Can you turn on the TV today and not hear about a hurricane hitting someplace? The months of September and October are often considered the “shoulder” season for the cruise industry. April and May can fit into this category too. The region you are sailing in is also a factor. Sticking with September and October, Hurricane season in the Caribbean can be June through November! The peak is from August to November. Why might you want to be sailing at this time of year?
- Cruise lines know about the hurricane season. They choose their itineraries accordingly. They would logically choose ports in advance with less risk of storms. The itinerary might change if a storm becomes an issue.
- Ships can try steering around storms. A cruise ship is not like a locomotive on a railway. Just as airplanes try to fly above or around storms, cruise ships can change course to try steering around bad weather.
- Seek out relocation cruises. If, like me, you consider the ship is your destination, talk to your travel agent about the cruises moving a ship from one market to another. The ship might be moving from the Caribbean to the Mediterranean. This is one voyage, not a series of the same weekly voyages. There will be a lot of sea days for you to enjoy the ship. There should be some interesting port stops too.
- Consider the ship as a resort. Let us consider two scenarios. Your ship sails in the Caribbean and encounters rainy weather. You are “stuck inside.” The second scenario is you are on a world cruise starting in Southampton and heading towards New York. It is cold because it is January. You are “stuck inside.” The people on the world cruise usually have no problem with this because it is expected. There is enough to do inside. 14 decks worth of activity!
- You can still go swimming. You might be a beach person. You want to get into the water. Getting rained on is not your idea of “getting into the water.” Many ships have pool areas under retractable glass roofs. If it gets chilly, the spaces can be heated too.
- You are avoiding the crowds. If you have been to European cities like Venice or Barcelona, you know how crowded it can get. Vacations in the summer are popular because school is out and the family can travel together. Planes bring in more tourists. Traveling outside of the high season usually means the tourist spots are less crowded.
- Airfares can be cheaper. If you need to fly to pick up the ship, you add the airfare as an additional expense. This can be costly in the summer. You often get a break when you are flying outside the tourist season.
- Hotels might be cheaper. If you are extending your stay a day or so, you will need a hotel. If you travel outside the tourist season, you can often get lower rates. You should also find it easier to get into the most popular restaurants for the same reason.
- It’s not too hot. If you sail in the shoulder season, the weather might be kinder. You still get warm weather, but it should not be oppressively hot.
- Cruise fares might be lower. In high season, everyone wants to get away. In the low and shoulder season, cabins are harder to fill. Your travel agent may be able to get you a good deal. Perhaps you can trade up to a more luxurious line or a larger cabin.
There are many reasons why you should consider sailing in the shoulder season.
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Shore Excursions – Ports, Day & Weekend Trips
Cover photo: credit © Dennis Cox/WorldViews ~Grand Princess
