Reposition your cruise

Each spring and fall, like clockwork, cruise lines shift their ships from one part of the world to another.

During these seasonal relocations – called repositionings – fleets resemble a D-Day armada as vessels move from, say, a season in the Caribbean to one in Europe, or vice versa. Or ships that summer in Alaska might make lengthy cruises via the Panama Canal to reach Caribbean ports for winter itineraries.

These meanderings offer terrific bargains, lots of languid days at sea and, often, uncommon ports of call.

“Repositioning cruises are particularly good for those who enjoy days at sea,” says guidebook author Kay Showker, “since, generally, they have few ports of call.

“They are also about the best value in cruising because the per diem cost is considerably lower than a regular cruise on the same ship,” Showker says. “And they’re the most relaxing cruises offered, not only because of the greater number of days at sea, but usually the ship is not filled to capacity and the whole tempo … is more low-key.”

Travel specialist Nancy Kelly of Kelly Cruises in Oak Brook, Ill., agrees: “True cruise lovers relish the days at sea so they can relax, be pampered and enjoy all the amenities offered to stimulate their minds and rejuvenate their bodies and spirit.”

Some repositionings, Kelly adds, “will offer a special theme, so you may be traveling with like-minded people for a big-band cruise, jazz cruise, wine and food festival, film and theatre or … health and fitness.”

Since repositionings occur only twice yearly, cruise lines don’t heavily advertise them. Consequently, Kelly says, “It can be a challenge to nab the best deal.”

Aware that repositioning bookings can be anemic, seasoned cruisers quickly snatch up these under-promoted gems. They’re a great way to experience a ship you might not normally be able to afford.

Typically, these so-called “blue-water voyages” last upward of two weeks and sometimes include ports normally reserved for super-expensive world cruises, or offer more unique stops on routine itineraries.

Princess Cruises, for instance, has a number of interesting repositionings, including a 16-day trans-Atlantic from London to Quebec City departing Sept. 2 that calls at Bergen, Norway; the Shetland Islands; Faroe Islands; Akureyri, Isafjordur and Reykjavik, Iceland; Nanortalik, Greenland; and St. John’s and Sydney, Nova Scotia, at fares starting from $2,390.

On repositionings, you won’t just tool around from one port to another in an if-this-is- Tuesday-it-must-be-Belgium whirlwind. Ports are more like stepping stones, as ships hopscotch their way across great swaths on the map.

Rather than sailing direct from, say, Charleston, S.C., to reposition to Boston in April, Norwegian Majesty meanders for 15 days doing it via San Juan, St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Barbados, Aruba and Curacao before docking in Beantown – at a cost of about $100 per day.

There are some drawbacks, though. Repositionings sail during “fringe” seasons, so don’t count on perfect weather and smooth seas. And if you prefer lots of time ashore, repositionings might not be your cup of tea, cautions Andrew Poulton, Radisson Seven Seas’ vice president of strategic marketing.

“You’re sort of cocooned in this little – or big – vessel, and you’re actually making a journey,” he says.

For fans of repositionings, that’s precisely what makes them heaven-sent.

Here’s a repositioning sampler. Unless otherwise noted, all fares are quoted per person double occupancy:

• Carnival Liberty’s twice annual trans-Atlantic cruises sail in April and November. A 14-day eastbound cruise departs Fort Lauderdale on April 23 and arrives in Civitavecchia, Italy (for Rome) on May 7. Liberty’s 16-day westbound cruise departs Civitavecchia on Nov. 3 and arrives in Fort Lauderdale on Nov. 19.

Both cruises visit Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca and Malaga, Spain; Funchal (Madeira), Portugal; and St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles. Fares begin at $999.

•Each of Radisson Seven Seas’ six repositionings features two-for-one savings on fares as well as special themes such as theater, photography or music.

The 700-passenger Seven Seas Mariner departs May 14 on a 10-night photography-themed voyage from San Francisco to Vancouver, B.C., for its summer-in-Alaska season; it calls at Victoria, Prince Rupert, Skagway, Juneau and Sitka. Fares start at $3,198.

At the conclusion of its Alaska season, the Mariner will depart Sept. 20 on a 14-night musical voyage from Whittier (Anchorage) to Tokyo, calling at Kodiak, Dutch Harbor, Petropavlovsk and Hakodate. Fares start at $4,998.

And on Nov. 5, the line’s Seven Seas Navigator U-turns after a season in Europe, departing Funchal for Ft. Lauderdale on an eight-night music cruise, with fares starting at $1,848. All Radisson rates include an in-suite bar, wine with dinner, and shipboard gratuities.

•Holland America Line’s 1,316-passenger Rotterdam leaves Rio de Janeiro for Lisbon on April 5 for a 15-day South Atlantic sailing. On Nov. 5, the ship reverses course. Both voyages make two port calls in Brazil, two in the remote Cape Verde Islands, two in the Canary Islands and stop in Cadiz, Spain, a gateway to Seville. Fares for these cruises ring in at less than $75 per day.

In April and September, respectively, Holland America’s newest vessel, the 1,915-passenger Noordam, will sail from New York to Rome and back again on 16-night big-band crossings. Unusual ports on these trips: Ponta Delgada and Horta in the Azores.

•MSC Cruises’ 1,580-passenger Lirica sets sail May 3 from Ft. Lauderdale to Barcelona on a 17-night trans-Atlantic “Wellness Cruise,” featuring fitness programs, beauty treatments and health conferences. The itinerary includes nine sea days and port calls at Cayo Levantado, Tortola, Martinique, Funchal, Malaga and Barcelona. Lowest price based on space available: $1,350.

•There’s still space on Windstar’s spring repositioning cruises aboard the line’s casual motor/sailing vessels. The 148-passenger Wind Spirit departs St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, on April 8 for Lisbon – a 14-day sailing with fares starting from $1,349. On April 9, the 308-passenger Wind Surf departs Barbados for Lisbon on a 14-day trans-Atlantic at fares starting at $1,349.

•If you like your bargains ultra-luxe, Silversea has a 17-day culinary cruise on the 382-passenger Silver Shadow, as it repositions from Los Angeles to Miami starting Sept. 26. The trans-Panama Canal cruise is partnered with Relais & Chateaux. Discounted fares start at $5,157.