Wednesday, April 17, 2024

When is the best time to cruise the Caribbean?

best time for caribbean cruise

Star Clippers appeals to sailing enthusiasts with its masted ships, simple entertainment and emphasis on water sports. You'll be hard-pressed to find a cruise line that does not sail to the Caribbean at least for a few months a year. The big-ship lines will station multiple ships in this region year-round, with additional ships swinging by during the colder months.

Go during a festival

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]

With the rainy season not yet in full swing, visitors can enjoy warm, sunny days perfect for exploring the islands’ natural beauty and sunswept beaches. Spring months, like March and April, are part of the dry season, so they’re great times to cruise the Caribbean. Spring is a popular time for many people to go on a cruise, as they take advantage of spring breaks and perfect Caribbean weather. Many hometowns have yet to warm up by this time of year, making a vacation to the Caribbean the perfect way to warm up and start working on your summer tan.

Winter: Moderate fares and quiet crowds (except during the holidays)

The top reason to cruise during hurricane season is it will cost you a lot less to cruise during this time of year, and the likelihood of a storm directly impacting your cruise is low. Many destinations experience a high point of tourism from December through February because of people fleeing the northern winters. But that period also has the lowest average temperatures for the Caribbean, especially in the islands lying closest to the United States. It is especially true during the Caribbean hurricane season, which lasts from the beginning of June to the end of November. During that period, total rainfall rises until it reaches a high point in September and October.

Traveling the Caribbean During the Dry Season

Enjoy an enriching experience, fine dining and world-class entertainment on our dream Caribbean cruises. The Caribbean is full of festivities all year, but holiday cruises to the Caribbean really rev up the excitement on ship and ashore. Barbados has a well-earned reputation for a proper New Year’s blowout and many Caribbean islands celebrate Carnival with live music, parades, and feathery garb. Our Caribbean cruises offer plenty of options, from three-day and week-long voyages to holiday cruises and ambitious expeditions. And we offer cruise deals year-round, so rest assured that you can find great value at any time. I also recommend that all passengers bring a passport on their Caribbean sailing.

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. While we recommend cruising to the Caribbean in the winter months, don’t expect to find the cheapest fares around the holidays. Cruises around Christmas and New Year’s will, unsurprisingly, come with higher prices. That being said, the holidays can be a fun time to set sail with special dining menus, decor, and events throughout the ship. Many destinations still have above average rainfall during October and November, which makes late fall a risky time to cruise.

Best and Worst Times to Cruise the Caribbean

Luckily, you will likely have nice weather no matter what time of the year you sail to the Caribbean. Certain times of the year may be more warm, humid, or rainy than others, but in general, the weather in the Caribbean is warm and breezy. June, July, and August are the most popular months to cruise to the Caribbean, and cruising in the summer comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. In addition, cruising between December and April means an escape for many guests who are coming from colder locations further north.

This region is also popular among first-time cruisers, as these cruises offer a nice combination of on-shore and at-sea days. "Perfect weather" in the Caribbean would likely equate to sunny days with warm water, delightful breezes, and minimal rainfall and humidity. For that kind of weather, Brittney Magner, vice president of luxury travel sales at Royal Travel and a Travel + Leisure A-List Advisor, says January through May is the ideal time to visit. The months of June through August are a great time to plan a family cruise to The Caribbean. Many families take advantage of these months when school is out to enjoy summer break and see the world.

I took my first Celebrity Cruise on a new ship. We had a great time, but I missed Royal Caribbean's entertainment - Royal Caribbean Blog

I took my first Celebrity Cruise on a new ship. We had a great time, but I missed Royal Caribbean's entertainment.

Posted: Mon, 27 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Hot temperatures make long days near the sea enticing, though you are more likely to encounter a day or two of rain in some parts of the Caribbean in May or June. Sailings that occur during spring break, holidays, and the peak of summer will have more kids and families onboard. If you are looking for a sailing free from a lot of kids, these are probably not the best times to cruise. Likewise, if you have children and are wanting them to be around a lot of other kids or teens, these times of the year can be a good choice.

Caribbean Vacations June Through August

Yes, I know that the Bahamas is technically located in the Atlantic, but it's an easy mistake to think the balmy islands are found in the Caribbean. The majority of the cruise line private islands are located in the Bahamas, and these appear regularly on all Caribbean itineraries. The Bahamian ports of Nassau and Freeport, even Florida's Key West, may appear on Caribbean-centric cruises. Western Caribbean itineraries are typically a week, but can be as short as four days (with just one stop in Mexico) or as long as 12 days (though these might include stops in the Bahamas, too). You'll find two main types of Western Caribbean cruises, and both are fabulous introductions to Caribbean culture and attractions.

Hurricane season runs between June 1 and November 30, and it is the time of year when we typically see tropical storms form in the Caribbean. Of course, that does not mean there is a hurricane every day, nor does it mean when there is one, the entire Caribbean is affected. Ocean conditions tend to be fairly calm as well, and it's the reason why winter is the peak season for the Caribbean cruise market. Aruba, Cozumel, Grand Cayman and St. Thomas often have average high temperatures of more than 90 degrees during the day. The heat can make time on the beaches or shopping in the cruise ports uncomfortably hot. Recreational land activities on arid islands such as Aruba are even more uncomfortable.

best time for caribbean cruise

With that in mind, we've weighed factors like price and activities to help you figure out the best month for a Caribbean cruise. The temperatures have dropped a few degrees from summer's heat and the chance of storms has mostly passed. Extra ships begin arriving for their winter season and prices remain low for most of the month.

May and June are also great months to look for deals on Caribbean cruises because they fall during the shoulder season. During this time, you can often find lower prices and fewer crowds, making it an ideal time to plan your cruise vacation. The shoulder season sits between the peak travel times and the off-peak periods, offering a sweet spot for travelers looking for value without sacrificing a pleasant travel experience.

Every one of our Caribbean cruises stops into Half Moon Cay, our top-rate private island, so you will enjoy some seclusion no matter when you go. Many people would agree with me that a Caribbean cruise is the perfect antidote to the winter doldrums and work stress, plus a wonderful way to reconnect with friends and loved ones. The ship takes care of everything -- transportation, accommodation, meals and entertainment – so you can skip much of the daily planning drama and simply enjoy your vacation and travel companions. Every day you wake up to warm weather and sunny skies (well, most of the time) and a new destination promising white sand beaches, fun activities and memories to be made.

The islands themselves tend to be more exclusive, with fewer ships visiting on any given day. If you booked a land-based stay, you'd be forced to cancel — or hunker down and wait for the rain and winds to pass. The best time to cruise Australia is from late November to March, when late spring crests into Australia's summer months. Major ports of call like Sydney, Adelaide and Perth will be quite warm and sunny, while Cairns in the northeast -- the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef -- will be steamy and hot. If you do book a Caribbean cruise during hurricane season, consider buying travel insurance in case a storm disrupts your trip.

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