Table Of Content
Booking with the cruise company guarantees your return to the ship, even if your excursion runs late. As for when to arrive at the cruise terminal on embarkation day, the answer depends on your boarding time. Either way, I recommend purchasing travel insurance (through a third party, not through your cruise line) that will protect your investment if something happens and you miss your ship.
What is the best time of year to book a cruise?
The sunniest months are July and August and the best time for whale watching is May and June. That being said, traveling anytime during cruise season will offer epic views of landscape and wildlife, no matter where you travel. 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.
Best Time to Cruise Europe: April - Mid-June and September - October
You might also want to consider trying out RoyalUp—our new bid-based stateroom upgrade program. Weather is drier and warm in December, making the early part of the month a great relaxing getaway. Rain is generally limited to the Southern Caribbean, including islands like Aruba. Ocean temperatures in the winter hover around a pleasant 79 degrees and average highs and lows in St. Kitts, for example, are 85 and 74 degrees, respectively. April is the driest month for southern islands like Aruba and Curacao.
Best time to cruise the Mediterranean: April-May, September-October
Since you'll have the greatest choice of ships midsummer, you might luck out and find a one-off deal if you can be flexible about ship and sail date. The spring (April and May) and the fall (September and October) afford some of the best weather in the Mediterranean, with sunny days and comfortable temperatures. Though the busiest season for Mediterranean cruises is typically July and August, the temperatures can be unbearably hot (85 degrees and higher).
Best Time to Cruise to the Bahamas: A Month-by-Month Guide - Cruise Critic
Best Time to Cruise to the Bahamas: A Month-by-Month Guide.
Posted: Mon, 01 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Wave season may be a popular time to find cruise deals, but not every company releases its best deals and promotions during that period. If a cruise is filling up quickly, the company has no reason to release a sale to entice customers. But if a cruise's departure date is fast approaching and the ship is only partially booked, prices will drop and complimentary add-ons will increase, resulting in some happy customers. Sometimes you may be forced to choose between the cheapest possible fare and one that offers a greater total value, given the included perks. Knowing when cruise lines will likely run promotions will help you strategize, but sales can pop up anytime — and not every promotion offers the cheapest fares. Booking a cruise just days before sailing should only be attempted by travelers within an easy drive of the cruise port.
For warm weather that isn’t too hot and the best chance at no rain, look to visit the Mexican Riviera during the winter and into early spring. As long as you avoid time periods where kids are off from school (Christmas break, winter break, spring break, etc.), you’ll also encounter fewer crowds during this timeframe. To avoid crowds, choose a voyage during the shoulder season in April, May, or September. The least rainy month is May, while the warmest (and busiest) will be July and August. Certain times of the Alaska cruise season also increase your chances of seeing wildlife and/or the Norther Lights. Truth is, there rarely seems to be a difference in what you end up paying for a cruise based on sales.
Major Cruise lines
When you arrive at the terminal facility in your port of embarkation, you can expect the scene to be chaotic. Follow signs for the applicable arrival channel, whether that be parking or drop-offs via taxis, Ubers and shuttles. There are several other tricks — like completing check-in online or via your cruise line's mobile app before you show up — that you can employ to speed up the embarkation process. The latter often includes a separate sitting area with snacks and drinks. Unfortunately, it can vary from port to port and ship to ship, but I prefer arriving in the early afternoon, usually around 1 or 2 p.m. For those looking for a couples retreat, Viking Cruises cater exclusively to adults.
That means there are eye-popping deals to be found, with thousands off your ideal floating vacation. If I were to narrow it down even further, I'd say the best time to cruise to the Caribbean is early December. It's a fun way to create a break between Thanksgiving and the December holidays. There's never a bad time to cruise to this giant blue fishbowl with a bazillion beaches to explore. If you're intent on a Gulf of Alaska cruise, book a northbound route so you'll cruise the Gulf at the end of the trip when you have your sea legs. If you get seasick easily, also think twice about round-trip cruises from Seattle that spend days cruising in the open ocean.
Peak season for European river cruises lasts from May through September. And if you're after the best of those European summer vibe, it's a hard time of year to top. Cafes are packed, streets bustle with life and days are long and warm.
When it comes to cruising in Alaska, you’ll be spoiled for choice as no other state has more coastline to explore. The best cruises in Alaska offer unparalleled experiences that will bring you up close to some of the most unique and awe-inspiring places in the world. From the lush rainforests and tranquil seas of the Inside Passage, to the endless horizon and luminous ice of the Arctic, there’s no shortage of what Alaska offers to cruise enthusiasts. These are the months when you rarely need to worry about weather shutting down onboard water attractions or causing cancellations of your in-port fun. Summer months are also perfect for multi-generational cruising, as they are often the only months when everyone's schedules align. And when you have a group to manage, you need as many activities as possible to keep everyone entertained.
Well, while the islands aren't generally hit by hurricanes, they come closest in September and weather patterns can bring hot, humid weather to the islands despite technically being dry season. They can also kick up storms that lead to rough seas and less-than-ideal excursion conditions. To truly enjoy an Alaskan cruise, cruisers can visit from April to October when daylight hours, weather and wildlife are better. Explore Alaskan cruises and learn more about each fun-filled trip to the 49th state. Cruisers can typically enjoy Alaska in October at lower rates than the Alaska summer cruise season prices.
Summertime is busy in Canada and New England because of the optimal weather and family vacations. You can also expect more ships and crowds in town during late September and October at the height of the leaf-peeping season. The summer months and early fall will have some of the best rates, but you'll need to take into consideration the hotter temperatures in the summer that can reach into the 90s – and with high humidity.
You can also look for a last-minute Alaska cruise deal, though keep in mind that with Alaska's cruise season growing longer, interest in Alaska September cruises is rising. My biggest tip for any cruise — but especially for Americans traveling to Europe for a Mediterranean cruise — is to arrive at your embarkation city at least a day before your sailing starts. As someone who's taken over 50 cruises all over the world, I know firsthand how popular cruising is this year.
No comments:
Post a Comment