April is the peak month for repositioning cruises from Florida or the Caribbean to Europe.  Because there’s so much competition, fares for these cruises are some of the best cruise deals ever.  Just be sure to calculate the cost of airfare before you count your savings.  Because you’ll need an open-jaw ticket, it can add quite a bit to the price.

Disney transatlantic repositioning cruises.

Families with young children will likely feel that Disney Cruise Line was created in 1998 just for them.  Which it kind of was.

Since the ships sail from Port Canaveral, you can start the experience at Walt Disney World, take their transfers to the ship, and never miss a beat.  In fact, cruise passengers who stay at one of the Disney resorts as part of a pre-cruise package check in for their cruise there.

Once on board, there are programs for kids of all ages, include parents, who can relax in several adults-only venues.  Children’s activities run from 9AM to midnight daily. Younger kids enjoy encounters with their favorite Disney characters.  Older ones have a private club with big screen TVs, video games, and Internet café.  There are separate pools for kids, families, and adults.

Food on board in the two casual restaurants is designed to appeal to everyone in the family.  The more formal restaurants are a little more adventurous.  And Palo, the adults-only Italian restaurant, is better still.  One money-saving feature is complimentary iced tea, lemonade, and soft drinks with meals or from the beverage station in the buffet area.

Fitness facilities include a gym, jogging track, aerobic studio, and basketball court.  The spa has three SpaVillas that have indoor and outdoor treatment rooms, balconies with hot tubs, and al fresco showers.

Animation cells and work by Disney artists decorates the public areas.  And an interesting diversion that only Disney can offer are lectures on animation and moviemaking.

There’s a huge LED screen on deck where a variety of programming is shown.

Most of the staterooms sleep at least three, and they have kid-friendly features like higher railings.  Each cabin has a small fridge and a personal safe.

Disney Magic sails from Port Canaveral on April 10, 2010, and calls at Castaway Cay in the Bahamas.  She then spends a week at sea en route to Funchal in Madeira.  From there, she calls at Cadiz and Gibraltar.  She arrives in Barcelona at 7AM on April 23, and passengers overnight on board before disembarking the next morning.

Fred. Olsen transatlantic repositioning cruises.

Most Americans are unfamiliar with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, but they’re very popular with British travelers. In fact, the UK Pound is the on-board currency. The line has been family owned since its founding in 1848, a rarity these days, and the Norwegian nautical heritage is apparent.

They are an especially good choice for cruises to Norway.

Their five ships – each carrying fewer than 1,000 passengers – are small by today’s standard, but they include all the amenities passengers demand, including spas, fitness centers, and exercise classes.  A nice service for golfers is the option to play a round ashore with the resident pro.

The smaller size of their ships lets them visit off-the-beaten-path ports or dock more centrally in larger ones.

Food is above average with lots of fresh seafood – as you’d expect from a Norwegian line.  And there’s a good, affordable wine list.    Afternoon high tea is very popular.

Another nice extra is shuttle service from the pier to beaches or town centers when they’re more than a 15-minute walk.

Braemar is a 968-passenger ship that was originally built in 1993 and refurbished in 2008.  She has a nice, wraparound promenade deck that’s perfect for an early-morning or after-dinner stroll.    Dinner is served in two sittings in the main dining rooms.  There’s also a buffet with indoor and outdoor seating, and a pool-side grill.  If you want a balcony, you’ll need to upgrade to a suite.  But accommodations are snug and attractive.   And single and accessible cabins are available.

On April 15, 2010, Braemar sails from Barbados for St. Lucia.  She calls at Roseau in Domenica and St Maarten before leaving the Caribbean and crossing the Atlantic.  A week later, she arrives in Ponta Delgada, Portugal.  Before disembarking passengers in London on May 1, she also makes port calls at Oporto, Portugal, and La Coruna, Spain.  This itinerary includes some smaller ports that the larger ships don’t visit.  Expect your fellow passengers to be mostly Brits.

Find more transatlantic cruises in April 2010 here.

No comments »

April is when most of the cruise ships that will spend the summer sailing in the Mediterranean or North Atlantic return to Europe. Springtime in the Mediterranean is pleasant, and you’ll miss the heat and crowds of summer.

Most of these sailings are a terrific cruise bargains too with per-day fares as low as $50 per person. Another benefit is that you’ll arrive in Europe rested and relaxed. After several days at sea, you’ll have adjusted to the new time zone with no jet lag, and you’ll be in great shape for sightseeing.

Azamara transatlantic repositioning cruises.

You may not have heard of Azamara Cruises, but their pedigree is first rate. The line was formed in 2007 by parent Royal Caribbean who took two cruise ships from their Celebrity brand, renovated them, and created Azamara. The line was created to provide affordable luxury to travelers interested in exotic destinations, exceptional service, and personal enrichment.

Azamara has on-board experts who offer classes on a variety of topics from photography to wine. Food is a little more ambitious than on most of the mainstream cruise lines, and a dinner in one of the alternative restaurants is included in the fare. Dining is all open seating.

Other nice extras include butler service, daily in-cabin fresh fruit and fresh flowers, flat-screen TVs, and luxury European bedding in all categories. Nearly three quarters of the staterooms have balconies. Suites are especially nice with whirlpool tubs, guest powder rooms, and two TVs.

Active travelers can take advantage of yoga and Pilates classes, as well as the gym, jogging track, and full-service spa.

The 710-passenger Azamara Journey sails from Miami on April 11, 2010 and spends a week crossing the Atlantic before arriving in Ponta Delgada, Portugal. After two more days at sea, she calls at Gibraltar, and Cartagena and Palma de Mallorca in Spain before disembarking passengers in Barcelona on April 25.

Celebrity transatlantic repositioning cruises.

Founded in 1989, Celebrity merged with Royal Caribbean in 1997. Since then, the line has become known for some of the best food at sea, professional service, and its roomy staterooms.

Celebrity has lots of special touches you won’t find on most other cruise ships, including passed hors d’oeuvres served in the lounges between midnight and 1AM, a world-class art collection, and Champagne and caviar bars. A popular feature on their Constellation is “A Taste of Cirque du Soleil,” an entertainment first at sea.

There’s plenty to do on sea days with a variety of enrichment programs, cooking demonstrations, and wine-tasting classes. And the AquaSpa pampers passengers with everything from body wraps to acupuncture treatments and Oriental Medicine rituals. Golfers can play some of the world’s most famous courses in the simulator.

With amenities like chilled Champagne, fresh fruit and flowers, evening canapés, and more comfortable balcony furniture, ConciergeClass staterooms are an affordable cross between cabins and suites. Upgrade to one if you can.

Celebrity Constellation is a Solstice-class ship that features unique amenities like a greenhouse conservatory, extensive facilities and programs for children, an Italian coffee house, a floral shop with classes in flower arranging, and a two-story library. She’s an elegant, sophisticated vessel that looks more like a Manhattan hotel than a cruise ship.

Passengers who want healthy dining choices will appreciate the Aquaspa Café and the Sushi Café.

Constellation Leaves Miami on April 11, 2010 and arrives in Le Havre, France after eight days at sea. From there, she calls at Dover, and Rotterdam before completing the voyage in Hamburg on April 24. Fares at press time were very reasonable.

The second of Celebrity’s Solstice-class vessels, Celebrity Equinox has eight distinctive dining venues serving a variety of cuisines, AquaClass staterooms that adjoin the AquaSpa, and wireless Internet access. The most unique features of the ship are the Lawn Club, where passengers can enjoy outdoor activities played on real grass, and the Corning Glass Museum glass-blowing demonstrations.

On April 19, 2010, Equinox leaves Fort Lauderdale en route to Ponta Delgada, Portgual. After a day at sea, she visits Lisbon, Cadiz, Barcelona, and Nice before arriving in Rome on May 3. The voyage calls at some of the most appealing ports in the Mediterranean and has a balance of sea days and port calls.

No comments »