Thanksgiving is a great time to travel.  The crowds are less hectic than they are at Christmas.  The weather is better in many places.  And for many workers, two paid holidays can really help extend vacation time.

Plus, if Mom’s cooked turkey dinner for the last twenty years, maybe it’s time to give her a break and let someone else do the cooking — and the clean up.  Trust us, there will be plenty of leftovers for all.

Repositioning cruises are always some of the best cruise bargains, and this year, late November sailings are especially well priced.

On Wednesday, November 18, Costa Cruises’ Costa Magica departs Savona, Italy bound for Brazil.  This is a great itinerary that augments seven sea days with eleven port calls, including Malaga, Casablanca, Tenerife, the Cape Verde Islands, and six ports in Brazil, including Rio and Sao Paolo.  Costa is known for their Italian hospitality and warm service.  And guests will enjoy the modern fitness center and spa.  Ocean-view cabins start at $899. for 18 nights.

Royal Caribbean’s 2,400-passenger Vision of the Seas sails from Lisbon on Thursday, November 19.  Passengers on this 14-night itinerary will visit Funchal, Madeira and Tenerife in the Canary Islands before calling at Recife, Salvador, Rio de Janeiro, and Sao Paolo, Brazil.   Ocean-view cabins start at just $788, making this one of the least expensive trans-Atlantic repositioning cruises.

If you can get away for nearly three weeks, Costa Cruises’ 18-night voyage aboard the Costa Concordia has one of the lowest per diems ever.  With ocean view cabins as low as $899, rates are under $50 per night, per person.

The itinerary begins in Savona, Italy on Sunday, November 22, and calls at several ports in Spain and Portugal before arriving at Funchal, Madeira.  The ship spends five days at sea before arriving in Recife, Brazil and stops in four Brazilian ports, including Rio de Janeiro, before disembarking passengers in Sao Paolo on Thursday, December 10.

Those with less time can sail from Southampton on Monday, November 23, aboard Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas.  Passengers will visit Le Havre and Cherbourg in France, and Vigo, Spain before arriving in Funchal.  There are six sea days before the ship docks in Fort Lauderdale.  And with a water park, FlowRider surf simulator, cantilevered whirlpools, and a full-size boxing ring, you’ll have plenty to keep you occupied.  Ocean-view staterooms start at $937.

Oceania Cruise Lines is one of our favorites.  Their roughly 700-passenger ships are small enough to call at off-the-beaten path ports, and service and dining are first rate.  Their Insignia sails from Barcelona on Wednesday, November 25, and visits Gibraltar and Porto Grande in the Cape Verde Islands.  After several days at sea, Insignia calls at Recife and Salvador before arriving in Rio de Janeiro.  Passengers enjoy an overnight in Rio before disembarking.

Seabourn Spirit sails from Fort Lauderdale the day after Thanksgiving bound for St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands.  The Yachts of Seabourn are some of the nicest ships at sea and with capacity for just 208 passengers, the Spirit is no exception.  Port calls on this 5-night sailing include Grand Turk in Turks & Caicos, and Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands.

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