Is a repositioning cruise...

[TimeforMe]

one where you cruise one way and then fly home? Sorry for the dumb question, but I just wasnt' sure. I see you can get some good bargains for these cruises. Anyone ever do one?

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

Yes and yes. They are usually one-way and they are usually pretty good deal. I like to do one a year, if I can, usually in the spring. The ships going to Alaska will head west through the Panama Canal in late spring, and then back the other way in the early fall. Going through the Panama Canal is quite an experience.

 

[Perdita&Pongo]

Can someone explain "WHY" repo cruises are a good deal? It would seem to me that they would be more of a specialty/premium cruise and thus more $$$, not less! Please help me understand. Thanx!

~Nancy~

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally posted by Perdita&Pongo
Can someone explain "WHY" repo cruises are a good deal? It would seem to me that they would be more of a specialty/premium cruise and thus more $$$, not less!

Repositioning cruises tend to be long cruises. There are fewer customers who can get away from work for that long. The price per day tends to go down as the length of the cruise increases.

And repositioning cruises through the Panama Canal tend to occur during low-demand times of the year, because of the timing of the Alaska cruise season.

That said, my guess is that DCL will charge as much as they think they can -- even if it's substantially higher than similar cruises on other lines.

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

I don't know, but I suspect it is because they tend to be longer, so the per diem rates are lower, but the overall cost of the cruise is about the same. They also have a lot of days at sea and fewer port calls, and those port calls aren't always at "standard" ports. In the end, I guess the passengers are doing the line a favor by being on board and spending money when the ship could be sailing empty. I would think that they would sell better (they're a favorite of mine), but if they did, I'm sure the prices would be adjusted accordingly.