For newer cruisers, the priority of which trip to book tends to be focused on the ship and its facilities, or the itinerary. But as you start to rack up those nautical miles, you begin to consider different cruising experiences such as transatlantic routes. Repositioning is a really popular option for the ocean-going fans, but this doesn’t mean that newbies wanting to tick a cruise off their bucket list shouldn’t consider them.
If you’ve never heard of a repositioning cruise, or you have and you’re wondering what the pros and cons are, then let us be your guide. They can add a layer of complexity to your trip which is why many cruising novices don’t consider them, but this is counterbalanced by the many benefits you will experience. If you’re open minded when it comes to travel, you don’t mind what ports you visit or you love the opportunity to relax on sea days, then this option may be the ideal solution.
Ad Disclaimer!
This website uses paid adverts and affiliate links, these come at no additional cost to you and help us to fund the operation of the website, meaning we can continue to provide you with valuable content.
The money received from these links and adverts do not influence any recommondations made within our content.
What are Repositioning Cruises?
You may not be aware of this, but cruise ships often change their itineraries and move around the world based on seasonal changes. This means that at times they only need to sail one way, instead of the usual round trip. For example, many cruise ships go from sailing around the Caribbean in the Winter to Europe in the Summer. That single trip over is the cruise ship repositioning itself and this can be costly for a cruise line if there are no passengers.
To keep the money flowing in, they introduced repositioning cruises where you set sail from one port and end the cruise in another (unlike normal cruises where you return to your embarkation port). As to whether the itinerary includes multiple ports or mostly sea days, will depend upon where the ship is sailing from and to. These single route cruises come with some positives and negatives, but they are becoming increasingly popular with cruise fans.
Who Should Book a Repositioning Cruise
We would argue anyone can look at repositioning cruises, but the reality is that it tends to be more experienced cruisers. These are the travellers who love a good deal and enjoy trying out new cruise lines or ships. It’s less about the ports and more about the experience, which makes sense if you’ve completed many of the cruise itineraries multiple times. They’re also perfect for people who have the time to take longer trips such as those who are retired, with some repositioning cruises lasting more then 14 nights.
If you’re booking your first cruise, then you may want to consider the more traditional cruise itinerary. Although we’re sure you’d be fine with a repositioning cruise, they normally involve more sea days, whereas for your first you will want to experience a good mix of port and sea days.
Let’s dive a little deeper into the pros and cons of choosing a repositioning cruise, so that you have the full facts when making your decision.
Pros of Taking a Repositioning Cruise
They’re Normally Much Cheaper
We’ve gone with the biggest benefit first, because it’s the main reason why avid cruisers look for repositioning options. When you book your cruise, you will find that a lot of the cost will be port fees and taxes. A repositioning cruises main requirement is to get from one area to another as cheaply as possible, and to do that they minimise the number of ports they visit: hence reducing the port fees. The reduction in cost is passed onto us the passengers and it is why this type of cruise is normally a bargain. They still need to entice people to book and of course the ship needs to refuel on occasion, so there will be the odd port thrown in. But you’ll find that there isn’t as many stops as a normal cruise itinerary.
We’ve seen cruises which cost less than 50 pounds a day which is insane when you consider that this includes all your food, entertainment and sometimes even drinks. Those of you who can sail for extended periods, especially if its more than two weeks, can really bag those bargains. Some cruisers have booked a 15-day trip for less than the cost of a normal 7-day option. If you’re retired, then this is a wonderful idea for a relaxing holiday at a cheap price.
Cruise lines also hate having an empty ship, so they would rather reduce the cost to us than reposition the ship without any passengers and take the hit of things such as fuel and staff wages. It’s a win win for both us, the customer and the cruise lines who at least make some profit.
You may also find that as well as a lower price, you will receive additional perks such as upgrades and onboard benefits like free Wi-fi and the drinks package. When you search within the offers section of a cruise site such as Seascanner, you will find that many of those included are reposition cruises.
Less Crowded
Because people tend to pick cruising to experience the ports, you find that repositioning cruises aren’t very popular. It’s unlikely that this type of cruise will ever reach maximum capacity. This of course means that the ship is less crowded, which can impact your overall holiday experience. The fewer people on board the easier it is to access facilities such as shows and restaurants. Then you have the pool areas which will be quieter, so you can relax in the sunshine in peace. When you do reach a port, you’ll have fewer people trying to disembark and the place you’re in will be quieter. If there’s a specific cruise line or ship you have fancied trying, then combining cheaper prices and quieter ships is the ideal combination.
Lots of Sea Days – Meaning Plenty of Time to Relax and be Entertained
Now we see this as a positive and a negative, depending on who you are and what you’re looking for in a cruise. When it comes to the positive side of having lots of sea days, you will have plenty of time to relax. We love seeing new ports on our cruises, but they are tiring, especially if you’re up early doing excursions and walking for miles to see as much as you can in a short space of time. Sometimes we’re grateful for our sea days, so we can lie in, enjoy the entertainment and chill by the pool. Holidays are meant to be enjoyable, but that’s hard if you’re constantly on the go.
Having lots of sea days also means you have the opportunity to enjoy the activities brought to you by the entertainment team. Cruise ships are renowned for the entertainment and activities, which we can definitely vouch for. We’ve gone to the cinema, danced at a silent disco, learnt to salsa and made towel animals during our cruises. But if all that sounds a little too much then simply pull up a sun lounger, grab a book and relax.
Fewer Children
Most repositioning cruises will be for longer periods of time and as we have mentioned already, they tend to have lots of sea days and very few ports. Because of this they are generally less appealing to families, who prefer to sail for shorter periods and choose cruising as a way to see different countries. Longer cruises are preferred by those of you who are looking to relax and get away from life for a while, and that normally doesn’t include children.
This doesn’t mean that children and families are unable to book a repositioning cruise. They just don’t tend to have the free holidays to sail for so long and this type of cruise happens during shoulder (the time of year between peak and off-peak seasons for cruises) or off seasons.
Quieter Ports
We’ve mentioned it above a little, but it’s a significant benefit so worthy of its own section. Because repositioning cruises tend to be out of season and the ship has less passengers, you will in turn have quieter ports. This will depend upon the port itself, because sometimes the smaller towns we have visited feel chaotic and bombarded by tourists. One example of this is Skjolden in Norway which is a small village and can only take one cruise ship at a time. The fact that so many people flood into the area can make it hard to access the attractions and facilities you want. But if you have a quiet ship, out of season, then there’s a great chance of you enjoying the excursions you want and being able to stroll around beautiful towns and cities in peace and quiet.
Related Guide – Things to do in Skjolden from a Cruise Ship
Upgrade Your Cruise Line or Cabin
Repositioning cruises are insanely cheap, especially when you work out the cost per day. So, if you’re a regular cruiser and you tend to pick inside cabins to make the whole trip cheaper, why not splash out a little on a balcony cabin or even suite. Bear in mind that if the inside cabin is cheaper, then the other rooms will be too. It’s the ideal opportunity to enjoy those little luxuries around the same price you would have paid for your usual cabin.
Another idea is to look for cruise lines which you normally couldn’t afford and see what repositioning itineraries they have on offer. The likes of luxury brands such as Royal Caribbean and Cunard whose ships can only be classed as remarkable, and who would normally be out of your price range. You may find that they suddenly become more reasonable because of the type of itinerary. We love experiencing different cruise lines and ships. It will surprise you how different ships can be, even though they are in the same cruise line. We have sailed on a number of P&O ships, and each has their own benefits.
Related Guides – P&O Iona Cruise Ship and P&O Britannia Cruise Ship
Different Itineraries and Destinations from the Normal Ones
For those of you who cruise regularly, the one thing you will spot is that the itineraries tend to be the same, year after year. This is a little different with repositioning cruises, because you’re moving from one area to another, which can include sailing to other parts of the world. You may visit destinations or ports which you wouldn’t see on normal itineraries. For many repositioning cruises you will find that they are trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific, which means they will stop at smaller islands on the way that you may typically never get to visit such as the Azores. Other repositioning cruises explore destinations in a multitude of countries such as Europe, Australia, Asia and South America. We have seen a cruise begin in Athens and end in Galveston Texas, which would be a wonderful itinerary to enjoy.
Spend Time Simply Enjoying the Cruise Ship
We’ll hold our hands up and admit that the main reason we began cruising, was the opportunity to visit multiple destinations in one trip. It took us a few cruises to recognise that the ship itself was also a destination worthy of our attention. Many of the newer cruise ships offer more facilities than onshore resorts, especially when you look at Royal Caribbeans Icon of the Seas.
Because most repositioning cruises have more sea days than ports, you will find that you’re spending a lot of time onboard. So why not change your perspective of the trip and focus on enjoying every part of the cruise ship. Try all the restaurants (even the ones you have to pay for), book a spa treatment, win big at the casino and take in all the incredible shows. Normally you’d be heading to your cabin for an early night, so you’re fresh and ready to go for your arrival in a port. But with lots of sea days there’s no where to go, so settle in, relax and enjoy your surroundings.
Reduce the Jet Lag
Unless you’re close to a cruise port, then it’s likely you have to fly or travel in some way. For most of us we must deal with time zone changes and jet lag. But in contrast a repositioning cruise is a much slower mode of transportation than flying and you can acclimatise to the time changes more gradually. It’s a great part of travelling when you add or subtract an hour the next day, because your ship has sailed into another time zone. Of course, you will probably have a flight home and that’s when you’ll experience any jet lag, but that’s when the holiday is over so it’s less of a problem than during your trip.
Time to Enjoy the Activities
We’ve kind of covered this a little above in terms of enjoying the ship, but the activities during your cruise are such an important aspect they deserve a section of their own. If you book a repositioning cruise, it will without doubt come with lots of sea days and these can be a little boring, especially if the weather doesn’t allow for sunbathing.
This is where the activities and entertainment on the ship are so important, and we can promise you that cruise lines have certainly got it covered. It’s near impossible for us to tell you what each ship will have available, but we can promise you that the bigger the vessel the more impressive the options. Looking at basics for entertainment, you have the theatrical shows, comedians, performers, discos, wine tastings, various classes where you can learn dance moves, languages or even towel folding techniques. Then throw in the casino, cooking classes, water slides, cinemas, quizzes and game shows. On many ships you’ll find interesting lectures from specialists in their fields, whether it’s an author or an academic.
Now remember that’s the basics, because on the huge ships you have so much more, with full on water parks, surfing pools, rock climbing, rollercoasters, ice rinks, sky diving simulators and laser tag. It’s mind blowing for newbies when they see everything that is available on their cruise ship.
If you choose an itinerary with lots of ports then you may find it difficult to enjoy the activities, whereas on a repositioning cruise there’s plenty of time due to the many sea days.
The Perfect Option for Retirees
If you’re part of the special group of travellers who can head off whenever they want, for as long as they want, otherwise known as retirees then this type of cruise is for you. Many repositioning cruises can be 15 or more days, making them impossible for the everyday vacationer. So why not take advantage of your special position and book that extra long cruise for less than the price of an everyday one. Because of the length of time, you’ll find less kids onboard which means a quieter trip. These cruises are perfect for those of you with time to travel and explore, but the best part is you don’t need to break the bank.
There you have it, the many reasons why you should consider a repositioning cruise for your next vacation. Before we go into the reasons why this type of travel may not suit you, just remember that by choosing this option you’re seeing more of the world on one trip. You can sail across oceans, visit a number of continents in one go or stop in ports which are different to the usual choices.
Although you may be used to busy schedules, why not try something a little different and slow it down by taking a repositioning cruise. We’ll admit we’re not fans of having too many sea days, but if the weathers good and the seas calm then there is nothing better than sunbathing whilst looking out at the endless blue ocean, with a cocktail in your hand.
During our research for this guide, we looked up multiple repositioning cruises and the prices are insane! So much so we’ll be booking one ourselves soon, so why not join us, in fact you could even try a back-to-back repositioning cruise, so you get to see even more of this beautiful world. If you’ve never heard of this before, then check out our guide on ‘What are Back to Back Cruises?’ which will give you a full explanation.
Cons of Taking a Repositioning Cruise – Reasons Not To
Lots of Sea Days
We’ve mentioned this a number of times already, mainly because its such a prominent part of repositioning cruises. If you choose to cruise so you can see lots of ports and countries, then this may not be the best option for you. But if you don’t mind taking it a little easier and enjoying the ship itself, then it’s the perfect choice.
Many reposition itineraries will have you sailing for several sea days without any land in sight. For some this sounds horrendous, especially if those sea days are rough. Whereas for others it’s the perfect vacation, especially because life is so chaotic that sometimes we need a reason to stop and smell the roses. Being out at sea means you cannot contact anyone (unless you buy the onboard wi-fi) and you can give yourself plenty of time to enjoy the entertainment. But if you get bored easily or the endless movement makes you a little nauseous, then lots of sea days might not be worth the cheaper price.
Although we have yet to try a repositioning cruise, we are friends with people who have, and they found the many days at sea a little tiresome; even though they loved the unique ports.
Possibility of Rougher Seas – Meaning Seasickness
As we mentioned above, we have friends who sailed on a repositioning cruise across the Atlantic. Sadly, for them the ocean across was rough and they suffered from seasickness. Because many repositioning cruises are moving from one part of the world to another, its more than likely that they will sail oceans such as the Pacific and Atlantic where waves can be higher.
Whilst this won’t be the same for every cruise, there is a chance that you may encounter rougher seas, especially if you’re sailing during the shoulder or off season. What can make this worse is the fact that you have more sea days, which means longer combating rough oceans and nausea.
Feeling ill when you sail is awful, we’ve experienced it many times. There are ways to reduce it, and we’ve written a guide on ‘How to Prevent Seasickness on a Cruise’ which should help fellow sufferers.
To ease your worries a little, it’s worth noting that many modern cruise ships have state of the art stabilisers which are designed to reduce the pitch and roll felt by the ship.
Not Many Ports and Destinations
We’ve mentioned it numerous times throughout this guide, but one of the many reasons why repositioning cruises are so cheap is because they have very few ports in the itinerary. Remember that the main reason for the ship to sail, is so that it can get from one area of the world to another. Many 15-day itineraries may have 8 or less ports included, which could mean that nearly half of the trip is at sea.
If you’re holidaying to see lots of new countries, then this probably isn’t a great option for you. We understand, because we love exploring new towns and cities, but we also know that it can get exhausting. Maybe a trip with more sea days is the perfect way to slow down and relax?
You need to consider why you’re going in the first place, is it to see amazing places or to take a break from life. If it’s the latter than maybe a repositioning cruise is ideal for you, as it forces you to stop. Even if there aren’t a lot of ports in the itinerary, you may find that the ones you will visit are unique enough to help you cope with the number of sea days.
Possibility of Bad Weather
Most repositioning cruises occur out of season or during shoulder season, and that tends to mean one thing: bad weather. Again, this depends on where in the world you are sailing from and too. But having done a cruise in November along the Portuguese and Spanish coastline, we can confirm that the sea was much rougher than previous trips along the same route.
Another area to consider is for the sunbathers who are thinking about a repositioning cruise. If you’re looking at off peak or shoulder seasons, then the likelihood is that the weather outside is going to be cold and possibly rainy. If this is the case then you won’t be able to use the pool, there will be no outside activities and it’ll be too cold to sunbathe. Although this wouldn’t put us off, its worth considering, especially when most of the cruise is sea days.
The Temptation to Spend More
Lots of sea days can lead to one thing – Boredom! And boredom can end up with you spending more than you expected. Whether it’s the onboard shops, the spa, the bars or worst of all the casino. Many cruising fanatics have found themselves going down a rabbit hole in the casino because of loneliness. The cruise lines do offer plenty of activities to try and alleviate any boredom, but it completely depends on the person and how active you are with social events.
Our advice would be to cap your spending every day, have an idea of how much you are willing to lose. If your repositioning cruise has lots of sea days then prepare in advance by bringing things to keep you entertained such as books, knitting, cross stitch or card games. Most ships have gaming rooms with lots of board games, paper and pens, but a sneaky tip, ask in the casino if they have any used-up cards. Normally the casino can only use a pack of cards a number of times and after that they are thrown away. Some cruise lines will sell the used-up packs much cheaper than in the shop.
Other than these activities, throw yourself into the entertainment offered, because who knows what new skills you could learn and enjoy.
One Way Flight
Depending on where you live in the world, and where your cruise departs from, you may end up with only needing to book one flight. Or if you do book two flights, they will obviously be in two separate places and most probably different countries.
Now for those of you looking at repositioning cruises in the likes of Europe, say for example Rome in Italy to Marseille in France, then the price of flights to and from the ports shouldn’t be too extreme. This remains the same if you only needed one flight in Europe, because your departure or return port is close to where you live.
All of this will change when you’re looking at repositioning cruises outside of a specific continent, which in all honesty covers most of them. We looked at sailing from Southampton in the United Kingdom to New York in America and the cost of a one-way flight from the USA home was more than if we’d paid to fly there and back. This means that even though your cruise price may be cheap, the overall cost could go up rapidly due to any flights needed.
If you find a cruise you like the look of, make sure you check flight prices first, because they could easily make or break your budget.
Booking Your First Cruise
Not necessarily a con, but definitely worth considering if you are booking your first cruise. We wouldn’t put someone off choosing a repositioning cruise for their first time, but because of the number of sea days and logistics when it comes to flights, it may be better to stick to the usual itineraries at the start. It completely depends on the type of traveller you are, because although you may never have cruised, you could have in-depth experience using other modes of transport. This will help when you reach the various ports, and flights needed for the trip.
For most people trying cruising for the first time, you’ll be nervous about whether you will enjoy being at sea. So, we always recommend a short one to begin, our first cruise was 3 nights, and we felt it was a good taster option. Repositioning cruises tend to be for longer periods, so if you decide that it’s not for you, then the extended trip could feel miserable.
As you can see, even though there are lots of good reasons to book a repositioning cruise, there are plenty of negatives. This type of trip comes with compromises, namely the number of sea days in your itinerary. Some cruisers love being on the ship and so lots of sea days is a bonus, but most of us enjoy stretching our legs on land for a few hours.
For those of you experienced in cruising, who aren’t prone to sea sickness then we’d recommend taking a look at this option. But for everyone else it’s worth considering the cons, before you get drawn in by the amazing prices.
Our Repositioning Cruise Top Tip
Our advice would be to look at cruise sites such as Seascanner and set the criteria for sailing 15 days or more. Then sort the list by price and what you should find is that the repositioning cruises appear first at the cheapest prices. If the departure and arrival ports are different, then this is definitely a repositioning cruise and get ready to bag a bargain. If you take a look at the drilled down itinerary then you’ll probably find that most of the cruise is filled with sea days, but as we’ve mentioned more than once, that’s part and parcel of this type of trip.
There will be repositioning itineraries less than 15 days, but this gives you a great place to start from. We have seen cruises for 2 nights where the ship was moving from France to Spain, and the price was incredible. Itineraries such as this are great ways to test out cruise ships you may not have been on or cruise lines you have yet to sail with.
We’ve told you what a repositioning cruise is and the pros and cons of taking one. These types of cruises can bring you unique routes, more time on the ship utilising the facilities and they are incredibly cheap when compared to normal itineraries. It tends to be the bargain prices which really hooks in experienced cruisers, even if there are more logistics to work around such as flights to different countries. Most of us taking a cruise will have flights to and from the ship anyway, so that doesn’t really make much difference.
For us Brits to enjoy Mediterranean and Greek cruises, we tend to fly into the likes of Barcelona and Athens and end in the same city. But on a repositioning cruise you may fly into Barcelona, enjoy your cruise and then fly home from Athens. As we mentioned in the cons section above, the prices in Europe generally remain the same whether you’re flying to and from the same airport or from differing airports. Sadly, from our experience this isn’t the same for places such as America. So, before you opt for this type of cruising, do a quick check on the impact it will have to your flight prices.
The one thing that’s put us off repositioning cruises is that most of them have more sea days than stops. Remember that porting these huge vessels come at a cost, so the cruise line wants to make the transfer from one area to another as cheap as possible. This means less ports and more sea days, which is great if you enjoy them, but we much prefer getting off the ship on a regular basis and stretching our legs in a new country. If the bargain is too good to miss, then we have a guide on the ‘Things You Can Do So You Enjoy Sea Days on a Cruise’ which may help fill up those days.
If you’re considering a repositioning cruise, then our advice is to head to websites such as Seascanner who combine all the cruise lines into one place. Just look at the departure and arrival ports to make sure they’re different.
Because cruising is such a big bucket list option, we want to bring you as much information as we can to make your experience an enjoyable one. We have written many guides on cruising including.
- What You Need to Think About When Planning Your First Cruise – Tips for First Time Cruisers
- Cruise Ship Bucket List – The Ultimate List for Cruisers
- What to Pack for a Cruise – List of Cruise Essentials
- Our Recommendations on the First Things to Do on a Cruise Immediately After Boarding
- Things to Do as Soon as You Get into Your Cruise Cabin
Make sure you tag us on Instagram if you end up taking a cruise vacation, especially a repositioning cruise. We love to see what you’re up to as you tick off your bucket lists; Enjoy!