Repositioning cruises take place in the spring and fall when cruise lines relocate cruise ships due to seasonal demand. In the spring, cruise lines will move ships to Alaska and Europe and then back to the Caribbean in the fall. These repositioning cruises offer unique one way cruises across the Atlantic and others through the Panama Canal.
These cruises are often found at discounted rates as cruise lines do not like to sail without their ships being near full capacity. Because the cruises are one way, expensive one way airfare is needed and that attributes to the lower demand for these cruises.
Also, cruises across the Atlantic Ocean consist mostly of sea days and usually do not stop in many ports.
Repositioning Cruises for 2013
Norwegian Epic
April 20 – 11 night transatlantic cruise that leaves from Miami, Florida and travels to Barcelona, Spain. The Epic stops in the port of Funchal Madeira, Portugal before arriving in Spain.
October 16 — 17 night transatlantic cruise that leaves from Rome, Italy and sails to Miami, Florida. The Epic stops in the ports of Livorno, Italy, Marseille, France, Palma de Mallorca, Spain, Funchal Madiera, Portugal, and St Thomas, USVI.
Norwegian Breakaway
April 30 – 7 night transatlantic cruise that departs from Southampton, England and sails to New York City. The Breakaway does not stop in any ports of call.
Norwegian Pearl
April 21 – 14 night transcanal cruise that departs from Miami, Florida and sails to Los Angeles, California. The Pearl stops in the ports of Cartagen, Columbia, Panama Canal, Puntarenas, Costa Rica, Puerto Chiapas, Santa Cruz Huatulco, Puerto Vallarta, and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
Cunard Queen Mary 2
April 26 – 7 night transatlantic cruise that sails from Southampton, England and sails to the port of New York City. The Queen May 2 does not stop in any ports of call and is an all sea day cruise.
Royal Caribbean Brilliance of the Seas
April 13 – 10 night transatlantic cruise that departs from San Juan, Puerto Rico and sails to Lisbon, Portugal. The Brilliance stops in the ports of St Thomas, USVI and Philipsburg, St Maarten.
August 31 – 15 night transatlantic cruise that departs from London, England and sails to Boston, Massachusetts. The Brilliance stops in the ports of Paris, France, Portland, UK, Cobh, Ireland, Faroe Islands, Denmark, and Reykjavik, Iceland.
Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas
April 8 – 12 night transatlantic cruise that departs from Ft Lauderdale, Florida and sails to Barcelona, Spain. The Liberty stops in the ports of Lisbon, Portugal and Seville, Spain.
October 27 – 13 night transatlantic cruise that departs from Barcelona, Spain and sails to Ft Lauderdale, Florida. The Liberty stops in the ports of Philipsburg, St Maarten, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Coco Cay, Bahamas.
Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas
April 7 – 13 night transatlantic cruise that departs from Ft Lauderdale, Florida and sails to Southampton, England. The Independence stops in the ports of Nassau, Bahamas, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Philipsburg, St Maarten.
November 2 – 13 night transatlantic cruise that departs from Southampton, England and sails to Ft Lauderdale, Florida. The Independence stops in the ports of Philipsburg, St Maarten, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Coco Cay, Bahamas.
Carnival Legend
April 7 – 15 night transatlantic cruise that departs from Tampa, Florida and sails to Barcelona Spain. The Legend stops in the ports of Nassau, Bahamas, Kings Wharf, Bermuda, Ponta Delgada, Azores, Malaga, Spain, and Valencia, Spain.
September 25 – 15 night transatlantic cruise that departs from London/Dover, England and sails to the Port of New York City. The Legend stops in the ports of Dublin, Ireland, Greenock, Scotland, Belfast, Northern Ireland, Reykjavik, Iceland, Qaqortoq, Greenland, and Saint John, New Brunswick.
Carnival Sunshine
November 1 – 16 night transatlantic cruise that departs from Barcelona, Spain and sails to New Orleans, Louisiana. The Sunshine stops in the ports of Palma de Mallorca, Spain, Malaga, Spain, Las Palmas, Canary Islands, and Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos.
Disney Wonder
May 6 – 14 night Panama Canal cruise that departs from Miami, Florida and sails to Los Angeles, California. The Wonder stops in the ports of Castaway Cay, Bahamas, Cartagena, Colombia, Panama Canal, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
September 14 – 14 night Panama Canal cruise that departs from Los Angeles, California and sails to Galveston, Texas. The Wonder stops in the ports of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Panama Canal, Cartagena, Columbia, and Cozumel, Mexico.
Repositioning Cruises for 2014
Norwegian Epic
April 27 – 11 night transatlantic cruise that leaves from Miami, Florida and travels to Barcelona, Spain. The Epic stops in the port of Funchal Madeira, Portugal before arriving in Spain.
October 26 – 14 night transatlantic cruise that leaves from Barcelona, Spain and sails to Miami, Florida. The Epic stops in the ports of Funchal Madeira, Portugal, Philipsburg, St Maarten, and St Thomas, USVI.
More 2014 repositioning cruises will be added shortly.