| The seasons in South America are the opposite | | | | including the Beverly Hills Bar and a British-style |
| of those in North America, so by March, it's the | | | | pub. The ambience and passenger mix is very |
| beginning of fall there -- and almost spring in | | | | international. On March 12, Lirica leaves Rio de |
| Europe. So most of the cruise ship that were in | | | | Janeiro and sails up the coast of Brazil before |
| South America for the winter cross the Atlantic | | | | crossing the Atlantic. She calls at the Cape Verde |
| bound for the Mediterranean. | | | | and Canary Islands, and Portugal, Morocco, and |
| Because it takes nearly a week to cross the | | | | Spain before arriving in Genoa, Italy on March 29. |
| Atlantic, these voyages are longer than most | | | | MSC Musica surprises passengers with a Zen |
| repositioning cruises. Some last more than a | | | | garden, a three-tier waterfall in the lobby, a sushi |
| month. But they offer the opportunity to visit | | | | buffet, a cigar club, and a wine bar. Christened by |
| some exotic ports on both sides of the Atlantic, | | | | Sophia Loren in 2006, Musica has a kids' pool and |
| and to unwind at sea without interruption. | | | | play area - though you won't likely run into many |
| Repositioning cruises on the Yachts of Seabourn in | | | | in March. On the 17th, she leaves Sao Paolo bound |
| March 2010. | | | | for Venice. After crossing the Atlanic, she stops in |
| Seabourn is one of the most highly rated cruise | | | | Malaga, Spain, Tunis, and Croatia. Passengers |
| lines at sea. Their "yachts" are outfitted with | | | | disembark in Venice on April 4. |
| amenities like marble bathrooms, walk-in closets, | | | | An older ship that was renovated when |
| flat-screen TVs, and DVD players. On board, | | | | purchased by MSC, Armonia was originally part of |
| guests enjoy complimentary beverages, including | | | | the now-defunct Festival Cruises fleet. Smaller |
| wine with dinner, and menus created by | | | | than most other MSC vessels at 2,200 |
| renowned chef Charlie Palmer. Each of the | | | | passengers, she also has smaller cabins than their |
| staterooms on the Seabourn Sprit is a suite, with | | | | newer ships. If you can afford to upgrade to a |
| separate sitting area and balcony. | | | | suite, you'll probably be happier. Passengers on |
| Passengers can board the Seabourn Spirit on | | | | Armonia's repositioning cruise have the |
| March 3 in Manaus, Brazil for a 17-day repositioning | | | | opportunity to visit Buenos Aires, the embarkation |
| cruise to Fort Lauderdale. After overnighting in | | | | port. She sails on March 29, and visits Rio, |
| Manaus, Seabourn Spirit visits Parintins, Alter de | | | | Salavador, and Recife in Brazil, Portugal, Spain, |
| Chao, and the Curua Una River in Brazil. These are | | | | Tunis and Montenegro. The itinerary includes lots |
| off-the-beaten path ports that you won't likely | | | | of interesting ports and concludes in Venice, |
| visit any other way. She cruises the Breves | | | | another fabulous destination. |
| Narrow before calling at Devil's Island in French | | | | Repositioning cruises on Regent Seven Seas in |
| Guiana. Caribbean port calls include Barbados, | | | | March 2010. |
| Tortola, and Turks & Caicos Island. | | | | By any measure, Regent is one of the top cruise |
| On March 19, Seabourn Spirit docks in Fort | | | | lines. It was formed in 1994 with the merger of |
| Lauderdale. Passengers can either disembark or | | | | Radisson and Seven Seas, and was relaunched in |
| continue all the way to Venice. Along the way, | | | | 2006 as Regent Seven Seas. Passengers |
| they'll spend ten days at sea before arriving in | | | | appreciate the utmost in pampering, including |
| Funchal, Portugal. The Spirit also calls at ports in | | | | complimentary beverages, a fully stocked |
| Spain, Sicily, Malta, Greece, and Croatia before | | | | in-stateroom mini bar, and extremely personal |
| arriving in Venice on April 17. | | | | service. All of Seven Seas Mariner's cabins are |
| Repositioning cruises on Costa Cruises in March | | | | suites, and all have balconies. Beautifully decorated |
| 2010. | | | | and thoughtfully outfitted, the staterooms are |
| Many Americans aren't familiar with the Italian | | | | also quite roomy. All 700 passengers enjoy open |
| cruise line, Costa Cruises. But Costa is owned by | | | | seating at four fine-dining restaurants. And the |
| Carnival Cruise Lines, so American guests are | | | | Canyon Ranch SpaClub is the perfect place to |
| made to feel right at home. They offer three | | | | spend relaxing days at sea. |
| repositioning cruises in March of 2010. | | | | On March 22, Mariner sails from Fort Lauderdale |
| The new Costa Concordia is the flagship of the | | | | and calls at Bermuda and Funchal, Portugal. |
| line, and it's pretty impressive. The | | | | Passengers can either disembark in Funchal on |
| 20,500-square-foot spa is one of the best afloat | | | | April 1 or stay aboard and visit Cadiz, Malaga, and |
| and the adjoining Samsara Suites have direct | | | | Marseilles, and disembark in Monte Carlo on April 7. |
| access to the spa and a dedicated restaurant. | | | | Repositioning cruises on Fred Olsen Cruise Lines in |
| There are five restaurants and 13 bars, and four | | | | March 2010. |
| pools - two of which have retractable glass roofs. | | | | Fred Olsen isn't well known to most Americans, |
| The 3,000-passenger Concordia also has the first | | | | but the British are big fans. Passengers of the old |
| Formula One racecar simulator at sea. | | | | Royal Viking Line will feel right at home aboard |
| She sails from Sao Paolo, Brazil on March 10 and | | | | their Black Watch, which used to be the Royal |
| calls at Rio de Janeiro and three other ports in | | | | Viking Star. The 435-cabin vessel is small enough |
| Brazil before heading across the Atlantic. En route | | | | that the staff will know your name in no time, |
| to Savona, Italy, she also visits ports in the | | | | and big enough to be very sea worthy. The ship |
| Canary Islands, Portugal, Spain, and France. | | | | was refurbished in December 2009. |
| Much smaller than Concordia, Costa Victoria sails | | | | Passengers board Black Watch on March 4 in |
| on March 20 from Buenos Aires. With a fitness | | | | Lima, Peru and then spend the night aboard ship |
| center, sport court, and jogging track, there are | | | | before sailing for Guayaquil, Ecuador. She transits |
| plenty of ways to burn off all the yummy Italian | | | | the Panama Canal and calls at ports in Columbia, |
| food served in the five restaurants. There's also a | | | | Barbados, and Portugal before arriving in London |
| good spa with a large, solarium pool surrounded | | | | on March 26. The trans-Atlantic leg of the voyage |
| by deck chairs. It's a pleasant escape when it's | | | | takes a full two weeks, so there's plenty of time |
| windy out. | | | | to relax and unwind. |
| Before transiting the Atlantic, Victoria calls at | | | | Repositioning cruises on Windstar in March 2010. |
| ports in Uruguay and Brazil. After the Canary | | | | If you've ever dreamed of sailing around the |
| Islands, she visits some really out-of-the-way | | | | world without the cramped quarters and limited |
| ports like Gythion and Argostoli in Greece, as well | | | | amenities of a sailboat, Windstar is just the ticket. |
| as stops in Madeira, Spain, Italy, and Croatia. | | | | Their beautiful high-tech sailboats are the perfect |
| Passengers disembark in Venice on April 17. | | | | choice for people who loves the feel of sailing but |
| Cruisers looking for a thoroughly Italian experience | | | | don't want the hassles. Computers raise, lower, |
| should choose Costa Fortuna. Built in Genoa and | | | | and adjust the sails, and being top side when the |
| launch in 2003, Fortuna is Italian through and | | | | wind fills the sheets is pretty thrilling. With 312 |
| through. From the frescoes and murals on the | | | | passengers, Windsurf is the flagship of the line, a |
| walls of the public areas to the names of the | | | | little bigger than the other two vessels. There are |
| dining rooms and bars. Diners can choose | | | | no balconies, but there is plenty of open deck |
| between the main dining room or the a la carte | | | | space, and passengers tend to be sophisticated |
| Club Grand Conte 1927, where Tuscan specialties | | | | world travelers. |
| - including grilled steaks and chop - are served. | | | | Windsurf sails from Barbados on March 21 and |
| Dinners here are leisurely and more European than | | | | arrives in Lisbon 13 days later. With no port calls, |
| on most American cruise lines. | | | | passengers can enjoy chef Joachim Splichal's |
| On March 28, Fortuna sails from Fort Lauderdale | | | | inventive cuisine and all that time at sea. Without |
| and visits Nassau, St, Maarten, Guadeloupe, and | | | | a balcony, the cabins can seem small, so a suite is |
| Barbados in the Caribbean. After crossing the | | | | a good investment. |
| Atlantic, she stops in Funchal and Malaga on the | | | | Repositioning cruise on Oceania Cruises in March |
| way to Savona, Italy, where she disembarks | | | | 2010. |
| passengers on April 14. | | | | When Renaissance Cruises ceased operations, |
| Repositioning cruises on MSC Cruises in March | | | | they sold their 700-passenger ships to Princess |
| 2010. | | | | Cruises and Oceania Cruises. They're very nice |
| Another European cruise line that Americans may | | | | ships, and Oceania has invested more in |
| not know well, MSC Cruises has experienced | | | | refurbishing them than Princess has. Regatta's 684 |
| tremendous growth in the last few years. In fact, | | | | passengers enjoy open-seating dining, the best |
| they have the most modern fleet at sea. On any | | | | service for the price anywhere, and a menu |
| of their 11 ships, you'll likely hear a dozen | | | | developed by the legendary Jacques Pepin. And |
| languages spoken, which can make the life boat | | | | passengers can dine in the alternative restaurants |
| drills interesting. | | | | without a surcharge. |
| MSC has four repositioning cruises in March. Their | | | | On March 21, Regatta leaves Miami bound for |
| MSC Magnifica has the up-to-the-minute | | | | Funchal. She calls at Casablanca and Malaga before |
| technology and amenities you'd expect of a brand | | | | disembarking passengers in Barcelona April 4th. |
| new ship. In fact, she sails from the shipyard in | | | | Repositioning cruises on Royal Caribbean in March |
| France on March 1. The spa specializes in Balinese | | | | 2010. |
| massages and health and beauty treatments, and | | | | The 1,800-passengers Splendour of the Seas is |
| there's a Turkish-style bath and sauna. You can | | | | one of Royal Caribbean's Vision Class vessels. |
| work off the antipasto in the fitness center, or on | | | | With an 18-hole miniature golf course, a fitness |
| the sport court or jogging track. After arriving in | | | | center, and a solarium with a glass roof that |
| Hamburg, she repositions to Venice and spends | | | | retracts, passengers will have a hard time running |
| the summer cruising the Mediterranean. | | | | out of things to do. And there are plenty of bars |
| Passengers will visit ports in Holland, Portugal, | | | | and restaurants, including a Champagne Bar and |
| Spain, and Croatia, as well as Italy. | | | | the line's signature top-deck Viking Crown Lounge. |
| With a capacity of 2,069 passengers, MSC's Lirica | | | | Board Splendour on March 20 in Sao Paolo and call |
| is smaller than the other MSC ships. There are | | | | at Salavador, Tenerife, and Funchall before arriving |
| amenities for American and European passengers, | | | | in Barcelona on April 3. |