But you don’t have to do it on your own, and you don’t have to forego all the creature comforts either. A transatlantic repositioning cruise on one of Star Clippers’ three tall ships offers you the best of both worlds – the romance and adventure of days gone by and the amenities of a modern cruise ship.

Royal Clipper in Barbados

Star Clippers lets passengers spend their days enjoying life at sea. You can join the Captain on the bridge, assist with sailing the vessel, or just relax by the pool. Life aboard ship is casual and relaxed, and on beach days, passengers can enjoy the water directly from the marina at the ship’s stern. A nice selection of water sports equipment is available.

Royal Clipper, a five-masted vessel modeled after the tall ships built around the turn of the century, has 42 sails and 21,000 square feet of teak decking. She’s the flagship of the line and the largest passenger sailing vessel in the world. Her 227 passengers enjoy staterooms with air conditioning, private bathrooms, telephone, and television. All but six of the cabins are outside.

Special harnesses let guests climb the mast to a crow’s nest for unbelievable views and photos. And there’s a small fitness center, spa, pool, sauna, library, and plenty of space out on deck for enjoying the fresh air. Dress is casual — even in the multi-deck dining room, and there are several bars where you can have a before or after-dinner drink.

Royal Clipper sails from Rome to Barbados on October 15, 2011, calling at 11 ports in Corsica, Spain, Morocco, Portugal, and the Canary Islands en route. The voyage takes 28 days, but passengers with less time can join the ship in Lisbon on October 27 and call at Morocco and Tenerife before crossing the Atlantic.

Star Flyer and Star Clipper are four-masted vessels with a capacity of 170 passengers. Teak decks, brass fittings, and mahogany rails give these ships an old-world feel. There’s even a fireplace in the Edwardian-style library. Private bathrooms in the staterooms have marble accents.

Tenerife, a popular port on repositioning cruises

Star Flyer leaves St. Maarten on April 2, 2011 and visits the Azores, Portugal, Spain, Morocco, and St. Tropez before arriving in Monte Carlo on April 30. Passengers can also disembark Star Flyer in Lisbon on April 20.

On April 9, 2011, Star Clipper sails from St. Maarten bound for Athens. In addition to the Azores, Portugal, Morocco, and Spain, she also calls at Tunisia, Italy, Malta, and Greece. The 35-night cruise arrives in Athens on May 14, 2011 but passengers looking for a shorter cruise can leave the ship in Lisbon on April 27.

At the end of the Mediterranean season, Star Flyer sails from Cannes on October 8, 2011. The 29-night voyage arrives in Barbados on November 6. A 22-night cruise that leaves from Malaga on October 15 is also available.

Star Clipper leaves Athens on October 8, 2011 and arrives in St. Maarten 35 nights later, on November 12. Passengers boarding in Malaga on October 22 enjoy a 21-night cruise. Those who board in Las Palmas on October 29, sail for two weeks.

Royal Clipper returns to Barbados from Rome on October 15, 2011. The 28-night voyage includes multiple calls in Casablanca and Safi, Morocco. Travelers joining the cruise in Lisbon on October 27, arrive in Barbados 16 nights later.

Find more transatlantic repositioning cruises here.

Royal Clipper in Barbados Image Flickr: gailf548
Tenerife, a popular port on repositioning cruises Image Flickr: ReservasdeCoches.com

But the season is a short one. By mid- to late-October, most of the fall color is gone and the weather becomes less attractive. At that time, most of the cruise ships head for Florida, which they use as a base for Caribbean cruises.

Fall foliage repositioning cruises offers travelers the chance to see Canada’s craggy coastline and quaint fishing villages up close, as well as some of America’s most historic ports. It’s a hassle-free vacation that will completely transport you, without the jet lag.

Quebec City

The first ship to head south is Holland America’s Eurodam, which sails from Quebec City on October 6. She sails the St. Lawrence Seaway to Baie-Comeau and Gaspe in the province of Quebec, then calls at Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island, Sydney and Halifax in Nova Scotia, Bar Harbor, Maine and Gloucester, Massachusetts. She spends two days sailing along the east coast before arriving in Fort Lauderdale on October 16.

Readers of Ann of Green Gables will find the rolling hills and neat farms of Prince Edward Island strangely familiar.

On October 9, Holland America’s Maasdam sails from Montreal and calls the next day at Quebec City. Passengers have a full day to explore this delightful, old world charmer before sailing for Saguenay, Baie-Comeau, and Gaspe. Like Eurodam, Maasdam also visits Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Maine, and Massachusetts. But she spends three days at sea before arriving in Fort Lauderdale. This gives passengers plenty of time to relax and enjoy the spa, fitness center, and Culinary Arts Center.

The 3,120-passenger Crown Princess embarks cruisers in Quebec City on October 17 and berths there overnight. Passengers can spend the evening and the following day enjoying the old town before sailing for Saguenay. After calling at Halifax and Bar Harbor, Crown Princess visits Boston, Newport, Rhode Island — where passengers can tour the fabulous homes of the American aristocracy — Brooklyn, and charming Norfolk, Virginia. After a day at sea, she arrives in Charleston, South Carolina, one of the most attractive towns in the South. After a second day at sea, she arrives in Fort Lauderdale, where passengers disembark on October 30.

Lighthouse at Prince Edward Island

Luxury cruisers can board Crystal Symphony in Montreal on October 22. Passengers spend the night on board and sail at 9PM the following night for Quebec City. She stays there until midnight, giving passengers time to enjoy Quebec City in the evening. After two days at sea, she calls at Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Portland, Maine before overnighting in Boston. Next, she calls at Newport, Rhode Island. Passengers can disembark in New York on November 2, or stay aboard, transit the Panama Canal, and go all the way to Los Angeles.

MSC Cruises’ Poesia offer travelers three options, depending on how much time they have. She sails from Quebec City on October 23 and visits Sydney in Nova Scotia, Boston, and Newport before arriving in Manhattan. Passengers can disembark there or stay on board, spend the evening in New York, and arrive in Fort Lauderdale after a day at sea. They can also continue on to Jamaica, Columbia, Panama, Costa Rica, and Cancun, disembarking in Fort Lauderdale on November 11.

Read about other coastal repositioning cruises.

Quebec City Image Flickr: David Paul Ohmer
Lighthouse at Prince Edward Island Image Flickr: cphoffman42

No one got stuck making the beds or doing the dishes. Everyone had their own personal space and could spend the day as they pleased. And we even ate leftover turkey on Friday – though there were plenty of other choices.

To be honest, snorkeling and kayaking off the Baja coast was one of the most memorable Thanksgiving holidays we’ve ever had. Not traditional – but in some ways, better. So if you’re looking for a different way to celebrate Thanksgiving this year, a repositioning cruise might be just the thing.

Windstar Wind Spirit

Depending on the ship you choose, there will probably be a big-screen TV showing all the big games. There are plenty of pies to choose from. And you can just relax and enjoy the good life.

Thanksgiving repositioning cruises from Spain and Portugal.

Carrying 700 passengers, Oceania’s Regatta is a really nice size cruise ship. It’s big enough to have all the amenities, including a Canyon Ranch SpaClub, six restaurants, and lots of fitness facilities. But small enough to be manageable. After a few days – especially on a repositioning cruise – many of the staff will know you by name.

Oceania sails from Barcelona on November 13, 2010 and calls at Tangier and Funchal before crossing the Atlantic. After five says at sea, she arrives in Hamilton, Bermuda and overnights there. Passengers spend Thanksgiving at sea, which gives them plenty of time to dress up for dinner and enjoy a leisurely turkey dinner and after-dinner show. Passengers disembark in Miami on November 27.

Wind Spirit is one of the smaller Windstar computer-assisted sailing vessels. Her 148 passengers enjoy a country club casual ambience where the most exciting activity is spotting dolphins riding the bow waves. Those who enjoy plenty of time at sea can board her in Lisbon on November 20 for a two-week cruise to St. Maarten, in the Netherlands Antilles. There are no port calls along the way – just lots of rest, relaxation, and good food.

Barcelona

Seabourn’s 208-passenger Legend offers its guest a true luxury experience with complimentary beverages, cuisine by celebrated chef Charlie Palmer, and all-suite accommodations. She sails from Malaga, Spain on November 20 and calls at Funchall, Madeira two days later. After nine days at sea, she arrives in Fort Lauderdale on December 3.

Thanksgiving repositioning cruises from Rome.

Cruisers who have more time and want to visit some European ports before crossing the Atlantic can board Seabourn Legend in Rome on November 13. Passengers will spend the extra week exploring Florence or Pisa, Barcelona, Valencia, and Palma de Mallorca before arriving in Malaga.

The 694-passenger Azamara Journey is another mid-size ship with big-ship amenities and small-ship service. In fact, the crew-to-guest ratio is one of the highest in the industry. Cruisers who want to experience all Azamara has to offer can board Journey in Rome on November 15 and call at Cartagena, Gibraltar, and Tenerife in the Canary Islands. After a week at sea, she arrive in Nassau, and then disembarks passengers the next day, November 29, in Miami.

Find more transatlantic repositioning cruises here.

Windstar Wind Spirit Image Flickr:  ed and eddie
Barcelona Image Flickr: papalars

Cruise ships today have plenty of amenities to further the process – from couples massages to tables for two under the stars. So if you’re looking for a romantic getaway for two, a repositioning cruise may be just what the doctor ordered.

Wind Star

Two of the most romantic ships at sea are Sea Dream I and Sea Dream II from Sea Dream Yacht Club. With Balinese beds, lots of ways to dine alone, and just 108 fellow passengers, you’ll feel like you’re on your own personal yacht. In October, Sea Dream I sails from Malaga, Spain to San Juan Puerto Rico. In April, she sails from San Juan to Southampton.

Sea Dream II also offers two repositioning cruises. She sails from Lisbon to San Juan in November and Barbados to Malaga in April. Couples should plan to spend a few nights in Barbados before boarding the ship.

Windstar has three cruise ships that combine the efficiency of motor sailing with the romance of sailing. Wind Spirit and Wind Star each carry 148 passengers and Wind Surf carries 312. The water sports platform at the ship’s stern makes it easy to explore the undersea world, and the hammocks in the rigging were made for two.

Wind Surf and Wind Spirit sail from Lisbon in November. Wind Surf passengers leave the ship in Barbados. Wind Spirit passengers disembark in St. Maarten. Wind Surf and Wind Star return to Lisbon from the Caribbean in April.

Larger cruise ships that are still great for romance.

The most luxurious of the medium-sized ship cruise lines, Crystal has suites with private verandahs and Jacuzzi tubs, fine dining restaurants from Nobu Matsuhisa and Piero Selvaggio, and a world-class spa with lots of treatments for couples.

Crystal Serenity

Crystal Serenity repositions from Lisbon to Miami in December, and calls in Ponta Delgada and Turks & Caicos on the way. For those who prefer the Pacific, she sails from Los Angeles to Papeete, Tahiti in January. Passengers on this repositioning cruise overnight aboard the ship in Honolulu and call at Moorea before arriving in Papeete. There are few places more romantic than Tahiti, and cruisers arrive in the island rested and with no jet lag.

Oceania Cruises launched several years ago with three 700-passenger ships that had been built by Renaissance Cruises. Their three ships offer cruisers dining overseen by Jacques Pepin, Canyon Ranch SpaClub facilities, and even private, pool-side cabanas for two.

Oceania Regatta sails from Barcelona to Miami in November. Passengers enjoy an overnight call in Hamilton, Bermuda en route. In December, Oceania Insignia leaves Barcelona bound for Rio. She visits Recife and Salvador in Brazil before arriving in beautiful, sultry Rio de Janeiro. Oceania Marina sails from Barcelona to Miami in January and returns in March. That same month, Insignia sails from Buenos Aires to Barcelona.

Wind Star Image Flickr: HBarrison
Crystal Serenity Image Flickr: 3DSumoWrestler

Passed in 1920 as the Merchant Marine Act, it prohibits foreign-flagged cruise ships from transporting passengers from one U.S.port to another unless they stop in a foreign country en route. That’s why NCL’s Pride of America is the only cruise ship sailing exclusively in the Hawaiian Islands. It’s registered in America and has an American crew, which is more expensive than registering a ship in the Bahamas and hiring Filipinos or Eastern Europeans as crew.

Kona, Hawaii

If you want to cruise from the west coast to Hawaii, you’ll either have to take a round trip cruise from Southern California that calls in Mexico at some point, or you’ll need to take a repositioning cruise that leaves from Canada at the end of the Alaska cruising season.

These cruises let passengers arrive in Hawaii rested and relaxed, with no jet lag. There’s usually plenty of elbow room with fewer passengers on board. And the ship serves as your resort in Hawaii, taking you to a beautiful new location every day, once you cross the Pacific.

Carnival Spirit has capacity and facilities for 2,667 passengers, so you’ll have plenty of activities and venues to enjoy during your days and nights at sea. She has four pools, a gym, a spa, and a huge casino, and a fun supper club for dinner and dancing. She sails from Vancouver on September 14 and spends five days at sea before arriving in Kona, on the Big Island of Hawaii. The next day she calls at Kauai and then sails for Hilo, on the other side of the Big Island. She overnights at both Kahului, Maui, and Honolulu, giving passengers the opportunity to sample island nightlife ashore.

The lovely, 710-passenger Royal Princess is one of the cruise ships that used to belong to Renaissance Cruises. The size is very appealing – she’s big enough to have all the amenities, but small enough to have minimal impact on the ports she visits. There’s a good spa and two alternative restaurants: Sabatini’s and Sterling Steakhouse. Cruisers can choose between a ten-night cruise to Hawaii and a fabulous 22-night voyage to Tahiti.

Royal Princess

Royal Princess sails from Vancouver on September 14 and arrives at Hilo on September 20. From there, she visits Lahaina, Maui, and Kauai before sailing to Hawaii. Passengers can disembark there or stay aboard and return to Kauai, Maui, and Hilo, before sailing for Bora Bora. Passengers overnight on board in Bora Bora and visit Raiatea and Moorea before leaving the ship in Papeete on October 6.

Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of the Seas is another mega cruise ship with all the bells and whistles of a 2,500-passenger ship. She leaves from Vancouver on September 17 and arrives off the coast of the Big Island on September 23, where she sails past Kilauea Volcano at night so passengers can watch the volcano spewing lava against the midnight sky. Fantastic! She spends a day in Hilo and Kona, overnights in Lahaina, and then spends a day in Kauai before overnighting in Honolulu. Cruisers leave the ship in Honolulu on September 29.

Read about other cruises from Vancouver here.

Kona, Hawaii Image Flickr: Hitchster
Royal Princess Image Flickr: lyng883

One-way airfare is around $150, per person, and transfers are usually available through the cruise lines.

Parliament Building Victoria B.C.

For less than $500 per person, you can enjoy the cruise experience and all that goes with it – beautiful views of the coast, dining out each evening, dancing, seeing a Broadway-style show, and testing your luck in the casino.

Celebrity Millennium is a striking ship with a 25,000-square-foot spa, a demonstration kitchen, wine cellar for private dining, and a digital music library. For those who want a nice long cruise with several port visits, Millenium has a ten-night voyage that leaves from Vancouver on September 17 and calls at Nanaimo and Victoria on Vancouver Island before arriving in Seattle. After a day at sea, she arrives in San Francisco and overnights there, sailing at 8PM on Thursday, September 23. This gives passengers the opportunity to have dinner in San Francisco. The next day, she calls in Monterey, then spends a day at sea before spending a day at Catalina Island. Passengers leave the ship in San Diego on September 27.

Princess has two west coast repositioning cruises this September. The 1,900-passenger Coral Princess sails from Vancouver on Saturday, September 18 and spends two days at sea before arriving in Los Angeles on Tuesday, September 21. During the time at sea, cruisers can play mini-golf or use the sport court, enjoy entertainment in the three showrooms, get a treatment in the spa, or just enjoy some time by the pool. Sabatini’s and Bayou Café and Steakhouse provide alternatives to the main dining room.

Golden Princess leaves Vancouver the next Sunday, September 26 and does the same itinerary, arriving in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 29. This 2,600-passenger vessel, a sister ship to Grand Princess, has a central piazza with a coffee house and wine bar, the Crown Grill Steakhouse, and an adults-only Sanctuary for relaxing.

Golden Gate Bridge

With a bowling alley, ten restaurants, a dozen bars, rock-climbing wall, and sports bar with games by day and cool lounging beds in the evenings, Norwegian Pearl has more than you can likely do in just five days. She sails from Vancouver on September 19 for Astoria, Oregon. Passengers can explore Astoria or visit the nearby Oregon beach towns. After a day at sea, she calls at San Francisco, and then spends another day at sea en route to Los Angeles, where she docks on September 24.

Cruisers who want a little more time to enjoy NCL’s Freestyle Dining and amenities can board Norwegian Star in Vancouver on October 2 for a 6-night cruise that visits Victoria, Astoria, and San Francisco. Norwegian Star was 14 lounges and bars, a two-level Mandara spa, 24-hour fitness center, and driving range.

Read about West Coast cruises on Holland America here.

Parliament Building Victoria B.C. image Flickr: WriterGal39
Golden Gate Bridge image Flickr: chadh

For residents of California, Washington, or Oregon, these repositioning cruises are a terrific value and a hassle-free way to enjoy everything that cruising has to offer – good food, entertainment, cool amenities, and a complete escape from the same old routine.

Victoria’s Inner Harbor

This September, there are five Holland American ships sailing down the Pacific coast from Vancouver to California. Known for their classic-style cruise ships, impressive art collections, and excellent service, Holland America also has innovative new programs and amenities that will make your days at sea stimulating and enjoyable.

The flagship of the line, Rotterdam VI, features one of the most exciting additions to Holland America ships in recent years – the Culinary Arts Center. This state-of-the-art exhibition kitchen is where you’ll go for cooking classes, wine tastings, demonstrations, and more. It’s a great facility that’s been a big hit with passengers. And it’s now available on all Holland America cruise ships.

Rotterdam VI leaves Vancouver on Sunday, September 19 and spends two days at sea before arriving in San Diego on Wednesday morning, September 22. Which means that you can have a relaxing mini-vacation and still be back at work by Thursday. At press time, Southern California residents could fly one-way to Vancouver for less than $200, and cruise fares were as low as $199 per person. So it’s very affordable.

Their Ryndam adds an extra day to the voyage, so if sea days are your thing, it’s a great choice. You’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the two pools, one of which is under a retractable glass dome, tennis, the spa, sauna, and steam bath. Like Rotterdam VI, she sails from Vancouver on September 19, but she doesn’t arrive in San Diego until Thursday, September 23 – giving you an extra night to enjoy a Broadway-style show in the Vermeer Show Lounge.

Bay Area residents can board Zuiderdam in Vancouver on Saturday, September 25 and disembark in San Francisco on Tuesday, September 28. With one of the highest space-per-guest ratios in the Holland America fleet, Zuiderdam is a delight. The huge spa has a hydrotherapy pool, aroma therapy rooms, a sauna, steam room, and eleven treatment rooms. You can arrange to be pampered to your heart’s content. A variety of dining options make it possible eat in a different restaurant every night of your cruise.

Holland America’s Ryndam

On Sunday, September 26, Statendam sails from Vancouver bound for Victoria, British Columbia. Victoria is a charming town, that’s very British in feel. Passengers can explore the Provincial Museum with it’s impressive totem poles and coastal art, visit the beautiful Empress Hotel on the Inner Harbor, or go for an optional tour of Butchart Gardens. She arrives in San Diego on September 30, following two days at sea.

Like Zuiderdam, Osterdam has lots of extra room and extensive spa facilities. And with two port calls and two sea days, her fall repositioning cruise offers a good balance of sightseeing and relaxing. Osterdam sails from Vancouver on Monday, September 27, so consider spending the weekend there before boarding the ship. She calls at Astoria, Oregon the next day. From there, you can take a side trip to Cannon Beach or Seaside. Passengers will have two days to enjoy the ship’s amenities before calling at Catalina Island. There’s plenty to do on Catalina, and in the surrounding water. Go for a snorkeling trip, take a glass-bottom boat ride, or do some shopping in Avalon. Osterdam arrives in San Diego on Saturday morning, October 2.

Victoria’s Inner Harbor Image Flickr: dbaron
Holland America’s Ryndam Image Flickr: wch14

On September 2, Silversea Silver Whisper leaves Southampton, and calls at Fowey, England the following day. Between Plymouth and Falmouth, Fowey is a rarely visited medieval port town with a pretty esplanade and great seafood. The following day, Silver Whisper calls at Waterford, Ireland. After four days at sea, she arrives in St. John’s Newfoundland, followed by another sea day, then Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Lobby of the MSC Poesia

Passengers will have a full day to explore the historic “cottages” of Newport, Rhode Island before disembarking in New York on September 14.

This 13-night voyage has a nice balance of port calls and time at sea, and Silver Whisper’s all-suite accommodations ensure that all passengers will be comfortable. The menus designed by chefs from Relais & Chateaux, and treatments and services at the Mandara Spa make the sea days especially enjoyable. And wines, Champagne, and other spirits are included in the cruise fare.

Sailing from Copenhagen on September 4, Costla Atlantica visits Bremerhaven, Germany, before calling at Harwich and Le Havre, France. After five days crossing the Atlantic, she visits Sydney and Halifax in Nova Scotia, Bar Harbor, Maine, Boston, Massachusetts, and Newport, Rhode Island before arriving in New York on September 19. Passengers will have two nights in New York before disembarking on September 21.

With Carrara marble accents, a recreation of one of the most famous cafes on the Piazza San Marco in Venice, and the Via Veneto Lounge, Costa Atlantica is Italian through and through. Expect many of your fellow passengers to be European on this cruise.

Another European cruise line, MSC has a repositioning cruise on September 4. MSC Poesia sails from Kiel, Germany to Copenhagen, Denmark. After a sea day, she visits Southampton and Le Havre. Passengers will have half a day to explore Vigo, Spain, and then a full day in Lisbon before sailing for the Azores. The 13,000-sqare-foot-spa is a great place to unwind during the four days Poesia spends en route to Bermuda. She arrives at King’s Wharf at 8 in the morning on Saturday and sails on Sunday afternoon, giving passengers the opportunity to spend the evening ashore in Bermuda. She arrives in New York on Tuesday afternoon and docks for the night. Passengers disembark the next morning – September 22.

Crystal Serenity Tenders

The luxurious Crystal Symphony sails from Dover on September 5 and calls at Dublin, Reykjavik, Nuuk in Greenland, and Halifax, Nova Scotia before arriving in New York on September 19. With nine days at sea, there’s plenty of time to enjoy the shipboard amenities, including a wraparound teak promenade, a state-of-the-art spa, putting green, and paddle tennis court. Two alternative restaurants, one Italian and one Asian, provide plenty of dining variety.

Families with children will enjoy the voyage aboard Disney Magic, which sails from Barcelona on September 18. She has full days in Gibraltar and Funchal, Madeira, before spending five days sailing to the Caribbean. There, she visits St. Maarten, Tortola in the British Virgin Islands, and Castaway Cay, in the Bahamas, which was voted the best private island in the Caribbean. Passengers leave the ship in Port Canaveral on October 2.

Although Disney cruises are designed for kids, adults enjoy the progressive dining program in which passengers change dining rooms several times during the course of the cruise. There are plenty of adults-only spaces on board. And kids’ programs and babysitting services ensure that parents have some alone time.

Find Princess transatlantic repositioning cruises.
Find Royal Caribbean transatlantic repositioning cruises.

Lobby of the MSC Poesia Image Flickr: Tambako the Jaguar
Crystal Serenity Tenders Image Flickr: Der Etienne

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.

You can find more transatlantic repositioning cruises here.

Newfoundland Image Flickr: jurek d.
Edinburgh Castle at night Image Flickr: http2007

A sister ship of the Caribbean Princess, Crown Princess is one of Princess’s newest ships. With more than 900 balcony staterooms, it’s a great ship for those who love being at sea. There’s a Sabatini’s Italian restaurant and Crown Grill in addition to the main dining rooms, and a Lotus Spa for relaxing. The atrium lobby is like a piazza with a sidewalk café and wine bar.

Crown Princess

She sails from London on September 3, 2010 and calls at Cornwall in England, Belfast and Dublin in Ireland, Iceland, Greenland, and Newfoundland before disembarking passengers in New York on September 17. With seven port calls and seven days at sea, this voyage has a nice balance of activity and relaxation.

Grand Princess launched in 1998 as the first Princess Grand Class ship. For such a large ship — she carries 2,600 passengers — she’s surprisingly intimate with lots of cozy places. The adults-only Sanctuary is a good place to unwind and there’s a nine-hole putting course where you can work on your short game.

On Saturday, September 25, Grand Princess sails from London and visits Bergen in Norway, the Shetland Islands, Denmark, two ports in Iceland, and Nova Scotia before docking in Fort Lauderdale on October 11. With ten days at sea, this is a great choice for cruisers who want to enjoy the ship’s amenities and life at sea.

Ruby Princess is the same class as the Crown Princess, so she has the same dramatic, atrium lobby where passengers gather to enjoy a glass of wine or watch the performers. There are more than 900 balcony cabins to choose from, and several alternative restaurants.

Passengers embark Ruby Princess in Venice on October 8 and overnight onboard. She sails the next day and visits Naples, Rome, Cannes, and Barcelona. After three days at sea, she calls at Ponta Delgada, Portugal and then spends five days at sea en route to Fort Lauderdale. Passengers disembark there on October 24.

Grand Princess

Travelers with a little more time (16 nights) and a taste for the exotic should consider a repositioning cruise on the Star Princess this fall. The ship has three dining rooms, three showrooms, two alternative restaurants, and a full-service spa. With four pools, nine whirlpools, and a golf simulator, there’s plenty to do on sea days, and Movies Under the Stars are a fun evening activity.

Star Princess sails from Rome on Saturday, December 4 and calls at Florence, Cannes, Barcelona, and Casablanca and Agadir in Morocco. After five days at sea, she arrives at Recife in Brazil. After two more sea days, she arrives in Rio de Janeiro, where passengers overnight onboard the ship. They disembark in Rio on Monday, December 20.

Carrying just 64 passengers, Pacific Princess is one of the smallest ships in the Princess fleet. She is one of the R Class ships that Princess acquired from the now defunct Renaissance Cruises. And she’s a real gem to sail on. The food and service are a cut above, and the smaller scale contributes to on-board camaraderie.

Pacific Princess leaves Rome on Sunday, December 5th and visits Florence, Monte Carlo, and Barcelona. She calls at rarely visited Ceuta, which is a Spanish Territory, and then continues on to Casablanca. After visiting Ponta Delgada, Portugal, she spends four days at sea before arriving in Hamilton, Bermuda. She spends another two days at sea before disembarking passengers in Fort Lauderdale on December 22.

Find more Princess repositioning cruises here.

Crown Princess Image Flickr: MoToMo
Grand Princess Image Flickr: P/\UL