Everyone wants to cruise when the weather is perfect. Everyone wants to vacation when the weather is perfect. Airfares are high when the weather is perfect. There is a good case to be made for cruising when the crowds are gone – between peak and off-peak seasons – also known as the ‘shoulder’ season.
- Cruise ships try to avoid bad weather. They have excellent navigation and weather tracking gear. The officers are experienced, often having sailed this route at this time of year before. They try to steer around storms. They try to seek out the smoothest seas possible.
- Ships are moved to different markets. A ship might sail to Alaska in the summer and to the Mexican Rivera in the winter. If the ship will be spending an entire season in a region with a warmer climate, the first couple of cruises in the new market would likely be the shoulder season. What’s not to like?
- Repositioning cruises can be a great deal. It is easy for travel agents and cruise lines to sell cruises if they offer the same cruise week after week. People with some flexibility travel the following week if their first choice is booked. A repositioning cruise is the term used for the voyage moving the ship from one market to another. A cruise ship might sail the Caribbean in the winter and the Mediterranean during the summer. There will be one voyage when the ship moves between markets. They do not want to sail the ship empty! They often offer great fares and a couple of ports along the way. This is ideal for people who see the ship as a floating resort. It’s great for people who like sea days.
- The kids are in school. Some cruise lines promote themselves as “The cruise line for families.” This can book a lot of cabins and drive prices up during the summer, when children are on summer vacation. People with young families also sail on cruise lines with other target market profiles. Unless the cruise line promotes “adults only” people are welcome to bring their children. If you are seeking a more adult experience, sailing when the children are back in school is a good strategy.
- The ports are less crowded. There is an old joke that everyone in France goes on vacation in August. It’s been said that 70% of the French go on vacation in July or August and life gets back to normal late August or early September. This means the resort towns (like the French Riviera) can be crowded. Expect other European countries on the Med to have similar vacation habits. If you travel after everyone has returned to work, your port stops should be less crowded.
- Airfares should be cheaper. Here’s a conundrum: You might get a great deal on the cruise, yet you need to fly to Europe to join the ship. High season means high airfares. If you travel in the low or the shoulder season, you should be able to get more attractive airline ticket pricing.
There are plenty of reasons to sail in the shoulder season. It should be more relaxed and the weather less of an issue than you expected.
cover photo View of lake in the Azores on shore excursion, credit Bryce Sanders
Editor’s Notes:
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