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Proper footwear is also important and be sure to bring hiking shoes if you plan to enjoy outdoor activities. Many cruise lines also travel to additional locations such as Sitka, Hoonah/Icy Strait Point, and Haines. Programs like Princess Cruises' Cruisetours take the stress out of planning on-shore excursions and curate incredible itineraries for extensive, luxurious travel across the state. The best time to cruise to the Caribbean is, somewhat unintuitively, early December through mid-February. You’ll enjoy 80-degree weather and avoid hurricane season entirely, which runs from June through November.
Best Time To Book A Cruise In 2024
Nearly every month has something to recommend it, depending on what you're looking for. Saving money feels good — almost as good as sitting on the top deck of a Caribbean-bound cruise with a cocktail in hand. It's the last date that undecided travelers can cancel without penalty.
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Look particularly at last-minute options and those first two weeks in December. A handful of cruise lines -- mostly small ship and luxury lines like Cunard, Seabourn and Windstar -- offer Alaska cruises ranging from nine to 14 days in length (generally departing from Vancouver). Mainstream lines have also started offering longer cruises to Alaska from southern West Coast ports like San Francisco and Los Angeles. Once the calendar is closer to the holidays, winter break increases the demand and prices can spike to reflect that. December can be the best time to cruise the Caribbean or a slightly less awesome one, depending on you.
The best time to cruise to the Caribbean
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. Some ports of call, like Nice, France, were easy to get around, but others like Rome were packed to the gills. I wanted the day to end before we even made it to the Vatican on our tour. After taking my first Mediterranean cruise last year, here's what I think everyone should know before booking the route. To ensure the shortest wait possible, make sure to check in and set up your onboard account online or using your cruise line's mobile app ahead of time.
In the cruise industry, a last-minute booking is considered any cruise purchased after final payment is due, generally 60 to 90 days before sailing. That means you have to pay the entire cruise fare at the time of booking rather than paying a deposit and the rest at a later date. All this talk of the best time to book a cruise raises the question of how far in advance you should book.
Fall: Low prices, low occupancy, risky weather
The best time to cruise to the Caribbean without all the tourists is typically in late fall and between the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. You can also avoid the crowds in late April and early May after the spring break rush but before school lets out and summer vacations begin. The Alaska cruise season is a little over six months long, but choosing the best time to cruise Alaska is surprisingly not that simple. Many cruise lines come out with their best fares when itineraries first go on sale, and then raise the rates as the ships sell out. This is especially true with luxury cruises, new or popular mainstream ships and Disney cruises that tend to book up well in advance.
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To minimize joining the masses during high season, consider a shoulder-season sailing (in late April, May or September), or select a ship that embarks midweek. Saturday and Sunday cruise departures tend to be busiest during the summer months, particularly for families with children. You will, however, want to avoid booking a cruise around the holidays at the end of the year and during spring break (March and early April).
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For the uninitiated, wave season is when most of the major cruise lines run their best sales of the year. “Think of wave season as the best sale day ever that just happens to last for three months—like Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Presidents’ Day all rolled into one,” writes Celebrity Cruises. The temperatures have dropped a few degrees from summer's heat and the chance of storms has mostly passed.
Because more and more ships sail the region every year, prices can be competitive for families, couples and friends planning their summer getaway. Cruise traffic ramps up in May and June to prepare for the influx of summer-month vacationers. That means ships may be below capacity as high season comes into swing later in the summer. Short cruises remain relatively cheap, but prices for weeklong sailings increase -- some into the four-digit range, per person.
But that doesn't stop vacationers from wondering if they'd find a cheaper price if they wait to book tomorrow, next week or next month. Alaska has a short cruise season that lasts from late April through October. June through August is Alaska's high season, when weather is warmest and summer vacation season is in full swing. However, crowds and high fares are the norm at this time of year and rain is likely, especially in August. Small ship cruises tend to offer more adventure-focused shore excursions alongside personalized service and luxurious accommodations and amenities.
But our friends tell us stories of getting an amazing deal two months before sailing, and we're intrigued by the various last minute specials advertised by cruise sellers. We want a handy formula for determining that sweet spot when cruise fares are at their lowest. The main cruise season in Alaska is May through September, though many cruise lines are adding shoulder season itineraries in April and October.
There isn’t necessarily any “bad” time to cruise to the Caribbean or Bahamas, with the region welcoming cruise ships all year-round. However there are things to take into consideration, such as hurricane season which runs from June through November. Prices tend to be a bit cheaper from September through November, because of this and because kids are back in school.
Additionally, depending on where you're sailing, July and August may mean some local cafes and restaurants are closed for summer holidays. 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.
Other adventurous activities, such as hiking trails, open up in the summer months. Hatcher Pass typically opens up in July, depending on the specific Hatcher Pass weather conditions. Mt. Denali is another option for cruisers, but be sure to check on the Mt. Denali weather with your cruise line. And if you miss out on booking early but a last minute cruise is too dicey, you can find a low price in between.
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