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Best Time to Cruise the Caribbean

10 February 2020

Caribbean Island

Boasting miles of white beaches, tropical greenery and vibrant culture, it's no wonder that the Caribbean is a popular cruise destination. As an all year round holiday hotspot, it can be hard to decide when to go so to help you choose the best time to cruise the Caribbean, here's a month by month guide.

Best time to cruise the Caribbean

Dry Season

Between December and April, the Caribbean experiences the least rainfall so you can make the most out of each and every stunning destination you have the opportunity to visit on your cruise itinerary. While prices do tend to be higher during this season, there is still the possibility of finding cheaper cruise fares if you avoid busier times such as school holidays, making it one of the best times to cruise the Caribbean.

December


For those wanting to enjoy a Christmas treat, December is a great time of year for winter sun and dry weather so you can make the most out of shore excursions. When it comes to cost, the end of the month can be expensive as it's the school holidays and New Year, however, in general, the first couple of weeks are cheaper if you have the flexibility to avoid the crowds that come later in December.

January and February


With the kids back at school and the adults back at work, January and February are a great time to escape the winter blues in pursuit of sunnier weather. As the crowds tend to have dispersed at this time of year, fares are lower, while temperatures are still high. What's more, there's no need to worry about rainfall as the dry season continues, especially in February.

March and April


With British cruise lines such as P&O repositioning for the summer in Europe, this is the perfect time of year to experience American-style cruising. It is also still dry season so there is plenty of opportunity to soak up the famous Caribbean sunshine as you cruise around the stunning islands and embark on exciting shore excursions.

May


If you want to head out on a cruise to the Caribbean without the crowds, May is a great month as school holidays are yet to begin, although you may notice price increases in preparation for the busy summer season. In addition, while the Southern Caribbean tends to remain relatively dry, there can be rain in places such as Antigua, Jamaica and Puerto Rico.

Hurricane Season

While the Hurricane season officially takes place from June through to November, its peak tends to be around September and October, making these the cheapest months to cruise the Caribbean. If you're willing to be a little flexible as your itinerary could be disrupted due to bad weather, you could find yourself bagging a bargain holiday, which is why some consider it the best time to cruise the Caribbean.

However, if you do choose to travel earlier in the season, you should expect busier ships and ports of call as July and August coincide with school holidays not only in the UK, but also in the USA.

June


While June is technically in hurricane season, you're still likely to experience fantastic weather and with it not being the school holidays or the peak of summer yet, guests can expect lower cruise fares before the crowds start flooding in.

July and August


Boasting hot weather and warm sea temperatures, July and August can be one of the best times for a cruise to the Caribbean, although cruisers should expect some rain in the Eastern Caribbean with August being wet particularly in the Bahamas, Martinique and Dominica. However, the rain won't stop you having a fantastic time exploring each port of call and diving into the vibrant culture of local life.

September, October and November


While temperatures remain high, during September, October and November, hurricanes are at their most likely to happen. However, if you're willing to take the risk of your itinerary being altered, you'll be rewarded with cheaper cruise fares as the number of cruisers reduces at this time of year.

Now you've read all about the best time to cruise the Caribbean all that's left to do is book. Check out our great cruise deals and get ready to enjoy the holiday of a lifetime. If you want to learn more about cruising the Caribbean, check out our blog before you go.

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Find the perfect shore excursions for you on your Caribbean cruise with our official local port partner Venture Ashore. Offering a variety of excursions, from tours to culinary experiences, there’s plenty of choice for those of all tastes and ages. Book your land tour experiences here and enjoy the highest quality tours, flexible cancellation and other tempting benefits!

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