Repositioning Cruises in 2028

What Are 2028 Repositioning Cruises — and Why Do They Suit Experienced Travellers?

A repositioning cruise happens when a ship moves from one part of the world to another at the turn of a season. Instead of looping back to its home port, the ship sails in one direction — across the Atlantic, across the Pacific, or on a longer world cruise arc — and passengers get to travel with it. The result is often a longer voyage at a competitive price per night, and an itinerary that calls at ports spread across several continents rather than revisiting the same circuit. Voyages here range from 7 nights to well over 100, with a median around 21 nights, so there is scope for a three-week ocean crossing as much as for an extended grand voyage.

It is worth knowing before you book that these sailings are a genuine mix of one-way voyages and round trips. A good number do not return to the port they left from, which means a flight home may be needed at the end — we can arrange that for you, along with hotels either side and transfers, as part of the same booking.

Where Do 2028 Repositioning Cruises Go?

The biggest concentration of sailings is on the transatlantic route, which makes up the largest share of what is on offer. These are crossings between Europe and the Americas — Southampton to New York, or westbound to Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades) and Los Angeles — and they attract the full range of cruise lines. If you prefer not to fly, a Southampton departure means you can drive or take the train to the port and step straight aboard.

Transatlantic

The classic ocean crossing and the most popular shape here. Ships sail between the UK and North America — some eastbound arriving into Southampton, Rome (Civitavecchia) or Barcelona, others westbound heading for New York, Fort Lauderdale or Los Angeles. Cunard’s transatlantic sailings are purpose-built around the crossing itself — the ship is the experience — while Princess Cruises and Holland America Line use the transit to offer itineraries with port calls along the way. For dedicated transatlantic options, see our transatlantic cruises 2028 page, or if you would like P&O’s schedule specifically, transatlantic 2028 sailings with P&O Cruises has those.

Florida is a popular disembarkation hub for westbound crossings. Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades) and Miami are about half an hour apart, so if you are flying home from Florida it is worth checking both for dates and availability.

Transpacific

A smaller but distinctive group of sailings cross the Pacific — typically between the west coast of the Americas and ports in Asia or Australia. These are long-distance passages that put genuine ocean miles between the ports, and they attract travellers with the time and appetite for an extended voyage. Sydney and Los Angeles both feature as endpoints. If you have your eye on Princess’s itineraries in this part of the world, our Princess Japan and Southeast Asia 2027–2028 page covers that fleet in detail.

World Cruise Segments

A share of what is forms part of a longer world cruise — sailings that call at ports across three or more continents over a voyage that can run to several months. You can often join or leave at a mid-voyage port, which turns a world cruise arc into a manageable repositioning trip. World cruises in 2028 has the full picture, and Cunard’s schedule specifically is on our Cunard world cruises 2028 page. The world cruises destination hub gives further context on how these longer voyages are structured.

Which Cruise Lines Offer Repositioning Sailings in 2028?

Cunard leads this category by some distance, and that reflects the line’s heritage: no other operator has built its identity around the transatlantic crossing the way Cunard has. Princess Cruises brings a large programme of its own, particularly across the Pacific. MSC Cruises adds volume with repositioning sailings across the Atlantic, and Holland America Line rounds out the mid-market offer. At the luxury end, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Explora Journeys and Costa Cruises all have sailings here. Our own Cruise1st Packages — cruise plus flights, hotels and transfers — are also available across this programme.

A number of these sailings are all-inclusive, covering drinks, dining and gratuities in the base fare — useful to know when you are comparing prices across different lines and fare types.

Ships Worth Knowing About

Several well-known ships sail repositioning routes in 2028. Below are the ones with the most to say — picked because they each offer something specific to this kind of voyage, not just because they appear in the listings.

Queen Mary 2 — Cunard

Queen Mary 2 is the world’s only purpose-built ocean liner — designed from the outset for the North Atlantic crossing rather than adapted from a cruise ship hull. That distinction matters on a transatlantic: the ship handles open-ocean conditions differently, and the crossing itself is built into the onboard programme rather than treated as transit time. The Illuminations venue holds the first planetarium at sea, with stargazing shows sitting alongside cinema screenings, lectures and concerts. Six speciality restaurants, ballroom dancing most evenings in the Queens Room, and a Royal Court Theatre running West End-calibre productions give you plenty to do across a crossing that typically lasts seven nights or more.

Cabin grades on Queen Mary 2 run from intimate to palatial:

• Britannia Inside cabin HB (14.8 m²) — the only inside cabin with an atrium view, brighter and more open than a standard inside
• Britannia Solo cabin KB (16.5 m²) — designed for solo travellers with no single supplement, full Britannia comfort for one
• Britannia Balcony cabin BU (25.0 m²) — a covered loggia rather than an open balcony, giving fresh air and sea views in any weather
• Queens Grill Grand Duplex Suite Q1 (208.9 m²) — a two-storey maisonette with over 200 m² of private living space, more than twice the size of any other Queens Grill suite

For a closer look at what is available, the Queen Mary 2 cabins and deck plans page has the full layout.

Queen Anne — Cunard

Queen Anne launched in 2024 as Cunard’s newest ship, completing a four-vessel fleet. Art Deco interiors and the line’s White Star Service carry through from the older queens, but the ship adds a scale of wellness provision that none of the others match: the Mareel Wellness Spa occupies an entire upper deck, with a Himalayan Salt Sauna, cold therapy room, hydrotherapy pool and the glass-domed Pavilion pool venue. Dining runs to 15 restaurants, among them Sir Samuel’s steakhouse, Aji Wa Japanese dining and a Golden Lion pub overseen by Michelin-starred chef Michael Roux. For cabin options, see the Queen Anne cabins and deck plans page.

Queen Elizabeth — Cunard

Queen Elizabeth carries Cunard’s most overtly Art Deco interior — glittering chandeliers, sweeping staircases and a grand lobby that evokes ocean travel at its most formal. The Royal Court Theatre stages musicals and shows; Gala evenings bring the Queens Room to life with live orchestral dancing. Dining is tiered across Britannia, Princess Grill and Queen’s Grill restaurants, and the famous white-gloved afternoon tea service runs daily. Cabin grades on Queen Elizabeth:

• Britannia Inside Deluxe cabin GB (19.2 m²) — around 5 m² more than standard inside cabins on the same ship
• Britannia Ocean-view cabin EB (18.3 m²) — natural daylight and sea views through the cabin window
• Britannia Club Balcony cabin A1 (24.0 m²) — a private balcony with sea view, not available to inside or ocean-view guests in the Britannia grade
• Queens Grill Grand Suite Q1 (127.7 m²) — an approximately 90 m² private balcony, considerably larger than any other Queens Grill suite on board

The Queen Elizabeth cabins and deck plans page has everything you need to compare grades before booking.

Coral Princess — Princess Cruises

At 91,627 GT, Coral Princess is narrow enough to reach ports and waterways that larger ships simply cannot enter — a real advantage on a transpacific routing where the itinerary may thread through smaller island stops. The Universe Lounge features 3 revolving stages used for cabaret, cooking demonstrations, fashion shows and lectures. Crown Grill steakhouse and Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria cover premium dining, and The Sanctuary adults-only retreat offers a quieter corner on deck for longer sea days. Cabin grades on Coral Princess:

• Inside cabin IA (14.5 m²) — mid-deck positions minimise ship motion and maximise access to central areas
• Sea-view cabin O5 (19.7 m²) — large panoramic window with natural daylight and an unobstructed sea view
• Premium Balcony cabin B1 (23.0 m² including balcony) — roughly 50% more space than standard balcony cabins, useful on longer crossings
• Premium Suite S5 (43.7 m²) — considerably larger than mini-suites, with a separate seating zone and room to spread out

Full layout and grade detail on the Coral Princess cabins and deck plans page. Princess’s wider 2028 programme is on our Princess Cruises 2028 page.

Seabourn Quest — Seabourn

Seabourn Quest carries just 450 guests, and every suite has a private balcony, butler service and all fine wines and spirits included in the fare. The crew-to-guest ratio approaches 1:1, which means the kind of personalised attention that larger ships cannot replicate. The Seabourn Square social hub replaces the traditional cruise desk with an open, café-style lounge at the centre of the ship — the natural gathering point on a sea day. Cabin and suite options are on the Seabourn Quest cabins and deck plans page.

Also sailing for Seabourn is Seabourn Venture — deck plans for that ship are on the Seabourn Venture cabins and deck plans page.

MSC Cruises contributes to the repositioning programme with MSC Divina and MSC Musica — deck plans for each are on the MSC Divina cabins and deck plans and MSC Musica cabins and deck plans pages. Costa Fascinosa sails under Costa Cruises, with its full layout on the Costa Fascinosa cabins and deck plans page. Holland America’s Volendam rounds out the mid-market offer — see the Volendam cabins and deck plans for grades and layout.

What Fare Types Are Available?

Fare structures differ by cruise line, and on a longer voyage the difference between a base fare and a bundled fare can be significant. Here is what is on offer from the main lines represented here.

Cunard Fare Options

Cunard offers a flexible fare that lets you choose your stateroom number, amend your booking up to the balance due date, and take priority for upgrades — all on a 15% deposit. Perks can include drinks packages, complimentary shuttle buses at ports and coach transfers to Southampton, depending on the package selected. If you are booking late and want the lowest possible price, the Saver fare offers a pre-allocated stateroom in return for paying in full at the time of booking.

Princess Cruises Fare Options

Princess operates a tiered fare system. The Standard fare covers the cruise itself; Princess Plus adds 4 casual dining meals per voyage, beverages up to $15 each (with a daily limit of 15 drinks), MedallionNet Max Wi-Fi, crew appreciation pre-paid, unlimited digital photographs with 3 prints, and reserved theatre seating. Promotional fare types such as tactical and last-minute offers appear on specific sailings — worth checking if your dates are flexible.

How Much Do 2028 Repositioning Cruises Cost?

Repositioning voyages start from £574 pp* for shorter sailings. Prices vary considerably depending on the cruise line, the cabin grade, the length of crossing and the fare tier you choose — a Seabourn suite on a long Pacific crossing sits at a very different price point from a Britannia inside cabin on a seven-night Atlantic hop. The best way to find the right balance is to compare cabin grades directly: our team can walk you through what each grade gets you and whether the premium for a balcony or a suite is worth it on your specific voyage.

Some sailings carry reductions from their previous listed price — up to 35% on one departure, though most discounted sailings carry reductions of around 4%. It is worth browsing a range of dates: the price difference between departures a week apart can be meaningful on a long crossing.

Sailing from Southampton — Do You Need a Flight?

Southampton is the most common UK departure port for repositioning voyages, and if your sailing starts there, you do not need to fly. Most of Britain can reach Southampton by road or rail, which makes a no-airport-at-either-end holiday genuinely practical. Cruises from Southampton has the full picture of what departs from there across all cruise lines.

Many of these voyages are one-way, though, which means the ship ends its crossing somewhere other than Southampton — New York, Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles or another port entirely. In that case a flight home is part of the picture. We can book that flight for you, along with a hotel for the night before or after, transfers and any tours you want either side of the voyage — all on one booking, so nothing is left to sort separately. If you are departing from a port outside the UK, the same applies in reverse: we sort the outbound flight, hotel and transfers as part of your Cruise1st Package.

For those based in the north of England, 2028 cruises from Liverpool is worth a look alongside Southampton options.

Make It a Holiday

A repositioning crossing often works best as part of a longer trip — a few nights in New York before a transatlantic westbound, or time in Sydney either side of a transpacific leg. Cruise1st can bundle the whole thing: flights, hotels, tours, transfers and insurance wrapped around your cruise as a single package. Call our team and they will put it together, or explore what is available on the Cruise1st Packages page.

We are rated 4.5/5 on Trustpilot from over 7,000 reviews, and we are ABTA and ATOL protected, so your booking is financially covered from the moment you pay your deposit.

Also Sailing in 2028

If you are open to other styles of cruising alongside repositioning voyages, there is a wide range of 2028 sailings to consider. All 2028 cruises gives the broadest view. For sailings from the UK’s most popular cruise port, 2027 cruises from Southampton is the neighbouring year for comparison. Closer to home, Norwegian Fjords 2028 cruises from Southampton suits those who want dramatic scenery without a long crossing, and Iceland cruises 2028 covers another popular northern route. If the Mediterranean appeals after the crossing, Mediterranean cruises 2028 has the options there.

For line-specific programmes: MSC Cruises from Southampton 2028 and MSC fly-cruise holidays 2028 cover MSC’s schedule. P&O repositioning cruises 2028 focuses on P&O’s one-way voyages specifically. For Princess, Princess Cruises 2028 from Southampton narrows to UK departures. And for the year before, repositioning cruises in 2027 and repositioning cruises in 2026 are both live if you are comparing years or checking what has sold well. The repositioning cruises hub covers all years in one place.

Christmas departures from Southampton are on our Christmas cruises from Southampton page. For a longer voyage that takes in New York as well, Caribbean 2027 cruises with New York stays combines a Caribbean itinerary with time in the city. World cruises 2027 from Southampton and New Year cruises 2027 from Southampton round out the nearby options for travellers planning further ahead.

*Prices are per person based on 2 people sharing, and are subject to change. This price is not kept up to date and therefore does not reflect live pricing and availability. Prices and any discounts shown were checked on 14 October 2026.

Where a discount is shown, it is a reduction from the price previously listed for that cabin grade on that sailing, not a comparison between cabin grades or against a brochure rate. Discounts and prices shown are not kept up to date: the reduction available now may be smaller, or may have ended, and prices may have changed.