Repositioning Cruise - Nomads Friend

Cruising through the North Atlantic - July 2024

Ask anyone what they dread the most about travelling, the answer is always the logistics. Finding the right airfare and affordable accommodations is always challenging. Researching what to do and where to eat once you arrive at your destination. Combatting jetlag. Imagine if all the guesswork and time spent booking and researching is done for you. You can travel leisurely from continent to continent, stress free. Welcome to the world of cruising.

What are Repositioning Cruises - The easiest explanation is that they are one-way voyages that cruise ships take to get from one region to another during seasonal changes. Cruises are also all inclusive. Cabin, food and entertainment are included. The only extra fees would be port excursions. Repositioning Cruises usually stop at smaller, more unique ports as they cross the ocean.

Norwegian Cruise Line - NYC to Iceland with ports of call in Canada and Greenland. I was transitioning between two expensive cities and when I found this cruise for a reasonable price and it stopped in Greenland, I booked it. NCL is known for their solo traveler program with daily meetups. A great way to make friends during the cruise. We ate together, went to the shows and found our favorite bar to hang out in through the night. From martini making classes to a pub crawl in Canada to walking the streets on Nuuk, having other people to share the experience with was special.

New York City - The cruise departed the Manhattan Terminal several hours late which allowed us to see the most amazing sunset over the NYC skyline. Even the crew were up on deck as the ship cruised down the Hudson River and under the Verrazzano Bridge, many had never seen the Manhattan skyline before.

Halifax, Nova Scotia - Halifax has been on my list to visit since my grad school days in Boston. The capital of Nova Scotia is a major business center and known for its maritime history. The city is dominated by the hilltop Citadel. The first fortress named Fort George was built here in 1749 and what we see now is the fourth fort to be on the hill that was completed in 1856. The fort was built to defend the city from enemies; however, it was never once attacked A Guide to Halifax's Citadel Hill - Nova Scotia Explorer. Before my tour of the citadel, I stopped at the public gardens. Created in the Victorian style in 1836.

St Pierre and Miquelon - Our second port in Canada was the small French territory island of St. Pierre and Miquelon. It was a foggy, chilly day as we docked at the port. We walked to town passing by the lighthouse. Under the terms of the 1763 Treaty of Paris, France ceded all North American territories to Britian and as part of the agreement returned these islands to France. An interesting fact is that this tiny archipelago played a huge role in America's prohibition. The remote islands imported a total of 100,000 liters between 1911 and 1918. That was before Prohibition began on January 16, 1920. A decade later, with the ban on the production, importation and sale of alcohol in full swing, more than 4 million liters in whiskey alone flowed into the islands’ warehouses and to American ports. This Tiny French Archipelago Became America’s Alcohol Warehouse During Prohibition | Smithsonian. Some of my fellow solo travelers decided to take a taxi to Goeland, an island run distillery and hydroponic farm. À propos | Distillerie Goéland

St. Johns, Newfoundland- Our last stop in Maritime Canada was the capital of Newfoundland. Saint John's. Known for its downtown center and rocky coastline. July is a perfect time to see puffins, so I decided to take a cruise where I also participated in a Newfoundland tradition of being screeched in. The Screech-In Ceremony is a Newfoundland tradition where we give newcomers the prestigious title of honorary Newfoundlanders! Think of it as a fun initiation! Typically, you’re made to repeat some local sayings, kiss a cod fish, drink some Screech rum.

Nuuk, Greenland - As we left Canada, we all wondered if they would be able to dock in Greenland. The southern ports of Paamiut and Qaqortoq were still ice filled and unable to handle cruise ships. We got the good news that we would be diverted to Nuuk, the capital of Greenland instead. With a small town feel and a population of less than 20,000 people walking around downtown was super easy. A warm, sunny balmy day made it fun to walk around the waterfront and being able to touch the cold waters of the North Atlantic. Several of us also decided on an impromptu pub crawl.

We left Greenland for two days of cruising the North Atlantic until we hit Iceland. It was rainy and foggy but that is the charm of this part of the world. I didn't know what to expect when I booked my first transatlantic cruise, but it turned out to be a highlight of my travels for 2024.