The Best Time to Cruise

The best time to take a cruise will depend on several things including budget, where you want to cruise to, and your schedule. You can cruise to almost anywhere you can imagine that has a coast. Most itineraries can be cruised year around, but there are some areas that have seasons, and not just “these are the best times to cruise there,” but you can only cruise during certain months of the year like Alaska, Canada and New England. Let’s go over some of the most popular places to visit on a cruise and when. 

The best time to cruise through he Panama Canal and visit Panama is between October and April. This will be outside their rainy season. January and February are going to give you some of the best deals and cooler temperatures (for the area). There are even some great festivals going on that you might want to visit. 

One of the most popular places to cruise, especially for US cruisers is the Caribbean and Bahamas. There is no bad time to cruise this region, but if you want to get some good deals, avoid crowds and the hurricane season, then January and February are the months for you! The temperatures are not too hot with average temperatures being in the upper 70s to mid 80s, which is perfect to go out and explore the area on some great excursions. September through November will also yield you some great deals on cruises, but you do run the risk of a hurricane disrupting your cruise. We often book cruises to the Caribbean in late January/early February as well as in the fall. Luckily, we haven’t had any issues with storms or hurricanes. 

If you are ready to take a trip to a land down under, then March through May is a great time to visit Australia and New Zealand. December through February are peak travel times for locals, so sailing starting in March avoids those crowds. You will also avoid the heat of the summer months! 

While there are more great times to visit Japan than just one, late March through April is going to mean being there for cherry blossom season. Since this is a popular time for tourists to travel to Japan, you are unlikely to get any great deals on your cruise, but if you are only going to Japan once in your lifetime, you won’t want to miss out on this gorgeous site.

One of the most beautiful locations in North America makes for a popular cruise destination and that is of course, Alaska! The cruising season for Alaska is April to October. While some will say that June and July are the best months because of the warmer temperatures and longer days, May and September are great choices for those who want to avoid the worst of the summer crowds. May is a great choice as it is part of the dry season, so you are more likely to have clear skies to view all there is to see. If you are wanting to cruise Alaska on a budget, then look at cruises in September as they are usually more affordable, but be prepared for cooler temps by bringing your coat and lots of layers!

If you love fall as much as I do, then you will want to book a cruise to New England and Canada in September to see all the gorgeous fall foliage. This is one of my bucket-list cruises. Before I began cruises, I had wanted to plan a trip to New England during peak foliage season, but now I am looking forward to doing so from a cruise ship! 

A popular cruise destination for those in the UK and Europe is the Mediterranean. Spring (May and June) and Fall (September and October) are both good times to book a cruise to the Med, but September and October will give you mild temperatures with plenty of sunshine and you will also avoid the worst of the summer holiday crowds because most schools are back in session.

Most people cruise the Norwegian fjords from April to October, similar to Alaska, but you can cruise during the winter months if you are wanting to explore Norway while it is covered in snow. Beautiful, but not usually what most choose as it is the fjords that are the main draw for most cruisers. If you are wanting the ideal month to cruise through the fjords, July will give you warm temperatures and plenty of daylight hours. We have a cruise booked to Norway next fall and are going to be setting sail the last day of September, so I am definitely not following my own advise, but we chose to avoid the summer crowds, the kids, as well as book during a time when cruise fares are cheaper. Like I said in the beginning, WHEN you choose to cruise an itinerary will depend on many factors and our main reasons for cruising when we do usually has to do with budget and avoiding cruising with lots of kids!

If you are wanting to really see Iceland, going in August is a great time because the weather is milder and the days are long. However, if you are going specifically to see the Northern Lights, then you will want to forgo the warmer temps as the long nights of winter give you a better shot at seeing the Northern Lights. September will mean the temps are not too cold, but the nights are longer. If you are ready to brave the Arctic, then December through March give you the best chance of seeing those lights!

If you are ready to immerse yourself in everything Christmas, then you will want to look into a Christmas Market River Cruise. Taking a river cruise to various European markets in places like Germany and France will definitely get you ready to celebrate Christmas with all the decorations, foods, and local holiday traditions. This is one of my bucket-list cruises. 

Which of these places do you plan on cruising to next? Which are on your bucket list? Comment below. I like to say there are certain cruises on my bucket list, but honestly they are all my bucket list, some are just farther up the list!