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During this time, you’ll experience the best weather and some of the most entertaining holidays and festivals. If you’re looking for optimum weather and reduced fares, one of the best months to cruise to the Caribbean is May, the beginning of shoulder season. Shoulder season is that time just before and just after peak or high season, from December to April. The spring break rowdies start in March and often continue well into April. If your goal is to avoid crowds of kids and partiers, skip the cheapest and shortest cruises, as well as cruise ships with water parks and thrill rides.
Best time to cruise the Caribbean and Bahamas to avoid crowds
What to expect on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship during rough seas - TheStreet
What to expect on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship during rough seas.
Posted: Mon, 18 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
The summer months are significantly less busy because it’s the start of the rainy season. Many people and families take their vacations in the summer because school is out, though Caribbean summer cruises may not be the best choice because of the potential for rain. While you may experience brief rain storms in the afternoons, the rest of the day can be nice and sunny.
Best time to cruise the Caribbean and Bahamas: December-May
Water temperatures in the Caribbean can be cool in January and February, depending on how exposed your destination is to the chilly waters of the open Atlantic. The occasional winter storm and breezy conditions can make waters a bit rougher in January and February as well. Go biking around Duval Street in Key West with a stop for a refreshing key lime pie ice cream cone. Watch the sunset from your ship after a day of hanging in a hammock on a Cozumel beach. Experience the best of these incredible Western Caribbean destinations. Carnival and similar festivals are also celebrated in other Caribbean islands.
Fall
While more expensive, these luxury brands do offer a more intimate and all-inclusive vacation. Cruises to Hawaii will be less expensive in the fall when school is in session. The Greater Antilles refers to the bigger islands in the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Cuba, the Cayman Islands and Hispaniola, which includes Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
Travel Is Our Tradition
Revel in seasonal activities on board – like an elaborate Thanksgiving feast or a magical gingerbread house-making contest – and experience the holiday season like never before. Given how the wet and dry seasons pan out, you are always better off booking your Caribbean cruise vacation during the calendar’s shoulder seasons, meaning late fall and early spring. A Caribbean cruise vacation conjures up images of swaying palm trees, sun-warmed beaches, aqua waves, and frosty tropical drinks. The weather isn't all bad in the fall and Caribbean cruises prices are low during these months. I've been on lovely cruises in the Caribbean in September and October with calm seas and uncrowded, quiet ships, all at a fraction of the price of cruises just a handful of weeks earlier in the year. Fall, especially September and early October, is not a bad time to cruise to the Caribbean – unless you are a worrier or someone who can't go with the flow when travel plans go awry.
When is the Cheapest Time to Cruise the Caribbean?
Many cruise lines offer short seasons or mix up itineraries, so there's not much grounds for comparison. However, if you want a deal, the one thing that's certain is you should not sail over the holidays. Springtime will be the quietest time to visit the Aloha State, although you might find an uptick of families traveling for spring break during March and April. The summer is the busiest time for vacationers, and the winter months bring whale-watching enthusiasts and surfers. There are also two major sporting events in January, so you'll want to avoid the crowds on Oahu and Maui during that month.
June, July and August temperatures average near 90 degrees throughout the region. While there's a possibility of tropical storms or hurricanes, the Atlantic hurricane season doesn't peak until late August through October. Be aware that spring break is high season for travel disruptions caused by peak demand. I was once bumped from a flight home after a spring cruise when a high school Spanish club from Wisconsin needed the seats to travel home together as a group. I was compensated and flew out the next day, but what if I had been bumped on my cruise embarkation day?
The worst months to cruise the Caribbean - Cruise Blog
The worst months to cruise the Caribbean.
Posted: Tue, 23 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Sometimes you can do these things right from whatever beach is your destination for the day. Or, book a leisurely sunset sail or high-octane party cruise to get on the water, not necessarily in it. These lines offer a range of itinerary lengths, port combinations and departure cities from the Gulf Coast to the East Coast. These lines cater to all ages, including older couples and families with children. They're close to the U.S. and cruise lines use these ports to break up the multiple days at sea needed to sail farther south into the Caribbean proper. The Bahamas is located in the Atlantic Ocean rather than the Caribbean Sea, but it's a popular cruise destination.
More specifically, you will want to favor the months of November and April when booking your trip. If you want to avoid hurricanes and tropical storms, we recommend April over November, but remember that November can be a pleasant time to enjoy a cruise in the region. Spring — late April and most of May — is regarded as shoulder season, with competitive pricing. Be aware, though, that April is spring break for American university students and cruises out of Florida’s ports, in particular, can be packed with partying students. Island weather tends to be more humid during these months, with temperatures still in the 70s and 80s range, and generally rainier. Plan on early morning beach time, fun trips to water parks, swimming with dolphins or stingrays, snorkeling, diving, and other water sports.
As you may have guessed, these two seasons revolve around the amount of precipitation the region experiences during different times of the year. Cruise traffic ramps up in May and June to prepare for the influx of summer-month vacationers. That means ships may be below capacity as high season comes into swing later in the summer.
Some of the cheapest fares are found in October and April when school is in session. South Pacific cruises to Vanuatu, Fiji, and New Caledonia are vastly popular, although most sailings are offering during the region’s rainy season from November to March. Just like the Caribbean, though, rain showers do not last all day and should not negatively impact shore excursions and activities. Because of this, the spring or fall can be a wonderful time to cruise these regions of Europe.
Humidity and temperatures are high year-round, but the coolest and driest weather is typically found between November and February. The Mediterranean, Adriatic, and Greek Isles are popular throughout the entire cruise season, but summer can bring very warm temperatures. Unlike on a Caribbean cruise, you will likely spend less time at the beach and more time sightseeing in busy cities while cruising Europe. Walking around ports like Florence, Athens, and Barcelona in the summer can be uncomfortably hot. To understand the best time to enjoy a cruise in the Caribbean, you first need to know how the seasons in the region work. Essentially, this tropical climate experiences two noticeably different seasons – the dry season and the wet season.
However, many travelers choose to cruise to Canada and New England specifically for the fall foliage. If fall colors are your goal, resign yourself to cooler temperatures on your sailing, especially in the evenings. The Mexican Riviera (i.e., the Pacific coast of Mexico) is a year-round cruise destination. Most ships sail the itinerary in the fall, winter and spring because those same ships head to Alaska for the summer.
Caribbean cruises in January and February can be extremely budget friendly, with sailings available from $50 per person, per night. During the summer, the chance of rain also increases, so make sure to bring a rain jacket or poncho in case you happen to get caught under some showers. Don’t forget the bug spray either, as high humidity and rain typically mean there are more mosquitoes, too.
The shortest Southern Caribbean cruises are five or six days and leave from places such as Barbados, San Juan and St. Thomas. You can find weeklong sailings from Florida, but more commonly, they're eight nights or longer. Common destinations on Southern Caribbean cruise itineraries include Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Barbados, Trinidad, St. Lucia, Dominica, Martinique and Grenada. You'll find everything from gorgeous beaches and diving destinations to lush rainforests and flowing waterfalls.
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