and healthy options are also available. The breads baked each day are always tempting. And unlike most cruise lines today, MSC still offers a full midnight buffet.

To work it all off, there’s a fitness center with basic classes, a jogging track, and a spa.

Repositioning cruises on MSC Sinfonia.

Acquired in 2004 from now defunct Festival Cruises, Sinfonia has a musical theme. In addition to the usual fitness facilities, there’s also a tennis court and a whirlpool and sauna.

Cabins are on the smallish side, but all have a desk, small fridge, in-room safe, and ample closet and storage space. Suites have balconies, bathtubs, and sitting areas.

Sinfonia sails from Durban, South Africa on April 1, 2010 and visits Cape Town, and then spends ten days sailing up the west coast of Africa, calling at Walvis Bay in Namibia, and Dakar, Senegal along the way. From there, she visits Tenerife in the Canary Islands, Funchal, Madeira, Malaga, and Rome before arriving in Genoa on April 22.

This repositioning cruise is a great chance to visit some off-the-beaten ports in Africa that you wouldn’t otherwise see.

Repositioning cruises on MSC Orchestra.

Those who love the sea will enjoy the 3,000-passenger Orchestra. With 80% outside staterooms, and 60% of cabins having balconies, there are plenty of places to enjoy the view.

Launched in 2007, she’s one of the new breed of MSC vessels and she’s pretty impressive. From the Zen Garden to the Sushi Bar to the LED screen for movies under the stars, she has pleasant surprises in store for passengers who board for the transatlantic repositioning cruise.

On April 20, 2010, she sails from Sao Paolo, Brazil and calls at Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, and Recife in Brazil before transiting the Atlantic. After the crossing, she arrives in Tenerife, and calls at Funchal, Lisbon, Vigo, and Dover before disembarking passengers in Amsterdam on May 7.

With ten ports and eight sea days, this itinerary has a nice balance of sightseeing and relaxation.

Repositioning cruises on MSC Poesia.

A sister ship to Orchestra, Poesia’s atrium lobby has a waterfall that cascades down three decks. She offers one transatlantic repositioning cruise in April, but you can embark or disembark in different ports.

She leaves Fort Lauderdale on April 27, and spends two days sailing up the U.S. east coast before arriving in New York. Passengers can also board the ship there on April 30. She spends five days crossing the Atlantic, and then arrives in Ponta Delgada, Portugal.

She arrives midday in Lisbon and sails at 2AM the next day. Then calls at La Coruna, and Bilbao before arriving in Dover. Passengers can disembark there on May 13 or stay aboard and disembark in Hamburg two days later.

Americans looking for an authentic European cruise experience will enjoy MSC.

Find more transatlantic repositioning cruises here.

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Holland America Line transatlantic repositioning cruises in April 2010.

In business since 1873, Holland America Line has one of the most impressive legacies in the cruising industry. Over the years, they’ve established a tradition of excellence in every area of cruising. And today, they’re offering new services and amenities to ensure that they continue to exceed their passengers’ expectations.

Their ships are some of the most beautiful at sea, and an upgrade program begun in 2006 has brought them up to date. Decorated with fine art and articles from the line’s nautical traditions, they are sophisticated and refined. A nice feature of their ships is the Culinary Arts Center, where guests are treated to cooking demonstrations and wine-tasting classes. The center doubles as a cinema for daily movie screenings.

The Explorations Café is a coffee house/Internet center/library where you can relax or reconnect with family and friends back home. There’s a wide range of enrichment programs and lectures, and they’re broadcast in the staterooms.

Their chefs are members of Confrerie de le Chaine des Rotisseurs, which means their food is a cut above. In addition to a menu of Continental favorites, there are vegetarian options, and spa selections available each night. The Pacific Northwest-style Pinnacle Grill restaurant is worth the additional cover charge. Don’t miss the Dungeness crab cakes or the delicious bread pudding. Open seating is available from 5PM to 9PM.

The fitness clubs offer classes at no extra charge. There’s a sports court and jogging track. And the Greenhouse Spa has a variety of treatments available. Holland America is offering two repositioning cruises in 2010.

Eurodam has a larger than average Spa and Salon with a hydropool and thermal suites. She also has the largest gymnasium of any HAL ship. Nearly 70% of the staterooms have balconies. Facilities for children and teenagers make it a good choice for families. And the exhibition kitchen has video monitors for cooking demonstrations. Coffee lovers will enjoy the Crow’s Nest which has MP3 music and Internet stations, and specialty coffees.

Eurodam sails from Fort Lauderdale on April 3, 2010, and arrives in Lisbon eight days later. She calls at Portimao, Portugal, and Cadiz, Almeria, Ibiza and Barcelona in Spain, and Monte Carlo, Monaco before arriving in Rome on April 19. Passengers can disembark then or stay on board and visit Dubrovnik, Corfu, Katakolon, Santorini, Ephesus, Athens, and Sicily before returning to Rome on April 29.

With a passenger capacity of 1,916, Westerdam has more space per passenger than many other HAL ships. The Greenhouse Spa on this ship has 11 treatment rooms and a hydrotherapy pool.

Passengers can opt for set times or open seating in the two-story main dining room, or dine at the Pinnacle Grill, Lido Restaurant, or Windstar Café. The outdoor seating area next to the Crow’s Nest is a quiet spot with great views.

On April 14, 2010, she sails from Fort Lauderdale and spends seven days at sea before arriving in Funchal, Medeira. After another day at sea, she calls at Cadiz and Almeria in Spain, and then visits Corsica, Rome, Naples, Split, and Venice. Passengers overnight in visit on May 3, and disembark the next morning. This is a great itinerary with nine wonderful ports. And by the time you get to Funchal, you be rested and ready to go. Fares at price time were running up to 60% off, making it a great cruise deal.

Find more transatlantic repositioning cruises here.

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