How do the weather & the seasons affect your Cruise Vacation?

In deciding when and where to go, you must take into consideration the weather and season. Cruises plan their sale on seasonal weather conditions. Unless you have your own private vessel, you will have to go according to the shipping lines’ schedule. Some cruises are year round whilst others are not. Cruises have peak and off peak seasons. If you plan to travel during peak seasons (holidays, summer etc), plan to pay a little bit more and expect crowds. Off peak season prices are lower and less crowded.

Hurricanes
The notorious hurricanes – are you nervous? Don’t be and I’ll explain why in a few. Caribbean hurricane season runs from June to November with August and September being the most active. However the coolest thing about visiting the Caribbean’s during the summer on a cruise is that modern ships are fully equipped with high tech satellite warning systems that alert the ships of hurricane paths. The ships can change their path to avoid hurricanes and stormy weather. I bet a holiday resort on land can’t do that. So you see, you have no worries about safety as cruises avoid hurricanes rather than confront them. The worst that can happen to you is to end up with a different itinerary – what an adventure!

Seasons
There are year round cruises and seasonal cruises available so you’ll have no problem finding a cruise no matter what time of the year you want to go.

Year round cruises:
Caribbean - this destination is the most popular in the world. It has glorious beaches with warm white sand and turquoise waters that will literally take your breath away. It is warm year round and you can choose from a variety of islands. In fact, the islands are divided into sub-destinations:

Eastern Caribbean – St. Thomas, St. John, Nassau, San Juan, St Maarten Western Caribbean – Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Key West South Caribbean – Barbados, Grenada, St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Martinique, Aruba. Want to visit more than one? Ask your cruise specialist for trips that include Island hopping.

Activities include fishing, hiking, snorkeling, scuba diving, golf, sightseeing activities (museums, rum distilleries, historic sugar mills, plantations and natural attractions), spa services, picture perfect beaches and exotic nightlife clubs and dining.

Hawaii - Welcome to tropical paradise. The weather is just perfect. There are 6 main frequently visited Islands: Hawaii (known as the big island), Maui, Oahu, Lanai, Molokai and Kauai. There are also numerous smaller islands. Some cruise lines stop off at a number of Islands and passengers can get off and explore. Ask a cruise specialist for Island hopping cruises.

Activities include surfing, swimming, scuba diving, kayaking, horseback riding, hiking and biking trails, attractions, helicopter tours, sunset cocktail cruise, luau and lively nightlife entertainment options. The list is endless!

Seasonal Cruises:
Alaska – Has picturesque views and amazing animal life. Some of the most spectacular parts of Alaska can be seen from the sea so if you are going on an Alaskan cruise, make sure you have a balcony room. The season for Alaskan cruises run from April to September. Vancouver and British Columbia are two popular itineraries. Alaska cruises tend to be more expensive than Caribbean Cruises because of the shorter season and high demand.

Activities include bear watching, birding, eco tours, dogsled rides, rafting, hiking and climbing, hunting, kayaking, Northern lights (the sky is lit up with colorful display of red, green and purple – you do not want to miss this!) and glacier viewing.

Mediterranean – Offers a different experience than the Caribbean or Alaskan cruises. The passenger mix reflects a more international flavor. The prime season for Americans to sail is the summer (June to September).

There are numerous destinations to visit in Europe: Spain, Italy, Rome, Portugal, France, Monaco, Morocco, Greece, Monte Carlo, Turkey and Croatia. Each of these places is overflowing with rich culture, history and art. Your eyes are in for a feast with majestic, centuries old buildings and museums. It is common for cruise visitors to extend their vacation a few more days to take advantage of these ancient cities and cultures. It may not be a bad idea to invest in balcony stateroom. Imagine sailing down the Grand Canal in Venice and scanning the majestic view from your private balcony!

Most popular activities are sightseeing, sunbathing, shopping, relaxation, fund, dining in Port and Adventure.

Canada – Early June through October is a good period to go on a Canada cruise. This destination can be an alternative to crowded Caribbean and Hawaiian cruises during the summer season. Quebec and Montreal offers a European feel. Montreal feels more like Paris.

Canada offers breathtaking glacier views and spectacular Canadian Rockies. Winter is excellent to visit Quebec as it has two weeks of festivities including dog sled races, parades, ice sculpture displays and lots more activities. Check with your cruise specialist for the time of the festival.

Activities include extensive sightseeing on land. Some tours include the Niagara Falls and sometimes combine Alaska. There are a lot of outdoor activities like white water rafting, skydiving, climbing, nature watching, fishing, golfing, boating and ballooning.