Best time to go on a cruise Month by month cruising guide

Table Of Content

• Why You Should Visit The Caribbean Now
• The best time to book a cruise often comes down to preference, planning, and peace of mind
• How do I know if I'm getting a good deal when I book?
• What is the best time of year to travel to Europe, Alaska and the Caribbean?
• Going early or late in the sailing season means fewer crowds and better weather.
• Best time to cruise the Mediterranean: April-May, September-October
• Caribbean Cruise in May or June: Hot, Humid and Less Crowded

Every destination has a peak season, low season, and shoulder season. If avoiding high prices and crowd congestion is your priority, rule out summer months and stick with either winter or the shoulder seasons of spring and fall. The shoulder season months are also the least crowded times to visit Alaska because kids are in school and fewer families are vacationing.

Why You Should Visit The Caribbean Now

So it really depends on whether you prioritize a certain room or a certain price. The general consensus seems to be that there isn’t one best month for booking cruises. The best deals tend to crop up throughout the period between mid-November and Mid-March. Ocean cruises take place on large ships that sail across oceans and seas, visiting multiple ports of call along the way. Then you’ll have to repeat that feat to get the best deal on cruises, with 5 am being the ideal time to get the best deal.

The best time to book a cruise often comes down to preference, planning, and peace of mind

As any seasoned traveler knows, you'll often find lower rates or free add-ons as the departure date approaches and the cruise line works to fill the ship. Mediterranean cruises can last anywhere from seven days to two weeks, depending on the company and itinerary. Booking every excursion through the cruise line can add up, but luckily, there are typically more affordable options through third-party companies.

How do I know if I'm getting a good deal when I book?

But if Alaska cruise bookings are soft, the wave season specials could be the best of the year as cruise lines pull out all the tricks to fill ships. Across the board, from mainstream to luxury, Mediterranean cruise fares peak in June, July and August. Prices for big-ship cruises varied by as much as $60 per person per night between spring sailings and summer. On luxury lines like Silversea, spring cruise fares were hundreds of dollars cheaper per person per night compared to summer fares. The best deals we found outside of winter fell in April and November.

On dry land, bears are more common in May, though not as frequently spotted as they are in peak summer. If that sounds like too much math homework, I recommend that you call a travel agent. A cruise-knowledgeable travel adviser can help you plan your trip and determine if the current pricing is good or if you should hold out for a deal. I could tell you that it's cheaper to book a cruise at the beginning of a sale because availability is greatest.

It’s the height of the Southern Hemisphere summer, and Antarctic and South Georgia expedition cruises are in full swing. The days are long, and wildlife — including seals, penguins and seabirds — is active. The weather at home can be unpredictable in the winter, possibly affecting your departure travel plans and preventing you from reaching your Caribbean cruise. Plus, winter storms in the U.S. can increase wave action in the Atlantic and in the Gulf of Mexico. The farther north your departure port, the more likely you are to experience a rough ride until your ship sails south into calmer water.

The best time to take a cruise varies based on your travel preferences, including where you wish to travel. While holding off may result in a once-in-a-lifetime deal, keep in mind that your cabin and category choices may be minimal and there's no guarantee you'll be able to book at all. This approach works best for people with flexible work schedules or retirees who can adjust their dates to snag these less expensive fares.

Caribbean Cruise in May or June: Hot, Humid and Less Crowded

It can be chilly as your ship sails down the coast of Baja California, so it’s common to need a light jacket during the mornings and evenings while onboard. A 7-night Norwegian Fjords cruise on Anthem of the Seas from Southampton begins at $1,270 for sailings that depart in July 2024. Nonetheless, April and May are excellent times to enjoy Bermuda outside of just beaches, from cycling the historic Railway Trail to horseback riding and celebrating local holidays. While it might be cold in North America, the weather stays fairly consistent in the Caribbean. For instance, the average high temperature for Cozumel is about 84 degrees in January and 91 degrees during the peak of August. In other words, if you can sail at the least expensive time, your cruise can be a sharp discount off the peak price.

Wave Season Is the Best Time to Score Cruise Deals—Here's How - Condé Nast Traveler

Wave Season Is the Best Time to Score Cruise Deals—Here's How.

Posted: Tue, 09 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

With a lineup of more than 260 destinations, newly modernized ships and a new, $250 million private island destination, Royal Caribbean is dialing up the adventure like never before. Whether you’ve cruised before or are considering it for the first time, you’ll want to start off your planning with a few basics on timing. All things considered, the best months for a Southeast Asia cruise from Singapore are November, December, January, and February. Pricing will vary, but you can expect 5-night cruises to cost as little as $650 per person or upwards of $1,050 if you cruise over a holiday, such as Christmas or New Year's. The warmest time of the year is between March and May, and the region’s monsoon season falls between June and October. Rainfall does not typically last all day, however; instead, it appears in short, strong bursts.

In my business, I often plainly tell clients to book when they think they want an itinerary, as soon as possible, the earlier in advance, the better. As long as there are clear terms regarding any penalty period, time is on their side. July brings rain to the Eastern Caribbean (including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands) and August is wet in the Bahamas, Martinique and Dominica. Caribbean Sea temperatures are at their warmest in August, reaching 83 degrees on average.

Unless you're interested in a high-demand sailing, be patient and look out for flash sales. That said, with our experiences having sailed seemingly every month on the calendar, we have found there are definite advantages and disadvantages to sailing each month of the year. For example, cruises in August offer the ability to sail when the kids are out of school (meaning entire families can travel together). On the other hand, August is also notorious for hurricanes disrupting travel to Caribbean ports.

That’s when you’ll see Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals that will likely sell out well before wave season can even begin. First, they’re looking to capitalize during cold winter months when more consumers are fantasizing about a tropical, toes-in-the-sand vacation. Second, they know that extended families are far more likely to discuss big trips—like international cruises—over the holiday dinner table versus some random weekend in July. But many travelers head to this region specifically to see the dazzling fall foliage, in which case the best time to visit is October. September can be a good middle ground, because crowds will thin out (as school is back in session) but the weather will still be warm. There’s also a chance to see the start of the leaves changing towards the end of the month, though it varies from year-to-year and is never guaranteed.