The Best Time to Cruise to The Caribbean NCL Travel Blog

Table Of Content

• Day Caribbean Round-trip San Juan: Curacao, Aruba & St. Kitts
• Fall cruises to the Caribbean
• Caribbean Cruise in July or August: Chances of Rain and Lots of Families
• When is the Best Time for a Western Caribbean Cruise?
• Caribbean Cruise in May or June: Hot, Humid and Less Crowded
• Best Time for a Caribbean Cruise
• When to cruise the Panama Canal for the best weather

Additionally, many popular tourist spots tend to jack up their prices to capitalize on the influx of visitors. For those seeking a more budget-friendly and serene Caribbean cruise experience, the off-peak season provides an excellent alternative. “Hurricane season” runs from June to November, also referred to as the “rainy season”. While the name might raise some concerns, it’s important to note that not all days during the off-season are filled with torrential downpours and stormy weather.

Day Caribbean Round-trip San Juan: Curacao, Aruba & St. Kitts

With year-round opportunities to sail through the teal-blue waters, any of our Caribbean cruises can transport you to a state of total relaxation and bliss. Most experienced Caribbean cruisers will tell you to avoid the middle of the wet season. We tend to agree with this advice, as it helps you avoid the most unpleasant Caribbean weather. Given the unpredictability of Caribbean weather, the dry season does not have a specific start and finish date, but it generally runs from early November until late April. During this stretch, temperatures tend to be relatively mild, while precipitation is at an annual minimum.

Fall cruises to the Caribbean

Magner adds that May is also a great time to get a good deal, right after the spring break season is over and the kids have gone back to school. Despite the cooler temperatures in the northerly Caribbean islands, the climate from December to May in the Eastern Caribbean is generally warm and pleasant. During this time, temperatures range from the mid-70s to mid-80s°F (around 24-29°C) across most islands.

Caribbean Cruise in July or August: Chances of Rain and Lots of Families

The shortest options are four nights, typically visiting only Grand Turk or Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. The longest, around 10 to 12 nights, will often include Southern Caribbean ports or start from more northerly home ports. The Caribbean Sea is usually relatively calm during late fall and early spring. As you can imagine, this helps ensure all passengers enjoy a smoother, more relaxing cruising experience. Even though modern cruise ships are all designed for stability and passenger comfort, it is always more pleasant to be a passenger when traveling through calm seas.

When is the Best Time for a Western Caribbean Cruise?

Oceania, Azamara and Windstar Cruises are less inclusive, but still high end. 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. Tickets for cruises that set sail between January and March are usually among the most affordable. This is because these months and those between them are when demand is high enough to warrant an increased number of cruise voyages, but they miss the most pleasant months of November and April.

Keep an eye on the weather, buy travel insurance, and book hotels that offer hurricane guarantees. Late November and early to mid-December are also shoulder season and can be a fantastic time to travel. Americans tend to celebrate Thanksgiving, their biggest annual holiday, at home with family, so cruises falling over the fourth Thursday in November can be a real bargain. Early December, too, is perfect for avoiding the darkest nights of the British winter and working on a pre-Christmas tan. Bermuda's cruise season runs between April and November, with a few ships calling on Royal Naval Dockyard in December.

Royal Caribbean Blog - Unofficial blog about Royal Caribbean cruises - Royal Caribbean Blog

Royal Caribbean Blog - Unofficial blog about Royal Caribbean cruises.

Posted: Mon, 22 Apr 2024 16:35:40 GMT [source]

The Southern Caribbean is a fantastic option almost any time of the year, offering a safe haven even during the height of the hurricane season. The peak season also avoids the hurricane season, which runs from June to November, ensuring smoother sailing and safer travel conditions. However, it’s also when prices are highest and crowds can be larger due to increased demand. Despite this, the showers are usually short-lived and often occur in the afternoon, making it still possible to enjoy most of the day outdoors. This period also coincides with the hurricane season, with the highest risk of hurricanes from August to October. Additionally, it’s worth noting that December to May coincide with the Caribbean’s peak tourist season.

With slightly warmer temperatures in the mid-to-upper 80s, both days and evenings can be spent outdoors kayaking beneath the golden sun or dining under the stars. To beat the summer rush, plan a visit in May or early June, and book a private rum distillery tour or a cinematic Jeep safari ride. If you prefer to float through the most refreshing waters of the year, wait until June when the azure ocean has warmed to perfection. Although summer excursions don larger price tags, you can never truly place a value on the treasures of the Caribbean. To avoid the busy season, the best time to go on a Caribbean cruise is from November to early December.

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Best times to go on a cruise: Alaska, Caribbean, Mediterranean.

Posted: Thu, 29 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Explore vibrant coral reefs, swim alongside exotic marine life, or simply relax on pristine beaches. Many cruise lines offer water sports packages or excursions that allow you to make the most of the crystal-clear Caribbean waters. So, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced water sports enthusiast, be sure to pack your swimsuit and dive into the endless adventures awaiting you. The shoulder seasons may not be the warmest, but they typically offer better pricing than summer cruises. For example, a 14-night sailing to the Baltic with Holland America is $949 in early May 2023 but $1,329 in mid-June.

For a November getaway, consider Curaçao and Jamaica, both of which typically receive less than 4 inches of rain, making them ideal destinations. Trinidad claims the title of the hottest location, with an average high of 91°F (33°C), whereas the Bahamas offers a cooler climate with an average high of 82°F (27°C). Rainfall is rare in January, and when it does occur, it is likely to clear up fast.

You, however, could be lounging on deck sipping a frozen tropical concoction while waiting for your samba class to start. While most of the season offers moderate fares, if your cruise dates are limited to holiday breaks, be prepared for prices close to double what you'd pay during the few weeks before that. While temperatures remains steady in September, October and November (70s and 80s), sunny days might be tempered by winds and rains during stormy conditions.

While September might not sound like the ideal month for traveling, you can still visit the Caribbean if you choose the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao). These islands enjoy dry conditions and a lower risk of hurricanes, making them a popular destination in September. June is the first month of the wet season in the Caribbean, yet the chance of showers remains low across most islands. Expect an average of 6.1 inches of rainfall this month, with rain occurring on about 13 days. 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.

Shops and attractions will overflow with passengers from other ships and land-based vacationers. Once the calendar is closer to the holidays, winter break increases the demand and prices can spike to reflect that. Because fall weather in the Caribbean is unpredictable, you'll find some of the best cruise deals of the year. As the end of November transitions to the holidays, though, Caribbean cruise prices begin to increase again. Most Caribbean cruises in March and April run close to $100 per person, per night.