Relax, save money on a repositioning cruise
Like whales with lights and ballrooms, the luxury leviathans of the deep are now migrating to more suitably temperate waters.
They are called repositioning cruises, where ships that spend the summer in Alaska or the Mediterranean, for instance, relocate to the Caribbean or elsewhere during the fall months.
Retired seniors with space on their agendas can take advantage of some deep discounts offered by cruise lines eager to make certain their cabin space on these cruises is not half empty.
The upside to these sometimes lengthy trips is the long, refreshing and relaxing time at sea (and the downside is likewise). Cruise lines have noticed that revenues from their bars and casinos enjoy an upward curve.
There are, however, some relocation cruises with interesting but quick stops in exotic ports. I find that repositioning cruises are popular among people who don't object to covering a lot of ground (make that water) in a short space of time. The trips are samplings, to be sure, but ones that can be full of memories.
You won't find too many repositioning cruises listed among the schedules of particular cruise lines. Most are unadvertised.
There is flexibility, however. My wife and I enjoyed one that traveled from Athens, Greece, to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., some years back, with stops in major Mediterranean ports such as Rome, Naples (and Capri), Monte Carlo, Cartegena and Tangier. We left the ship in Lisbon and flew home while others stayed aboard all the way to Florida.
The best source that I could find for repositioning cruises was Cinderella Travel (www.cinderellatravel.com/repositioning_cruises.php#9); phone (888) 532-1717. In addition to a huge list of cruises is the availability of booking air travel, buying insurance and getting passport assistance. Don't forget to ask for a senior rate.
Some of the trips that I sought were booked full, so you might consider cruises that are in the future, like the spring and fall of 2008.
Here are two 2007 repositioning cruises with cabins available as this is written:
• Nov. 28, Rome (port of Civitavecchia) to Fort Lauderdale, 16 days aboard the Royal Princess, with visits to Portofino, Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Gibraltar, Casablanca, Dakar, Fortaleza, Devils Island, Dominica and St. Barthelmy. Cabin prices range from $3,690 interior to $7,940 for a suite.
• Dec. 3, Rome to Fort Lauderdale aboard the Star Princess, 17 days, with visits to Naples, Livorno, Genoa, Cannes, Barcelona, Gibraltar, Cadiz and Madeira; $1,299 to $7,215.
Bayonne, N.J., is not generally thought of as a port of departure for oceangoing cruise ships, but there are several trips leaving from that city over the next several weeks that offer noteworthy discounts for those age 55 or older.
The Azamara Journey, formerly known as the Celebrity Journey, leaves from Bayonne Oct. 27, with visits over the next 14 days to Bermuda, Grand Turk, Haiti, Santa Marta, Cartagena, Cristobal and San Andres Island before arriving at Miami on Nov. 10.
The Azamara is a new line of "boutique ships," so-called because they haul only about 700 passengers. They boast luxury, however, with elegant restaurants, casino, staircases, ballrooms, bars and a huge computer room.
A discount of $200 is available for seniors, with the basic senior rate being $1,699, plus taxes of $137 for the cheapest balcony cabin featuring two lower beds convertible to queen size; sliding glass doors; sitting area with sofa bed; private veranda; flat-screen television; refrigerator with mini-bar; thermostat-controlled air conditioning; direct-dial telephone and voice mail; desk; in-room safe; hand-held hairdryer. Call (800) 338-4962.
Leaving from Baltimore on Oct. 28 for a five-day round-trip voyage to Bermuda, Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Seas offers a rate of $999 for seniors, a $300 discount, for its cheapest balcony stateroom. This is a mighty big boat, hauling 2,446 passengers. Besides the usual accouterments, it also features a video arcade, beauty salon, fitness center, jogging track and a rock-climbing wall, kosher meals and 14 wheelchair-accessible cabins, gliding glass elevators and palm trees. Call (800) 338-4962.
John Hilferty’s column formature travelers appearsmonthly.He can be reached athilf@johnhilferty.com.