The RCI Mariner of the Seas will not be in South America for long, as she will reposition back to the west coast of the USA from Valparaiso in February. Also in February, the Holland America Oosterdam will have an interesting 32-day repositioning cruise from San Diego through the Panama Canal, across the Caribbean, the Atlantic, and half the Mediterranean, disembarking in Rome.
March is a popular month for repositioning cruises. Ships that have spent the winter in the Caribbean, South America, or Asia will start moving back towards Europe. Many of these cruises include many sea days as they cross long stretches of open water.
First, the Carnival Splendor will sail north from Valparaiso, Chile for San Francisco. Other ships in South America including the MSC Armonia, MSC Musica, Oceania Insignia, Costa Mediterranea, and Costa Romantica will leave the eastern coast of South America and sail northeast to the Mediterranean.
Next, two ships will sail from the west coast across the Pacific. The Crystal Symphony will leave Los Angeles and sail to Hong Kong via Hawaii. This cruise features 15 sea days in the 18-day crossing. The Silver Shadow will sail from Los Angeles for Tahiti via Hawaii. This cruise has 10 sea days.
One unusual repositioning cruise in March 2009 has the Costa Europa sailing from Port Louis, Mauritius to Savona, Italy via the Suez Canal. The Star Clipper will also sail through the Suez Canal on her way from Phuket, Thailand to Athens. This latter 37-day sail has 26 days at sea across the Indian Ocean and Mediterranean.
The biggest set of spring repositioning cruises are those from the Caribbean to Europe. The Oceania Regatta, HAL Oosterdam, Wind Surf, and Seabourn Legend will all sail to Europe in March 2009. The following ships will reposition in April 2009 from the Caribbean or the eastern coast of the USA to Europe:
- Seabourn Legend
- HAL Noordam
- Grand Princess
- Wind Star
- Royal Clipper
- Silversea Silver Cloud
- Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas
- Celebrity Constellation
- Norwegian Gem
- Celebrity Summit
- Celebrity Solstice
- HAL Eurodam
- Celebrity Century
- Carnival Liberty
- SeaDream Yacht Club II
- Crown Princess
Since the Alaska cruise season starts in May, ships from Asia and the Caribbean will start moving towards Alaska in April. The Norwegian Pearl and Pacific Princess both feature westbound Panama Canal cruises. Other ships will start moving to Alaska in early May 2009.
The Norwegian Sun will reposition from South America to Alaska in May 2009. Another ship, the Carnival Spirit, will cruise to Hawaii from Ensenada, Mexico and on to Vancouver, taking the "long way" from California to Alaska.
More ships will move to Europe from the east coast of the USA in May 2009, including the Regent Seven Seas Navigator, Royal Caribbean Jewel of the Seas, and the HAL Rotterdam.
The summer of 2009 features only a few repositioning cruises, mostly between the Mediterranean and northern Europe.
When the weather starts to cool in the fall of 2009, the repositioning process from north to south and east to west will start anew.
Find a Repositioning Cruise Using Kayak
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