What is the best month for a Caribbean cruise?

For weather, December to April is the most reliable, with sunny, drier days. Many travelers like late April and early May for a mix of good weather and lower prices.

What is the cheapest time to cruise the Caribbean?

September and October are usually the cheapest, followed by early December and the weeks between spring break and summer vacation.

Is it safe to cruise during hurricane season?

Cruise lines track storms and change routes to avoid them, so most sailings go ahead. Expect possible itinerary changes and fly in a day early in case of flight delays.

Which Caribbean islands are outside the hurricane belt?

Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao lie south of the main hurricane path and are rarely hit, which makes Southern Caribbean cruises popular in late summer and fall.

Best Time to Take a Caribbean Cruise: Weather, Prices, Crowds

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Ships sail the Caribbean all year, which makes it the easiest cruise region for Americans: lots of departure ports, short and long trips, and warm weather in every month. But the best time to go depends on what you care about most: sunshine, price, or a quieter ship.

Caribbean weather, season by season

December to April: dry season

This is the classic Caribbean cruise season. Days are sunny and warm, humidity is lower, and rain showers are short. It is also the busiest time: Christmas, New Year and spring break weeks fill up early and cost the most.

May to November: warmer and wetter

Summer and fall are hot and humid, with more frequent tropical showers that often pass quickly. The sea is at its warmest. These months overlap with hurricane season, which is why prices tend to drop, especially in late summer and fall.

When Caribbean cruises are cheapest

Cruise prices follow demand, so the cheapest sailings are usually when kids are in school and the weather is less reliable:

Early December, between Thanksgiving and the Christmas holidays.
Late April to early June, after spring break and before summer vacation.
September and October, the heart of hurricane season, when demand is lowest.

The most expensive weeks are usually Christmas and New Year, spring break in March and April, and summer school holidays. If you are flexible, searching by month is the easiest way to see the difference. Our cruise search lets you pick a port, a destination and a month in one go: search Caribbean cruises.

What hurricane season means on a cruise

The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 to November 30. Most sailings in these months are not affected, and ships can move away from storms in a way a resort cannot. But a storm can change your route: a port may be swapped for another, skipped, or the trip shortened or extended.

If you sail in hurricane season:

Expect that the itinerary can change, and choose the cruise for the ship and the sea days, not one specific island.
Fly in the day before so a storm-delayed flight does not cost you the cruise. Our guide on where to stay the night before a cruise covers hotels at every big port.
Consider travel insurance that covers weather delays, and read the details.

Eastern, Western or Southern Caribbean?

Eastern Caribbean

Typical stops include St. Thomas, St. Maarten and the Bahamas. These trips usually leave from Florida ports such as Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Port Canaveral, and include more sea days.

Western Caribbean

Typical stops include Cozumel, Costa Maya, Roatan, Grand Cayman and Jamaica. Many leave from the Gulf Coast: Galveston, New Orleans and Tampa, which is handy if you live in Texas or the South and want to drive to the port.

Southern Caribbean

Islands like Aruba, Curaçao and Barbados are farther south. Many Southern Caribbean cruises start in San Juan, which saves days at sea. Aruba and Curaçao sit outside the main hurricane belt, which makes them a popular pick in late summer and fall.

Short cruises and the Bahamas

Three and four night cruises to the Bahamas leave from Florida almost every week of the year. They are a good way to try cruising, and they pair well with a few days in Miami or Orlando. See our best time to visit Miami and Orlando vacation on a budget guides.

Month by month at a glance

January and February: dry, sunny and comfortable. After the holidays, prices often ease until spring break.
March and April: still dry and warm, but spring break weeks are busy and expensive. Easter week is one of the priciest of the year.
May: warm, mostly dry early in the month, and a sweet spot for price before summer vacation starts.
June to August: hot, humid and busy with families. The start of hurricane season, though the most active months come later.
September and October: the lowest demand and often the lowest prices, with the highest chance of a storm changing the route.
November: rain eases toward the end of the month. Thanksgiving week is busy, the weeks around it often are not.
December: dry season returns. Early December can be a bargain, while Christmas and New Year sailings are the most expensive of the year.

Who should sail when

Families: school holidays are the only option for many. Book early for summer, Christmas and spring break, since the best cabins go first.
Couples and retirees: January, early May and early December give you good weather on a quieter ship.
Budget travelers: September to early November, if you are comfortable with possible route changes.
First-time cruisers: a short Bahamas trip from Florida in spring or late fall is an easy way to see if cruising suits you.

Tips for a cheaper Caribbean cruise

Pick a drive-to port. If you can drive to Galveston, New Orleans or a Florida port, you save the cost of flights.
Be flexible on the month. Shifting by a few weeks can make a big difference.
Compare the whole trip. Add flights, one hotel night and transfers before you choose. Cheap fares to the port city are on our route pages, like New York to Miami and Chicago to Houston.
Watch what is included. Drinks, Wi-Fi, gratuities and excursions are often extra.

Find a Caribbean cruise

Frequently asked questions

What is the best month for a Caribbean cruise?: For weather, December to April is the most reliable, with sunny, drier days. Many travelers like late April and early May for a mix of good weather and lower prices.
What is the cheapest time to cruise the Caribbean?: September and October are usually the cheapest, followed by early December and the weeks between spring break and summer vacation.
Is it safe to cruise during hurricane season?: Cruise lines track storms and change routes to avoid them, so most sailings go ahead. Expect possible itinerary changes and fly in a day early in case of flight delays.
Which Caribbean islands are outside the hurricane belt?: Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao lie south of the main hurricane path and are rarely hit, which makes Southern Caribbean cruises popular in late summer and fall.