Repositioning cruises are the one-way voyages ships make when they move between seasonal regions. They follow the calendar so reliably that you can plan repositioning cruises in 2027 now, long before every sailing is announced, by knowing when and where ships move.
The Repositioning Calendar
| When | Typical moves | Ports to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Spring (roughly April–May) | Caribbean to Europe across the Atlantic; Caribbean or Panama Canal to the U.S. West Coast and up to Alaska | Florida ports, Barcelona, Southampton, Rome (Civitavecchia), Vancouver, Seattle |
| Autumn (roughly September–November) | Europe back to Florida and the Caribbean; Alaska down the Pacific coast; West Coast to Hawaii or through the Panama Canal | Barcelona, Lisbon, Southampton, Vancouver, Los Angeles, Fort Lauderdale |
| Late autumn | Ships heading to South America, Australia and Asia for the southern summer | Various, often long voyages |
| Early spring | Ships returning from the southern hemisphere | Various |
Finding Repositioning Cruises in 2027
Lines publish repositioning voyages as part of their seasonal deployments, so the 2027 spring and autumn crossings appear when the 2027 Europe, Alaska and Caribbean seasons open. To find them:
- Search one-way sailings in April–May and September–November 2027.
- Search by the starting or ending port, for example Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona.
- Look for long sailings, typically 12 nights or more, with a run of sea days.
- Ask an advisor to watch for new 2027 and 2028 deployments as they are released.
Is a Repositioning Voyage Right for You?
These voyages suit people who love being at sea: lectures, spa days, books and long dinners. A transatlantic crossing often has a handful of ports at each end and a week of ocean between them. They suit retirees and remote workers with flexible time, and travelers who want to combine a cruise with a land stay in Europe. They suit less well anyone who wants a new port every day or must be home on a fixed date, since flights home are one-way and the ship may meet weather.
Repositioning Cruises 2027: Questions to Ask Before You Book
- How many sea days are there in a row, and what is planned on board during them?
- Which ports open and close the voyage, and how easy are flights home from the last one?
- Is the ship one you would enjoy for two weeks, not just one?
- Will the clocks change by an hour on several nights during the crossing?
- Can the line or your advisor arrange the one-way flight with the cruise?
Plan the Air Early
Because the cruise starts and ends in different places, the open-jaw flight is part of the plan from day one. Price flights for both ends before you commit, and allow a hotel night before sailing. Why these crossings are often good value per night is covered by Cheapest Cruise Prices; the ports at each end are covered by Europe Port Excursions and Caribbean Cruise Ports, and Cruising Europe looks at Europe by region.
Watch 2027 Repositioning Sailings for Me
Tell us the crossing you want and your flexible dates. Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will track new repositioning cruises for 2027 and send free quotes.
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