Repositioning Cruises: Low Cost per Night, With Conditions
Repositioning cruises happen when a ship moves between seasonal regions — for example, from the Caribbean to Europe in spring, or back in autumn. Because these one-way voyages are less popular, they can offer some of the cheapest cruise prices per night.
Common Repositioning Routes
| Route | When |
|---|---|
| Florida or the Caribbean to Europe (transatlantic) | Spring |
| Europe to Florida or the Caribbean | Autumn |
| West Coast to Alaska and back | Start and end of the Alaska season |
| Through the Panama Canal | As ships move between coasts |
| Europe or the Americas to Asia or Australia | Ahead of those seasons |
For itineraries and more detail, see our sister site Repositioning Cruises.
When to Book a Repositioning Cruise
Repositioning voyages are announced along with each ship’s seasonal schedule, so they can be booked well in advance. Because demand is lower, good cabins are often still available closer to sailing than on popular summer or holiday cruises. If you have a favourite cabin location in mind, book early; if price matters most and you are flexible, watching the voyage can pay off. Either way, ask about a refundable deposit.
Is a Repositioning Cruise Right for You?
- You enjoy sea days and the ship itself
- You have the time for one or two weeks or more
- You can manage a one-way flight
- You prefer quieter ships
Price the flight before you book. A low cruise fare can be offset by an expensive one-way airfare. Cruise Airfare explains the options.
Life on a Repositioning Voyage
A transatlantic crossing can include a week or more of consecutive sea days. Ships fill those days with lectures, classes, wine tastings, extra shows and games, and many guests find the slower rhythm the best part of the trip. The guests themselves tend to be experienced cruisers with time to spare, and families are fewer because the voyages rarely fall in school holidays.
The weather can be mixed. Spring and autumn crossings of the North Atlantic can be cool and occasionally rough, so pack layers and choose a lower, midship cabin if you are sensitive to motion. Ports, when they come, are often interesting stops that ships rarely visit at other times of year, such as Atlantic islands on the way between continents.
Price the whole journey
Because you start and finish on different continents or coasts, compare the cruise fare plus a one-way flight with a round-trip cruise plus a round-trip flight. Sometimes the repositioning cruise wins easily; sometimes the flight cancels out the saving.
Repositioning Questions
Why are repositioning cruises cheap?
They are one-way, often long, with many sea days and fewer ports, and they sail at times when fewer people travel. Lines price them to fill the ship.
What is the catch?
You need a one-way flight home, which can cost more than a round trip, and you need the time for a long voyage.
Find a Repositioning Cruise
Tell us your dates and where you want to start or finish. Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will find repositioning options.
Find Repositioning Cruises