When to Book Your Dream Cruise, By Destination

Table Of Content

• All aboard! What you need to know about cruise boarding times and how early to arrive for a cruise
• Best time to cruise Northern Europe: June-August
• Look for the added-value promotions and the ones that suit you the best
• How To Pack For The Ultimate European Cruise
• When to Book a Cruise for the Best Price

But that doesn't stop vacationers from wondering if they'd find a cheaper price if they wait to book tomorrow, next week or next month. For sunny skies and hot days in many parts of the continent where cruise ships sail, take a cruise during the austral summer. Since the seasons are flipped for the northern and southern hemispheres, that means during our winter season, from around December through March. Though cruises are available in northern Europe year-round, you’ll find the largest amount of voyages during the warmer months in spring, summer, and the beginning of fall. The best season to take a cruise in northern Europe weather-wise is in the summer from June through August. If you’re okay with cooler weather and want fewer crowds, opt for a sailing in September or October.

All aboard! What you need to know about cruise boarding times and how early to arrive for a cruise

Since the temperatures are similar during both seasons, the best time to cruise the islands is when there's less chance of precipitation, which is during the summer months of June, July and August. In addition to low introductory fares, cruise lines may also offer extra perks for early bookers, such as free airfare, a complimentary upgrades, drink packages or an onboard credit. Even better, most lines only require a small initial deposit to hold your cabin, so if your plans change in the following months, you can cancel without a hassle. Travel advisors have access to the best fares and promotions and sometimes can offer additional perks that you cannot get elsewhere. They can also advise the cruise line of any dietary restrictions and arrange special occasion celebrations on the ship. In short, they are your one-stop shop for booking your cruise vacation with confidence.

Best time to cruise Northern Europe: June-August

You want the cheapest possible price and don't mind being flexible about your cruise ship and itinerary. This strategy is best for cruisers who live close to a homeport and don't have to rely on last-minute airfare. Saving money feels good — almost as good as sitting on the top deck of a Caribbean-bound cruise with a cocktail in hand.

Look for the added-value promotions and the ones that suit you the best

Booking early is a good way to score perks, and don’t forget to ask about special programs that might be inclusive of your profession, like a police officer, firefighter or member of the military. You might also want to consider trying out RoyalUp—our new bid-based stateroom upgrade program. In some cases, heat waves and low rainfall can cause European rivers to be too low for ships to sail.

While booking early or traveling during the fall are fantastic ways to save on your cruise vacation, FunPoints® help your budget too! The fun starts with your very first purchase, where you can earn bonus FunPoints, which can be redeemed for a statement credit. The kids are out of school, spirits are high, and the weather is just right.

When to cruise the Mediterranean for the best weather

You can start your search yourself using online booking sites such as CruiseDirect, to search for and compare prices. You can also see the latest deals available for specific cruise lines. No matter where you’re going, it’s easy to plan for the best weather. Cruisers to Alaska will want to go in the summer when the sun is out and temperatures are pleasant. Conveniently, most cruises to Alaska depart in these ideal summer months, with a few in the shoulder months of late spring and early fall.

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If you are sailing from a port in the United States (outside of South Florida), then the winter months can be cold. That means the first day of your cruise during the winter can be chilly as the ship heads south. If you book well in advance (usually 90+ days), you can usually get some sort of price guarantee included with your fare. Book a fare, and if you see it drop later, you can call the cruise line and get the price difference either refunded or get the difference back as onboard credit. Like airfare, cruise fares can move up and down over time (though not near as drastically).

In fact, cruise lines get into the "spirit" of Black Friday by starting sales a week or more in advance, so you'll have time in the second half of November to take advantage of the sales. The best time to cruise to the Caribbean is, somewhat unintuitively, early December through mid-February. You’ll enjoy 80-degree weather and avoid hurricane season entirely, which runs from June through November. A 2016 study by CruiseWatch found that prices tended to rise on Wednesdays, drop on Thursdays and remain relatively consistent the rest of the week, but trends in the travel industry can change on a dime. Considering it’s been eight years and one industry-shattering pandemic since that data was collected, it may no longer be relevant.

It's hard to determine the best time to cruise the Panama Canal at the lowest prices. 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. The best time to cruise to the Caribbean without all the tourists is typically in late fall and between the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

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For example, a seven-night round-trip voyage from Long Beach, California, along Mexico's Pacific coast with Carnival Cruise Line starts at $629 in June. The same cruise is even less expensive in October at $464 per person. If you want to avoid rain, May is typically the driest month, with plenty of sunshine and highs in the 50s. It's a great month for nature lovers to cruise to Alaska because May is when you'll see much of the wildlife emerging, including migrating gray whales, Dall sheep, moose and migratory birds. You don’t have to be booked on a cruise to join or participate in Cruise Critic's Message Boards. For millions in the research stage, the boards have become a vital resource for questions, recommendations, and advice -- there's no joining fee, just sign up and you are good to start exploring.

If the destination doesn’t matter to you as much as the length of this date-specific cruise, flexibility will help you land an end-of-December cruise. If you’re researching European cruises, going to the Mediterranean has likely crossed your mind. You can visit countries like Greece, Croatia, and Italy along the southern coastline of Europe. Visit fabulous beaches, seaside cities, and enjoy Mediterranean cuisine.

You can also avoid the crowds in late April and early May after the spring break rush but before school lets out and summer vacations begin. The official Atlantic hurricane season, June 1 to Nov. 30, falls within shoulder season, so you may need to weigh low prices with the risk of a storm affecting your trip. Also, some fares in the summer months can be higher with many families taking vacations.