Depending on the time of year you are booking your cruise will go a long way to determine where you want to go. One can take a cruise to most parts of the world now, but only during certain times of the year. The factors that influence your timing will greatly influence what time of year will be your optimum time to set sail.
Cruise regions are broken down into peak season, or high demand, moderate demand, or shoulder season, and low season. As cruising over the years has become more popular, especially with families, the summer months have become a peak demand time regardless of where the cruise is. Therefore if families are booking a cruise for peak times, they should reserve as early as possible, as each ship has a limited number of cabins that can accommodate three people or more.
More bargains will be able to be found in the shoulder or low seasons. Some areas have only in season pricing. Examples of this would be the Baltic Sea and Northern Europe. Another factor that has come into play is the lessening of the low season in many areas. Cruise lines have simply repositioned their cruise ships to areas of greater popularity during that time, resulting in a slight set-back for the traveller looking for more bargains.
Here are three of the most popular cruise destinations (for me as well), and there high and low seasons:
1. Mediterranean. Even though it can get quite hot and very crowded, especially in the southern Mediterranean from Egypt to the Canary Islands, their high season is May to September. This has become a very popular destination for school holiday season, and ships of all styles for all budgets in this area. Keep in mind that the ports are generally quite small, so there will be crowds.
Their low season will be winter, and it can be a great time to visit this interesting area. The weather is still comfortable and the crowds will be gone. This will be a great time for trips to the Mediterranean, and the cruise lines should be making this more of a year-round cruising destination.
2. Northern Europe. The high season is June to August, and it is a great time to visit this wonderful area at this time of year. The cities that cater to the cruise lines are very active with interesting tour excursions, and the people are outdoors to make up for the long winters. In summer it can be light out for 18 hours or more.
There low and shoulder season is early June and September, and it can be beautiful with the foliage turning. But the weather can be quite a bit more temperamental. And, of course prices will be lower.
3. The Caribbean. Their longer high season makes this a cruising destination that many people have done at least once. They are February through mid-April, late June to August, and Christmas and New Year's Holidays. There are plenty of options to choose from at these times, but you will probably be hard-pressed to find many bargains. You could save some money, of course if you can drive to one of the ports servicing cruise ships such as Galveston, New Orleans, Mobile, Tampa and the east coast Florida.
Low season is post holiday January, late April and May, and September to the holidays. This can be a great time to cruise, but you will be in hurricane season until November 1. The crowds will be less, and the potential for bargains at its peak.
The time of year you go on your cruise will be an important factor in when you should book, and what kind of deals may be offered. The East Coast Florida offers many cruises that can be easily coupled with activities in Orlando. And in my opinion you can't beat Trips to the Mediterranean and cruising in this really special place. Glen Wheaton is a writer and travel enthusiast living in London.
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