Repositioning cruises are what happens when cruise lines need to move ships between regions for seasonal deployment changes. Ships that cruise Alaska in summer need to be somewhere warm in winter. Ships that sail the Mediterranean in summer often cross to the Caribbean for winter. These relocation sailings create unique itineraries that are often longer, cheaper, and more sea-day-heavy than regular cruises – and that’s either a deal or a dealbreaker depending on what you want from a cruise.
What Makes Repositioning Cruises Different
The fundamental difference is that these cruises exist for operational necessity, not because the itinerary was carefully designed for maximum tourist appeal. The cruise line needs to get the ship from Point A to Point B, and they’re selling cabins along the way at often significant discounts to offset repositioning costs.
This creates some unusual characteristics:
Longer duration – While typical cruises run 7 days, repositioning cruises often run 10-21 days or longer. You’re covering serious distance, often crossing oceans.
More sea days – A typical Caribbean cruise might be 7 days with 4-5 ports. A transatlantic repositioning might be 14 days with 2-4 ports and 10-12 sea days. If you love being on the ship, this is fantastic. If you get bored easily or prefer constant new ports, this could be tough.
Unusual ports – Repositioning routes sometimes stop at ports that regular cruises don’t typically visit, either because they’re along the way or because they’re convenient fuel/provisioning stops. This can lead to interesting discoveries.
Lower prices – This is the big attraction. Per-day rates on repositioning cruises are often 30-50% cheaper than equivalent regular sailings. You’re paying for the ship’s operational costs, not premium seasonal pricing.
One-way itineraries – You’ll need to arrange flights (or other transport) on at least one end, often both ends. This adds cost and complexity but also creates opportunities to explore embarkation/disembarkation cities.
Common Repositioning Routes
Spring: Northbound Migration – Caribbean to Europe (transatlantic crossing, typically April-May) – Caribbean to Alaska via Panama Canal (April-May) – South America to North America – Australia to Asia
Fall: Southbound Migration – Alaska to Caribbean/Mexico/Hawaii (September-October) – Europe to Caribbean (transatlantic crossing, October-November) – Mediterranean to Middle East or Asia – Canada/New England wrapping up season and heading south
Notable Routes:
Transatlantic crossings are the classic repositioning cruise. Typically 10-14 days between Europe (often Southampton, Barcelona, or Rome) and the eastern U.S. or Caribbean. Lots of open ocean, minimal ports, but there’s something genuinely special about days and days of nothing but ocean, sky, and ship.
Panama Canal repositioning includes the canal transit (a genuine bucket-list experience) plus ports on both coasts. These sailings often stop at Central American and Mexican ports that regular cruises skip.
Transpacific cruises between Alaska/West Coast and Hawaii or Asia are less common but spectacular. Weeks at sea, potential Hawaii stops, and the satisfaction of having crossed the Pacific Ocean on a ship.
What to Expect Onboard
With so many sea days, ship selection matters more than it might on a typical cruise. You’ll be spending a lot of time onboard, so you want a ship with amenities, activities, and dining that won’t bore you after day 5.
The passenger demographic on repositioning cruises tends to skew older and more experienced cruisers. These aren’t party cruises – they attract people who genuinely enjoy the ship experience, reading, relaxing, ocean views, and slower-paced travel.
Entertainment and activities continue throughout, but with so many sea days, expect some repetition. There are only so many production shows, trivia competitions, and art auctions. Bring books, download movies, prepare to spend time just watching the ocean.
Enrichment lecturers are common on longer repositioning cruises – historians, naturalists, destination experts, or local cultural representatives. These lectures can be genuinely interesting and help pass sea days productively.
The dining experience is often a highlight since you’ll have time to try every restaurant on the ship. If you’re on a ship with specialty dining, repositioning cruises give you time to justify the cover charges by visiting multiple times.
Weather Considerations
Repositioning cruises often occur during shoulder seasons or off-seasons for specific regions, which means weather can be variable.
Spring transatlantic eastbound (April-May) and fall westbound (October-November) crossings can encounter rough weather. The North Atlantic in spring and fall is not gentle. If you’re prone to seasickness, prepare accordingly. On the flip side, there’s something primal and exhilarating about being on a ship in genuine ocean swells – assuming you don’t get sick.
Alaska to Caribbean repositioning in September-October risks hurricane season in Caribbean waters. Most ships route carefully and modern weather prediction is excellent, but it’s still a consideration.
Temperature changes during the cruise can be dramatic. A ship leaving Alaska in October and arriving in the Caribbean will experience 40-plus degree temperature differences. Pack for layers and changing conditions.
Port Strategies
With fewer ports and more sea days, the ports you do visit take on extra significance. Don’t waste them by staying on the ship. Even if the port isn’t somewhere you’d plan a vacation around, get off and explore. Break up the sea days, stretch your legs, experience something new.
Some repositioning ports are quite unusual. Small Portuguese islands, Caribbean destinations that rarely see cruise ships, Central American ports bypassed by traditional itineraries. Research them ahead of time – TripAdvisor, cruise forums, Wikipedia. Understand what’s worth seeing and what’s skippable.
Shore excursion selection can be limited since these aren’t high-traffic ports. Independent exploration is often more necessary than on regular cruises. Be prepared with downloaded maps, basic local language phrases, and realistic expectations.
The Value Analysis
Here’s where repositioning cruises get interesting from a budget perspective. The per-day rate is often exceptional, but you have to factor in:
Flights: One-way flights are typically more expensive than round-trip. Book flights with cushion time (at least a day before embarkation, never same-day arrival).
Pre/post hotels: You’ll likely need hotels on both ends, possibly multiple nights if you want to explore embarkation/disembarkation cities or if flight timing requires it.
Time off work: A 14-21 day cruise requires significant vacation time, which many people don’t have or don’t want to use all at once.
Onboard spending: More days on ship = more opportunities to spend on drinks, specialty dining, excursions, casino, spa. The ship is designed to extract money from you, and more days mean more extraction opportunities.
That said, if you have the time and flexibility, repositioning cruises can offer extraordinary value. You’re seeing multiple regions in one trip, experiencing days of open ocean that most people never do, and doing it for less money than two separate week-long cruises would cost.
Who Repositioning Cruises Are For
Ideal candidates: – Retirees or people with flexible work schedules (think remote workers) who can commit 2-3 weeks – Experienced cruisers who genuinely love the shipboard experience – People comfortable with lots of sea days and their own company – Travelers who see the journey itself as the destination – Anyone wanting to maximize value per cruising day – Ocean lovers who find something meditative about days at sea
Not ideal for: – First-time cruisers (too much time at sea, not representative of typical cruising) – People prone to seasickness or boredom – Families with school-age children (too long, not enough activity) – Port-intensive travelers who prefer new destinations daily – Anyone with limited vacation time who needs to maximize sightseeing
Practical Tips
Book early – Good repositioning deals get snapped up fast by experienced cruisers who know the value. But also watch for last-minute deals if the ship hasn’t filled.
Consider cabin location – Midship cabins have less motion in rough seas. If you’re crossing an ocean, this matters. An inside cabin can be depressing after days without windows – consider at least an oceanview if not a balcony.
Pack for variety – You’ll may want clothes for formal nights, you’ll need wear for casual daytime, potentially cool evening weather at sea, and varying temperatures in different ports. Pack more variety than you would for a week-long cruise.
Bring entertainment – Books, e-reader, tablet loaded with movies and shows, hobby items. Don’t depend on the ship’s WiFi (it’s expensive and often slow). Download everything beforehand.
Prepare for timezones – Long east-west crossings mean timezone changes. Your body will adjust but it takes time. Don’t fight it; use it as an opportunity to reset your sleep schedule.
Stay active – Walk the deck, use the gym, take stairs. Days of eating and sitting can leave you feeling sluggish. Movement helps both physically and mentally.
Meet people – With so many days, you have time to actually get to know fellow passengers. Repositioning cruises often develop a community vibe.
Repositioning cruises aren’t for everyone, but for the right person at the right time, they’re extraordinary. You’re not just cruising to destinations – you’re experiencing actual ocean voyaging in the tradition of the great passenger ship era, but with modern comforts and at prices that often beat flying between the same cities. If the idea of a week at sea sounds appealing rather than terrifying, start researching repositioning routes. You might discover your favorite type of cruise.
