Today’s world of cruising is global, with many members of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) offering voyages in Alaska, the Caribbean, Europe, South America, Asia, the South Pacific and beyond. “As cruise ships large and small are seasonally repositioned from one cruising destination to another, vacationers have dozens of opportunities to enjoy one of life’s most memorable and unique experiences – a voyage by ship from one continent to another,” CLIA says. A sample of transocean cruises available in 2010 offers agents tremendous sales opportunities.
With the large majority offered in spring and fall as transatlantic crossings – as CLIA lines reposition vessels between the Americas and Europe – these trans-ocean voyages often also represent exceptional value for money spent, CLIA reports. A transocean cruise is a sea journey like no other: a unique opportunity to experience the beauty of blue water ocean in surroundings of total comfort, with all the pleasures – fine dining, entertainment, enrichment – of a modern cruise ship. Depending on the route, a transocean cruise may include port visits in the Caribbean, South America, Hawaii, the far reaches of arctic Canada and elsewhere along the way.
Cunard Line is the only company that offers regularly scheduled transatlantic crossings – on the Queen Mary 2 from April to November – but more than a dozen CLIA lines offer the opportunity to savor this legendary experience on repositioning voyages. Some companies, like Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean International and Holland America Line have numerous ships crossing the Atlantic or the Pacific this spring, from ports in North and South America. In June, travelers will have the chance to sail across the Atlantic, from Europe to America, on the maiden voyage of the world’s second largest ship, Norwegian Cruise Line’s 4,200-passenger Norwegian Epic.
The following is a sample of transocean cruises available in 2010. Vacationers are encouraged to visit the websites of CLIA member lines for more complete information on itineraries, other transocean voyages, and to discover what other opportunities are offered. Prices quoted are per person double occupancy.
Azamara Journey – From Miami to Barcelona, departing April 11, prices for veranda staterooms from $1,999; from Rome to Miami, departing November 15, prices for veranda staterooms starting from $1,799. Special offers include: Up to 50 percent off brochure prices on certain sailings; Club Veranda stateroom for price of a Club Oceanview stateroom, based on availability (booking must be made by March 31, 2010)
Celebrity Century – 14 nights from Miami to Barcelona departing May 20, starting at $899 for an inside stateroom; 14 nights from Barcelona to Miami departing October 25, starting at $799.
?Celebrity Equinox – 14 nights from Fort Lauderdale to Rome departing April 19, prices from $899; 15 nights from Rome to Fort Lauderdale sailing October 31, starting from $1,299
?Celebrity Constellation – 14 nights from Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale departing November 6, prices from $999
?Celebrity Eclipse – 13 nights from Southampton to Miami departing October 31, from $1,199
Costa Atlantica – 17 nights from New York City to Copenhagen departing May 5, prices from $899.
?Queen Mary 2 – Twenty-one transatlantic crossings, April-November, including classic six-day voyages between New York and Southampton, plus a seven-day option as well as eight- and nine-day crossings to Cherbourg and Hamburg, starting at $895 with savings of up to $600 per person on select Early Booking fares.
?Crystal Symphony – From Los Angeles to Sydney, departing February 28, fares from $3,790. From Dubai to Athens, departing May 12, fares from $7,200. From London to New York, departing September 5, fares from $5,710. From New York to Los Angeles, departing November 2, fares from $4,930. The line is offering shipboard credits of up to $1,000 per person
?Crystal Serenity – From Dubai to Athens (part of the 2010 World Cruise), departing March 15, fares from $12,425. From Rome to Barcelona, departing October 19, fares from $5,080. The line is offering shipboard credits of up to $1,000 per person.
?Disney Magic – 14 nights from Port Canaveral to Barcelona departing April 10, from $699; 14 nights from Barcelona to Port Canaveral, sailing September 18, $1,649 for a Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom.
?Ms Eurodam – 16 days from Fort Lauderdale to Rome departing April 3, from $899
Ms Noordam – 13 days from Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona departing May 14, from $899
?MSC Poesia – 18 nights from Fort Lauderdale to Hamburg departing April 27, early booking rates start at $999; 18 nights from Kiel to New York departing September 4, early booking rates from $1,199.
?Norwegian Epic – Seven day transatlantic crossing, a maiden voyage, from Southampton to New York departing June 24, rates beginning at $859
Oceania Cruises
?Insignia – 15 nights from Rio de Janeiro to Barcelona departing April 3, rates begin at $2,599; 15 nights from Barcelona to Rio de Janeiro departing December 6, from $2,699
Nautica – 24 nights from Bangkok to Beijing departing March 1, prices starting at $7,299; 35 nights from Cape Town to Singapore departing December 11; from $9,299
Regatta – 14 nights from Miami to Barcelona departing March 21, rates begin at $2,099; 14 nights from Barcelona to Miami departing November 13, from $2,699
?Crown Princess – 14 days from Fort Lauderdale to Rome departing May 1; 14 days from London to New York departing September 3
?Grand Princess – 15 days from Fort Lauderdale to London departing April 9; 16 days from London to Fort Lauderdale departing September 25
Ruby Princess – 16 days from Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona departing April 19; 16 days from Venice to Fort Lauderdale departing October 8
Star Princess – 18 days from Fort Lauderdale to Copenhagen departing April 24
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
?Seven Seas Mariner – 16 nights from Fort Lauderdale to Monte Carlo departing March 22, from $5,770?
Seven Seas Navigator – 20 nights from Fort Lauderdale to San Francisco departing May 6, prices starting at $7,865; 18 nights from Seward to Tianjin departing September 15, from $8,775
?Seven Seas Voyager – 14 nights from Fort Lauderdale to Reykjavik departing May 12, rates begin at $7,105; 15 nights from Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale departing November 8, from $6,945
Navigator of the Seas – 14 nights from Miami to Rome departing April 10; 14 nights from Rome to Fort Lauderdale departing October 23
?Independence of the Seas – 14 nights from Fort Lauderdale to Southampton departing April 11?
Voyager of the Seas – 14 nights from Galveston to Barcelona departing April 18; 14 nights from Barcelona to Galveston departing November 7?
Adventure of the Seas – 13 nights from San Juan to Barcelona departing May 2; 14 nights from Barcelona to San Juan departing November 28?
Jewel of the Seas – 13 nights from Miami to Harwich departing May 6; 14 nights from Harwich to Boston departing September 4
Seabourn Spirit – 13 days from Fort Lauderdale to Lisbon departing March 19 from $2,799 ?Seabourn Legend – 13 days from Fort Lauderdale to Lisbon departing April 8 from $3,200; 13 days from Malaga to Fort Lauderdale departing November 20, from $2,999
Seabourn Odyssey – 13 days from Nice to Fort Lauderdale departing December 6 from $3,599
SeaDream Yacht Club
?SeaDream I – 13 days from San Juan to Malaga departing April 30, priced from $2299; 12 days from Malaga to San Juan departing October 14, from $2299?SeaDream II – 12 days from Barbados to Malaga departing April 25, from $2299; 12 days from Barbados to Malaga departing November 8, from $2299
?Silver Spirit – 14 days from New York to Southampton departing April 23, fares from $6,238?
Silver Cloud – 15 Days from San Juan to Barcelona, departing April 14, fares from $4,398
?Silver Whisper – 12 Days from Southampton to New York, departing September 2, fares from $4,598?
Silver Shadow – 16 Days from Vancouver, to Tokyo departing September 12, fares from $7,197
A free Economy Promotional Air Package is also available from select East, Central, and West Coast gateways
Windstar Cruises
Wind Surf – 14 days from Barbados to Lisbon departing March 21, starting from $1749; 14 days from Lisbon to Barbados departing November 14, starting from $1749
?Wind Star – 14 days from St. Martin to Lisbon departing April 10, starting from $1849
?Wind Spirit – 14 days from Lisbon to St. Martin departing November 20, starting from $1849.
Visit www.cruising.org.