Go on a Repositioning Cruise and Get a Bargain Fare
Of all the ways to get cheap cruises, one of the finest is to reserve your ticket on a repositioning cruise. A repositioning cruise generally sails in either the fall or the spring, during which time the cruise companies are moving their boats from Alaska to the Caribbean or vice versa. These just happen to be, in my opinion, the best time to cruise Alaska anyway.
Instead of moving these cruise boats without any passengers between the two regions, destinations, the cruise companies carry passengers on these repositioning voyages at what often amounts to a huge savings over regular in-season Alaskan cruise pricing.
Repositioning cruises can be either short or long, ranging from three day routes between California and Vancouver or Seattle to far longer Trans Pacific trips.
On the longer cruises that include ocean crossings, there are few port stops, so passengers have plenty of time to take full advantage of the many activities, shows, and other forms of entertainment aboard the cruise ships.
Of course, it is easy to spend a lot of money in the ship’s bars and casino during a long cruise, so you might want to keep track of your tab along the way to avoid any unexpected and aggravating surprises when you get your final bill after the cruise ends.
One other factor to weigh when considering a repositioning cruise is the cost of the airfare getting you to the starting point and home from the ending point of the cruise.
Since repositioning cruises by definition start and finish in different ports, you will most likely need to purchase a split fare ticket, which can often add a bit to the overall cost of your vacation.
But if the airfare is reasonably priced, a repositioning cruise can be a great way to cruise to new places while having the time to thoroughly enjoy the facilities and amenities of a modern cruise ship - all at a great bargain. It is hard to beat a deal like that. The cost alone make these routes among the best Alaskan cruises of all.