Repositioning Cruises to Europe in 2010

Jan 18, 2010 in Cruises

The seasons in South America are the opposite of those in North America, so by March, it’s the beginning of fall there — and almost spring in Europe. So most of the cruise ship that were in South America for the winter cross the Atlantic bound for the Mediterranean.

Because it takes nearly a week to cross the Atlantic, these voyages are longer than most repositioning cruises. Some last more than a month. But they offer the opportunity to visit some exotic ports on both sides of the Atlantic, and to unwind at sea without interruption.

Repositioning cruises on the Yachts of Seabourn in March 2010.

Seabourn is one of the most highly rated cruise lines at sea. Their “yachts” are outfitted with amenities like marble bathrooms, walk-in closets, flat-screen TVs, and DVD players. On board, guests enjoy complimentary beverages, including wine with dinner, and menus created by renowned chef Charlie Palmer. Each of the staterooms on the Seabourn Sprit is a suite, with separate sitting area and balcony.

Passengers can board the Seabourn Spirit on March 3 in Manaus, Brazil for a 17-day repositioning cruise to Fort Lauderdale. After overnighting in Manaus, Seabourn Spirit visits Parintins, Alter de Chao, and the Curua Una River in Brazil. These are off-the-beaten path ports that you won’t likely visit any other way. She cruises the Breves Narrow before calling at Devil’s Island in French Guiana. Caribbean port calls include Barbados, Tortola, and Turks & Caicos Island.

On March 19, Seabourn Spirit docks in Fort Lauderdale. Passengers can either disembark or continue all the way to Venice. Along the way, they’ll spend ten days at sea before arriving in Funchal, Portugal. The Spirit also calls at ports in Spain, Sicily, Malta, Greece, and Croatia before arriving in Venice on April 17.

Repositioning cruises on Costa Cruises in March 2010.

Many Americans aren’t familiar with the Italian cruise line, Costa Cruises. But Costa is owned by Carnival Cruise Lines, so American guests are made to feel right at home. They offer three repositioning cruises in March of 2010.

The new Costa Concordia is the flagship of the line, and it’s pretty impressive. The 20,500-square-foot spa is one of the best afloat and the adjoining Samsara Suites have direct access to the spa and a dedicated restaurant.

There are five restaurants and 13 bars, and four pools – two of which have retractable glass roofs. The 3,000-passenger Concordia also has the first Formula One racecar simulator at sea.

She sails from Sao Paolo, Brazil on March 10 and calls at Rio de Janeiro and three other ports in Brazil before heading across the Atlantic. En route to Savona, Italy, she also visits ports in the Canary Islands, Portugal, Spain, and France.

Much smaller than Concordia, Costa Victoria sails on March 20 from Buenos Aires. With a fitness center, sport court, and jogging track, there are plenty of ways to burn off all the yummy Italian food served in the five restaurants. There’s also a good spa with a large, solarium pool surrounded by deck chairs. It’s a pleasant escape when it’s windy out.

Before transiting the Atlantic, Victoria calls at ports in Uruguay and Brazil. After the Canary Islands, she visits some really out-of-the-way ports like Gythion and Argostoli in Greece, as well as stops in Madeira, Spain, Italy, and Croatia. Passengers disembark in Venice on April 17.

Cruisers looking for a thoroughly Italian experience should choose Costa Fortuna. Built in Genoa and launch in 2003, Fortuna is Italian through and through. From the frescoes and murals on the walls of the public areas to the names of the dining rooms and bars. Diners can choose between the main dining room or the a la carte Club Grand Conte 1927, where Tuscan specialties – including grilled steaks and chop – are served. Dinners here are leisurely and more European than on most American cruise lines.

On March 28, Fortuna sails from Fort Lauderdale and visits Nassau, St, Maarten, Guadeloupe, and Barbados in the Caribbean. After crossing the Atlantic, she stops in Funchal and Malaga on the way to Savona, Italy, where she disembarks passengers on April 14.

Repositioning cruises on MSC Cruises in March 2010.

Another European cruise line that Americans may not know well, MSC Cruises has experienced tremendous growth in the last few years. In fact, they have the most modern fleet at sea. On any of their 11 ships, you’ll likely hear a dozen languages spoken, which can make the life boat drills interesting.

MSC has four repositioning cruises in March. Their MSC Magnifica has the up-to-the-minute technology and amenities you’d expect of a brand new ship. In fact, she sails from the shipyard in France on March 1. The spa specializes in Balinese massages and health and beauty treatments, and there’s a Turkish-style bath and sauna. You can work off the antipasto in the fitness center, or on the sport court or jogging track. After arriving in Hamburg, she repositions to Venice and spends the summer cruising the Mediterranean. Passengers will visit ports in Holland, Portugal, Spain, and Croatia, as well as Italy.

With a capacity of 2,069 passengers, MSC’s Lirica is smaller than the other MSC ships. There are amenities for American and European passengers, including the Beverly Hills Bar and a British-style pub. The ambience and passenger mix is very international. On March 12, Lirica leaves Rio de Janeiro and sails up the coast of Brazil before crossing the Atlantic. She calls at the Cape Verde and Canary Islands, and Portugal, Morocco, and Spain before arriving in Genoa, Italy on March 29.

MSC Musica surprises passengers with a Zen garden, a three-tier waterfall in the lobby, a sushi buffet, a cigar club, and a wine bar. Christened by Sophia Loren in 2006, Musica has a kids’ pool and play area – though you won’t likely run into many in March. On the 17th, she leaves Sao Paolo bound for Venice. After crossing the Atlanic, she stops in Malaga, Spain, Tunis, and Croatia. Passengers disembark in Venice on April 4.

An older ship that was renovated when purchased by MSC, Armonia was originally part of the now-defunct Festival Cruises fleet. Smaller than most other MSC vessels at 2,200 passengers, she also has smaller cabins than their newer ships. If you can afford to upgrade to a suite, you’ll probably be happier. Passengers on Armonia’s repositioning cruise have the opportunity to visit Buenos Aires, the embarkation port. She sails on March 29, and visits Rio, Salavador, and Recife in Brazil, Portugal, Spain, Tunis and Montenegro. The itinerary includes lots of interesting ports and concludes in Venice, another fabulous destination.

Repositioning cruises on Regent Seven Seas in March 2010.

By any measure, Regent is one of the top cruise lines. It was formed in 1994 with the merger of Radisson and Seven Seas, and was relaunched in 2006 as Regent Seven Seas. Passengers appreciate the utmost in pampering, including complimentary beverages, a fully stocked in-stateroom mini bar, and extremely personal service. All of Seven Seas Mariner’s cabins are suites, and all have balconies. Beautifully decorated and thoughtfully outfitted, the staterooms are also quite roomy. All 700 passengers enjoy open seating at four fine-dining restaurants. And the Canyon Ranch SpaClub is the perfect place to spend relaxing days at sea.

On March 22, Mariner sails from Fort Lauderdale and calls at Bermuda and Funchal, Portugal. Passengers can either disembark in Funchal on April 1 or stay aboard and visit Cadiz, Malaga, and Marseilles, and disembark in Monte Carlo on April 7.

Repositioning cruises on Fred Olsen Cruise Lines in March 2010.

Fred Olsen isn’t well known to most Americans, but the British are big fans. Passengers of the old Royal Viking Line will feel right at home aboard their Black Watch, which used to be the Royal Viking Star. The 435-cabin vessel is small enough that the staff will know your name in no time, and big enough to be very sea worthy. The ship was refurbished in December 2009.

Passengers board Black Watch on March 4 in Lima, Peru and then spend the night aboard ship before sailing for Guayaquil, Ecuador. She transits the Panama Canal and calls at ports in Columbia, Barbados, and Portugal before arriving in London on March 26. The trans-Atlantic leg of the voyage takes a full two weeks, so there’s plenty of time to relax and unwind.

Repositioning cruises on Windstar in March 2010.

If you’ve ever dreamed of sailing around the world without the cramped quarters and limited amenities of a sailboat, Windstar is just the ticket. Their beautiful high-tech sailboats are the perfect choice for people who loves the feel of sailing but don’t want the hassles. Computers raise, lower, and adjust the sails, and being top side when the wind fills the sheets is pretty thrilling. With 312 passengers, Windsurf is the flagship of the line, a little bigger than the other two vessels. There are no balconies, but there is plenty of open deck space, and passengers tend to be sophisticated world travelers.

Windsurf sails from Barbados on March 21 and arrives in Lisbon 13 days later. With no port calls, passengers can enjoy chef Joachim Splichal’s inventive cuisine and all that time at sea. Without a balcony, the cabins can seem small, so a suite is a good investment.

Repositioning cruise on Oceania Cruises in March 2010.

When Renaissance Cruises ceased operations, they sold their 700-passenger ships to Princess Cruises and Oceania Cruises. They’re very nice ships, and Oceania has invested more in refurbishing them than Princess has. Regatta’s 684 passengers enjoy open-seating dining, the best service for the price anywhere, and a menu developed by the legendary Jacques Pepin. And passengers can dine in the alternative restaurants without a surcharge.

On March 21, Regatta leaves Miami bound for Funchal. She calls at Casablanca and Malaga before disembarking passengers in Barcelona April 4th.

Repositioning cruises on Royal Caribbean in March 2010.

The 1,800-passengers Splendour of the Seas is one of Royal Caribbean’s Vision Class vessels. With an 18-hole miniature golf course, a fitness center, and a solarium with a glass roof that retracts, passengers will have a hard time running out of things to do. And there are plenty of bars and restaurants, including a Champagne Bar and the line’s signature top-deck Viking Crown Lounge. Board Splendour on March 20 in Sao Paolo and call at Salavador, Tenerife, and Funchall before arriving in Barcelona on April 3.

Learn more about repositioning cruises here. And find other trans Atlantic cruises here.