Monday, April 1, 2024

The Best Time to Cruise Alaska Month by Month

best time to take a cruise

While the weather in Alaska in June brings out the flowers and even greener scenery, expect mosquitoes to be biting. Alaska temperatures can be unpredictable, so come prepared with the proper wardrobe. On dry land, bears are more common in May, though not as frequently spotted as they are in peak summer. Temperatures are relatively mild, with daytime highs in the upper 40s and into the 50s depending on where you're visiting and cloud cover. But I only book with third-party operators if the ship docks right at the city I want to explore because I never want to miss the all-aboard time. Some of the major European tourist destinations have strict dress codes — typically everyone must at least cover their shoulders and knees out of respect.

Best Time to Cruise Europe: April - Mid-June and September - October

That means the first day of your cruise during the winter can be chilly as the ship heads south. Again, the best time to take a cruise if you want the cheapest price is when school is in session. If you have to sail during the summer or holidays, expect to pay a premium. Baltic and Northern European cruises have a shorter season, running from April to October. Keep in mind that April and October can still be quite chilly in Scandinavian and Baltic Sea ports. Lines like Viking and Hurtigruten offer Northern Lights sailings to the region's northern reaches from January through March.

best time to take a cruise

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While the pink-sand beaches and glistening, turquoise waters offer a slice of paradise, the archipelago in the western North Atlantic Ocean does not stay warm year-round. The subtropical climate of these British islands has winter temperatures that dip down into the low 60s and high 50s. The cruise season is short if you want to sail to Northern Europe, the Baltic or the Scandinavian fjords; itineraries run from April through October. However, if you love the cold and want to chase the aurora borealis in Norway, several lines offer northern lights itineraries in the winter months. In other words, if you’re looking for the best time to book, then focus on buying earlier and sailing when school is in session.

Best time to cruise Hawaii to avoid crowds

If you plan a springtime Caribbean cruise, have a backup plan, including travel insurance, in case your travel itinerary gets rearranged at the last minute. The spring break rowdies start in March and often continue well into April. 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.

Best transatlantic cruises for 2024 and 2025 - The Points Guy

Best transatlantic cruises for 2024 and 2025.

Posted: Mon, 12 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

If enjoying the fanfare of a yacht racing event is more your speed, try to plan your cruise for the end of April at the beginning of the Bermuda International Invitational Race Week. To help you figure out when you should best aim for taking a cruise, we’re breaking down our recommendations by region. The simple rule of thumb is that prices are lowest when school is session.

When to cruise to Australia and New Zealand for the best weather

If you dislike large numbers of children, avoid sailing late June through August or during school break times (late December, early January and March through mid-April). In this case the ‘shoulder’ months of May and September offer the lowest prices. Booking a cruise just days before sailing should only be attempted by travelers within an easy drive of the cruise port. You should also make sure that you have time to get any necessary documentation, as well as make related travel plans. If there's no best day to book a cruise for the best deal, you might think there's a best month. While you can find cheap cruises any month you look, I can give you some pointers about which months are most likely to feature cruise sales with value-added promotions.

best time to take a cruise

Many last-minute cruise fares (those sold within days from the sail date) have their prices locked. If the price drops after you book, then it can be more difficult to get the difference in cruise fare refunded. Most cities and towns along any of Europe's rivers will be crowded. In some cases, heat waves and low rainfall can cause European rivers to be too low for ships to sail. Additionally, depending on where you're sailing, July and August may mean some local cafes and restaurants are closed for summer holidays.

When is the best time to take an Alaska cruise?

Cruises to Hawaii will be less expensive in the fall when school is in session. In other words, by waiting you can actually see fewer options for cabins and locations on the ship. Late June and August can also make for good wildlife viewing, said Deborah Banks, a travel adviser and franchise owner at Cruise Planners with her husband Isaiah. Elizabeth Rhodes is a special projects editor at Travel + Leisure, covering everything from luxury hotels to theme parks to must-pack travel products.

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. Back home, everyone else is busy buying turkeys and cranberries and catering to the in-laws. 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.

Plus, winter storms in the U.S. can increase wave action in the Atlantic and in the Gulf of Mexico. The farther north your departure port, the more likely you are to experience a rough ride until your ship sails south into calmer water. 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. If I had to pick based on weather, cost and crowds, I'd vote winter as the best time to cruise the Caribbean. Ocean cruises take place on large ships that sail across oceans and seas, visiting multiple ports of call along the way.

When you sail has a much bigger impact on what you pay than when you buy. There are rules and stipulations for each cruise line as to whether your fare is eligible to get refunded should the price goes down. You’ll want to make sure you read all the fine print of your fare before you buy. For instance, you can learn more about Carnival’s different fares here. As you can see, the prices for this trip are similar from one year to the next, though there is some variation across weeks.

“Like, if you go to Venice in July, you're gonna be sweating.” If you’re looking for milder temperatures, consider visiting as early as April or in October after fall rolls around. Banks warned that there can be drawbacks to going on the early or late side. “(The) early season may see some icy conditions, and late season may increase the chance of rougher seas and less predictable weather,” she said in an email. But the best times to take a cruise can vary depending on where you’re going. As well, when winter has gripped most of North America, the Caribbean still offers a warm getaway with lots of sunshine.

We get Florida resident last-minute cruise deals all the time at Pixie Vacations and they are so good we often contemplate moving to Florida. 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.

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