Full Answer
Are repositioning cruises less crowded?
Generally, repositioning cruises are less crowded. As they often sail below capacity, there are fewer passengers. However, the staff size is the same, resulting in a higher staff to passenger ratio, and the illusion of better service.
How do repositioning cruises work?
Repositioning cruises are one-way cruises, with paying passengers, that are used to move of cruise ship from one region to another. When the seasons change, the cruise lines have a need to move their fleet of cruise ships based upon the seasonal changes in demand.
What is the cheapest month to go on a cruise?
Royal Caribbean concludes its cruise season in April or May, so if you can snag a cruise then, you will find some great deals. In addition, November is typically a less in-demand month.
Why do cruise ships reposition?
Think of cruise ships a bit like nomads. They roam the waters from port to port, many visiting more than one area of the world per year. When the seasons change, ships tend to relocate (or reposition) to chase the warm weather -- for example, moving from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean.
Do cruises get cheaper closer to sail date?
Cruise prices do not get cheaper closer to the sailing date in all cases. Cruise prices are usually the cheapest furthest from the sailing date when first launched or 60-90 days before the cruise sets sail. The prices of some cruises will decrease last minute but this doesn't always happen.
How long is a repositioning cruise?
13 to 19 nightsSince repositioning cruises have to travel such long distances, they tend to be one of the longest cruises there is, lasting anywhere from 13 to 19 nights. It's also important to know that repositioning cruises often spend several consecutive days at sea (some itineraries spend up to 10 nights).
What day of the week do cruise lines lower prices?
On average, prices for cruises drop the most on Thursdays, according to CruiseWatch.com. The data also revealed Wednesdays to have the greatest price hikes during the week. The worst day to book if you're hoping for a price drop, according to the data, is on Sundays.
How far in advance should I book a cruise for best price?
six to 12 months aheadExperts say it's best to book a cruise six to 12 months ahead for the best price, but you might be able to snag a better deal if you have the flexibility to wait a bit longer.
What are the cheapest days to go on a cruise?
January, May, September through October, and early December Cruising when schools are in session or during hurricane season will generally get you the lowest fares on Caribbean cruises. For a cheap Caribbean cruise, try a January sailing after New Year's Day, or an early February itinerary before Valentine's Day.
What are some common repositioning options?
The most common repositioning cruise routes are “transatlantic” from Caribbean/Florida ports to European ports and vice versa. The winter and spring months are very popular times to cruise the Caribbean, and the weather tends to be ideal too.
Can you cruise just one way?
Many repo cruises are long, crossing the Atlantic or passing through the Panama Canal. It's a one-way cruise, which means you'll have to fly home at the end of the trip, but it can be a wonderful way to see new countries and rarely visited ports.
Can you take cruises one way?
There's an array of cruise lines offering one-way sailings, including Holland America, Princess and Royal Caribbean, as well as luxury lines like Silversea, Crystal, Regent Seven Seas and Ponant.
What are some common repositioning options?
The most common repositioning cruise routes are “transatlantic” from Caribbean/Florida ports to European ports and vice versa. The winter and spring months are very popular times to cruise the Caribbean, and the weather tends to be ideal too.
What is a transatlantic repositioning cruise?
About Transatlantic Cruises and Repositioning Cruises Ships in Europe make their way back to their Caribbean winter home in the late fall and in the spring cross back over to their summer itineraries. Ships which sail the waters of Alaska reposition back to transport guests to the Caribbean at the end of their season.
How long is a Celebrity ship typically in port between cruises?
How long is a Celebrity ship typically in port between cruises? for many months at a time. every 2 to 5 years. amaze people with concrete examples of how you solved a problem.
Can you buy a one-way ticket on a cruise ship?
The short answer is “yes, but infrequently, and slowly if all you want is travel.” Although round-trip cruises are the norm, you can find quite a few one-way trips: some part of air/cruise packages, others offered alone. And for basic transportation on a few routes, freighter trips or ferries may be the best answer.
Why do cruises have themes?
There may be a theme. Because there are fewer ports of call and more time is spent aboard ship there may be a theme to the cruise. It might be wine tasting or learning a new language.
What is the primary purpose of a cruise?
The primary purpose of the cruise is the ship's final destination therefore there will be fewer stops along the way. Ports may be the less traditional. The ports used in a repositioning may be a bit off the beaten path which you may think is great or not. Check the itinerary carefully. Entertainment is not full on.
What does an agent do on a cruise line?
They work directly with the supplier and can act on your behalf should a problem arise. They can't promise you the world but will definitely do their best to resolve any issue for you. An agent's call is more important to a cruise line than one by an individual.
Is Royal Caribbean a repositioning cruise?
Many companies don't identify a particular cruise as a repositioning cruise. Royal Caribbean is the only one I found that does. You have to go through all their cruises and look for the ones that have different beginning and ending locations. But here, according to Gia, are other reasons you should use an agent:
Is Alaska a seasonal cruise?
Cruise routes are often seasonal. A cruise to Alaska runs in the warmer months while Caribbean cruises are for colder months. At some point between the two seasons ships move from one location to another. This is a repositioning and cruise lines sell repositioning cruises at reduced prices.
Can cruise lines negotiate single supplement rates?
What they can't do is negotiate a better single supplement rate than is on offer. Those figures are all determined by supply and demand and the cruise line's goal of maximizing profits.
Is entertainment on a sailing ship full on?
Entertainment is not full on. While there is likely entertainment on board it is not necessarily everything that would be offered in a traditional sailing. Find out before you go what they're offering so that you can decide whether the trip is for you.
Who should book a repositioning cruise?
A repositioning cruise typically attracts seasoned cruisers looking for good deals, as well as travelers who have the time (ie retirees) to take 10, 12, 14+ night cruises. If you fall into either of these categories, you can definitely find value in booking a one-way cruise.
What makes a repositioning cruise so attractive?
Fewer passengers on repositioning cruises give you more freedom to enjoy all activities on board. - Photo by Royal Caribbean
Why be cautious about booking a repositioning cruise?
A lot of sea days can mean a lot of time on your hands. If you need to be consistently stimulated or entertained, you might be going a little stir-crazy by day 4 at sea with no land in sight. This will be less of an issue on ships with plenty of onboard activities and entertainment, so make sure you fully research the ship before booking.
What is a repositioning cruise?
Cruise ships chase warm and sunny climates, so they often move, or "reposition," from one part of the world to another when chilly weather sets in. Cruise lines don’t want to sail a ghost ship, carrying only crew and no passengers, across the ocean because it’s wasting an opportunity to earn money.
Where and when do repositioning cruises take place?
The good news is you can book a repositioning cruise nearly six months out of the year, spanning mid-spring and mid-fall months, which are the cruise lines’ shoulder seasons.
How to score repositioning cruise deals
More often than not, a repositioning cruise is a good deal because it costs much less per night than a typical sailing. This is because the one-way, sea day-heavy itineraries are less desirable to the majority of cruisers and they take place during slower travel seasons.
What is a repositioning cruise?
Repositioning cruises offer the opportunity to explore interesting itineraries and offbeat ports as ships sail from one region of the world to another as the seasons change. These longer voyages have lots of consecutive sea days -- not to mention some of the best cruise deals around. If it's your first time cruising on a one-way sailing without lots of ports of call, here are 10 things you should never do on repositioning cruises.
How to choose a cabin on a cruise ship?
You are going to be onboard the ship for a long time, so choose your cabin wisely. While budget is obviously one of the most important considerations, it is still possible to make a smart choice, no matter how much (or how little) you have to spend. Study the deck plan and check to see if there are any areas or cabins to avoid on the ship. For example, a room directly under the pool deck might not be the best choice on a repositioning cruise as this area tends to be highly utilized and sounds might carry. Guarantee cabins, which do not give you the option to choose your stateroom, should also be approached with caution. You could be lucky -- or not.
What are some activities you can do on a sea day?
You will have lots of time to fill on sea days, so why not try something different? Many onboard activities such as foreign language lessons and ballroom dancing classes are complimentary. Others, such as wine appreciation, bingo and cocktail making classes, are available at a small cost. Who knows? You could discover a new passion.
Is a repositioning cruise cheaper than a regular cruise?
A repositioning cruise is usually cheaper than a regular cruise due to the large number of sea days. However, try to avoid booking your cruise too early as last-minute deals are a regular occurrence. We've seen deals for as little as $40 per night for an inside cabin. 2.
Can you forget to pack essentials on a cruise?
Forget to Pack Essentials. Sure, you can get some sundries at the onboard shop, but it's probably going to be the most expensive bottle of sunscreen you have ever bought. Of course, you could always pick up whatever you have forgotten at the next port, but that could be another five days away on a repositioning cruise.
Can you cancel a cruise if you have pre-booked too many nights?
If you find you have pre-booked too many specialty-dining nights, you can always cancel one or two during the cruise. 9. Procrastinate on Port-Day Planning. On shorter or destination-intensive sailings, it can be tempting to leave shore excursions to chance or even skip a port in favor of a relaxing day on the ship.
Can you eat in the main dining room on a cruise ship?
Sure, you'll spend the majority of your meals in the main dining room and buffet, but with more sea days comes more opportunities to try the specialty restaurant onboard. Don't pass up the chance to try something new, or to add a little dining variety to your trip.
Why are cruises repositioning?
In order to get from one region to another , repositioning cruises tend to be significantly longer sailings, with lots of sea days inbetween. While all these extra days means more time to experience what is available onboard, many cruisers are concerned about the cruise getting dull or even boring.
Why do people book repositioning cruises?
The best reason to book a repositioning cruise is to not only be on a certain ship, but enjoy extra sea days and even unique ports of call. Many repositioning cruises involve an ocean crossing, where the ship moves from one region to another.
How long is a repositioning cruise?
Most repositioning cruises tend to be longer sailings, often in the ballpark of 10-14 nights, or longer. The time it takes to not only cross the Atlantic or Pacific ocean is no quick journey, and there are usually port stops included on both sides of the ocean to add some variety.
What are the different types of repositioning cruises offered by Royal Caribbean?
The most common types of repositioning cruises offered by Royal Caribbean are: Between North America and Europe. Between North America and Australia. Between Australia and Hawaii. Between Hawaii and the Pacific Northwest.
Why are there so few families on the ocean crossing?
It should also be noted that there are usually far less families onboard the ocean crossing sailings, due to a combination of the cruise length and the fact they almost always occur while school is in session. If you have kids, you may find significantly less other children for them to play with in Adventure Ocean or elsewhere.
Do repositioning sailings involve ocean crossings?
Repositioning sailings that do not involve an ocean crossing are usually shorter, but they are less frequently offered.
Does Royal Caribbean have special ports?
In order to drum up demand for repositioning sailings, Royal Caribbean often includes special port visits that are not regularly offered. This may mean a visit to a port not usually visited by Royal Caribbean, or a combination of ports on either end of the crossing.
What is a repositioning cruise?
A repositioning cruise is when a ship moves from doing a lot of sailings in one region to another region. For instance ships that sail in Alaska usually move to a warmer weather spot in the fall. Repositioning cruises offer an extended itinerary with a lot of sea days for relaxing.
Where does a repositioning cruise take place?
Your virtual tour includes highlights from Asia, Africa, the Mediterranean, Caribbean and Pacific – each of which could be included on a repositioning cruise.
When do cruise ships leave Alaska?
In order to make sure cruisers have the best possible weather conditions for both their pleasure and their safety, cruise ships institute time limits for cruises to certain regions. For instance, most cruises to Alaska take place from May until September when the weather is warm. When the last Alaska cruise comes to completion, cruise lines don’t just keep their ships empty till May, they sail to a new region of the world. These trips from one destination to another, for instance Alaska to the Caribbean or Europe to the Caribbean, are called repositioning cruises. Featured below are highlights from possible repositioning cruises:
What is Royal Caribbean International known for?
Royal Caribbean International is known for ships with a wow factor. From ice skating rinks to zip lines, if you can think of it, you can find it on a Royal Caribbean cruise.
Where to stop on a relocation cruise?
Depending on your itinerary, you’ll explore the sun-soaked Mediterranean, visit popular ports across Western Europe, or stop in Iceland and Greenland along the way.
Where to cruise in the Western Hemisphere?
Sail between San Diego or Los Angeles and Vancouver and cruise along the Pacific Coast, stopping in destinations throughout California, Oregon, Washington, and Canada along the way. Or combine a tropical vacation in the Caribbean with sightseeing in the Northeast by embarking on an open-jaw itinerary between Miami and Cape Liberty or Boston; San Juan and Cape Liberty; or a Caribbean cruise from Fort Lauderdale to San Juan.
Where to cruise in the South Pacific?
You can also board one of our repositioning cruises between Hawaii and Australia. Depart from either Honolulu or Sydney and visit breathtaking islands in the South Pacific, including New Zealand’s idyllic Bay of Islands, dreamy destinations in French Polynesia like Bora Bora and Tahiti, and the tropical islands of Hawaii.
Where do transatlantic cruises go?
In the early spring, our transatlantic cruises depart from the United States and head back across the Atlantic, stopping in beautiful European destinations along the way, such as the islands of Palma de Mallorca and Corsica, before arriving in Rome, Southampton, and Lisbon.
Where to sail from Asia to North America?
Sail across the Bering Sea and the Pacific Ocean on a transpacific cruise that travels from Asia to North America—and vice versa. Depart from the exciting city of Tokyo and stop in destinations in Russia and Japan along the way. A highlight of a transpacific cruise is traversing the International Dateline.
What Is a Repositioning Cruise?
A repositioning cruise is one whose itinerary is set for ships that sail or “reposition” from one region to another.
How do cruise lines make money?
Rather than reposition an empty ship, cruise companies realize they can make money by offering these one-way routes at what are typically lower fares.
What is a long voyage?
Long voyage allows you to fully relax. Airfare to return may be expensive. Access to all of the ship’s amenities. More time at sea, less at ports of call. See different parts of the world. Cruise site CruiseCritic.com has a list of repositioning cruises for 2020 that you can check out to learn more.
Is a repositioning cruise hard to beat?
Clara says repositioning cruises are hard to beat when it comes to value — again, if you have the time.
