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- Cruise regions tend to have high-demand seasons, moderate-demand seasons and low-demand seasons. High season used to coincide with an area's best weather but as more and more families choose cruising, the summer months have become a high-crowd time, no matter the weather.
High season for the Caribbean is June to August, Christmas and New Year's and February through mid-April. Taking a trip during these times means you'll most likely be sharing space with families on school break and Northerners fleeing the cold. This will be the most expensive time. You will want to arrive at your port city a day in advance. Don't forget that spring breakers might be heading to some port cities about the same time, so take that into account when booking flights and considering travel time in port cities. If you're looking for a peaceful, quiet cruise, it's best to avoid the high season.
The low season runs from late April to May and from September to January, except for holiday breaks. This is a time to cruise if you want smaller crowds and significant price breaks. - Prices are typically at their highest when children are out of school. The most expensive cruises are during New Year's, Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter. For the least-expensive cruising times, book a cruise for the first two weeks of December and the first two weeks of November.
- While May through October is the official hurricane season, prices are lower toward the end of that season in September and October. While some cruisers prefer to avoid the risk of visiting the Caribbean, a prime hurricane target because of its warm waters, an equally large number of travelers are willing to take their chances. The earliest part of the season, June, has developed into a high-demand time for cruises, thanks to families discovering this mode of travel.
If a hurricane is brewing, cruise ships may change ports to avoid the storm. It might also mean a challenge getting to or from a port city.
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