Spend your days at sea and save some money this spring on a repositioning cruise

[MULTIZ321]

Spend your days at sea and save some money this spring on a repositioning cruise.

Want to save money and spend a lot of time at sea? Consider a spring ‘repositioning’ cruise.

The springtime ritual of cruise ships repositioning from the Caribbean to Europe can mean savings for those who relish relaxing days at sea.

www.chicagotribune.com

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Richard

 

[Ken555]

I’ve done many of these and have several booked for the future. Sadly, they are no longer the extreme bargains they were just a few years ago as they have become more popular, contrary to the message of this industry written slanted “article”. Still, you can find some good deals.


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[Passepartout]

We, too enjoy these bargain cruises. On these, the ship is the resort, rather than the ports of call. There is no end to activities, spa treatments, lectures, movies, live shows, not to mention hanging at the pools, eating, catching up on reading, oh, and did anybody mention eating. We usually choose West bound T/As so that each day is 25 hours long. Next one coming up will be from Barcelona to Buenos Aires next Nov. As stated, they are no longer the extreme bargains they once were. The cruise lines are stingy with the perks. When you figure the cost-per-day, though, they're a pretty good deal.

 

[Ken555]

We, too enjoy these bargain cruises. On these, the ship is the resort, rather than the ports of call. There is no end to activities, spa treatments, lectures, movies, live shows, not to mention hanging at the pools, eating, catching up on reading, oh, and did anybody mention eating. We usually choose West bound T/As so that each day is 25 hours long. Next one coming up will be from Barcelona to Buenos Aires next Nov. As stated, they are no longer the extreme bargains they once were. The cruise lines are stingy with the perks. When you figure the cost-per-day, though, they're a pretty good deal.

Yes, the westbound cruises are best for the extra hour (I also prefer those rare ships that change time at noon rather than at night).

Which TA are you on to BA? My next cruise is Royal from Sydney to Honolulu in April.


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[Passepartout]

Which TA are you on to BA? My next cruise is Royal from Sydney to Honolulu in April.

Silhouette in November. We did a trans Pacific, Yokohama to Vancouver a couple years ago with a stop in Russia. It was cool. In more than one way. No pool time.

 

[Ken555]

Silhouette in November. We did a trans Pacific, Yokohama to Vancouver a couple years ago with a stop in Russia. It was cool. In more than one way. No pool time.

I’m on a Vancouver to Tokyo in Sept, and I expect it will be a bit warmer than you experienced but not planning on lots of pool days. I’ve heard the northern crossing can be cold.


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[LannyPC]

...but not planning on lots of pool days. I’ve heard the northern crossing can be cold.

Don't some ships have covers for certain pool decks in cooler weather?

 

[Ken555]

Don't some ships have covers for certain pool decks in cooler weather?

Yes


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[AnnaS]

Would love to cruise on a transatlantic cruise some day. (I did many years ago when I came to the US with my family - still a cruise -

 

[isisdave]

We're on Allure of the Seas, FLL to Barcelona March 1. This ship is on its way to refurbishment, and it's so big they started pushing this cruise in December 2018. There are enough ships, and the ships are big enough, that there are still deals (although usually in the form or added perks). Eastbound season is mostly April and westbound mostly October, although there are outliers.

 

[Passepartout]

Would love to cruise on a transatlantic cruise some day. (I did many years ago when I came to the US with my family - still a cruise -

You can often get these for $75/day pp if you shop early. Remember, Eastbound in Spring, Westbound in Fall.

 

[AnnaS]

You can often get these for $75/day pp if you shop early. Remember, Eastbound in Spring, Westbound in Fall.

Thank you!

 

[Passepartout]

Would love to cruise on a transatlantic cruise some day. (I did many years ago when I came to the US with my family - still a cruise -

You have to add the airfare to get there or back depending on which direction you cruise, but another way to add value is to tie a timeshare stay in Europe to the cruise.

 

[pedro47]

We have done three (3) transatlantic cruises on Celebrity Cruises Line two (2) from Ft Lauderdale to Rome, Italy and the third (3th) one Ft Lauderdale to Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Loved those sea days and the price for two (2) were under $1600 per person all three (3) times.

Airfare costs plus hotel stay costs and the airport parking tolls costs more than the cruise.

1. One Night Stay pre cruise stay in a Ft Lauderdale Hotel...Airfare: Norfolk,VA to Fort Lauderdale return flight Amsterdam to Philadelphia. . Philadelphia to Norfolk, VA.
2. One Night Stay pre cruise stay in a Ft. Lauderdale Hotel...Airfare Norfolk, VA to Fort Lauderdale return flight Rome to Washington,DC..Washington, DC to Norfolk,VA.
3. Finally, Parking Tolls at the Norfolk International Air Parking garage.

 

[AnnaS]

You have to add the airfare to get there or back depending on which direction you cruise, but another way to add value is to tie a timeshare stay in Europe to the cruise.

Yes, definitely. We flew to Barcelona years ago for an 11 N. Med cruise. It would have to go to Italy or come back from Italy or start and come back to Italy. I need every opportunity to go back to my "home" .

 

[Ken555]

We have done three (3) transatlantic cruises on Celebrity Cruises Line two (2) from Ft Lauderdale to Rome, Italy and the third (3th) one Ft Lauderdale to Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Loved those sea days and the price for two (2) were under $1600 per person all three (3) times.

In November, I was on the train from Florence to Venice to board a MSC cruise to Dubai and searching for some deals as the 2021 transatlantics had just been announced. I found the Celebrity Reflection Fort Lauderdale to Amsterdam in 2021 for a cheap cheap price. My friend and I bought two solo inside cabins for just £831 each. Even better, there was just a £150 deposit compared to the $450 when booking in the US. It was more than $400 additional on the US site. After my shareholder OBC, my per night cost is just $52 per night (not including gratuities), which makes this one of the cheapest cruises I’ve ever bought.

I’ve found that with a Royal Caribbean and Celebrity, the best time to buy is the day the cruise is available for booking. Even by the second day the price may have increased by hundreds of dollars per person (that was the case for the one I bought in Nov).

Sometimes ocean view and balcony cabins can be inexpensive, too. I booked a balcony on the Harmony OTS TA for fall 2021 and paid about $100 per night for a cabin, with gratuities.


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