You are probably aware that cruise ships move with the seasons. This is one of the distinct advantages of a floating hotel or resort – it can move. Those migration patterns were interrupted in 2020 and 2021, but it appears as though the pattern is settling out again.
Right now, most of the cruise ships in the world are in Alaska or Europe. A few remain in the Caribbean and Australia/New Zealand year-round, but the overwhelming majority of ocean ships right now are in the Mediterranean, the Baltic Sea, or running up and down the British Columbia/Alaska coast lines.
In September and October, the ships in Alaska will return to Australia, New Zealand and East Asia (and some to the Caribbean), and the ships currently in Europe will head to Canada/New England to wait out hurricane season before returning to the Caribbean, and some to South America. The reverse migrations happen in the spring.
During these times of repositioning, you will find some really interesting itineraries that aren’t available at other times of the year. These are usually longer itineraries, and involve some days on the open ocean, so they are not for everyone.
Here are a few routings or ports of call that we really only see in repositioning season:
Pacific Ocean
- Hawaii – There are cruises to Hawaii from California all winter, but if you want to sail one way to the Hawaiian Islands, and then spend some time, and fly the other way, you can do this in Spring and Fall.
- Alaska to Japan – Some of the ships migrate to/from Asia/Australia via Alaska, Japan and East Asia. You will visit ports you would never otherwise see on this journey.
- Extended Panama Canal – The ships need to get between Florida and Seattle/Vancouver, so these cruises (usually about 3 weeks long) offer all the diversity that North America has to offer.
- California Coastals – These are usually one week long, between Vancouver and Southern California. You’ll visit less frequented ports stops such as Portland, San Francisco, and Santa Barbara. Some of these are wine-themed cruises and include extensions into the Napa/Sonoma regions.
- Australia/New Zealand – if you don’t want the 14-hour plane ride, you can do it by ship in spring and fall, but these itineraries are usually 28 days or more.
Atlantic Ocean
- Iceland & Greenland – These destinations have become more popular in the past few years, but during repositioning season, there are more port stops as the ships make their way to/from North Europe and St. Lawrence Seaway and or the Northeast.
- Canary Islands, Azores, Morocco, and West Africa – these are ports stops during repositioning season when the ships head from the Mediterranean to South America and the Caribbean.
- St. Pierre and Miquelon – who knew that France still had a territory in North America? This island group near the mouth of the St. Lawrence River is politically part of Europe, uses the Euro as its currency, and is very French (and quite different from the variation spoken in Canada). It is also difficult to get to, so cruise is a great way to get to see it.
What about river ships?
River boats are much more restricted in their migration patterns. So much so, that most of the European River ships simply don’t operate in January and February. In the United States, the same is true for the Columbia River, and on the Mississippi River system we see the Lower Mississippi offered through the late fall, winter and spring months, with trips further upstream (as far as Minneapolis, Chicago, or Pittsburgh) in the summer.
Speaking of river ships… if you recently booked a cruise (ocean or river), don’t forget to let me know! I can almost always add extra perks to your existing reservation. Viking cruises in particular is making it VERY easy for you to make a booking online, so you might forget to loop me in beforehand. No worries, just let me know as soon as possible and I’ll add those extra perks for you. As you may know, there is NO fee to work with me, and everything about your original reservation remains exactly the same. Thank you for supporting a hard-working small business owner!
Today’s Travel Opportunities
If you’re thinking about a repositioning cruise, here are some ideas.
Barcelona to San Juan, Puerto Rico with Viking:
- 15 days, departing on December 3, 2022
- Veranda rooms start $2999 per person, with $799 – $999 flights.
- Visit Valencia, Seville, Strait of Gibraltar, Casablanca, Madeira, St. Maarten
Amsterdam to Fort Lauderdale with Holland America:
- 28 days, departing on October 2, 2022
- Veranda rooms start at $7709 per person. Insides at $5089 pp.
- Visit Oslo, Gothenburg, Copenhagen Warnemunde, Stockholm, Kiel, Rotterdam, Le Havre, Plymouth, New York (overnight)
If you want to do just the Transatlantic (a 12-day cruise), you can pick up the ship at Rotterdam, with verandas from $3799 per person.
Vancouver to Tokyo with Viking:
- 23 days, departing September 20, 2022 (also dates in April and September 2023)
- Veranda rooms start at $9599 per person, with $999 – $1199 flights.
- Visit Ketchikan, Sitka, Glacier Bay, Valdez, Seward, Kodiak, Dutch Harbour, and Sapporo.
Rome to Fort Lauderdale with Celebrity:
- 15 days, departing Oct 24th, 2022
- Veranda Cabins from $2319 per person
- Visit Corsica, Mallorca, Cartagena, Gibraltar, and Bermuda
Vancouver to Fort Lauderdale with Holland America:
- 23 days, departing October 2, 2022
- Veranda cabins from $3849 per person.
- Visit San Francisco, Avalon, San Diego, Puerto Vallarta, Huatulco, Puerto Chiapas, Puerto Quetzal, Corinto (Nicaragua), Puerto Caldera (Costa Rica), Full transit of the Panama Canal, Aruba, Bahamas.
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If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here or call 800-876-0168 to get in touch today.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sue Bradley
Sue Bradley
