Repositioning Cruises

[Moemg]

I am going on a transatlantic in April .I booked really early and then they had a sale where the balconies were less expensive than an ocean view. The inside rooms make me claustrophobic.There are some great last minute deals but then you have to hope you can get airfare at a reasonable price.

 

[Chuckanut]

From what I have been told (I've never been on a cruise) other than sleeping and washing up, most people don't spend much time in their cabin. So why not just get a cheap one as long as it has a descent bed and a bath

 

[Alan]

We have been very fortunate not to have to worry about return air fares as each time we have done it we have spent 5 or 6 months in the U.K./Europe and took a cheap cruise back.

 

[RetireAge50]

From what I have been told (I've never been on a cruise) other than sleeping and washing up, most people don't spend much time in their cabin. So why not just get a cheap one as long as it has a descent bed and a bath

I can think of one other use. [emoji7]
I like the inside because it is dark and quiet. However the balcony is great because you can open the door and have fresh, cool ocean breezes coming in. Also good for Alaska cruises because there is always scenery going by.

 

[Teacher Terry]

I have found that booking the airfare through the cruise line gets me a cheaper fare then I can find myself.

 

[gerntz]

Not trying to be offensive, but being confined to a ship for 10 days & no stops gives me the willies. The motion isn't a concern, but I feel imprisoned by the second day. Outside media has always been 3rd rate. For me, the only value of cruises is to get me to places I wouldn't get to otherwise.

 

[Texas Proud]

Serious cruisers only spend sleep time in their cabins. Plus eventually you will build up frequent cruiser credit so that they will upgrade you automatically. Our friends are now in the highest class on Princess and their inside cabins get upgraded to suites.

Well, have not cruised enough to get upgrades, but I agree...

My DW wants a window... she pays the extra money.... but, most of the time we are out of the cabin... sure, we can look out and check the weather before we leave, but you can look at the TV to get that info...

I will go to the room to watch a bit of TV or take a nap.... or sleep at night.... not to go to look out a window... I would much rather be up on deck to look at the sea...

 

[Teacher Terry]

The big ships have so much to do that you never get bored. There are more things to do then the time you have to do them.

 

[Nemo2]

Not trying to be offensive, but being confined to a ship for 10 days & no stops gives me the willies..

À chacun son goût......we love looking out over the vast expanse of ocean in the hope of seeing dolphins, a whale, whatever....and also find it very relaxing....read & look, look & read.

 

[Lsbcal]

What about repositioning cruises within Europe? Any that would be better then just taking a flight within Europe?

Maybe this should be another thread?

 

[NYEXPAT]

Been living on the Pacific ocean for the last 13 years. Unless somebody points it out or I am watching my 11 y/o surf, I forget it is there. My father lived on the Atlantic ocean for many years and always said the same thing. Now if they invented a topless beach full of young hotties (that moved around the world)I might give that a try for a couple weeks.

 

[Nemo2]

What about repositioning cruises within Europe? Any that would be better then just taking a flight within Europe?

Generally speaking, and to the best of my knowledge, cruises within Europe are just that, cruises.

The repositioning aspect comes into play when the vessels relocate from one geographical area to another.

 

[HadEnuff]

This fascinates me. However, DW is prone to motion sickness, so it will never happen.

 

[gerntz]

À chacun son goût......we love looking out over the vast expanse of ocean in the hope of seeing dolphins, a whale, whatever....and also find it very relaxing....read & look, look & read.

Thank you for making my point. Guess I'm not stressed enough.

 

[COcheesehead]

The big ships have so much to do that you never get bored. There are more things to do then the time you have to do them.

Not true for Windstar. They had a small club, a tiny casino, a shop or two, if I remember correctly 3 restaurants and a workout room. Limited wifi, a small library and a handful of channels on the in-room TV.
We did a European cruise with them, but one day was completely at sea. Pure death by boredom on that day. They had tours of the kitchen. Oh boy.

 

[mpeirce]

Not true for Windstar. They had a small club, a tiny casino, a shop or two, if I remember correctly 3 restaurants and a workout room. Limited wifi, a small library and a handful of channels on the in-room TV.
We did a European cruise with them, but one day was completely at sea. Pure death by boredom on that day. They had tours of the kitchen. Oh boy.

We're giving it a try in a few weeks on the Viking Sky.

It's a bit of hybrid crossing of the Atlantic - starting in San Juan then to St. Martin, then crossing the Atlantic with a stop at Madeira island and on to Morocco. Then a few stops in Spain ending in Barcelona. Not a mad dash straight across.

We're also padding it on both ends so we can get a few days of beach/sun in San Juan and also spend a little more time in Barcelona (we enjoyed visiting there last year).

We're familiar with the Viking Sky - we did a western Mediterranean cruise a year ago on it. Very comfortable ship. We're expecting plenty of quiet time while at sea. The included WiFi works fine so web access and movie downloading is an option. But frankly we're looking forward to a pretty relaxed atmosphere.

Also, no "inside cabins" on this ship, so everyone has a veranda or a suite.

 

[Bestwifeever]

What about repositioning cruises within Europe? Any that would be better then just taking a flight within Europe?

Maybe this should be another thread?

There are lots of cruises that start in one city and end in another: Norwegian has a three-day from Barcelona to Rome and interestingly, a 14-day also from Barcelona to Rome. Big ships, in this case.

 

[Teacher Terry]

Before booking I always check what there is to do on a ship. It is not unusual for there to be 11 lounges/bars with different types of activities, many restaurants, and a 4 page newsletter that has activities day and night. On the smallest ship we had 5 lounges, etc but we knew that going in and it did not have more then 1 sea day. This was a smaller ship but we only paid 284/person for a week. We took a 13 day re-positioning cruise with 8 sea days and never got bored.

 

[CaptTom]

The big ships have so much to do that you never get bored. There are more things to do then the time you have to do them.

So true, you really need to manage your time.

And in that time management, I include down time. Like "Let's sit on the balcony and watch the world go by" time. That's worth the upgrade price to me.

We used to specifically book cruises with several "at sea" days so we didn't feel so pressured to do something every day.

This probably doesn't work for everyone. DW and I are both contrarians. While all the other passengers are lined up like sardines by the pool getting sunburned, we have the inside spaces to ourselves. While they're gambling and drinking in the bars and casinos, we're alone on deck looking at the stars and the sea.

 

[Nemo2]

DW and I are both contrarians. While all the other passengers are lined up like sardines by the pool getting sunburned, we have the inside spaces to ourselves. While they're gambling and drinking in the bars and casinos, we're alone on deck looking at the stars and the sea.

That's our category too.....we're pretty much self-contained, and although we enjoy encountering people with (to us) interesting stories/backgrounds, practically the only time we're in a crowd is for lifeboat drill.

 

[Sunset]

.......
And in that time management, I include down time. Like "Let's sit on the balcony and watch the world go by" time. That's worth the upgrade price to me.
.........
... While all the other passengers are lined up like sardines by the pool getting sunburned, we have the inside spaces to ourselves. While they're gambling and drinking in the bars and casinos, we're alone on deck looking at the stars and the sea.

So far we have only booked interior rooms as we don't stay in the room much.
We also go to quiet places in the ship while everyone is fighting over the pool and the sun.
It is often like having your own private ship

 

[CaptTom]

That's our category too....practically the only time we're in a crowd is for lifeboat drill.

We also go to quiet places in the ship while everyone is fighting over the pool and the sun.
It is often like having your own private ship

Hey you too, stop that! I want the WHOLE thing to myself

Seriously, a cruise ship has something for everyone. I strongly recommend cruises to anyone, regardless of their vacationing "style."

We've been cruising in our own boat the last few years, but one of these days I'll spot a good deal and book another "ship" cruise. Probably after I've proven to myself that my ER budget isn't flawed somehow.

 

[Souschef]

Everyone has different requirements or desires, and a cruise ship is set up to meet all of them. For us, a balcony is ideal. We sit out there with our readers and music playing on our mini speakers, sipping a glass of wine- it does not get much better than that.
When we did the 32 day South American cruise, we opted for a mini suite to get some extra room along with a sofa and table.

 

[Brat]

I had a collogue who took a repositioning cruse (to Europe) and found it boring and fellow passengers... not to his and his wife's taste. The came home with only one addition to their contact list.

 

[brett]

We very much prefer one way cruising. Don't like to pay for the same real estate twice. We are on one now. Boarded in Buenos Aires and we jump off in Valparaiso. Spent time in Uruguay and Argentina prior, will spend time in Chile, Pansma, and perhaps Costa Rica at the othe end.