When talking with clients or friends about a transatlantic or transpacific cruise, I have heard numerous comments, such as, “I will be bored. What do I do all day?” I will get cabin fever not seeing land for days on end.”
It has not been that long since only the wealthy travelled to Europe by way of transatlantic cruising. Cruise ships use this as a way of repositioning their ships from either the warm waters of the Caribbean, to the Mediterranean or the European shores. Another relocation each fall is Alaska to the Far East, California or the Panama Canal. Sometimes, cruise lines use this option to deliver a new ship to their new port destination.
I haven’t covered all the options, but it gives you some ideas of what may be available for your next dream voyage. Our first repositioning cruise was with Carnival Cruise Line, from Los Angeles to Sydney, Australia. The second was on the inaugural cruise of Norwegian Cruise Line’s (NCL) Escape, from Southampton, United Kingdom, to Miami. Our third, in May, was from Miami to Copenhagen, Denmark.
This fall, we will be doing another transatlantic crossing on NCL’s Getaway, from Copenhagen, back to Miami. Prior to that cruise, we will be spending eight days on the same ship, visiting the beautiful European cities on the Baltic Sea, including Warnemunde, Germany; Tallinn, Estonia; St. Petersburg, Russia; Stockholm, Sweden; and Helsinki, Finland.
Repositioning cruises have an abundance of things to do daily, including a full casino, daily bridge, knitting and crocheting, trivia, putting contests, first-run movies, sports, no-excuses deck walking, or if you choose, sitting back and enjoying uninterrupted ocean vistas from lounge chairs positioned around the ship for your enjoyment. You even can lose yourself in a good book.
The pool deck chairs and hot tubs also are popular places to work on your tan or just relax. Of course, your friendly bartender is close by to help keep you hydrated.
The average length of a repositioning cruise is 14 days. Generally, the cruise will make a few stops on the way to its destination, so you are seldom more than six or eight days between ports.
Internet is available on all ships. However, you can expect some interruptions in service when they are between satellites.
Even though it is a longer cruise, you will have a different show every night. On some days, they may have matinee performances. Daily activities can range from juggling lessons and cooking demonstrations, to dance lessons, language lessons and multiple types of trivia.
Also, because you have multiple days at sea, you have a better chance to meet new friends and find out all about your favorite bartenders and waiters.
Even though there are a few ships with self-service laundries, the ones that don’t usually offer specials, so you can bring home clean clothes.
If this is something you have always wanted to do, please give me a call or shoot me an email, and we can discuss what cruise would be the best for you. Until next time, bon voyage.
Please contact Sue or Bruce Mitchell, your Cruise Planners travel specialists, if you have any questions about travel. Visit our website at redmountaintravel.com. You also may send an email to smitchell@cruiseplanners.com, or call (480) 396-8084.