Wondering about Caribbean cruise weather and the best and worst time to cruise? We’ve got you covered.
Caribbean Cruise Weather – Best and Worst Months to Go By Scott Bateman
Caribbean cruise weather has fewer risks for vacationers planning a trip at sea rather than spending a week on an island for a simple reason — the ship can move away from bad weather while an island can’t.
Someone may one day invent detachable islands, but in the meantime vacationers should consider two major factors related to weather in planning a cruise. First is the annual Caribbean hurricane season and second is the temperature drop during the winter — especially for the sea water.
Hurricane Season
The hurricane season runs from June 1 until November 30, but the region has on average few storms in June and November. July averages three storms, while August, September and October average four, according to the U.S. National Weather Service.
Storms in August and October have a moderate risk of developing into hurricanes while September has the highest risk of all.
For these reasons, September is the worst month of the year to take a cruise. April and May are excellent times to go because they are outside of the hurricane season, although some Caribbean destinations see more rainfall than normal in May.
Families considering a cruise with children on summer break should take advantage of June in particular because of the lower storm risk, followed by July.
Air and Water Temperatures
The Caribbean has a reputation for year-round warmth. While it’s mostly true, there are some modest variations in temperature from month to month. Air and water temperatures are noticeably cooler in the northern climates during the winter, which makes a Bahamas cruise less appealing from December through February.
Anyone interested in taking a Caribbean cruise in the winter should consider a southern cruise as a better option for warmer weather than either an eastern or western cruise.
Each of the three major destinations has varying conditions by month. Western cruises in particular are known for heavy rainfall in the interiors of the Central American countries that lie along the Caribbean coast, such as Costa Rica and Belize.
The wet interiors are a major factor in planning day-long excursions to Mayan ruins, cave tubing, zip lining, etc. The same is largely true of the Mexican island of Cozumel.
Despite the heavy fall rains, western cruises tend to be more popular in the fall than eastern in part because the Central American destinations see fewer effects from hurricanes.
No matter which cruise you take, know that the risk of bad weather goes up in the fall and that whether you like to swim or lie on the beach will be sorely tested if you visit the more northern destinations in the winter.
Click Caribbean cruise weather for temperatures and rainfall by month. Also get 7-day forecasts for Eastern, Western and Southern cruises.
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The worst months to cruise to the Caribbean are July, August, and September. What is this? As mentioned above, the Caribbean's wet season runs from the beginning of May through October. It is no coincidence that the Atlantic hurricane season falls within this timeframe.
Storms in August and October have a moderate risk of developing into hurricanes while September has the highest risk of all. For these reasons, September is the worst month of the year to take a cruise.
Despite the potential of a downpour, many families choose to visit during summer break, from June to August. The best time to cruise the Caribbean in the summer is in June, when rainfall is not yet as heavy as during later months. The peak months of the hurricane season in the Caribbean are September and October.
Hurricanes occur during the low season, specifically from June 1 to November 30. The risk peaks in August and September and occasionally extends into October and even November. Travel companies generally advise against going to the Caribbean during these months.
Typically, the winter months are the most intense. Transatlantic cruises tend to see their roughest waters in November, December, and February. Thankfully, the majority of mainstream cruise lines do not conduct transatlantic cruises in December and February.
Generally, winter and spring in the northern hemisphere, December through May, is going to be the most expensive time of year to head to the Caribbean. This is the “high season” and usually you'll be paying top dollar.
In our experience, October and November may be ideal for a cruise thanks to the spring-like weather conditions and the propensity of good travel deals that may be available.
When is the Best Month to Cruise the Caribbean? In general, mid-December through mid-March is the best time of year, weather-wise. The Caribbean dry season is mid-December through mid-March and the high tourist season is from mid-December to mid-April.
What is the cheapest time to book a cruise? Prospective cruisers can usually find "a lot of good deals at the beginning of the year" during wave season, Goldberg-Glazer said. That period typically lasts from January until March. However, the optimal time to book may depend on when you plan to sail.
December and January are typically most pleasant, but the farther south you travel from the equator, the more varied the climate. Seas are rough near Cape Horn and Antarctica, regardless of the month. December and January offer the best temperatures and the most wildlife.
Rough Waters: When one body of water runs into another, waves tend to be higher and rougher. Although the Caribbean is generally known for smooth sailing, it can get choppy in areas where it meets up with the Atlantic Ocean.
Issues: Hurricanes and tropical storms are the number one cause of rough waters in the Caribbean. Avoid: The season lasts from June through the end of November, but most storms occur during August and September — so beware of fall sailings.
The official hurricane season runs between 1 June and 30 November but the period of highest concern is just between mid-August and early October. This means the months of April, May, June and July are particularly good value.
Storms may appear in early summer and may last well into the winter months. In the Eastern Caribbean, rough weather conditions usually heighten in August and last through October. Hurricane season in the Western Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico typically occurs from September to late November.
The official hurricane season in the Caribbean runs from 1 June to 30 November, but within that, there are variations. On rare occasions, hurricanes can occur as early as May.
During May and June, at the very start of the Caribbean hurricane season, most hurricanes occur in the western Caribbean. By August and September, they can occur throughout most of the region. The season peaks in October, when the ocean surface temperature is at its warmest.
Introduction: My name is Arielle Torp, I am a comfortable, kind, zealous, lovely, jolly, colorful, adventurous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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