Can you stay at your worst local rat, cockroach and bed bug infested motel for less than $50 per night anymore? Do they give
you an all-you-can-eat buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner? No. Yet, people still believe a Trans Atlantic Cruise is for the rich and famous and out of reach of the common folk.
Looking to the spring of 2014 Transatlantic Repositioning Cruises, we found three cruises on desirable cruise lines that are currently under $50 per day. Pricing is in Canadian dollars and is valid as of November 16, 2013. Pricing is referenced from Expedia Cruise Ship Centers and is subject to change and availability. Pricing is per person, based on double occupancy in an interior stateroom.
Norwegian Epic – Norwegian Cruise Line
The Ship
With a gross tonnage of 155,873, Norwegian Epic is the third largest cruise ship travelling the high seas, behind Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas. She was built by STX France and launched in 2009. Epic is 329 metres or 1,081 feet long and has a capacity for 4,100 passengers. 1,708 crew members make for an ‘epic’ adventure at sea.
The Cruise
On Sunday, April 27, 2014 at 5:00 pm, Epic embarks on an eleven night Trans Atlantic cruise from Miami, Florida to Barcelona, Spain. The ship makes just one port call, in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal. Norwegian Epic arrives at Barcelona on Thursday, May 8, 2014 at 5:00 am.
Interior stateroom pricing is as low as $499 per person, or $45 per night. Even a suite on this ship can be had for the affordable price of $1,099 per person.
MS Ryndam – Holland America Line
The Ship
In stark contrast to the Norwegian Epic, ms Ryndam was completed in 1994 and has a gross tonnage of just 55,819. A Statendam Class ship, HAL ms Ryndam was built by Fincantieri in Italy. She is 220 metres or 720 feet in length. Capacity is for 1,258 passengers and 602 crew members.
The Cruise
Ryndam embarks from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on Sunday, April 6, 2014 at four in the afternoon on a 15 night journey across the Atlantic. She arrives at Barcelona, Spain on Monday, April 21, 2014 at 7:00 am.
With the smaller ship, there are more port calls, all on the eastern side of the Atlantic. MS Ryndam makes stops at Ponta Delgado, Portugal; Malaga, Spain; Cartagena, Spain; Ibiza, Spain and Palma de Mallorca, Spain before arriving at Barcelona.
This cruise can be had for as low as $700 per person for an interior stateroom. That equates to $47 per night. With suites a lot more scarce than on the Epic, pricing is much higher. Currently, a suite can be had for $4,007 per person.
Serenade of the Seas – Royal Caribbean International
The Ship
Serenade of the Seas is a Royal Caribbean Radiance Class ship and made her maiden voyage on August 1, 2003. She was built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany and has a gross tonnage of 90,090. Serenade is 293 metres or 962 feet long. Passenger capacity is a tolerable 2,490 with 891 crew members.
The Cruise
Like the three bears, Goldilocks might just pick Serenade of the Seas. She’s in the middle of the three ships and might be just right. I definitely would be the one I would pick, presented with these three choices, mostly based on port of embarkation and port calls.
Serenade of the Seas leaves New Orleans, Louisiana on Saturday, April 26 at 5:00 pm for a 16 night Transatlantic Repositioning Cruise. She arrives in the Mediterranean at Barcelona, Spain on Monday, May 12, 2014 at 6:00 am. Port calls are made at Philipsburg, Sint Maarten; Tenerife, Spain; Malaga, Spain and Cartegena, Spain.
This cruise can be had for as low as $779 per person for an interior stateroom. This equates to $49 per night. A suite can be had for a reasonable $2,809 per person.
