At the end of each cruise season, ships follow the sun to another warmer clime on the other side of the world. These ‘repositioning’ sailings can be a clever way to bag a long cruise at a low fare.
Voyages often feature many days at sea when, for instance, after a winter in the Caribbean, cruise lines move ships ‘across the pond’ to the Mediterranean, Northern Europe or the UK for the summer.
Look out, too, for unusual itineraries because there are repositions including the Far East to Alaska, the South Pacific to Central America and Asia to Australasia.
It has always made sense to fill ships with passengers rather than sail empty on ocean crossings that still need fuel and crew, but nowadays many cruise lines add extra stops to make the voyages particularly attractive.
While not exactly a secret, the trick is to find these sailings, as cruise lines don’t tend to flag up relocation or repositioning cruises.
MSC Cruises uses the tag ‘MSC Grand Voyages’ while others highlight a ‘Transatlantic crossing’ or ‘Discovery voyage’.
At the end of each cruise season, ships follow the sun to another warmer clime on the other side of the world. These ‘repositioning’ sailings can be a clever way to bag a long cruise at a low fare
Remember that repositioning cruises do not always offer flights or transfers so this can be used to an advantage when building in a holiday before or after a cruise.
So if you are time-rich, flexible with dates and love being on the ocean here’s a pick of some great-value repositioning sailings.
Japan to Alaska
As the Japanese cherry blossom season ends, Azamara Pursuit transfers from Tokyo to Whittier, Alaska. There are two stops: Aomori, with an opportunity to visit Japan’s national scenic garden Seibien; and Kodiak, on Alaska’s south coast, to learn about the town’s role in World War II.
Book it: Thirteen-night Japan & Alaska Cruise: Tokyo, Kodiak & Whittier voyage departs May 9, 2026, from £1,329 pp plus Heathrow return flights from £1,157 pp (azamara.com).
Tarragona to Rio de Janeiro
After MSC Musica’s calls to Casablanca, in Morocco, and Salvador, in Brazil, the ship docks in Rio for guests to party and spend long days on Copacabana Beach.
Book it: Thirteen-night MSC Grand Voyage on MSC Musica departs Tarragona, Spain, on October 29, 2026, from £661 pp including meals (in buffet and main restaurant). No flights or transfers included (msccruises.co.uk).
Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona
Perhaps take a holiday in Florida before Sun Princess departs the US for ten days at sea and calls into Tenerife, in the Canaries, plus Cartagena and Mallorca, Spain.
Book it: Fourteen-day Spanish Passage from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Sun Princess departs March 5, 2026, from £428 pp including meals. No return flight or transfers included (princess.com).
Liverpool to Malta
Malta’s Grand Valetta Bay, famous for its UNESCO-listed golden limestone fortification
Hit the beach in Malaga, Spain, experience Tangier’s lively Medina, then soak up Sardinia’s island charm during Bolette’s cruise to Valletta, in Malta. Sailing into the city’s Grand Harbour, with its UNESCO-listed golden limestone fortifications, is a cruise highlight.
Book it: Fred Olsen’s ten-night Mediterranean Islands And Coastlines cruise departs Liverpool on March 12, 2026, from £1,499 pp including all meals. No return flight or transfers included (fredolsencruises.com).
Southampton to New York
Enjoy superb gourmet dining on the refurbished Oceania Sirena as the ship sails to the Big Apple via eight ports of call in Ireland, Iceland and Canada. The fare includes complementary wine and beer or shore tour credits.
Book it: Sixteen-night Nautical Nights in The North Voyage on Oceania Sirena departs September 3, 2027. Price from £2,881 pp including flights, meals, soft drinks, wifi and tips (panachecruises.com).
Papeete to Panama City
Wind Spirit tall ship in Moorea, Tahiti
Stop in tropical islands before a leisurely cruise across the Pacific Ocean to Central America on 228-guest luxury expedition ship Scenic Eclipse II.
Book it: Twenty-day Treasures Of French Polynesia & the Marquesas Islands, on Scenic Eclipse II, departs Papeete, the capital of Tahiti, on March 25, 2026. Cruise from £11,499 pp including meals, drinks and butler service. Flights and transfers not included (scenic.co.uk).
Bridgetown to Lisbon
Step up to the officers’ bridge and take the helm of Wind Spirit, learn age-old seamanship skills and practise knot tying as this elegant four-masted sailing ship crosses the Atlantic with no stops.
Book it: Fifteen-night Knot Your Average Crossing voyage from Barbados to Portugal departs March 27, 2026, from £3,299 pp including Heathrow return flights, one-night hotel stay in Barbados, meals, drinks, wifi and tips (windstarcruises.co.uk).
The skyline over Sao Jorge Castle in Lisbon, Portugal
San Juan to Barcelona
Set sail on Viking Star from Puerto Rico to Spain across the Caribbean, Atlantic and Mediterranean seas with four ports of call – Philipsburg, St Maarten; Funchal, Madeira; Seville; and Valencia.
Book it: Fourteen-day West Indies To Spain voyage from £3,590 pp departing October 23, 2026, includes return flights from the UK, meals, wine, beer and soft drinks at lunch and dinner, a tour in each port, wifi and tips (vikingcruises.co.uk).
After MSC Musica’s calls to Casablanca, in Morocco, and Salvador, in Brazil, the ship docks in Rio for guests to party and spend long days on Copacabana Beach
Lisbon to Fort Lauderdale
Every suite has a butler on Crystal Symphony, so sail south in luxury to the Azores in the middle of the Atlantic, followed by four days at sea and then on to Caribbean sunshine in Antigua and the British Virgin Islands.
Book it: Fifteen-night Lisbon To Fort Lauderdale cruise departs November 8, 2027, on Crystal Symphony from £4,859 pp including London return flights, meals and drinks, tips and wifi (mundycruising.co.uk).
Vancouver to Honolulu
The two-night hotel stays in Vancouver and Honolulu extend Silver Whisper’s cruise around the Hawaiian Islands with calls to Hilo as well as Kailua-Kona. Enjoy exceptional service on this boutique ship – where 295 crew members look after 382 passengers.
Book it: Fourteen-night cruise on Silver Whisper departs September 1, 2026, from £4,899 pp including flights, pre and post-hotel stays and meals (panachecruises.com).
Southampton to New York
Visit Cork, Belfast and Le Havre before ‘crossing the pond’ to Nova Scotia in Canada, then New York
Visit Cork, Belfast and Le Havre before ‘crossing the pond’ to Nova Scotia in Canada on Norwegian Sun with time for guided tours to Peggy’s Cove, Lunenburg and Mahone Bay, then New York.
Book it: Norwegian’s 12-night Transatlantic: France & Ireland voyage departs Southampton on October 12, 2026, from £1,438 pp. Return flight and transfers not included (ncl.com).
Copenhagen to Montreal
Sail in to see Canada’s autumn colours in Newfoundland and Quebec after Seabourn Quest’s calls to the Shetland and Faroe Islands, Iceland and Greenland.
Book it: The 24-day Fjords, Folklore And Canada Fall Foliage cruise departs Copenhagen on September 1, 2027, from £13,309 pp including all drinks and meals. Flights not included (seabourn.com).
Gran Canaria to St Maarten
There’s only one stop – in La Gomera in the Canary Islands – during four-masted Star Flyer’s voyage to the Caribbean. Life on board revolves round stargazing, mast-climbing, pirate nights, pulling the ropes and aqua aerobics.
Book it: Fifteen-night Westbound Atlantic Ocean cruise with three-night stay in St Maarten departs Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, on November 13, 2026, from £3,999 pp including meals and return flights from London (starclippers.com).
Southampton to Port Canaveral
Solo travellers get a £219-a-night all-inclusive deal on Celebrity Apex’s three-week voyage which visits six ports before reaching Florida: A Coruna and Vigo, in Spain; King’s Wharf, Bermuda; Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas, and Philipsburg, in St Maarten.
Book it: Passion For Cruise’s 21-night Grand Caribbean cruise departs from Southampton on October 17, 2027. Solo fare from £4,599 includes return flight from Orlando, meals, drinks package and wifi (passionforcruises.co.uk).
Singapore to Cape Town
Seven Seas Mariner’s month-long voyage including Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, the Maldives, the Seychelles (where you can see giant tortoises)
An amazing 18 ports of call feature during Seven Seas Mariner’s month-long voyage including Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, the Maldives, the Seychelles (where you can see giant tortoises, left), Madagascar and Mozambique, finishing in Cape Town.
Book it: Regent Seven Seas’ 30-night Indian Ocean Exploration departs Singapore on April 9, 2026, with fares from £18,779 pp including all flights, drinks and meals (rssc.com).
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