Repo cruises 101??

[scammermom]

I keep reading about people doing this type.
Would someone be so kind as to explain to us less-than-experienced travelers??

Thanks!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I keep reading about people doing this type.
Would someone be so kind as to explain to us less-than-experienced travelers??

Thanks!

DCL usually just operates out of one port, thats Port Canaveral, but for example this summer is also operating out of Los Angeles for the summer,

A repo, or repositioning cruises is when they move the ship from one port to another, so the start and end ports are different.

The next one, ( and currently the only one left in open reservations) Is from Los Angeles to Port Canaveral starting on August 17th. Its for 15 nights via the Panama canal.

These cruises can be popular, as they have more time on ship, therefore more Sea days, more entertainment, more food, and different ports of call to the usual ones, and on this one a trip through Panama canal.

Apart from a REPO to/from LA, DCL has had another REPO, that was Transatlantic in 2007, going to and from the Mediterranean in Europe, those where also 14 nights long. DCL had a new home port for the Magic that summer in Barcelona Spain.

 

[NancyIL]

Most cruiselines move their ships around: from the Caribbean to Alaska or Europe in the summer and back in the fall. The ones to and from Europe are Transatlantic cruises. Most Transatlantic cruises have 5-6 sea days in a row. I booked a 14-day Transatlantic cruise on Celebrity Constellation for September 2009 from the UK to Bayonne, NJ - with 8 port stops and only 2 sea days in a row (between Iceland and Newfoundland).

Since DCL has only 2 ships, and only one of them has been going elsewhere the past few summers - that's why the demand has been so great for those repositioning cruises.

 

[scammermom]

Are they cheaper than regular cruises? How do you find out about them?
I remember seeing on this board about them but didn't see anything on the Disney Cruise site about booking them.

 

[NancyIL]

They are usually less expensive because they have more sea days. On DCL's web site, the 2008 eastbound repo cruise is shown as 15-NIGHT PANAMA CANAL CRUISE - EAST: http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/d...e=15NightEastboundPanamaCanalCruiseDetailPage

On other cruiselines, you look at their schedules to see when ships move from one location to another - usually in April/May for those ships moving to Alaska and Europe.

 

[cats mom]

If you break it down on a per night cost, the repo cruises usually are less expensive. Traditionally the main focus of a repo cruise is getting the ship from point A to point B, so the itinerary might not be as desirable to some cruisers.

Of course you'll need to keep in mind that since they're also usually longer cruises, your onboard costs may add up. ie: additional bar tab, photos, bingo, arcade fees, excursion costs, etc. But if you can resist those temptations... the only must include additional cost would be tips for all those days.

DCL has done 3 sets of repo cruises. The Panama Canal trips in 2005 and then again this year and the Mediterranean crossing in between. I believe the Panama Canal crossings all sold out within the first day or maybe two of being released. There was more availability on the Med cruises.

The special cruises are listed on the DCL site, but I don't know that they really advertise them in advance much. No need to.

If you have a good TA they should bve able to keep you appraised of any special itineraries coming up, or you could hang out on these boards. There will always be plenty of chatter here when something special is coming up.

 

[NancyIL]

DCL has done 3 sets of repo cruises. The Panama Canal trips in 2005 and then again this year and the Mediterranean crossing in between. I believe the Panama Canal crossings all sold out within the first day or maybe two of being released. There was more availability on the Med cruises.

DCL was practically giving away cat. 12 cabins on the Transatlantic cruises last year - at least on the one in May. Lots of people aren't interested in 6 sea days in a row...I know I'm not.

 

[scammermom]

Thanks all!

I guess I was expecting them to say on the site "Repo cruise" as listed here on the DIS! I guess they're not so obvious to the newbie.

We're going on our first cruise in November to get our feet wet but looking into the future.