Cruise Control - When to Go

If you are visiting Mrs Nespy's World via the 156th Carnival of Personal Finance-Songs of Summer edition over at Prime Time Money, I want to welcome you and invite you to stay a while and look around. Being from the South, it would be unhospitable if I didn't offer you a chance to "sit a spell" and cool off on the front porch swing with a nice glass of sweet tea. If you like what you see around here, please sign up for my feed (right margin) either via email or a reader. Feel free to comment where you feel inspired and enjoy your stay.

The "when" of cruising frugally is almost completely dependent on where you want to go. Obviously "in" season for the Caribbean is different than for Australia (you know, different hemispheres = backwards seasons), so you really need to consider where you want to go in order to find the best prices for your cruise. Or if you can't decide between locales, figure out what fits best into you schedule and that might just pick your destination for you! Either way, the two go hand-in-hand.

You can Google all of this information that I'm about to present, but I thought I could compile it into a nice central location for you to view all in one sitting:

Hawaii:

The mildest weather--November through May. However, also know that their rainy season could catch you here. Summer is too hot for most people and winters in Hawaii are unlike anywhere that you are most likely accustomed to. However, Hawaii is seldom "bad" so you can find some great sailing throughout the year. Whale-watching season is around March so that is certainly something you might be interested in planning for. Cheapest? April to May time frame would be best. Stay away from Hawaii during Christmas, as the prices soar and occupancy is hard to come by. For full info about visiting this island paradise, click here.

Caribbean:

Cruising the Caribbean is perfect weather year-round. However, the winter months can pose the best prices if your schedule can accommodate that itinerary. Typically April or May seem to be low seasons for these cruises as well as September through January. We went during late October/early November and the weather was warm enough for snorkeling and SCUBA diving with no issues. What was an issue for this time of year, though, was hurricanes, as we had an encounter with one and had to miss a port. If a change in schedules is not a problem for you, this is an ideal time. And consider that December and January are inexpensive times (save the holidays) that do not carry the hurricane threat with them.

Mediterranean:

The best time to cruise this area as decided by the climate is May-October. However, the most economical time to travel these waters are early spring and late fall (keep in mind that November can be rainy in some areas in that region). Not only is the weather just gearing up or winding down for "perfect travel weather," but the crowds are less as well as the prices lower. And the beauty of traveling Europe is that you are likely to encounter some festivals that are seasons around these times of year. So consider March, April or September through November for this trip. You can easily do the Southern Mediterranean in the winter months though as the crowds are significantly fewer and the weather is still perfectly pleasant.

Europe (non-Mediterranean):

Summer is a popular time to sail Europe, so the prices are typically higher during these times. To hit the low fares, try early June or September, just bordering on the popular season. The weather will be bearable, and there are sure to be as many travelers taking up all of the space around you.

Alaska:

May through September are about the only times you can get a cruise to Alaska. Other times of the year are often too cold to enjoy and the ships do not have access to some of the areas during the frozen parts of the year. May and September, being the outer edges of this time frame are considered the "off-peak" season and probably your best bet for a deal. Keep in mind, however, that these times are typically wetter than others. Also, whale watching is best done during the summer season. Also keep in mind that some excursions may be cancelled due to weather during these times (much more likely during these times than during peak season).

Canada/New England:

July and August give you a lot of service for your money here. The weather is nice and much less hot than the sub-tropical and tropical cruises during this time. And since peak-sailing season focuses around the autumn foliage in September and October, you are likely to get smaller crowds and lower rates during these times as well. However, the lowest rates (and biggest bargain) would likely be May or late October, as the weather is much cooler during this time and the water sports of the summer are non-existent.

Australia/New Zealand:

Down Under's summer months (think November - February or March here) are the most popular and offer the most pleasant weather and therefore the most opportunities for excursions. However, for the best deal, you should really examine the spring and fall (which are opposite from what we above the equator experience). The weather is still quite mild and pleasant and the bulk of tourists has subsided for the year.

When to Book?

Upon looking into this, I kept realizing that there is a general consensus...if you want an all-out bargain, wait until the last minute and hope for the best. However, you are not guaranteed the destination, accommodations, or time that you would like. It would be unfortunate for you not to be able to find a cruise for your family of 12 because you waited "one more day" for that bargain rate. Basically, you should really plan out your trip and book as soon as the itineraries are released (up to 18 months before sail). This assures that all cabin choices and locations will be available. You can then shop the best rates among the available cabins for the cruise of your dreams. If you wait until 6 months before the cruise, there should still be some availability, but the prices may be higher as people usually plan around this time frame and the pricing people are aware of this.

So, has this helped you at all?

Photo credit: Feikje, Logan-5