It depends…
Ask Yourself: Why Are You Cruising?
The first consideration to make when choosing the time for your cruise is why you want to take a cruise. If you are planning to celebrate a special occasion while on board – a birthday, anniversary, retirement, or honeymoon – the date of that occasion will influence when it is best for you to cruise. Also consider that you may prefer to spend the actual special day with family members or friends on land; setting sail at a different time can help prolong the celebration.
Similarly, if there is something specific you hope to do on your cruise, you will need to plan your sailing dates accordingly. Certain shore tours, such as whale watching excursions or wine-making with grape stomps, are only available at specific times of year. If you have always dreamed of trying those activities, you will need to plan your cruise for a time when you can take advantage of the opportunity.
Where Do You Want to Go?
While many popular cruise areas such as the Caribbean, the Bahamas, the Mediterranean and the Mexican Riviera have sailings year-round, other destinations only have a limited cruise season. Alaska, northern Europe and Bermuda are all relatively limited for the best times to cruise. For instance, the Alaska cruise season begins in May and ends in September at which time the cruise ships are repositioned to ports that are farther south.
Is This Your First Time?
More than anything else, this affects how long a cruise you should take. If you are unsure about what to expect, take a 4- or 5-day cruise from a nearby port. By doing this you can find out if you really like the cruising lifestyle without spending boatloads of money. You can also get the answers to questions like: Will I enjoy the food? Will I get bored? What if I get seasick? Did I pack the right stuff? More than likely you will get “bit” and want to plan a longer cruise but this is a good way to get started.
Budget Considerations
If your budget is tight, that can affect when you go. Certain times of year are low seasons for cruise vacations, and during those times fares can be significantly cheaper – even hundreds of dollars less for the same cabin on the same itinerary. In general, mid-winter cruises in January and early February, as well as late spring and early fall, are less expensive times to take a cruise. The summer months, school breaks and Thanksgiving and Christmas are much more expensive.
Be Aware of the Weather
The weather can play a factor in the best time to cruise. While there can be bad weather at any time and there is always plenty to do onboard in case of inclement weather, if you’re sensitive to the motion of the ship you may want to avoid the risk of rough seas. Hurricane season in the Caribbean runs from June 1 through November 30, with the greatest number of storms historically occurring from mid-August through late October. Likewise, if you’re cruising to Alaska, you may want to avoid May and September in the cruising season because the weather can be much cooler and more unpredictable.
What Kind of Company Do You Want?
Demographics do play a role. Considering the type of passengers you prefer to cruise with can help you choose the best time for your cruise. For example, if you want to take a family vacation and hope your children or grandchildren will have company in the ship’s youth programs, a cruise during the summer or when schools are on break is best. If you’d rather have a more mature range of passengers with fewer kids on board, cruising when schools are in session or opting for a longer itinerary is ideal. On the other hand, if you prefer the party crowd with more rambunctious shipmates, you’ll want to consider shorter cruises or opt for spring break periods when greater numbers of young professionals and college students are likely to be on board. Certain cruise lines cater to different demographics; this is an area where a travel agent can be of assistance.
Bucket List Advice
In summary, there is no terrible time for a cruise. No matter when you set sail, you will be treated to a magical experience that includes great service, exquisite food, fun entertainment, stunning ports of call and a range of great activities to enjoy.
David Anderson
gramps_travel@yahoo.com
www.facebook.com/grampstravel
[wdca_ad id=”11484″ ]
