What is the best month to cruise?

To avoid crowds and experience cooler temperatures, consider traveling in the shoulder months of May and September or early October. Most Mediterranean cruises sail in the summer months, when the sun and sand in coastal ports are at their peak and cities come alive with activity.



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The best time for a Caribbean cruise is from December to April when the weather is dry, sunny, and clear skies on most days. The ideal cruising conditions of mild temperatures and calm waters typically last throughout winter and spring, making it the prime Caribbean sailing season and very traveler-friendly.

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What is the cheapest time to book a cruise? Prospective cruisers can usually find a lot of good deals at the beginning of the year during wave season, Goldberg-Glazer said. That period typically lasts from January until March. However, the optimal time to book may depend on when you plan to sail.

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Hurricane season in the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean officially runs from June 1 through November 30. Although the exact paths and initial development of individual hurricanes are hard to predict, the season is generally busiest between mid-August and mid-September.

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Caribbean Seasons
Rain is more frequent in the wet season, but the temperatures are warmer. Wet season and dry season are both good times to cruise the Caribbean. The worst time for a Caribbean cruise weather-wise is August to September, as it is peak hurricane season.

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If you're bringing the whole family, a 5 or 7 day cruise might be the best way to make sure everyone has an awesome getaway. And for those lucky folks with even more time to spare, a cruise of 10 days or more will give you an incredible experience of all the best things a cruise has to offer.

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You might get one or more extra days at sea, or the captain could swap out the missed port for a new port, should one be available. Sometimes, the entire order of ports is rearranged so that all are still visited but at times when the weather will be less disruptive.

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Though your itinerary may change, cruises are rarely canceled due to storms. Ships are designed to handle rough seas and can be rerouted to avoid danger. Once you're on board, any port updates will be announced over the ship's intercom or detailed in a notice delivered to your stateroom.

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In such cases, cruise lines have two options: head to a different port up or down the coast to disembark passengers or remain at sea until the ship's home port reopens.

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The total savings potential depends on how and when you book your cruise, and what deals you find. That said, it's possible to save 50% or more. We examined several last-minute deals for cruises departing within 30 days and found that some of the best deals offered savings from 60% to 70%. However, savings can vary.

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September is a month when many schools are back in session and the summer vacation season is over. This means that demand for Caribbean cruises drops, and cruise lines lower their prices to attract more customers.

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13 Tips for Finding Cheap Cruise Deals
  1. Don't Wait for Last-Minute Cruise Deals on High-Season Sailings. ...
  2. Hunt Down Shoulder Season and Repositioning Cruise Deals. ...
  3. Use Cruise Critic's Deal Score to Know When a Deal is Really a Deal. ...
  4. Bundle Up for the Best Cruise Deals. ...
  5. Ask for a Price Drop Credit When Cruise Fares Change.


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According to the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS), hurricane season in the Caribbean runs from June 1 through November 30 and normally peaks in August and September.

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In a dire scenario, a cruise ship could sink in a hurricane. But before you cancel all your future cruise plans, know this: it's highly unlikely. Cruise ships are built like fortresses. They boast stability, seaworthiness, and a bucket-load of safety features to help them ride out even the angriest storms.

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Cruise ships rarely get caught in weather this rough as the cruise lines make every effort to sail away from storms. Ports regularly get skipped, and, in extreme cases, cruise lines will extend a trip in order to move their ships away from bad weather.

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Within the last 111 years, over 20 cruise ships and ocean liners have sunk.

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While it's possible that a ship can feel the impacts of an earthquake, it's extremely rare that damage would occur, according to Dr. Thomas Heaton, seismologist and professor of geophysics and civil engineering at the California Institute of Technology.

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As well, you should start to look out for hurricanes and tropical storms during July — especially if traveling later in the month. While cruise ships will usually avoid any storms, they can be unpredictable and cause changes to your itinerary. Also, just keep in mind that you should expect higher cruise fares.

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The cruise lines usually put their oldest vessels on their shortest routes, so in order to go on the nicer ships, you need to primarily do a seven-day or longer cruise, Speer said. Longer trips also give first-time cruisers more time to get oriented.

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7-8 Daytime Outfits On your 7 day cruise, you'll need a casual daytime outfit for each day, plus at least one backup outfit in case you get wet.

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Booking a cruise one to two years in advance is not practical for many families, so a great time to book a cruise is between six and 12 months before sailing. In addition to the lower prices, booking well in-advance of a cruise assures you of the ship and stateroom you want to reserve.

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